At the University of Salford, sustainability isn’t just something we teach, it’s something we live and inspire our students to carry forward into the world. For MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation graduate Ola Goriola, that inspiration has become part of his daily work, shaping how he helps build a more sustainable and skilled future for Greater Manchester.
After completing his degree at Salford Business School, Ola quickly transitioned into a placement with the University’s Strategy Team, contributing to a project that analyses the region’s skill landscape, particularly the growing demand for green and digital skills.
His role involves identifying where the biggest skill gaps lie, analysing what employers are asking for, and anticipating the competencies that will define tomorrow’s workforce.
“We’re mapping job and skills demand against graduate supply to understand what’s missing,” Ola explains. “With the rise of digital and green skills, it’s about anticipating what’s next and ensuring the workforce is ready.”
Sustainability at the Heart of Entrepreneurship
Ola’s time at Salford transformed the way he views innovation and business. Right from his first module, Entrepreneurship Success 1 – Creativity and Ideation, sustainability was a recurring thread running through his studies. Modules and sessions on social entrepreneurship, circular economy, and sustainable business models encouraged him to think beyond the traditional focus on profit and instead consider the broader purpose of enterprise.
“Before coming to Salford, I saw entrepreneurship as being purely profit-driven,” he reflects. “But learning about the ‘People, Planet, Profit’ model changed my mindset completely”.
That shift in perspective, he explains, has transformed how he makes decisions, allowing him to see sustainability not just as a moral responsibility, but as a practical, strategic advantage that drives long-term success and positive impact. He adds that in everything he does moving forward, he will remain conscious of integrating sustainability into all his endeavours.
Bringing Sustainability to Life
Beyond the classroom, Ola saw sustainability reflected across campus from university-wide initiatives to student-led projects and events. While he admits he wasn’t fully engaged with these opportunities early on, that changed once he began to understand how closely sustainability links with entrepreneurship, employability, and innovation.
“At the beginning, I didn’t pay much attention,” he laughs. “But once I realised how much sustainability links with entrepreneurship and that employers value it, I started to see the bigger picture.”
Ola believes the key to student engagement lies in connecting sustainability to future opportunities, such as badges, certifications, or recognisable achievements students can proudly display on LinkedIn.
Applying Sustainable Thinking in His Career
In his current role, Ola puts sustainability into practice every day, not through direct environmental projects, but by helping shape and understand the future of skills and employment in Greater Manchester. His work focuses on identifying what industries need most and ensuring that sustainability is woven into that evolving picture.
“For me, sustainability is about understanding the skills that make the future greener and fairer,” he says. “Whether through data mapping or analysing employer demand, it’s all connected.”
By exploring how green and digital skills intersect with other sectors, Ola is helping local authorities and education providers anticipate what the workforce of tomorrow should look like. His analysis provides valuable insights into how employers can embed sustainability thinking into business operations and how universities can prepare students to meet that demand.
Ola believes that sustainability knowledge is fast becoming a core competency across all professions, from business and technology to healthcare and design. “Employers are increasingly looking for candidates who understand sustainability,” he says. “It’s not just for environmental jobs anymore, it’s becoming a baseline expectation.”
This shift, he adds, reflects a wider recognition that sustainable practices are central to innovation, resilience, and success in any industry. Whether companies are developing new products, improving supply chains, or managing people, sustainability is now seen as a marker of forward-thinking leadership and Ola is proud to be contributing to that change.
Sustainability in Everyday Life
Beyond his professional work, Ola’s time at Salford has also inspired meaningful changes in his personal life. What started as classroom discussions about energy efficiency, carbon footprints, and responsible consumption soon translated into conscious choices in his day-to-day routine. “Now I walk more often or take the bus instead of driving,” he shares. “Even when I use ride-share apps, I check for electric vehicles. It’s about making those conscious choices.”
For Ola, sustainability isn’t just a concept tied to policy or business it’s about everyday actions that collectively make a difference. Whether it’s choosing public transport, being mindful of energy use at home, or thinking twice before making a purchase, he believes these small steps reflect a deeper awareness shaped during his studies.
“Learning about sustainability at Salford made me realise that every decision counts,” he explains. “It’s not just about large-scale change it’s also about personal responsibility and leading by example.”
These small yet deliberate habits, Ola says, are what help him stay connected to the values he developed at university proving that sustainability begins with awareness and grows through consistent action.
Looking Ahead: The Power of Awareness
For Ola, awareness and education are the true driving forces behind a sustainable future. He believes that while technology and innovation are important, real change begins with people, especially young people, understanding their role in shaping a more responsible world.
“The University has a young population, these are the people who’ll make future decisions,” he says. “It’s about giving them the tools and knowledge to act sustainably and pass that awareness on to others.”
He emphasises that universities like Salford are in a unique position to influence how students think about sustainability not only as a global challenge but as a practical skill set that enhances their employability and leadership potential. When students leave with that mindset, Ola says, they carry it into their workplaces, communities, and everyday lives, multiplying the impact far beyond the classroom.
Inspiring the Next Generation
When asked what inspires him to live more sustainably, Ola doesn’t have to think twice.
“It’s the University itself,” he says with a smile. “From my course modules to conversations with Professor Ambarin, my programme leader, who has been a real inspiration — Salford has helped me truly understand what sustainability means.”
His message to current students is clear and encouraging, “Take sustainability seriously, get involved in your modules, attend events, and make the most of the opportunities around you.
“Soon, employers will be actively seeking these skills, so start developing them now.”
At the University of Salford, we take pride in seeing graduates like Ola Goriola turn their learning into real-world impact applying the knowledge, values, and experiences they gained here to build a more sustainable future for communities, industries, and the planet.
Stay connected as we continue to share stories from our inspiring alumni and if you are a UoS alumni and would be interested in sharing your experiences in this series, please email UoS Education for Sustainable Development Manager, Neva Mowl via N.Mowl@salford.ac.uk
