Manuel Spöde is the founder and director of M&S Project, a Swiss small and medium-sized enterprise that supports companies in project management and sustainability. It was the evolving reality of climate change, changing standards and regulations, and his own growing awareness that shifted M&S Project’s approach to sustainability. To this end, Manuel first educated himself on carbon footprints by taking our “Measuring Your Organization’s Carbon Footprint” training course in 2024. Since Swiss companies are indirectly subject to CSRD regulations, Manuel continued to build his expertise by taking our “CSRD: Understanding and Implementation” module in 2025. This journey continued to evolve when he enrolled in our “Decarbonization Action Plan” training course in late 2025, adding a more strategic and operational skill to his repertoire. Testimonial.

Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your professional background prior to the training?

I am currently the director and founder of M&S Project, a small SME that has been based in Switzerland for fifteen years. We have two employees and work with project managers whom we hire for specific assignments. Our clients range from very small businesses to large corporations, and we don’t specialize in any particular sector. I see myself a bit like an orchestra conductor: I don’t need to know how to play the timpani, the flute, or the trumpet, but I do need to know how to call the right note! So I call on industry experts when necessary to support me. It’s a truly rewarding human experience that I get a lot out of!

For about five years now, CSR issues have been playing an increasingly important role in our business. It’s been about ten years since I first got involved in “environmental” issues in the broadest sense. At first, I explored the topic of climate change on my own through articles and other sources of information, until it eventually became my main line of work today. Part of our services has naturally shifted toward this issue, which I see as central: if we don’t feel concerned about climate change, what are we concerned about today? I try to plant my own little seeds on my own scale; we still have work to do in Switzerland.

How interested are Swiss companies in climate and biodiversity issues?

Clearly, there’s no demand for this. Aside from boosting a company’s marketing image, no one is asking for in-depth carbon footprint analyses or the like for the right reasons. This is because in Switzerland, there aren’t many restrictions; regulations are virtually nonexistent. More than half of Switzerland’s exports go to the EU; service providers must therefore be accountable under the CSRD—even before the regulations have been fully implemented. As a result, all or some Swiss companies are indirectly affected by this regulation, so there is work to be done in this area. There’s also the current economic reality to consider: companies are more concerned with staying afloat than with learning about CSR.

Why did you decide to take training on the decarbonization action plan?

After completing the training on carbon footprints and the CSRD module, I wanted to come and compare what we at M&S Project could offer in terms of support with what’s being done elsewhere. What interested me was sharing experiences and best practices, and seeing just how far some people take this process. I was curious to learn about the level of precision in the methods and tools used by Carbone 4, so that I could in the end to provide the best possible support to my clients.

What made you decide to sign up?

I appreciated that the training included one day of in-person instruction; the dynamic was different from the two previous training sessions. Since I had already taken those two courses, I was well aware of the quality of the training offered by Académie Carbone 4, so I didn’t hesitate for hours before signing up!

Besides, what I like about Carbone 4 is the hands-on experience. It’s not just about theory. I find that it’s easy these days to teach yourself about CSR topics—by following the right people on LinkedIn or reading the right articles and publications. However, if you want to delve deeper into the subject, you need to take a training course to explore specific topics in detail and master the right tools, methods, and best practices. In my opinion, it’s essential to get into the technical details to be effective. And in terms of technical expertise, this training met my expectations.

What aspects of the training made the biggest impression on you?

I think it was the interactions with the learners and trainers; I really appreciated sharing experiences on different levels. I found the format to be perfect and the duration of the training to be just right. The in-person session is manageable and fits well into a work schedule.

What skills or knowledge did you gain from the training?

What I found most beneficial was, above all, the sources of information we can rely on, as well as knowing who can provide what and what the latest regulatory updates are. The training also highlights the fact that to successfully decarbonize and achieve that famous “net zero” by 2050, the biggest challenge lies not in operational changes, but in changing the economic model. And to do that, we need to roll up our sleeves and provide effective support to businesses.

Who would you recommend this training course to, and why?

To all company executives, not just CSR managers. What I’ve noticed is that the bottlenecks often stem from the actions of senior management: they initiate a project, delegate it, and then don’t pay much attention to it afterward, nor do they assess the consequences of a particular action. I think they’re therefore a good target audience for this type of training to effectively get them on board. It’s also a matter of the time allocated internally, which is often a limiting factor for environmental issues in general.

Any advice for those who are still hesitant to take the plunge?

Go for it! The training program isn’t long—it’s completely accessible. You just have to take the plunge, discover the world of decarbonization, and be part of this exchange with people who have different experiences and come from different backgrounds. It’s this exchange that’s truly enriching. You’ll come away from the training having grown—as will your network—and you’ll know you can count on the support of your colleagues and Carbone 4!

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