The Ocean Cleanup’s Thriving Guatemalan Efforts

28 December 2023

Situating themselves as the premier organisation to combat plastic pollution in our oceans, The Ocean Cleanup continues to helm dozens of operations across the globe with Atlas Professionals working close with the initiative to ensure they can have access to the talent they need anywhere they go. Here’s Guillermo Sosa with more.

Did you know that over 12 million tonnes of plastic waste find its way into our oceans every single year? It is clear that aquatic pollution will continue to plague our oceans with an increasing intensity if we refuse to do anything about it, but thankfully, some are going out of their way to ensure that the existing pollution can be tackled while the new generation can be a bit more conscious about the delicate ecosystem our oceans are home to with The Ocean Cleanup ranking amongst the most influential ones. 

Founded in 2013 by the Dutch inventor Boyan Slat at the age of 18, The Ocean Cleanup has grown into the influential company it is today by constantly cooperating with national and international bodies to tackle their aquatic pollution dilemmas. Today, the company has a strong global footprint and has access to a robust team of engineers, researchers, scientists, computational modelers, and supporting roles. These skilled colleagues are working daily to rid the world's oceans of plastic with Guillermo Sosa, Operations Manager, supporting the efforts to clean Guatemala’s rivers. 

Hope to See a Better World 

Guillermo has studied to be a Mechanical Engineer and earned himself a master’s degree in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies, which allowed him to continue his professional life in that direction for more than 7 years. He explains how his education and experience allowed him to nurture a love for the environment and pursue a career in that area: “As a mechanical engineer in Guatemala, I witnessed numerous environmentally harmful practices and methods and thanks to my education I realised there are things that could have been done way differently. Since then, I've been dedicated to learning about various technologies to make a positive impact on both my country's environment and the global one, and that is why The Ocean Cleanup is a fantastic place to be.” 

While many jobs can indeed provide nice perks and a promising career path, not every organisation can afford the opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cause on top of these benefits – and for Guillermo, that is what makes his job a special one: “Working with The Ocean Cleanup not only fills me with hope for a better world but also demonstrates how a large organisation can commit substantial resources to address environmental issues – even in distant countries.” 

It appears that luck is on Guillermo's side when it comes to his position within The Ocean Cleanup as he appears to be content with his day to day tasks as well: “My role involves more than just performing tasks; it requires me to think critically, generate innovative ideas, and enhance solutions in the context of our work in my country. The dynamic nature of my job, which includes a blend of meetings, office work, and field assignments, is the comprehensive experience that an engineer seeks. With this role, I get a chance to contribute to the society, do what I love, and get to develop myself professionally!" 

Finding What You Seek 

Atlas Professionals understands the needs of our industries and how valuable it is to have a presence in multiple jurisdictions and have access to a vast range of skilled Professionals like Guillermo to be able to offer the best possible position for the best possible candidate. Thus, we constantly keep in touch with our Professionals to ensure the service they are receiving is up to their standards, and we are more than happy that this has been the case with Guillermo as well: “I am really happy with my relationship with Atlas Professionals. People that engage with are always asking the right questions and it always feels like they are looking out for my best interest. The level of connection and attention I have been receiving is really impressive too, as well as being able to access information about how to navigate tax, insurance and legal procedures.” 

Before we sign off, we ask Guillermo what he expects from our industries, and what more can be done. We are then greeted with an insightful response: “I always seek something to learn so now I’m looking to specialize me in Materials Engineering, and being involved in this project let me see through the reality and what this type of waste processes needs.  My hope for the future is that different organisations keep showing to the world what they can do to change everything for the better while the international community keeps pursuing a real change - not necessarily environmentally, but trough engineering as well!”