With a background in journalism and communication, Azusa felt like she was throwing herself in at the deep end when she joined Deep Green Innovators. Here are five quick questions about her experience, finding her role and what she learned along the way.

1. Why did you apply for Deep Green Innovators?

I had been interested in sustainability since coming to Denmark, but it was not a major part of my master’s in Intercultural Communication. I wanted to learn more about the Danish approach to sustainability, while also exploring the startup environment here.

When my professor introduced Deep Green Innovators, it felt like the perfect combination. I did not apply with a specific business idea. I mainly wanted new knowledge, inspiration and the chance to meet people who were interested in the same topics.

2. Were you worried that your background would not fit?

A little. My bachelor’s degree is in journalism, and I am studying communication, so my background can seem quite far from sustainability, technology and business.

Many other opportunities I had seen required business experience, technical knowledge or an existing career. Deep Green Innovators felt different because the programme genuinely opened the door to people from other fields.

I soon realised that not having a ready-made idea or a traditional startup profile was not a problem. Many participants were also exploring, learning and trying to figure out where they could contribute.

3. How did you find your role in a team?

My first team recruited me because of my communication background. I worked with LinkedIn posts, visual identity and brand strategy. It made my contribution very concrete: I might not have been the technical expert, but I could help communicate the idea and shape how we presented it.

Later, I joined another team through a friend I had met in the programme. That experience taught me that teams change, ideas develop and not everything has to become a company to be valuable.

You learn to work with different personalities, use each other’s strengths and become more aware of your own.

4. What did you take away from the programme?

I gained a much more realistic understanding of how sustainability and entrepreneurship can work together.

Before, they felt like two separate worlds. Through the workshops, startup cases and opportunities such as attending TechBBQ, I could see how green ideas are developed and what steps you can take to move from an interest to something more concrete.

But the relationships were just as important. The smaller workshop sessions made it easier to really get to know people, and I am still in contact with several participants today.

5. Who would you recommend Deep Green Innovators to?

I would recommend it to anyone who is curious about sustainability, wants to meet new people or is unsure whether their background belongs in innovation and entrepreneurship.

You do not need a specific degree, a finished idea or one clearly defined skill. With so many different people and teams, you will almost certainly find something you can contribute.

My advice is simply to jump in. You may discover strengths you had not thought about before – and meet people who help you use them.