What Losing Taught Me About Winning: Reflections from the Midlands Sustainability Excellence Awards
- Rebecca Heald
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Let’s be honest. Losing doesn’t always feel good.
On paper, I didn’t take home the Sustainability Leader title at the Midlands Sustainability Excellence Awards this week. But walking out of that room? I didn’t feel like a loser. I felt seen. I felt galvanised. And I felt damn proud to be part of a movement that’s shaking up how we lead sustainability in the built environment.
First, credit where it’s due
Massive congratulations to Jessica Wilkes-Ball MICRS AIEMA of Mills & Reeve who walked away with the title. She’s an absolute powerhouse and proof that leadership in sustainability is evolving fas and for the better. If you’re going to lose, lose to someone who is doing the work and pushing the boundaries. She deserved that stage.
But this isn’t a pity post or a polished PR line. It’s a reflection on what it really means to show up for sustainability, especially in an industry that’s still catching up.
Why being shortlisted still matters
Let’s talk about what this moment actually represents.
Being shortlisted wasn’t just a pat on the back. It was validation that the uncomfortable conversations I’ve been having, the bold stance I’ve taken, are resonating. It means the industry is finally starting to see that sustainability doesn’t live in a spreadsheet. It lives in how we lead, how we build teams, how we think.
The old models of leadership simply don’t work anymore. We can’t drive sustainable outcomes while clinging to outdated systems and structures that stifle innovation, silence diverse voices, and reward compliance over courage.
I’m not your typical sustainability consultant. And that’s exactly why I was nominated.
And the nominations aside, I also got to meet some amazing people doing amazing things in sustainability including Amy Boutle from Gowercroft Joinery, with me in the photo below.
Gowercroft began as a three man operation making security doors in 1998, but have grown over 25 years to become one of the largest timber window manufacturers in the UK. Their products are well known throughout the industry for their beauty, performance and longevity. But above all, they are real people doing real things that matter.
What the industry is getting right
Let’s zoom out for a second.
The Midlands Sustainability Excellence Awards exist for a reason. They showcase trailblazers, disruptors, and change agents across the Midlands who are moving the dial. Whether it’s net zero targets, biodiversity strategies, circular economy innovations, or smarter building methods, there’s a growing tribe of people who are refusing to do business as usual.
You can check out the full line-up of finalists in the official awards brochure here. It’s full of inspiration and bold action. From pioneering planners to forward-thinking developers and everything in between, the future of construction is being rewritten by people who care deeply and act intentionally.
But we’re still missing something…
Here’s where I get fired up.
Sustainability is still being seen as a technical challenge when in reality, it’s a leadership problem.
We keep throwing frameworks, certifications, and metrics at the issue. But we’re not asking the deeper questions. We’re not building the kind of leadership and culture that can actually deliver on these bold visions. We’re still promoting the wrong people, ignoring psychological safety, and leaving huge gaps between intent and delivery.
That’s where my work comes in.
The Heald Method™: Closing the gap between vision and reality
Through The Heald Method™, I help leaders fix the real reasons their sustainability ambitions fall apart.
It’s not because they don’t care. It’s not because they don’t have smart people. It’s because they’re stuck in reactive mode. They’re hiring the wrong leaders. They’re ignoring team dynamics. They’re not aligning early enough around a shared vision.
I focus on what no one else is talking about, team dynamics, inclusion, leadership mindset, and the silent blockers that derail great projects.
It’s about rewiring how we think, how we hire, how we make decisions. That’s how we stop firefighting and start delivering. That’s how we attract and retain the right people. That’s how we build workplaces where innovation, not fear, leads.
And it’s why being shortlisted wasn’t just an ego boost. It was a sign that the industry is finally ready for this conversation.
What I learned from this experience
Let me be real with you.
I’m a single mum. I’ve rebuilt my life after trauma, abuse, anorexia, and burnout. I’ve walked away from a 20-year career in education to chase something I believe in deeply. I didn’t get into this work to win awards, I got into it because I couldn’t not.
But moments like this remind me that visibility matters.
Women in construction, especially women like me, over 40, unapologetically bold, need to be seen. We need to be in the room. And we need to show other women and leaders what’s possible when you stop playing small and start playing to your truth.
So no, I didn’t win today. But I showed up. And I’ll keep showing up.
What’s next?
This nomination has only added fuel to the fire.
Here’s what I’m working on now:
The Sustainability Circle™: A curated, cross-sector collaborative bringing together clients, architects, suppliers, and contractors to embed sustainability and inclusion from the ground up. Not just talk—real action.
The Heald Approach Podcast: Opening up new sponsorship slots, bringing even more real conversations to the industry, and amplifying the stories that often go unheard.
Leadership Workshops: From unconscious bias to neurodiversity in construction, I’m rolling out a new series of CPD-accredited sessions designed to shift mindsets and fix the hidden cultural cracks that keep sustainability from sticking.
Strategic Collaborations: Working with Tier 1 contractors, Passivhaus architects, and innovative SMEs to build better, not just faster.
If you’re ready to do sustainability differently, to ditch the tick boxes and build cultures that actually work, get in touch. This isn’t about another initiative. It’s about leading like the future depends on it. Because it does.
Let’s not wait for next year
The truth is, we don’t have time to waste. Climate deadlines are looming. Skills gaps are widening. And the cost of inaction, on sustainability, on inclusion, on leadership, is too high.
We need bold leaders. We need fresh thinking. We need people who are ready to tear down the systems that no longer serve us and build something better.
So no, I didn’t walk away with a trophy. But I walked away with fire in my belly. And I’m not done yet.
Call to Action:
👉 Want to sponsor an episode of The Heald Approach Podcast and align your brand with bold sustainability leadership? Get in touch
👉 Ready to fix your culture and finally deliver on your sustainability brief? Learn more about The Heald Method™.
👉 Let’s connect on LinkedIn and keep the conversation going.
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