In celebration of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting women who are leading the way in positively transforming our communities through high-performance buildings.
Meet Kristina Wyatt, Senior Manager of Sustainability Programs and Senior Counsel, Global Commercial Transactions, at Latham & Watkins.
Why do high-performing, energy-efficient buildings matter to you?
Enhancing the energy efficiency of our offices at Latham & Watkins serves two important purposes: It helps us to reduce our operating expenses, and it reduces our carbon footprint. It is a win-win. Buildings account for nearly 40 percent of overall U.S. energy use; therefore, forging a path to more energy-efficient buildings holds significant potential to help reduce our total greenhouse gas emissions.
What are you most proud of in your career related to energy and efficiency?
Several years ago, I was part of a team at Latham & Watkins that was focused on operational best practices. As part of that initiative, with IMT’s assistance, we launched a program to enhance the energy efficiency of our offices. We had tremendous support from our Global Real Estate team and firm leadership. We were able to build on that support and have leveraged it to substantially reinvigorate our overall firm sustainability program.
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change.” What is the change or market transformation you would most like to see in the energy and sustainability industries?
I believe that sustainability challenges will be drivers of innovation as companies seek new ways to operate that can reduce their impact on the natural environment while still growing and prospering. The potential for fresh thinking and new market creation is very exciting. This evolution is already taking place, and its growth is inevitable. I look forward to seeing more companies embrace sustainability as a driver of innovation and more investors rewarding such efforts.
What is your advice for women in the energy and sustainability industries?
The sustainability challenges that the world faces are complex and daunting. They also present incredible opportunities to think creatively and to forge meaningful change. My advice is to stick to it, even when you’re facing strong headwinds. Find resilience. Partner with others. Think creatively. Get young people involved. Celebrate successes.