Sustainability is not idealism: Antonia McGinn (Consultant)
Antonia is a consultant with attitude – and with a clear goal: to anchor sustainability in companies not just as a moral ideal, but as an economically viable strategy. Her passion for environmental protection and nature conservation has accompanied her for many years – and she brings this to her work at 3con with professional depth and an interdisciplinary perspective. Her path to consulting was not predetermined and this is precisely what makes her perspective so special.
“I actually wanted to become a vet. Today, I help
companies to operate more sustainably – which gives
much greater leverage.“
Antonia started dealing with environmental issues at an early age. In her bachelor’s degree, she combined anthropology with environmental sciences – an unusual course of study at the time. Born in the US, she gained practical experience at the US Forest Service, where she planned hiking trails and supported cities with water conservation measures. She finally came to Germany for her master’s degree in environmental management and worked as a nature conservation manager in Schleswig-Holstein.
But she wanted to achieve more: “Caring for a moor is fulfilling, but the impact remains local. In consulting, I can help companies to make their processes more sustainable – that has an impact on many levels.”
From nature conservation to strategic sustainability consulting
For Antonia, taking on the role of consultant was also a personal learning process. “I first had to learn to see myself as an expert,” she says looking back. Today, this is precisely one of her greatest strengths: she has a deep understanding of the many facets of sustainability – from biodiversity and waste management to corporate sustainability. Her interdisciplinary training and practical experience enable her to recognize complex interrelationships and advise companies holistically.
It is particularly important to her to convey sustainability not as a moral concept, but as a strategic success factor: “Sustainability is not altruism – it also makes perfect sense from a selfish perspective. Investing today saves costs tomorrow, protects supply chains and secures competitive advantages.”
Room for professional and personal development
Antonia appreciates the corporate culture at 3con: “I felt welcome right from the start. Everyone is approachable, open and willing to take time – that’s not a given.” She makes targeted use of the opportunity to set her own topics: She is currently working on the role of digitalization and AI in the context of sustainability. Her wish is to support companies in developing sustainable strategies in these areas too.
Nature remains a topic close to her heart: “I would love to develop Nature Transition Plans with companies – that would be the perfect combination of professionalism and personal drive for me.”
Between northern Germany and the USA
Today, Antonia lives in Kiel – “rather by chance”, as she says. She doesn’t particularly like the weather, but the proximity to the water is a real plus for her. In her free time, she enjoys sports, especially swimming. What does she miss about the USA? The vastness, the nature, the variety of landscapes.