5 essential skills necessary for success in ESG consulting

Are you an ESG consultant wondering how to take your support even further? How can you broaden your offering to include other dimensions of the ecological and social transition?

To help you see things more clearly, we’re going to take a look at the skills you need to be an ESG consultant.

This article is also an opportunity to check what you’ve already learned, to identify the skills you’re already applying to your assignments, and to pinpoint the areas you could develop further.

Essential Skill #1 – Knowing how to manage a project in a structured way

An ESG consultant doesn’t just make recommendations, they support long-term initiatives.

This means :

• planning actions,
• coordinating several people,
• monitoring indicators,
• respecting deadlines and budgets,
• and adjusting priorities according to feedback from the field.

These project management skills are essential, as they enable you to transform a CSR strategy into a concrete action plan.

👉 If you’ve ever kept a back schedule, managed stakeholders or coordinated a team, you’ve already laid the foundations for this skill.

Essential skill #2 – Adopting a listening and advisory posture

The success of a CSR project depends largely on the consultant’s ability to understand his or her environment, identify the relevant levers for action… and propose realistic, appropriate solutions.

This requires :

• good listening skills,
• an open, non-prescriptive attitude,
• and the ability to adapt to a variety of people.

👉If you know how to create a climate of trust, reformulate a customer’s needs or adapt your discourse according to your interlocutors, you’re already in the right posture.

Essential skill #3 – Mastering data analysis

LThe ecological and social transition is also measured by indicators.

More and more companies need to monitor their extra-financial impacts: greenhouse gas emissions, professional equality, waste management, etc.

A CSR consultant must therefore be comfortable with:

• data collection and structuring,
• analyzing indicators,
• and interpreting results to guide decision-making.

👉If Excel spreadsheets don’t scare you, and you’re used to basing your recommendations on factual elements, this skill is surely already in your palette..

Essential Skill #4 – Mobilizing stakeholders

La mImplementing a CSR strategy requires the commitment of employees, partners and even customers.

The consultant’s role also involves :

• raise awareness,
• lead workshops,
• foster collective intelligence,
• and create a positive dynamic around the issues at stake.

Skills in communication, facilitation, training or change management are therefore particularly valuable.

👉If you’ve ever led a group, put across a complex message with pedagogy, or facilitated collective decision-making, you’ve got a real lever to activate here.

Essential skill #5 – Having a solid CSR culture

It is essential to master the fundamentals of sustainable development and CSR:

• major issues (climate, biodiversity, inclusion…),
• reference frameworks (ISO 26000, ODD, CSRD…),
• levers for action within the company.

But the good news is that you don’t need to know everything about every subject.

The idea is to build up a general ESG culture, solid enough to understand global dynamics, dialogue with stakeholders and steer projects in the right direction.

Over time, you may choose to specialize (for example, in climate, low-carbon strategy, diversity or value chain) – and above all, you’ll learn to surround yourself: as an ESG consultant, you’re never alone in carrying out the transformation.

👉 If you regularly read up on these subjects, take part in training courses or exchange ideas with peers to enrich your vision, you’re already on your way.

In conclusion: an accessible but demanding profession

As you can see, becoming a CSR consultant is not just a question of technical skills, but also of attitude, adaptability and a cross-functional vision of the company.

If you have experience in project management, coaching, data analysis or communications, you already have a solid foundation.

And if today you feel the need to strengthen your CSR baggage to structure a more complete offering, we suggest a simple first step:

👉 Join more than 3,500 readers on the free mini-course “CSR Fundamentals.” (in French)

In 4 days, you’ll receive by email the essentials for a better understanding of the issues, players and levers for action in CSR consulting.

About the author

I’m Sarah Scappaticci, founder of La Baraque à Impact, a structure dedicated to helping (future) CSR consultants develop their business and their consulting skills.

Since 2024, I’ve had the good fortune to support over 60 people in their transition to the CSR consulting profession.