Our Head of Customer Success in JAPAC, Niki Banerjee, provides insight into his role at Scope3, how his eye-opening experiences of the natural world have fuelled his passion to decarbonise digital advertising, and his ambitions for the company and wider industry.

This series offers a glimpse into the lives of the change makers at Scope3 and what drives them to create a more sustainable ad industry. (5-minute read)

What are your core responsibilities as Head of Customer Success in JAPAC?

I’m the main person responsible for the implementations with publishers. What that means is that I work with publisher and ad tech partners globally to make our emissions model as accurate as possible and help them identify key opportunities to reduce their emissions.

I also help agencies and media buyers in the Asia-Pacific region to integrate Scope3’s carbon emissions data into their day-to-day operations and make more sustainable business decisions.

If Scope3 could achieve one thing over the next five years, what would you want it to be?

I hope that in five years’ time, governments and institutions will look at the media and advertising industry as the role model for when it comes to decarbonisation. Within that timeframe, this industry needs to have doubled its current efforts so that everyone involved feels inspired with a sense of communal, effective action.

We can’t do it alone; we need partners. Helping decarbonise an entire industry is a humbling role, which requires a joint effort in order to trigger genuine change. Our goal isn’t based on profits, but something much bigger than that.

It will take the work of many across our industry, but I’m confident that we - as a collective - can lead the way, and I know that Scope3 has an essential role to play in that.

What’s been the best piece of career advice you’ve received?

“Done is better than perfect”.

This is something I personally remind myself of each day. Perfectionism was a real weakness for me, and I was just taking too long to complete tasks. In a start-up, absolute perfection isn’t necessarily the best attitude or approach to start with.

It’s about recognising that everything has to start somewhere. We’re not perfect, and accomplishing something is better than doing nothing.

At this point, estimations don’t have to be 100% exact to understand that change needs to be made – we know the overall impact that these activities are having on our planet. It’s an continuously evolving challenge, but something we’re willing to embrace.

With 2030 rapidly approaching, and the rhythm at which our climate is deteriorating still at alarming levels, we can’t afford to wait for science to be perfect.

What is your favourite sustainable product or idea?

Imagine this. You are at a restaurant, and the menu features four columns: dish name, ingredients, price and… the total carbon emissions produced in that specific dish being sourced, made and delivered to the table.

Do you think you’d order differently? I know I would. If you have good data, you’re empowered to make good decisions.

What is one lifestyle change you have made to be more sustainable?

Since I met my wife nine years ago, I have heavily reduced my consumption of meat products. During this time, I’ve realised that the more sustainable choice is often the most economical one in the long term.

Buying vast quantities of meat as part of your diet isn’t always the healthiest, most cost-effective, or longest-lasting way of buying food. Sustainable products often save you money and last longer - and this doesn’t just apply to food.

When you make sustainable decisions, there are often additional benefits. Our next step is installing solar panels at home.

Name one natural wonder that you find most awe-inspiring.

In 2014, I went on an eye-opening backpacking trip across a few countries in South America where I had the chance to see several of the continent’s natural wonders, including: Iguazu Falls between Argentina and Brazil, the Uyuni Salt Flat in Bolivia, and the mountains of Machu Picchu in Peru. These stunning natural landmarks are worth fighting for.

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