In this deeply personal reflection, I look back on a transformative year — 2025 — where I sold my business after nearly two decades of leading in sustainability consulting. I talk honestly about: The emotional journey of letting go and redefining identity. How personal resilience and honesty shaped recovery through challenging times. Why relationships, empathy, and optimism matter more than money. What leadership and purpose mean in a world needing real sustainability change. If you’re an entrepreneur, sustainability leader, or anyone navigating transition and self‑discovery, this video is for you. Watch as I open up about what I’ve learned, what I value now, and what’s next — blending lessons from Green Element, 51 to Carbon Zero, and two decades of helping businesses create positive environmental impact. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:15 Lessons from 2025 04:40 Selling the Business & Letting Go 07:20 Finding Stability and Purpose 10:30 The Future Vision: Freedom, Family, and the Sea Keywords for SEO: sustainability leadership, selling your business, founder reflections, mental resilience, sustainable entrepreneurship, purpose‑driven business, net zero strategy, climate leadership, Will Richardson, Green Element, 51 to Carbon Zero Subscribe for more reflections, conversations, and tools on building purpose‑driven, sustainable organisations: @WilliamRichardson
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UPCOMING WEBINAR: The Scope 3 Blind Spot: What Your Supplier Data Isn't Telling You
Scope 3 emissions are often the biggest contributor to an organisation’s carbon footprint, yet many businesses are making decisions based on incomplete, outdated or estimated supplier data.
In this webinar, we’ll explore the biggest blind spots in supplier emissions data, why they matter for reporting and decarbonisation, and how leading organisations are moving beyond spreadsheets and assumptions to build a more accurate, scalable approach to Scope 3.
LIVE ATTENDANCE BONUS: complimentary gap audit of your top 10 suppliers.
Wednesday 16 September | 1pm BST
https://www.51tocarbonzero.com/webinar-supply-chain/
September Webinar
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I'm Will Richardson, Head of Ecosystems at 51toCarbonZero and a sustainability advisor with 25 years in the field. I founded Green Element in 2004 and spent two decades building it into one of Europe's most respected sustainability consultancies before it merged with 51toCarbonZero in November 2025.
Climate action is both an obligation and an opportunity, and that's the thread running through everything I write here. I co-created Compare Your Footprint, carbon accounting software recognised as a key player in the Global Carbon Accounting Software Market, and I'm a Fellow of IEMA and a Chartered Environmentalist.
Each week, I break down what's actually happening in sustainability: the data, the regulation, the greenwash worth calling out, and the practical steps businesses can take right now. No jargon, no doom-mongering, just clear thinking for people who need to make real decisions.
I also host the Sustainability Solved podcast with Charlie Luxton, 200+ episodes and counting, where we talk to the people building the solutions.
Based in Scotland. Writing for business leaders who want sustainability to make commercial sense, not just moral sense.
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