From Supply Chain to Sustainability: Spencer Rubino-Finn’s Journey to Grow Well

In a world increasingly focused on sustainability, the path to a green career isn’t always clear cut. Meet Spencer, Grow Well's newest analyst, who's taken a unique journey from supply chain management to environmental advocacy. His story is one of passion, adaptability, and a commitment to making a difference in the face of climate change.

The Path to Grow Well 

Spencer's professional journey began in corporate America, navigating the complexities of supply chain management at L'Oreal and later, a cloud server manufacturer. During his time at L’Oreal, Spencer had a front row seat to how a multinational company dealt with climate change, as its supply chain was disrupted by roads freezing in Texas, among other consequences of global warming. He had to think on his feet in the context of the climate crisis, and anticipate obstacles despite having contingency plans in place. 

However, a growing passion for the environment led him to pursue a master's in sustainability management from Stevens Institute of Technology, bringing together his business acumen and environmental concerns. He will complete his degree later this year. “I’m sure, like many other people during COVID, I really found a passion for the environment and being outdoors.”

Joining the Grow Well Team

Spencer's technical background is an excellent fit for Grow Well’s mission of helping businesses support regenerative ag and build equitable supply chains. Drawn to the opportunity to make a tangible impact, Spencer joined the team in July 2024.

At Grow Well, Spencer uses his unique skill set to analyze data, create client-facing reports, designing dashboards, and develop actionable strategies for clients. He's particularly enthusiastic about our work supporting American egg producers holistically quantify and report their sustainability, including developing a calculator that empowers producers to track both their Scope 1 fossil, Scope 1 FLAG, and Scope 2 emissions (location- and/or market-based) all in one place.Learning about all the nuances of diverse egg production systems – caged, cage free aviary, organic, pasture-raised and more -- and how their structural differences matter in assessing and reporting their sustainability impacts, particularly climate and water metrics, has made for an informative first month .

A Personal Mission

For Spencer, helping the agriculture industry become more sustainable is a personal mission. He views the climate crisis as an urgent challenge and believes in the power of action over despair. That’s what motivated him to apply for his current position at Grow Well. "It's hard to criticize those in charge if you're not doing your part," he says. “I wanted to make sure that I was doing my own part.”

One of Spencer's key approaches to his work is the importance of effective communication in addressing the climate crisis. Rather than focusing solely on doom and gloom, he advocates for highlighting what is going right. 

Of course, the climate crisis is absolutely a dire situation, of which his generation is well aware, but in his words, “there’s a lot of good work going on… there’s a lot of people trying their best to make an impact.” By recognizing the progress being made, more people will be inspired to join the fight against climate change.

Spencer's journey may inspire you to take stock of your own career. How can you do your part to fight climate change, in your own business, job, home, community, or overall career?