Tina Baselice

I attribute my success to a combination of curiosity, urgency, and a belief that how we communicate complex issues is as important as the solutions themselves. I didn’t set out to build a career in sustainability communications—it found me—but I’ve embraced it wholeheartedly, guided by a desire to make technical, often challenging topics accessible, credible, and actionable.

My professional journey began in corporate communications and public relations, where I focused on brand response and reputation strategy, including high-profile sustainability initiatives for global organizations such as McDonald’s. This experience revealed the tension companies face when economic pressures intersect with climate commitments and helped me identify my core strength: translating complex realities into narratives that resonate with people and drive understanding.

Today, I focus on sustainability and climate communications, with an emphasis on stakeholder engagement. I support organizations navigating ESG reporting, sustainability goal resets, and evolving expectations from media, investors, employees, and communities. In an era when sustainability messaging can be cautious or muted, I take pride in helping clients communicate honestly, responsibly, and with context. Parallel to my professional work, I remain deeply connected to academia. I’ve worked with the University of Oregon in Portland and the University of Texas in Austin, currently serve on the UT board, and actively participate in Austin’s sustainability ecosystem, including a local practitioners group where peers exchange ideas and insights. This ongoing engagement informs my work and ensures I stay connected to the real-world challenges and opportunities shaping the field.

The best career advice I ever received came from Catherine, a former CNN producer in media and communications. She encouraged me not to stay neatly within my lane, but to actively learn across disciplines—editorial, production, strategy, and policy—because perspective is a professional advantage. She believed the strongest communicators understand how decisions are made upstream and how messages land downstream. That advice continues to shape how I work: I focus not just on what we’re saying, but why it matters, who it affects, and how different audiences will interpret it. Broadening my perspective has made me a more thoughtful and credible communicator, and it’s a practice I maintain every day.

My advice to young women entering this industry is to bring enduring curiosity and commit to continuous learning. The field evolves quickly, so staying informed on emerging issues, nuances, and innovations is essential. Seek mentors and champions who broaden your perspective and provide practical experience—these relationships are invaluable for growth, skill development, and building confidence as you navigate your career.

One of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—in my field right now is navigating the volatile U.S. policy landscape. I help corporate clients communicate sustainability goal resets with clarity and technical precision while managing media and stakeholder reactions during complex or challenging announcements. This work requires balancing transparency, credibility, and strategic messaging, and it presents an opportunity to shape how organizations demonstrate accountability and leadership in sustainability.

The value that drives me most is curiosity—about systems, about people, and about how we can improve. In an impact-driven field like sustainability, alignment with your work matters deeply, and I prioritize meaningful, responsible action. Mentorship has been critical in shaping my career, and I believe in learning across disciplines and generations. Outside of work, I find balance through fitness, thrifting, and spending time near water—reminders that sustainability is personal, not abstract.