From Revelation to Revolution:
The EXceptional Journey of a Circular Economy Pioneer

From Revelation to Revolution: The EXceptional Journey of a Circular Economy Pioneer

Confronting the Truth

When Louise Nash looked back at her successful 20-year career creating extraordinary experiences for global brands like Disney, she faced a confronting realisation.

Watching news coverage about how plastic pollution is impacting marine life and children marching in climate protests, Louise was forced to examine her work's environmental impact.

“I looked back at my illustrious career, creating all these amazing things with really creative designers and amazing, talented people and sort of the realisation that 99% of it ended up in the environment. And that's hugely confronting," Louise shares. That confronting moment became her catalyst for change. Through academyEX's Master of Technological Futures programme, she didn't just find a new direction - she pioneered a movement that's now helping businesses worldwide reimagine their relationship with waste. Her journey from successful designer to global sustainability leader shows how a deeply personal insight, combined with the right learning environment, can transform an entire industry.

Transformation Through Education

What sets Louise's journey apart is her approach to transformation. "The first thing I needed to train businesses in, is how to love the problem," she explains. "Everyone has that intent. They don't realise how to translate it practically." This philosophy has led to remarkable outcomes, including helping Profile Group eliminate millions of dollars worth of packaging waste – enough single-use plastic to wrap a quarter of the planet annually.

Like academyEX's approach of 'freedom within a framework', Louise's success demonstrates how the educational space can spark real-world transformation. Through Circularity and xLabs, she's now empowered over 25,000 individuals and implemented more than 168 strategies across diverse sectors. What began as a learning journey has evolved into a movement that's helping businesses worldwide redesign their approach to working with nature.

Creating a Natural Future

Most striking is Louise's fresh perspective on environmental action. "I have no idea where someone decided to wake up and design an economy that doesn't work with nature," she observes. Her focus on "working with nature, not against it" reflects a deeper understanding of business's role in environmental stewardship, moving beyond sustainability to true systemic change.

Looking ahead to 2025, Louise's vision continues to expand. Circularity is signing global contracts to take their XLAB circular economy programme worldwide, while simultaneously developing innovative reusable container systems for mainstream environments. "Human beings are infinitely adaptable," Louise affirms. "We have always adapted to our environment around us in every single moment that we live. And so we can do this."

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Join the Movement

Louise's story reminds us that exceptional impact often begins with uncomfortable truths and the courage to address them. Whether you're a business leader seeking to reduce environmental impact or an individual looking to contribute to meaningful change, the first step might be as simple as learning to love the problem.

To learn more about Louise Louise's work in circular economy, visit circularity.co.nz or follow Circularity on LinkedIn.

Your Future at academyEX

For those ready to begin their own transformation journey, academyEX offers various programmes, from full masters degrees to micro-credentials, all designed to empower the next generation of change-makers.

In a world seeking solutions, Louise's journey from corporate strategist to environmental pioneer shows us that with the right education, mindset, and support, we can redesign our world for the better. Learn more at academyex.com.