From Mines to Minds

When George Lytwynyshyn started his career in 1974, he was about as far away from today’s definition of sustainability as possible.

Fresh out of Northwestern with a Bachelor of Science in geological sciences, his first job involved computerizing coal mining operations for increased efficiency. It was a cutting-edge endeavor to lay out a computerized plan for the entire life of the mine, but it was hardly what anyone 50 years later would consider an effort in sustainability.

It also upset some employees at his company.

“Nobody was doing things the way we were doing them, and I had a lot of angry draftsmen who thought their jobs were being taken away,” Lytwynyshyn said. “But then they realized they'd have jobs in the computerized section, and things were OK.”

That early experience applying new technology to traditional industries and dealing with change-resistant employees sparked Lytwynyshyn’s lifelong passion for finding practical, innovative solutions to complex problems. It is that search for answers that ultimately led Lytwynyshyn away from coal mines and toward more sustainable practices.

Over a 50-year career, he has worked on everything from cleaning hazardous waste sites to developing corporate sustainability programs.

Now, as an adjunct professor in Northwestern Engineering’s Master of Science in Project Management (MPM) program, Lytwynyshyn shares industry perspectives with his students. He currently teaches Economics of Sustainability.

Lytwynyshyn’s approach to teaching sustainability is deeply rooted in his practical experience. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the broader context of environmental projects.

“You don't have to be the expert, but you need to know enough about everything, and you need to know how to bring groups of people together,” Lytwynyshyn said. “You need to know who all the stakeholders are, what all their issues are – from special interest groups to the corporate CEO.”

This comprehensive view of project management in sustainability is what helps set Lytwynyshyn’s course apart. He draws on his vast experience to teach students not just the technical aspects, but also the crucial soft skills needed in the field.

Lytwynyshyn challenges students to think critically about what true sustainability means. When asked to name sustainable companies, students often cite businesses with electric vehicle fleets or renewable energy use. But Lytwynyshyn pushes them to consider factors beyond just environmental impact.

“We call it ‘Economics of Sustainability’ because people tend to think there's some magic to make sustainability economical. There’s not,” he said. “Sustainability is not just environmental. There’s human capital, there’s social capital, there’s resource capital, and there’s actual capital and environmental footprints. It all plays together.”

This holistic view comes from Lytwynyshyn's career. During his half-century of professional experience, he has worked for coal companies, engineering firms, and manufacturing corporations. Most recently, he served as corporate director of environmental management for a multinational company.

Throughout his career, Lytwynyshyn has seen how sustainability efforts often falter when technical experts fail to understand business realities.

“The goal isn’t that you are the expert and everybody should listen to you,” Lytwynyshyn said. “You need to understand what our client needs out of this, and you need to focus your work on solving their problem.”

It is these kinds of insights Lytwynyshyn hopes to impart to his students, accelerating their learning curve so they can make an impact faster in their careers.

For Lytwynyshyn, the journey from coal mines to classrooms has been one of constant learning and adaptation. He sees his role now as a bridge between the industrial past and a sustainable future.

“What excites me is seeing the light bulb go off when they understand their goal isn’t to be the best engineer or scientist,” Lytwynyshyn said. "Rather, they see the goal is to bring a concept into fruition, to finally see something happen that is positive.”