Jenny Huynh is proof positive that one can leverage core skills to segue into a dream job.
Now a global sustainability manager at apparel companies and sister brands Alo Yoga and Bella + Canvas, she embarked on a career in corporate sustainability after several years in the fast-paced field of public accounting and financial auditing.
Her transition to a career dedicated to sustainable stewardship in the apparel industry was a gradual one. “A career doesn’t have to be linear,” she says. “You can always pivot and find something different.”
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration from Chapman University, Huynh – a native of Irvine – went on to earn her CPA and work in public accounting for nearly six years, including working internationally for global powerhouse KPMG in Zurich, Switzerland and for a smaller firm in Irvine.
While in Europe she realized “accounting was not my dream. I wanted to find something I was more passionate about.” Zurich, she says, is a very progressive city where people take pride in their environment. “I spent a lot of time there volunteering and connecting with people on a human level and also discovered that the field of corporate sustainability existed as a profession. When I was in college, corporate social responsibility was under the radar but now it is mainstream. After I realized this, it became clear what I wanted to do and I became passionate about moving forward.”
Inspired by what she had learned in Zurich, she returned to Orange County to delve into the field of sustainability – landing an accounting job at Alteryx, a data analytics company, and enrolling at Irvine Valley College (IVC) to earn a certificate of proficiency in sustainability and resource management, a program designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to obtain employment or advancement in a sustainable resource management or a zero waste-related field. “My first step on my path to a career in sustainability was at IVC.”
After nearly two years as senior revenue accountant at Alteryx, she eventually achieved her original goal and was promoted to environmental, social and governance (ESG) manager, a transition she attributes to her IVC certificate and the relationships and trust earned at the firm.
Her tenure at IVC was equally productive, and she forged many enduring connections and relationships. She now serves on IVC’s industry advisory board, a committee made up of industry professionals which provides important feedback on the sustainability and resource management curriculum. Her work at IVC was also a springboard to her next educational goal, an M.B.A. in sustainable solutions from Presidio Graduate School, which she expects to complete in Spring of 2025.
Trevor Blythe, an adjunct professor at IVC and the vice president and co-owner of EcoNomics Inc, recommended Huynh for the committee and worked closely with her at IVC.” I had the pleasure of instructing Jenny in two of my classes,” he recalls. “With her background in accounting, she was incredibly effective at communicating the business case for sustainability in her written assignments and presentations. Based on what she was learning at IVC, she assembled a ‘green team’ at her work that involved employees across the world and implemented impactful sustainability programs. I was thrilled to hear about her recent position as the head of sustainability for Alo Yoga and could not think of a more thoughtful, capable, passionate, and experienced person to head up that effort. With her impending M.B.A., Jenny will surely make a positive impact in the sustainability sector.”
By landing her dream position at Alo, she is now responsible for developing companywide strategy – integrating sustainability into the firm’s overall business strategy, including measuring their carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions and setting targets for reduction around water, energy and waste usage. “I also collaborate on innovation around raw materials and what’s used in products, insuring we are able to comply with sustainability reporting requirements in this field,” she explains. “I have a lot of opportunity to innovate and create from the ground up. My goal now is to grow the team here. This is a brand with a big platform and has the potential to be a leader in innovation around the corporate sustainability space.”
When she is not hard at work leading and devising corporate sustainability strategies, Huynh is passionate about volunteering, environmental stewardship and social justice. She also loves hiking and being in nature with her dog Oliver, a labrador retriever.
“I care about the world around us,” she says. “My career fell into place because I realized the importance of corporate sustainability – a sector that relies on social engagement, education and volunteering, all things I love.”
Learn more about IVC’s Sustainability and Resource Management program. For more information please contact Jodi Titus.