Natasha Syed | SkilledIn Green

Humans of the Hub

The Hague Humanity Hub is at the heart of a thriving community dedicated to strengthening peace and justice. That is what you read on our website, in our newsletter and on our socials. But who are the individuals behind the organisations? Behind the initiatives, the research, and the actions striving for a more just and peaceful world?

We are excited to relaunch Humans of the Hub, an interview series with community’s members!

Humans of the Hub takes you beyond the logos and formal titles to introduce you to the passionate people who form this unique community. It’s not just about the programs, projects, or institutions —it’s about the humans who dedicate themselves to the cause of peace and justice. Meet the humans who make this community.

Meet Natasha from SkilledIn Green.

Why are you a member of the Hub?

Honestly, like many things in my life, it started by accident. I connected with a few Dutch entrepreneurs at a conference, and one thing led to another—introductions to ImpactCity, The Hague Humanity Hub, and eventually to Marcela. She’s been incredibly helpful every time I visit, connecting me with the right people and scheduling meetings.

Even though I’m not based in the Netherlands full-time, being part of the Hub means my network keeps growing—even when I’m not physically here. And now that I’m spending more time in Europe, I plan to be around more often and really tap into the community.

What do you like most about your organisation?

Well, I started it—so I love everything about it! But honestly, what I like most is how it’s evolved. Skilledin Green began as something very different. We pivoted from an enterprise-level product focused on skill gaps, to a platform that helps people upskill for green jobs.

Some people describe us as “LinkedIn for sustainability”—which wasn’t the original plan, but it fits. The name was meant to reflect becoming skilled in something. Once we shifted our focus to sustainability, it became Skilledin Green. The LinkedIn comparison stuck, and I kind of love it—it captures both the professional networking and the green transition we’re part of.

What challenges do you face in your field of work?

Where do I start? Being a startup is hard. Being a solo founder is even harder—there are never enough hands to deal with everything that comes your way.

In terms of sustainability, what’s tough right now is the global mood. We’re seeing companies slow down their climate commitments, especially in Southeast Asia where we’re active. Sustainability is treated like something that can wait—but it can’t.

This affects hiring, too. Fewer sustainability commitments mean fewer jobs, and that’s a problem when our mission is to connect people with green employment. Still, we’re seeing encouraging signs from places like France, and we’re hopeful for the September hiring season. That gives us energy.

What inspires you to keep going?

It’s all about livelihoods. Helping people upskill and get into green jobs—especially in places where that education isn’t normally affordable—drives me.

I don’t come from a sustainability background; my degrees are in economics and finance. But I believe sustainability should be part of every job. If you’re in finance and you gain green skills, you become a sustainable finance professional. That’s the future I want to help build.

Hearing from people who’ve used our platform and found real opportunities—that’s what keeps me going.

What are you reading or watching at the moment?

I used to read over 200 books a year! These days I can’t keep that pace, but I’m still learning. Right now, I’m reading The Introvert’s Edge to Networking.

As a founder, connecting with people is essential—but I’m definitely an introvert. I like how the book flips the narrative and shows that introversion isn’t a weakness. It’s just a different kind of strength. I think a lot of people in the peace and justice world can relate to that.