Alumni Spotlight: Allison Mettler

Meet Allison Mettler

Allison Mettler is the Vice President of Business Consulting & Sustainability at Business Impact NW. Business Impact NW is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides coaching, classes, and access to loans to small businesses across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, serving entrepreneurs at every stage of their business growth, from early ideas to established businesses. Allison earned her Master of Business Administration degree from the Albers School of Business and Economics at Seattle University in 2024.

Q: You are the Vice President of Business Consulting & Sustainability at Business Impact NW. How would you describe this position and what you do day-to-day?
A: My role sits at the intersection of business strategy, sustainability, and community impact. Day-to-day, I work with small businesses to help them identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and build long-term resilience through sustainability-focused strategies. A big part of the work is helping the owners make sense of complicated systems and turning that into practical next steps. I also spend time collaborating with partners and supporting program development.

Q: From your experience working in this field, what role do you believe/see businesses play in achieving cross-sector sustainability?
A: Businesses play a significant role because they influence so many interconnected systems such as buildings, supply chains, energy, procurement, and community development. The businesses that integrate sustainability into their strategy and operations, rather than as siloed initiatives, have the greatest impact because they see the interconnection within and outside the organization. These are the businesses that actively collaborate with government, nonprofits, utilities, and communities to implement meaningful solutions.

Q: What are some of the major sustainability goals set by the businesses you have been working with?
A: Businesses are focused on reducing energy and utility costs, improving operational efficiency, reducing waste and water use, creating healthier spaces for employees and customers, and some organizations are also beginning to think more strategically about resilience planning.

Q: What excites or motivates you about your field of work?
A: I’m motivated by the opportunity to solve problems, especially those with both practical and environmental impact. I enjoy systems thinking and helping people move from uncertainty to clarity. A lot of sustainability work can feel overwhelming at first, so being able to break complex ideas into actionable steps is rewarding to me.

Q: How did your Seattle University education prepare you for your work?
A: Seattle University helped me develop both technical and interpersonal skills. My education emphasized critical thinking, collaboration, and ethics, which are incredibly important in sustainability work. I also appreciated the focus on community impact and values-based leadership. This strengthened my resolve to not blindly accept business-as-usual and lean into sustainability.

Q: What advice do you have for students who are considering sustainability-focused careers?
A: Someone once encouraged me to think about what problem makes me the angriest because solving it is what will drive ambition. Your answer gives you focus but sustainability touches every industry, so there are many ways to contribute and many paths to take in your effort to solve that problem. I also encourage students to not shy away if you think your background doesn’t fit the mold – you’ll probably discover like I did that there isn’t one and many sustainability professionals have surprising backgrounds.

Q: What is your fondest memory from your days as a student at SU?
A: One of my favorite parts of being at Seattle University was the sense of community, collaboration, and thinking beyond oneself. I also appreciate how much the university connects education with service, ethics, and long-term impact. For me, that was especially evident during my time with the Institute for Environmental Justice and Sustainability. I have so much gratitude for the encouragement and opportunity to challenge myself.