Johanna Grosssteinbeck
Current Employer/Organisation Name
CO2balance
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
Working at CO2balance for just over 2 years now.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
I did an internship with the company during my Masters at Exeter. I mostly enjoy the people aspect of it. As a project manager you are constantly dealing with different stakeholder which I find very exciting.
Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?
I was part of EULFC (Women’s Football) – I think it’s now called UOEWFC.
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
BSc – I really enjoyed the module on circular economy which is what got me into doing the MSc in sustainability
MSc – The people and the lecturers
What did you most enjoy about studying here?
The Campus life (how green it is) and the sports societies and how easy it is to get involved with everything.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
Living near the beach and the campus lifestyle, as well as the great sports programme.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
My degree helped me develop critical thinking skills and the confidence to question assumptions, which is particularly important when working with methodologies, data and external reviews. It also improved my written communication, which is essential when preparing monitoring reports, responding to auditing queries and engaging with stakeholders.
My day to day involves a lot of problem-solving and communicating complex information clearly to project stakeholders.
Beyond technical knowledge, learning how to manage deadlines, balance multiple priorities and work independently has been equally valuable in transitioning into a professional environment.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
I would encourage students to follow the themes and subjects that genuinely interest them during university, rather than focusing solely on what seems like the most obvious or conventional career path. Pay attention to what consistently motivates you, whether that’s sustainability, problem-solving, policy, data, or working with communities and look for ways to turn those interests into practical experience through internships, volunteering, or research projects.
