Collective Responsibility

In this episode, Lisa Genasci of ADM Climate Fund shares insights on redirecting capital towards sustainable businesses. Through our conversation, we speak about ADM Capital's 15-year journey, the nuances of managing a foundation vs raising a fund, and the role of partnerships in promoting sustainability in finance; It is an incredibly informative conversation on sustainability and finance, and the power of Sustainability Ambassadors to support that transition. Timestamps: 00:15 - Welcome to Sustainable Ambassador Podcast 00:55 - Lisa Genasci & ADM Climate Fund introduction 02:05 - ADM Climate Fund mission, vision and operating model 03:55 - Asia is where change needs to happen 04:45 - Embedding impact and ESG within core of fund 06:15 - Power of finance to support sustainable transition 07:15 - Leveraging work experience in non-profit foundation into for-profit fund 10:00 - Opportunities for sustainable professionals to enter finance, and need for finance professionals to be more sustainable 11:15: Managing donors vs. investors 12:50: Balance impact and profit as part of ROI 13:55 - Advice for transitioning a "traditional" fund towards sustainability 15:20 - Challenges faced when establishing fund 16:45 - Advice to professionals looking to enter sustainable finance About Lisa: Lisa Genasci is a Managing Director with ADM Capital, Climate Initiative. Launched in 2022, ADM Capital Climate seeks to help finance the vast shifts underway in the power, food and land use sectors in Asia. Drawing on the firm’s experience in Asia Pacific lending and ESG and Sustainability leadership, ADM Capital Climate works with the world’s leading development finance institutions and internationally recognised impact investors and NGOs to deliver investment vehicles built on partnerships, community and conservation. She is formerly the founder and CEO of ADM Capital Foundation (ADMCF), an innovative philanthropic vehicle to support critical research and impact-driven approaches to promoting environmental conservation in Asia. Additionally, Lisa is a founder, with the ADM group, of the Tropical Landscapes Finance Facility (TLFF): a sustainable lending platform with BNP Paribas, UN Environment and ICRAF also as partners designed to finance green growth projects that aim to improve rural livelihoods and land use in Indonesia. Lisa is also an advisor to the Washington DC-based Ocean Foundation and Hong Kong’s Clean Air Network. Lisa holds a BA degree with High Honors from Smith College and an LLM in Human Rights Law from HKU. Follow Lisa: Website: https://lnkd.in/gskhc5_Q LinkedIn::https://lnkd.in/dy_KVwkW Twitter: https://lnkd.in/dBp-YsRj https://lnkd.in/dCwrqfMn

In this episode, we speak with Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet, about her work to leverage the power of small actions to catalyze a shift in sustainable business. Founded by Yvon Chouinard and Craig Mathews in 2002, the intent of 1% for the Planet is to help fund these diverse environmental organizations so that collectively they can be a more powerful source in solving the world’s problems. It's a fascinating conversation that spans the vision she has for sustainable investment, making engagement easy, building & empowering teams, the power of NGOs and and always looking for opportunities to expand the mission! Timestamps 00:20 - Welcome to Sustainable Ambassador Podcast 00:45 - Introduction and founding story to 1% For the Planet 01:50 - 1% of time or money adds up 02:45 - Changes in philanthropy and how COVID increased action 04:30 - Extending the impact beyond 1% 07:20 - Broadening the business model for greater impact 09:30 - Building a fund to scale impact 10:20 - Assessing the risk & opportunity of scope shift 11:30 - Innovating beyond the traditional NGO model 13:10 - The power of non-profits to solve big challenges 15:30 - Defending non-profit overhead and pushing back on "overhead" discussion 16:45 - Advice for executive directors About Kate: Kate Williams is CEO of 1% for the Planet, a global movement that inspires action and commitment so that our planet and future generations thrive. 1% for the Planet’s global network of thousands of businesses and individuals have donated $100s of millions to environmental partners to date. Kate has led significant growth in the community’s scale and impact, as well as deep work on best practices for implementing high impact giving strategies, growing a network brand and operating as a thriving workplace with an incredible staff team. Kate earned a BA at Princeton University and an MS at the MIT Sloan School of Management, and has served on a variety of Boards throughout her career. Kate is Mom to two amazing young adults, 30-year partner with her husband, and is a trail runner, hiker with her dog and kitchen gardener. Follow Kate: LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/dUmpfiQr Follow 1% for the Planet Website: https://lnkd.in/dUi_qRM Facebook: https://lnkd.in/dgq_d_a8 Instagram: https://lnkd.in/dqBKCtii Twitter: https://lnkd.in/dHt7iYsc https://lnkd.in/gdSHD-rD

In this episode, we speak with CB Bhattacharya about his work to help businesses, and business leaders, to incubate, launch, entrench sustainability into their business, and the opportunity for academia to be a powerful stakeholder along this journey. Timestamps 00:09 Welcome to Sustainability Ambassador Podcast 00:45 - CB Bhattacharya Introduction 03:15 - Current state of sustainable leadership 04:20 - What's driving brands/ leaders towards sustainability 05:00 - Role of academia to support/ catalyze sustainablity in leadership 06:05 - Building the Center for Sustainable Business at Universtiy of Pittsburgh 06:45 - Center for Sustainable Business work steams & activities 07:30 - Integrating the center across University of Pittsburgh, and the wider student body 08:55 - Vision for Center for Sustainable Business and sustainable leadership 10:30 - Small Actions Big Difference 14:00 - Purpose of business & sustainable leadership 15:25- Power of academia to equip students to future of business 16:05 - Advice to future center leaders About CB CB Bhattacharya is the Director of the Center for Sustainable Business and the H.J. Zoffer Chair in Sustainability and Ethics at the Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh. He is a world-renowned expert in business strategy innovation aimed at increasing both business and social value. His research and teaching focuses specifically on how companies can use underleveraged “intangible assets” such as corporate identity, reputation, corporate social responsibility and sustainability to strengthen stakeholder relationships and drive firm market value. Prof. Bhattacharya has published over 100 articles and has over 41,000 citations per Google Scholar. His latest book entitled Small Actions Big Difference: Leveraging Corporate Sustainability to Drive Business and Societal Value was published by Routledge in 2019. He is co-author of the book Leveraging Corporate Responsibility: The Stakeholder Route to Maximizing Business and Social Value and co-editor of the book Global Challenges in Responsible Business, both published by Cambridge University Press. He has served on the Editorial Review Boards and served as Editor of special issues of many leading international publications. Prof. Bhattacharya is the founder of the Center for Sustainable Business at the University of Pittsburgh as well as the ESMT Berlin Sustainable Business Roundtable, a forum with more than 25 multinational companies, aimed at discussing opportunities and challenges in mainstreaming sustainability practices within organizations. In 2007 he started the Stakeholder Marketing Consortium with support from the Aspen Institute. Follow CB Website: https://lnkd.in/dwfFywB7 LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/dhjfSUda Twitter: https://lnkd.in/duyXvNmi https://lnkd.in/dZJetDNp

In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with the AMAZING Hunter Lovins about her 40 years working TIRELESSLY to bend the curve on climate change. She is an incredible person, who even in difficult times refuses to give up hope or to let any opportunity to save the world pass her by, and through our conversation we speak about WHY she is so relentless but also about what she sees in the next generation that excites her. We hope you will enjoy this conversation, and find inspiration through Hunter's passion. Timestamps: 00:15 - Welcome to Sustainable Ambassador Podcast 01:25 - Hunter Lovins introduction 02:10 - Hunter Lovin's mission 02:35 - The power of free markets & business to solve the climate crisis 03:45 - Speak truth to power 06:45 - Barriers to leaders making progress 08:05 - The potential of ESG to catalyze investors & business executives 10:10 - Taking a chance on big ideas 11:45 - If you got a shot, you gotta take it 13:10 - The next generation as desperate for change 14:10 - Will the next generation maintain their passion, or moderate (like we did) 15:10 - Advice to next generation: Be unreasonable About Hunter Hunter is President and founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions and co-creator of the “Natural Capitalism” concept. She serves as Chief of Impact at Change Finance, which created the first truly fossil free ETF. She serves as a member of Now Partners, helping frame the new discipline of Regenerative Value Creation. Named Millennium TIME Magazine Hero of the Planet, Hunter Lovins was awarded the 2008 Sustainability Pioneer Prize by the European financial community for her 30 years of work framing the sustainability movement, setting forth the business case for energy efficiency, renewable energy and resource productivity and climate protection. A social entrepreneur, she mentors for the Unreasonable Institute, and consults to large corporations, small businesses, communities, and dozens of nations around the world. A founding professor of Sustainable Management at Bard MBA and several other graduate programs, she was called by Newsweek Magazine the “green business icon.” Previously, she co-founded Tree People, serving as its Assistant Director for 6 years, and Rocky Mountain Institute, which she led it for 20 years as CEO. Author of hundreds of papers and 15 books, including the landmark work, Natural Capitalism, Ms. Lovins travels the world, lecturing at such venues as the World Economic Forum, the UN, WOBI, TED and many others. Follow Hunter Website - https://lnkd.in/dWHbYbUM Twitter - https://lnkd.in/dMWV-CGV LinkedIn - https://lnkd.in/di2hnucw https://lnkd.in/d24gZ7RJ

In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with author Adam Minter about his experience telling the story of waste and sustainability. About Adam Minter Adam Minter is a columnist with Bloomberg Opinion, where he writes about emerging markets, technology, waste, and other topics. From 2002 to 2014, he was based in Shanghai, where he covered the trans-Pacific trade in recycling; he continued that coverage from Kuala Lumpur, where was based from 2014 until Covid. His first book, "Junkyard Planet: Travels in the Billion Dollar Trash Trade," is an insider's look at the world of globalized recycling. His most recent book, "Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale" is a deep dive into the secondhand economy that thrives around the world. Timestamps: 00:15 - Welcome to Sustainability Ambassador Podcast 00:51 - Adam Minter Introduction 02:00 - Definitions of waste 03:30 - The economics of recycling 04:30 - Sustainability and promoting reuse of products & materials 06:25 - Telling the story of waste 07:30 - Maintaining the engagement of readers (over time) 08:12 - Creating a connection with readers without moralizing the issues 09:25 - Highlighting the shades of grey & driving productive conversations 11:40 - Fact check, digging into the details, and learning to surprise readers 13:02 - Respect the readers, and share the journalistic experience to educate them 14:30 - Shaming readers is a mistake 15:35 - Engaging readers through writing books & articles 16:40 - Be substantive 17:45 - Advice to journalists, activists, and industry communicators Follow Adam Linkedin: https://lnkd.in/dwPC_q7Z Twitter: Twitter.com/adamminter https://lnkd.in/dwg3auEP

About Harco: “Harco J. Leertouwer leads the team responsible for the business in Continental Europe and is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Harco brings in a wealth of executive search and international business growth experience, having been a Director of Michael Page in Germany and Managing Director for Badenoch & Clark Germany and the Netherlands. Before joining Acre, Harco set up his own executive search boutique, focusing on Sustainability, Renewable Energy and Clean Technology. Harco holds an MBA, having graduated in Corporate Social Responsibility at the prestigious Henley Management College (Henley-on-Thames, U.K.). Moreover, Harco is an active member of the Climate Reality Project, a diverse group of passionate individuals who have come together to solve the greatest challenge of our time. Harco was trained by the Institute’s founder, Nobel Peace prize laureate and former US Vice President Mr. Al Gore. Harco is of Dutch nationality and is fluent in Dutch, English and German. Timestamps: 00:12 - Welcome to Sustainable Ambassador Podcast 00:50 - Harco & ACRE Introduction 01:45 - Market trends for sustainablity professionals & executives 03:25 - How firms are structuring sustainability function & teams 04:35 - Current talen supply and skills in need 07:00 - Are technical needed for CSOs? 07:50 - Process for assessing of candidates interviewing for CSO/ leadership positions 09:00 - Organizations still don't know what they need 10:15 - Skills required at each level of career/ position 11:35 - Recruiting middle managers 13:25 - Which industries have the most opportunities 14:00 - What are questions companies should ask themselves as they build capacity 15:20 - Tips to aspiring sustainability executives Follow Harco: LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/dBrpqj2f Follow Acre: Website: www.acre.com LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/dsHqJv9D Twitter: https://twitter.com/acre https://lnkd.in/eTM95G_5

In this episode, we speak with Anne-Ross Wasser about the work she is doing as a Senior Policy Advisor for the Dutch Foreign of Ministry Affairs to monitor, support & protect the rights of LGBTQI communities around the world. Through it, we speak about her passion for human rights, her career path as a diplomat, and some of the unique opportunities (& challenges) that she sees to delivering social impact through diplomacy. Timestamps: 00:25 - Welcome to Sustainability Ambassador Podcast 00:55 - Anne-Roos Wasser Introduction 01:55 - LQBTIQ Trends and stakeholders 02:55 - Government policies and actors that restrict LQBTIQ 04:05 - How Dutch government is working to support LGBTIQ rights and LGBTIQ activists 04:55 - Introduction to the work of LGBTIQ Senior Policy Advisor 05:25 - First steps to building government career 05:55 - Benefits of working for government 06:45 - Government as vehicle for driving impact 07:40 - Balancing the needs & interestes of stakeholders to make progress 09:20 - Slower speed of governments & looking long term 10:45 - Vision for career / impact over next 5 years 11:30 - How they partner with external organizations (NGOs) 12:45 - Shifting career focus towards LGBTIQ 12:30 - How to making a difference through career 14:35 - Staying motivated 15:40 - Goals for current role 16:45 - Steps to achieve goals 17:45 - Biggest obstacles (funding, elections, etc) and maintaining focus 19:55 - Advice to young professionals & students looking to build government career About Anne-Roos Wasser Anne-Roos Wasser is a diplomat working for the Dutch government. Her current posting is with the Multilateral and Human Rights Department in The Hague, where she is the LGBTIQ senior policy advisor. She was previously posted to Shanghai, China, working on trade promotion and communication. Prior to that, she served as the Saudi Arabia, Kuwaiti and UAE country desk at the Middle East Department in The Hague. She is a historian by training. Follow Anne-Roos: LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/dbKzKRAV Twitter: https://lnkd.in/dyu9UBYs https://lnkd.in/d4kJgFra

About Andrea: For the past 30 years, Ms. Richey has lived in Hong Kong and worked for a wide variety of corporate and NGO entities. Since 2015, she has worked and volunteered for the Hong Kong Shark Foundation in many capacities, most recently as the Executive Director raising awareness about shark conservation and educating people to stop eating shark fin soup and all shark products. Before joining Hong Kong Shark Foundation, Ms. Richey was a legal recruiter and previous to that worked for the Wall Street law firm of Paul, Weiss in Hong Kong in a corporate communications/business development capacity. She speaks Mandarin and has lived and worked in both China and Taiwan Timestamps: 00:14 - Welcome to Sustainability Ambassador Podcast 00:56 - Andrea Richey Introduction 01:20 - Size of shark fin challenge 01:47 - Education is the key to change 02:30 - Shark Ambassador education program 04:25 - Transitioning into activism 06:20 - Learning new skills for activism 08:25 - Advice to professionals looking to transition into activism 09:45 - Slow vs. fast transition 12:55 - Comparable pay for comparable work 14:55 - The value proposition for charities 15:45 - Continuing to reinvent yourself & careers 17:05 - Passion, burnout & compassion fatigue Follow Andrea: Website: https://lnkd.in/dKnNSwsx LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/dVTzrBqG Facebook: https://lnkd.in/dd2K_hfK Twitter: https://lnkd.in/dsSdFkJ8 https://lnkd.in/dYguM3Di

In this episode, Bruce Friedrich speaks about the work he and his team have done to create a global movement to shift humanity towards a sustainable diet. It's an incredibly tactical discussion about setting vision, building ecosystem, creating a business model, and measuring success, and regardless of what your own mission is, I am sure you will find a way to take the lessons he shares to apply to your building (or scaling) your own! Timestamps: 00:12 Welcome to Sustainability Ambassador Podcast 00:30 Bruce Friedrich Introduction 00:58 - Founding story of Good Food Institute (GFI) 02:10 - Creating the plant-based ecosystem (policy, science, and industry) 03:45 - Be clear about objectives and measuring progress 05:30 - GFI's global battle cry and executing against vision 08:00 - GFI's business model and donor segmentation 09:20 - The value proposition to donors 10:58 - The challenges of transitioning consumers towards plant-based 14:00 - Scaling up the adoption curve 15:30 - Advice to aspiring entrepreneurs & ambassadors About Bruce: Bruce Friedrich serves as GFI’s chief thought leader and relationship-builder, working in close partnership with GFI’s global teams and food system stakeholders around the world. Bruce oversees GFI’s global strategy, working with and across all of GFI’s international teams (Asia Pacific, Brazil, Europe, India, Israel, and United States) to ensure that GFI is maximally effective at implementing programs that deliver mission-focused results. Bruce is a TED Fellow, Y Combinator alum, 2021 “American Food Hero” (EatingWell Magazine), and popular speaker on food innovation. He has penned op-eds for the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Wired, and many other publications. Follow Bruce: Website: https://gfi.org/ LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/dSBKqv-J Facebook: https://lnkd.in/dg54ym8F Twitter: https://lnkd.in/dNyZXf8J https://lnkd.in/dw6Rf-tw

In this episode of Sustainability Ambassadors, José María Figueres, Former President of Costa Rica, speaks with Rich about putting Costa Rica on the path to sustainability in the 1990s. The conversation starts with WHY he saw sustainability as an opportunity for his country, and from there HOW he developed strategy, aligned stakeholder, and measured success. Timestamps: 00:30 - Welcome to Sustainable Ambassador Podcast 01:20 - Jose Introduction 02:20 - Creating a vision for sustainable Costa Rica 03:50 - Conserving he environment is a fantastic business opportunity 06:40 - Making tough sells a reality 07:40 - Pushing for the things you believe in, and can prove with science 08:05 - Measuring success 10:30 - Sustainability & economic tranformations 12:05 - The role of subsidies to promote, or inhibit, sustainable investments 14:15 - The challenges leaders face to making decisions with long-term return 16:15 - How stakeholders are catalyzing leaders 17:50 - The role of storytelling to bring solutions to scale 20:00 - Advice to young professionals About Jose Maria: José María served as Minister of State and was later elected President of Costa Rica (1994–1998) at the age of 39. As President he created a comprehensive national development strategy based on the tenets of sustainability: sound economics, investment in human development, and a strong alliance with nature. José María pioneered the linkage between sustainable development and technology, which he continued after his time in government by helping to create the United Nations’ ICT Task Force, and then serving as its first Chairperson in 1999. He was also the first CEO of the World Economic Forum, where he strengthened global corporate ties to social and governmental sectors. Later he was named CEO of Concordia 21, dedicated to supporting organizations that promote development and democratic values around the world. In 2013, José María helped launch the Global Ocean Commission to formulate politically and technically feasible recommendations to address key issues facing the high seas. He currently serves as its Co-Chair. Follow José María Figueres: Website: https://lnkd.in/dZ9FRz8B Facebook: https://lnkd.in/dn2_vzxR Twitter: https://lnkd.in/dzh53Esw https://lnkd.in/d8D-M-4U