Lucile Batut
Sustainable Finance Transformation
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Lucile's Introduction

Wearing the double hat of finance and sustainability, I support finance departments in their transformation towards sustainability. With a management degree from a top business school in France, I have a multi-faceted experience from complementary positions I have held in business finance: from auditor to consolidation accountant, project manager, management controller and finance director.

In addition to my background in financial business partnering, I am passionate about enabling change in companies, always looking after my teams and colleagues to create the conditions for collective success.

What brought you to sustainability?

As a French person living in Asia since 2019, I saw the recent disruptions of our world as another warning sign that I could no longer ignore. At the same time, I felt that my professional career needed a deeper purpose. I started my journey with the Climate Fresk, first as a participant. It was here that I realised I had my own role to play: spreading the word, educating, harnessing collective intelligence, encouraging people to focus on solutions. So I became a Climate Fresk facilitator.

Deeply convinced that business has a crucial role to play in the transition, I decided to take further action and got involved with The Matcha Initiative. With a strong sense of community, I immediately felt at home in a place where we share, connect and plant seeds. Change management is in my DNA and the transition to a "just and safe space for humanity" (K. Raworth) is probably the biggest change management process of our time. So, here I am!

Which sustainable actions are you in charge of or have you implemented in your organisation?

At The Matcha Initiative, I am part of the working group for the Sustainability Accounting and Sustainable Finance category. I use my broad experience of the finance ecosystem in large and small companies to define practical methodologies and speak the language of CFOs. Enthusiastic about knowledge sharing, training and facilitation, I am also responsible for organising The Matcha Initiative's masterclasses, managing the events and coordinating the content with the trainers.

I also enjoy facilitating Climate Fresk workshops, for children and for adults. To equip myself with both academic and practical skills, I completed in 2023 the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership's 8-week course 'Business and climate change: towards net zero emissions'. I learnt more about driving change towards a net zero future, leveraging collaboration and innovation in business to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Which challenges did you meet and how did you overcome them?

When I got involved in sustainability, the first challenge I faced was how to deal with a task that is so big: the more you dig into it, the broader you realise it is. It can be overwhelming. Following some good advice, I decided to choose a vertical, to focus and consolidate in one area. The sustainable development topics are so intertwined that I knew picking one area would not make me lose sight of the big challenges. That is why I chose the course "Business and climate change: towards net zero emissions" instead of the course "Sustainability Business Management" from Cambridge (CISL).

The former was more specific and fitted in well with my financial background. Secondly, going back to school and discussing with sustainability experts, seem challenging when you consider the amount of knowledge you have to catch up with. To overcome this, I decided not to try to compete with these experts, but instead to bring my lenses, my hands-on experience among 'ordinary people' who are not familiar with sustainability. This allows me to keep my language simple and accessible to a wider audience.

What are you most proud of?

Volunteering for TMI made me step out of my comfort zone and try new things. I am proud of breaking down barriers and building bridges: between Europe and Asia; between finance and sustainability; between business and NGOs; between people and nature. It all resonates with one of my core values: Harmony.

What would be your top 3 pieces of advice to the Matcha Initiative users?
  • Open your shakras: meet people, dare to trust, listen to side issues - even if you think they are not your core focus, you may be pleasantly surprised.
  • Take action: baby steps, testing and learning are the best way to move forward and refine your vision.
  • Connect with nature: it is a tremendous source of energy and will help you refocus when you feel overwhelmed.
In which field could you help The Matcha Initiative users as a buddy?
  • Experience Sharing
  • Expertise Sharing
Please describe how you could help The Matcha Initiative users as a buddy?

I am happy to share my knowledge and experience in business finance, educational design, team engagement and cross-functional alignment. As a member of the coordination team, I have a good overview of all of The Matcha Initiative's activities and ecosystem. I am also good at bringing people together and connecting the dots.

Lucile's 3 main sustainability skills

Accounting / Net Zero Path / Education

Lucile kindly accepts to answer your questions.

If you need additional insights, you can send her a message.