What We Can Do: Charlie Sellars on Building a Climate Career with Optimism

In this episode of the Climate Careers Podcast, powered by Voiz Academy, we sit down with Charlie — author of What We Can Do: A Climate Optimist’s Guide to Sustainable Living and Director of Sustainability at Microsoft.

Charlie’s path into climate wasn’t traditional. He started with no sustainability background, building his expertise through curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to raise his hand long before sustainability was part of his job title.

We explore how he moved from managing events at Gartner to shaping sustainability strategy across Microsoft — from Surface devices to the cloud infrastructure that powers tools like ChatGPT. Charlie breaks down what it takes to drive change inside massive organizations, how to make sustainability engaging instead of overwhelming, and why optimism is a strategic advantage in climate work.

Whether you’re pivoting into sustainability or growing your impact in the field, this conversation offers practical insights, honest stories, and a refreshing take on what meaningful climate action can look like.