SBIO Alumni Interview: Kevin Mikita, Sustainability Consultant, Schneider Electric
"Studying Sustainable Biomaterials taught me the ability to think at a systems-level. Instead of looking at a problem as a singular issue, expand your perspective to consider outside factors. This is a critical skill in sustainability as environmental, social, and governance issues are often severely intertwined."
- Kevin Mikita, 2022 B.S., SBIO Alumni
Describe yourself in a couple sentences: where are you from, what degrees do you have, when did you graduate from VT, and give us some basics about your home life:
"Hi everyone! My name is Kevin Mikita and I graduated from Virginia Tech in the spring of 2022. While at VT, I studied Sustainable Biomaterials with a focus on Creating a Sustainable Society. I grew up near Richmond, Virginia with three siblings. As for my go-to fun fact, I have a twin brother and my younger brother and sister are also twins.
As for some more recently exciting events in my life, I got engaged this past February in Iceland! Believe it or not, my fiance and I met at Virginia Tech during our freshman orientation and were friends right from the jump. We both lived in the same Living Learning Community for two years and started dating a week into the COVID pandemic. We live happily in Raleigh NC and have a little furry son named Bubba. I play in a recreational kickball league and I am also an avid foodie who has learned to cook. You can often find me at a restaurant with plenty of appetizers or playing a sport around the city."
What was your major in the SBIO department and what made you choose that major?
"While at Virginia Tech, I majored in Sustainable Biomaterials and minored in Chemistry and History. This may seem like a bit of an odd combination, but I began my journey at Virginia Tech as a Biochemistry student dead-set on studying genetics. After two years of classes and research experience, I realized that I did not want to continue down that path. So after some soul searching and late night research sessions, I found the Sustainable Biomaterials department. I was quickly enthralled with the idea of a circular economy and sustainability. I changed majors at the start of my junior year and never looked back. I found purpose and excitement in the idea of creating a system of environmental and social equity in a world where this is often missing."
What jobs have you had since graduation, and what is your current job title?
"After graduating in the spring of 2022, I started as a Sustainability Analyst in Schneider Electric’s Sustainability Leadership Program (SLP). This program, designed for recent graduates, allowed me to explore all there is to know about corporate sustainability. After two years in the program, I started my current position as a Sustainability Consultant. This position focuses on ESG strategy setting, regulatory compliance, and corporate target-setting. "
How did your choice of major and your education at VT help you decide on and qualify for your current position?
"Studying Sustainable Biomaterials taught me the ability to think at a systems-level. In other words, instead of looking at a problem as a singular issue, expand your perspective to consider outside factors. This is a critical skill in sustainability as environmental, social, and governance issues are often severely intertwined. In order to solve such a problem as this, one needs to step back and view the entire system.
Additionally, the department allowed me to demonstrate my skills and expertise in the field of circular economy by participating in research papers and symposiums. Dr. Russell adamantly supported my development and was a significant driver for my success as an undergraduate. "
What does a typical workday look like for your current position?
"As a Sustainability Consultant, no two days are the same. My position is primarily external facing, which means that my work is done with clients who are not Schneider Electric. A consultant will have anywhere from 6-8 clients at a time across a broad range of topics. About 60% of my day is spent in meetings about my client projects, either internal with my team or external with the client itself. This type of job requires very strong written and oral communication skills. While technical skills like calculating a greenhouse gas emissions inventory are important, soft skills that allow me to translate complex and confusing topics to my clients are absolutely necessary."
What have you learned in your SBIO department classes, or through your overall time at VT, that’s helped you the most with your career?
"In addition to what I mentioned earlier, I have grown to appreciate the collaboration opportunities that SBIO and VT provided me. Opportunities to collaborate with other students, graduate students, and professors expanded my perspectives. As a sustainability professional, I have found that the most successful people in my field and in others are those that can bring people together. This manifests itself through creating a non-profit of 100 people or bringing together two experts in different fields through sheer curiosity. In order to solve the truly Wicked problems this world presents, experts and advocates from every corner of the planet will need to come together and work to make the world a better place."
