Mio Katayama Owens | Assistant Dean, International and Executive Programs at Rausser College of Natural Resources and Beahrs ELP Director
The 2024 Beahrs Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) marked a significant transition as Susan Carpenter led the collaborative leadership module for the last time in her official instructor capacity. Reflecting on Susan’s extensive involvement with the program over the years, it's clear that her journey with the ELP mirrors the program's evolution, growth, and transformative impact. Despite the changes in leadership, staff, and instructors over time, Susan has been a steadfast presence, connecting alumni from 2001 to 2024.
Dick Beahrs reminisced about the early days when Susan started with just a few sessions. Her role quickly expanded, eventually encompassing a full week’s worth of content. Beyond her formal teaching duties, Susan played a pivotal role in shaping strategic discussions at the Center for Sustainable Resource Development, contributions that were instrumental in launching the Master of Development Practice. Her collaboration extended globally as she partnered with multiple ELP alumni on their Buck Kingman Projects.
Photo of Susan Carpenter at the 2001 Beahrs ELP
Outside the ELP, Susan has maintained an active practice as a mediator and mentor, offering guidance to professionals worldwide, including myself. I first met her in 2013 upon joining Rausser College, and her support was invaluable as I transitioned into leadership of the Beahrs ELP in 2015. Susan has also been deeply involved in her community, advocating for democracy and encouraging societal well-being while balancing the responsibilities of raising teenagers.
Our collaboration faced its challenges, notably in 2016 when shifts in U.S. immigration policies presented significant obstacles, similar to those we encounter today. That year, our ELP lacked participants from the African continent, underscoring the program's vulnerabilities to geopolitical shifts. Through these challenges, Susan's guidance helped maintain a sense of optimism, grounded not in naivety but in a robust belief in the potential and aspirations of individual leaders.
Susan's module, "Collaborative Leadership," provided essential tools and soft skills for leaders to introduce and enact change, particularly in environmental and climate spaces where top-down mandates were historically rare. This was especially pertinent for those initiating sustainability efforts in organizations where environmental and climate concerns were not central to core operations. Despite limited resources—such as staff time, bandwidth, budget, and opportunities—being a norm in the environmental and climate space, we consistently strive for maximum impact in our initiatives. This scarcity necessitates that we exercise our leadership skills to effectively engage and collaborate with others to enact the change we envision.
The term "leadership" varies widely in meaning. Under Chancellor Rich Lyons, when he was the dean of Haas School of Business, the Haas Leadership Principles were developed. One principle that resonated with me was "Confidence without Attitude." This quality, as exemplified by Susan, manifested through her welcoming nature, openness to new ideas and changes, and her unwavering patience and empathy—true embodiments of grace in the workplace.
One of Susan’s memorable sayings I often repeat is, "Change is hard when it is imposed on you, but exhilarating when you are driving it." Whether the change is as significant as national government reform or as minor as a routine workflow adjustment, being the driver is empowering. However, those on the receiving end often find such transformations difficult to adjust to. The collaborative leadership principles Susan taught focused on our ability not just to drive change but to devise strategies that invite others to join in, ensuring full buy-in and active involvement without the need for top-down mandates.
As environmental and climate challenges grow more acute and complex, no single individual, organization, or nation can tackle these issues alone. Success requires meaningful participation from all sectors—private, NGO, government, academia—and professionals from all fields. The most critical skill in this context is the ability to share your vision, invite collaboration, and foster collective action. Having participated in Susan’s sessions since 2012, each year I am reminded of approaches and reflect on past projects that could have been extended further. I feel extremely fortunate to have recurring learning opportunities through the ELP.
As we approach the 25th anniversary of this remarkable program and confront ongoing severe environmental and climate challenges, I wish to express my profound gratitude to Susan and renew my commitment to placing collaboration at the core of my work at UC Berkeley.
Photo of Dr. Mio Katayama Owens and Susan Carpenter at the 2024 Beahrs ELP