Nurturing ecosystems and developing talent: How Alvaro supports nature and people

Creating greater impact

Alvaro had worked as an engineer for many years when he began to realise that he wanted to see his work have greater impact on the world around him; he wanted to play a role in solving the most serious climate challenges affecting cities and communities today.

“I wanted to help protect the nature that I so deeply care about and to work on a more global scale, on projects that help communities that are really suffering the impacts of climate change. And I get to do that at Ramboll,” he continues. “For me, aligning my personal ambitions and interests with the work I do means everything.”

Alvaro has now worked at Ramboll for six years and feels that his work aligns with his drive to protect the natural world. And as a water expert, he sees water as a living stakeholder and strives to work with it, not against it.

Having started in Ramboll’s International Water & Climate Resilience department, Alvaro has made quick advances at the company. In his time at Ramboll he has gone from project manager to deputy head of department, driven by his passion for leading people and for mentoring the next generation of climate resilience professionals.

Leading collaboratively

Alvaro believes that being humble and really listening are two of the most important things you can do as a leader to build great teams.

“As a leader, I think it's important to set clear objectives without dictating the exact path that needs to be taken to achieve them. I bring my colleagues into the process of shaping that path, learning from each other, and fostering a culture of co-creation, group agency, and professional freedom. And I try to stay curious and understand that there isn’t one right way to achieve the results we’re after.”

“In our department we also try to hire people who are great at the things we’re not; people with other skillsets, perspectives, or experiences. I try to prioritise listening and trusting in their expertise.

Interdisciplinary teams work best

When working at a global scale and on international projects, having a mix of disciplines is essential.

“It’s not just about the engineers – you need biologists, sociologists, urban planners, geographers, climate scientists, and economists, too. The engineers need to hear what the sociologists and economists say and you need to make sure people feel comfortable questioning assumptions. This is the humble and curious approach that I encourage my teams to embrace. This is also what clients expect of us. There is always something to learn from other disciplines and this mindset is an integral part of Ramboll’s culture.”

“At Ramboll, you’re also surrounded by an extraordinary amount of expertise. You can always find someone that has the knowledge you need. We have great tools to enable collaboration across the company and combined with a general willingness to share knowledge and help each other the learning and development you can do in a short time is incredible.”

Empowering the next generation

Aside from building interdisciplinary teams, Alvaro is committed to helping his colleagues grow by providing a work environment that supports their development and aligns with their personal values.

“I co-lead the development of interns and students in our department. It’s so rewarding to see young people grow and develop their capabilities. And it’s so important to get their fresh perspectives. Encouraging early career professionals to work as peers with experienced colleagues is key to challenging norms and driving innovation.”

“And you know, the work must be personally rewarding. It must be fun,” he says, with a smile. “Don’t get me wrong – we are working to solve serious climate-related challenges. But it really needs to be work we enjoy. For our sake and for the sake of the project because we do better work when we’re engaged.”