Meet Jason Krychiw

What made you decide to pursue a career in sustainability?

“My background is in research science, and while I loved working in labs that covered anything from biofuels to environmental impacts, I always found it lacking a more human element. Ultimately, I wanted to help people and make a positive impact in the world and didn’t feel like I could do that behind a research bench. That led me to sustainability and working with various groups like non-profits, NGOs, and private companies. Being able to utilize my technical expertise to continue to work on the environmental side of things, while also being able to work with companies on their governance and human impact seemed like the perfect fit for me. It’s been over a decade, and it’s been the best decision I’ve made to grow my career and passion for sustainability work.”

Have you pursued any certifications that have directly impacted/improved your client work? How so?

“In the Sustainability Solutions department of Conservice, GRESB reporting is one of our busiest times of the year. Over the past two reporting cycles, I have been the lead on nearly 40 funds submitted to GRESB. While that hands-on experience helped me build a strong foundation with that work, the GRESB AP gave me a deeper technical understanding of the benchmark and helped inform ways to improve and perfect my work on submissions.

I am also actively pursuing becoming a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). Even just in preparing for this certification, the knowledge I have gained in project management has helped me guide large-scale projects for our clients and contribute to cross-department work at Conservice itself.”

If you had to define the ‘Standard of Excellence’ for a sustainability consultant/analyst in 2026, what three traits would you put at the top of the list?

“First and foremost, a successful sustainability consultant or analyst is a good translator. What I mean by that is that a big part of our sustainability work is taking complex data and/or policies and communicating them in easy-to-understand breakdowns for our clients and partners. The better someone is at explaining these topics to any audience, the better equipped they are to form lasting partnerships and build trust with the stakeholders we work with. 

Second, it is key to be able to solve problems in a variety of ways. As a consultant, we work with many different businesses and portfolio types. A similar problem across different types of funds may need completely different solutions. Being able to come at a problem from multiple different angles is invaluable. 

Last, but not least, having curiosity and a drive to continuously learn about this field. Sustainability is always changing, and having both a personal and professional interest in staying ahead of the game to forecast what comes next is useful to you, your colleagues, and your clients.”

Sustainability data and metrics can be complex. How do you ensure the integrity and quality of the metrics we provide to our clients?

“While data can be complex, our team’s outlook is to make sure it is always manageable. I am lucky to work with colleagues who are all great at their job. While everyone is an expert in their own right, we also work collaboratively between teams from the time we receive the data, through the quality check process, and ultimately to our reports and discussions with our clients. Every step of the way, we have multiple sets of eyes on our data work and leverage our data platform to ensure the highest quality is always our standard.”

Sustainability regulations are often a moving target. How do you stay ahead of emerging legislative shifts to ensure our clients aren’t just reacting, but are proactively positioned for future requirements?

“Being well-versed in the current sustainability landscape can often give us insight into what regulations or targets might come next. For example, over the last few years there has been a shift to put more emphasis on data quality and asset performance for some benchmarks. If you are seeing this trend catch on in one or two types of reports, chances are other reports or frameworks will follow suit. Staying up on the latest industry trends and applying our expertise across the sector can help us forecast future changes and help our clients feel comfortable they are in a position to respond.”

Where do you see the biggest hurdle in the sustainability landscape right now—and how is our team positioned to assist over the next few years?

“The biggest hurdle I see is how rapidly the sustainability landscape is changing. A decade ago, being able to capture data and build out a sustainability program was a “nice to have.” These days, it is a necessity. With ever-changing benchmarks, regulations, compliance, and investor requests, it can feel overwhelming for businesses to try and keep up.

To get ahead of this, our team always approaches our work with a proactive mindset. We stay up to date with the latest in sustainability and have a wealth of internal resources to help us examine and address new and emerging trends. By looking ahead and helping our clients build a sustainability program focused on these pillars, we build a strong foundation to help them create, implement, and monitor their short-term goals while also making sure they are prepared to address whatever comes next.”

What is one misconception you often find yourself debunking when you engage with clients or stakeholders that don’t have much previous experience with sustainability?

“One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that sustainability efforts cost more than they’re worth. While yes, sustainability upgrades or programs may require upfront capital, this investment frequently lowers operating costs and creates savings in the long term. I personally believe sustainability can be summarized in five words: risk mitigation and value creation. If you are putting in the effort to mitigate things like climate risk impact on business operations, you could be saving in the long run by avoiding disruptions to supply chains and other resources. If you see an opportunity for high-efficiency upgrades at buildings, you can save on utilities and wasted energy. These have a positive impact on the environment as well, so looking at sustainability through this lens is a win-win.”

The right sustainability strategy starts with the right partner. Conservice helps real estate organizations prepare for changing regulations, strengthen reporting, and uncover opportunities across every asset.

Talk with a sustainability expert today.