Working in service of social and environmental issues can be a privilege but also an all-consuming activity leading to burnout - and sometimes we need to step away to regain perspective into why we’re doing the work. Hear from Robyn Eason and Bryan Lewis in how they’ve navigated their career breaks/work hibernations/sabbaticals to reconnect with their purpose in life.

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

9AM PT/12PM ET/4PM BT

Find out more about our speakers below:

Bryan Lewis

Bryan has recently started as a Program Manager at Greenbiz.org after taking a career break. Prior to his break, he was Executive Director at EcoWorks Detroit, a local sustainability and community development non-profit providing climate and energy education, decarbonization, and consulting services to Southeast Michigan residents, youth, businesses, and municipalities. Prior to that, he was Program Director of EcoWorks’ Youth Energy Squad (YES) where he worked with Detroit Public Schools students to learn about their environment and lead sustainability initiatives in their classrooms and communities. For this work, Bryan was appointed to Governor Whitmer’s Advisory Michigan Council on Environmental Justice (MAC-EJ). Additionally, he is a BMe Vanguard Fellow, a Senior Fellow of the Environmental Leadership Program (ELP), and an inaugural fellow with the Michigan Clean Energy Leaders Project. Prior to YES, Bryan attended Carnegie Mellon University, where he received a bachelor’s in Civil and Environmental Engineering and a master’s in Energy Science, Technology, and Policy. He was recognized as one of Crain’s Notable Leaders in Sustainability in 2022.

 Robyn Eason

Robyn is currently on a work hibernation, living life. Robyn is a fun-loving, challenge-seeking professional who strives for excellence in the profession, while enjoying the diversity of people, places, and all living things that makes our world so fascinating and unique. Her experience incorporates the vast array of elements, strategies, and expertise necessary to develop livable communities and committed stewards of the human existence through change management and targeted universalism. Prior to her work hibernation, she was the Long Range Planning & Sustainabity Manager at the City of West Hollywood, CA, and built an award-winning sustainability program committed to an intersectional approach. This included a portfolio of projects, including electrical vehicle charging readiness, clean energy initiatives, water efficiency and conservation, climate action planning, and green building. Prior to the City of West Hollywood, Robyn worked at the US Green Building Council. Robyn holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from The Catholic University of America in Northeast Washington (DC) and a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from Clemson University in Clemson (SC). She is currently an active member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, and USGBC-Los Angeles. She is also the co-founder of the California BIPOC Sustainability Network.