Get to know our KTL team! This month, we are catching up with KTL Consultant Emily Watt. Emily works with multinational companies and government agencies to provide environmental, health, and safety (EHS) compliance and sustainability support. She is based in the Washington, DC metro area. 

Tell us a little bit about your background—what are your areas of expertise?

I studied International Relations and focused on Global Environmental Politics at American University in Washington, DC. I continued with French courses and picked up Brazilian Portuguese while studying in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Professionally, I’ve worked in both multinational corporations and small non-profit settings that overlap with U.S. government work.

I enjoy the facilitation of government programs internationally the most! My previous experience taught me a lot about implementing government programs, the associated challenges, and the opportunities for impact. It can be truly fulfilling work. However, I wanted my work to focus on environmentalism, which is how I ended up at KTL. In my current role, I work on global health programs, but I am also involved on a wide variety of U.S. environmental projects.

What types of clients do you work with? What are the biggest issues you see them facing right now?

I primarily work with U.S. government staff who manage global health programs. A project may have a wide scope of environmental impact. It can be difficult to home in on those impacts and identify specific mitigation measures that are needed for an activity, country, or region. When implementing a project to be sustainable for years to come, it is important to start off on the right foot and to continually self-assess. We are always looking through that lens and offering resources and guidance to create continual opportunities for improvement.

No matter the type of project I work on, it seems there is always a need for automation and organization. Whether there are too many people to train or too many documents to track, I have found that a well-equipped team and a solid Environmental Management System (EMS) to keep things on track are invaluable.

What would you say is a highlight of your job?

Variety keeps me on my toes! I enjoy working with different projects and people each day. There is a lot of variability and flexibility in the work KTL does, which allows for creative problem solving. I am always learning something new from my colleagues and clients—or from forging my own path through a problem. It is awesome to work with so many subject matter experts and to be a part of helping our clients achieve their greater goals.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Free time has been reimagined during COVID-19! I work from home regardless, so it is nice to take a walk outside to avoid the feeling of being in the same spot all day. I’ve prioritized being social with my friends through FaceTime or picnics in the park. I am teaching myself to cook, and I can be found staring at my houseplants hoping for them to grow.

Read Emily’s full bio.