On Rubble and Resilience: Introducing BeechTree

The work is hard, but the work is good. 

 

-Bruce Springsteen

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While pursuing my master’s degree, I conducted research on how a lack of environmental management in post-disaster settings can expose people to new, knock-on crises down the line. The work centered on the recovery efforts in Haiti following the devastating 2010 earthquake, which killed hundreds of thousands of people and caused unimaginable physical damage. It was an experience that fundamentally changed my worldview. And my career path. 

To this day, 13 years later, I continue to think about one particular site visit. In a severely damaged neighborhood in Port-au-Prince, I met a man who, with modest technical support from an NGO, started a business crushing, bagging, and selling rubble to create aggregate for the concrete used in the reconstruction of his city. Using a pocket calculator strung around his neck, he briskly talked me through how many bags of aggregate he could produce when workers were available and the machines didn’t break down. He was clear-eyed about the grim task ahead of him: transforming the remnants of a disaster – the homes of his friends and neighbors – into something that, he hoped, would be safer, better, and more lasting. 

Ultimately, he said, what choice did he have?

All these years later, a small piece of that rubble sits on my desk. It serves as a tangible reminder of why I opted to spend my career dedicated to solving the challenges posed by global environmental change.

On Climate and Talent in 2025

The past six months have dealt a heavy blow to the climate and resilience communities. Much like the man in Port-au-Prince, the sector must now look at the current landscape and determine how, in the face of accelerating emissions, increasingly severe climate shocks, and an actively hostile administration, we can find creative, lasting solutions.

Having stood shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the leading thinkers working on climate solutions across academia, government, and the private sector, I am confident that the engine of innovation remains intact even if the body has a few fresh dents. Even before the Trump administration took action to destroy the sector, getting a job in the climate field required years of training, advanced analytical skills, and the ability to communicate to a diverse set of stakeholders. Simply put, the professionals in this sector are some of the smartest, most driven people in the world, capable and ready to transform the rubble generated by the current political climate into lasting solutions. Which raises the question, what happens to the bench of talent looking to solve humanity’s most pressing problem?  

The good news: the talent pool is unbelievably rich.

The challenge: It is a complicated, nuanced field with professionals scattered across the globe.

The solution: a search firm that truly understands the climate and environmental arena.

Enter, BeechTree. 

Introducing BeechTree 

Today marks the launch of BeechTree, a boutique executive search and consulting firm focused on addressing climate risk. Born under and inspired by the resilience of the American beech tree, BeechTree exists to support those doing the hard work of addressing our planet’s most urgent challenges.

We operate in a very specific space. Our focus is supporting organizations of all stripes grappling with climate change, biodiversity loss, resilience, and related challenges to identify senior-level technical expertise and organizational leadership. We are a purposefully low-volume firm, focused on partnering with our clients at all stages - from scoping the role to ensuring a successful hire.

Our team brings nearly three decades of technical experience to the table. Both Dr. Abrahams and Dr. Warren are established leaders in their field and have years of direct experience across topics such as climate change and resilience, international development, food and water security, critical minerals, conservation, and climate finance. 

What’s Next?

For now, this is merely an introduction. Stay tuned for more updates.

In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to Daniel at daniel@beechtreesearch.com to discuss how we can support organizations looking to tap the world’s top climate talent. 

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