Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Hanneken. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sarah, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
My sense of purpose has roots going as far back as my childhood, arising out of my lifelong love of animals. Ever since I was a young girl, I have identified as an animal lover. I always preferred toy animals over dolls, grew incensed at the sight of roadkill, wrote “RIP” on packages of meat in the fridge, and chastised my grade school classmates for going deer hunting with their parents. (I wasn’t a popular child.) But it all really clicked into place when I learned about the horrors of factory farming. That very same day I gave up all animal products and decided to dedicate my life and career to ending the systematic exploitation of animals. A sense of purpose arose in me like a geyser. I couldn’t staunch it if I tried. So, in short, I think I found my sense of purpose by deeply honoring an aspect of my identity that was always with me (“animal lover”) and finding ways to channel that interest into action.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am an attorney for the Good Food Institute (GFI), a nonprofit think tank and international network of organizations working to accelerate alternative protein innovation. I came to this work after spending nearly a decade working in the field of animal law, where I pursued strategic impact litigation and legislative initiatives targeting the exploitative factory farming model. While I still believe such proactive legal work on behalf of factory farmed animals is critical, a few years ago I decided to pivot to helping with the creation of sustainable, tasty, affordable alternatives to such factory farmed products. These “alternative proteins,” as we call them, aim to offer the same or better nutrition, taste, and performance as conventional meat, but without the enormous carbon footprint, zoonotic disease risk, land/water use, deforestation, and of course animal suffering. Most people do not want their purchases to fuel such horrific externalities, but many also feel they don’t have viable alternatives to the meat, cheese, and eggs they rely on to feed themselves and their families. This is where the work of the Good Food Institute comes in.
Alternative proteins include both the plant-based meats everyone is already familiar with (e.g., Impossible and Beyond), as well as proteins made via fermentation technology or the cultivation of animal cells. GFI works to improve the taste, affordability, and accessibility of these products so that everyone can eat in accordance with their ethics and not feel like they need to sacrifice while doing so.
By advancing the development and adoption of alternative proteins, we will ultimately feed more people with fewer resources, and meat lovers can have their steak and eat it too – no suffering involved.
You can learn more about my organization’s work at GFI.org
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
(1) Initiative – This one seems pretty obvious, but I’m often surprised at the lack of initiative I see in individuals hoping to break into a field. I would not have gotten to where I am today without constantly finding opportunities to prove my worth. Find ways to get involved your field of interest, even if you have to simply volunteer at first. If you can’t find a formal internship or volunteer position, consider writing a research paper or journal article on a topic of interest in your field, then share that work with orgs and leaders who might be impressed by it. Show up to conferences/events, even if you have to pay your own way (though many event organizers offer scholarships if you cannot afford to attend). Some examples of initiatives I took in my journey: I convinced my law school to let me sign up for a class I didn’t have all the prerequisites for, because it was being taught by an adjunct professor who worked at an org I really wanted a job at. I wrote a law review article on a topic the animal law field commonly dealt with. I pursued an internship with the org I hoped to be hired at, and I continued my work for them on an unpaid basis after my internship was over. That gave me a strong foot in the door when a full-time position eventually opened there. I also attended every conference and symposium that I could afford to get myself to.
(2) Writing skills – My field (law) relies heavily on the written word, so becoming a stellar writer was absolutely necessary in order to demonstrate my value and effectively communicate my knowledge. This is true of many disciplines, so if it also applies to yours and writing isn’t your strong suit, really dedicate time to improve on this skill. If you have a lot of knowledge but can’t effectively communicate about it, your prospects (and impact) will suffer.
(3) Relationships – This is somewhat related to “taking initiative” (#1 above), but it deserves its own mention as it is exceptionally important, regardless of what your goals are. Whether you want to break into a career field, or simply persuade someone to do something (e.g., buy a product, vote for a candidate, stop mowing their lawn at 7 AM), developing relationships will be key. Ideally these relationships will develop organically, e.g., becoming friends with the same people you see over and over at conferences and events. For better or worse, the old phrase “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is all too accurate (though *what* you know also typically matters a great deal). In any case, make your face a friendly and familiar one, and you’ll go much further.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Ending deeply engrained systems of animal and environmental exploitation ultimately requires changing hearts and minds, which is no easy task. But I’ve come to realize that changing people’s attitudes and behaviors is much easier when you frame your message in a way that aligns with the values of your particular audience. In other words, in order to effect change, we need to understand basic human psychology and become amateur marketing professionals. Don’t assume that the same talking points that worked on you will resonate with others. Do your research before talking to any person or group about an issue: Speak to *their* values (not yours), and explain how the behavior change you’re advocating for is both super easy AND more aligned with their own values than their current behavior is.
Faunalytics, a fabulous organization that I am on the board of, recently published a study that delves into an example of this strategy in action: https://faunalytics.org/bridging-u-s-conservative-values-and-animal-protection/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gfi.org/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahhanneken/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOGnJbUSyBdSfAfFg7ZucPA
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
