Lead The Change

In this episode, Bard MBA student Seamus Heady interviews Kristy Drutman, founder of Brown Girl Green and Green Jobs Board, about using creative storytelling to make climate work feel human, joyful, and actionable. Kristy explains why leaning into joy and community helps sustain activism and prevent burnout, and how creators are becoming trusted intermediaries between insular institutions and wide...

In this episode, Bard MBA student Eric Sargent interviews John Edel, founder and director of Bubbly Dynamics, about transforming derelict Chicago industrial buildings into closed-loop ecosystems for small businesses. John shares the story behind The Plant, a former meatpacking facility now home to 25 food producers, brewers, urban farmers, and manufacturers who share resources, waste streams, and...

In this episode, Bard MBA student Jake Rosenzweig-Stein interviews Bill Fotsch, business consultant and researcher, about economic engagement and its role in building more equitable, resilient businesses. Bill introduces his five-pillar framework, grounded in 30 years of research, and explains how treating employees as true partners drives double the profit growth of traditional management approac...

In this episode, Melanie Rua of Bloomberg Intelligence sits down with Randall Strickland, a sustainable investment advisor to philanthropic organizations, and Jesse Gerstin, faculty at the Bard MBA in Sustainability and community finance practitioner at the nonprofit Inclusiv.  Together, they untangle the differences between ESG, sustainable finance and impact investing; and discuss how the field...

In this episode, Bard MBA faculty member and Lead the Change host Renay Loper sits down with colleague and fellow Bard MBA instructor Ayana Fernandes Pilgrim, founder and CEO of the Talent Cornerstone, for a candid conversation about the seismic shifts reshaping the future of work. Drawing on decades of experience leading global talent initiatives, Ayana examines the dangerous intersection of decl...

In this episode, Bard MBA director Eban Goodstein interviews Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman, co-authors of One Size Fits None, about how VC-driven scale and corporate cost-cutting have created unresponsive systems that squeeze consumers and workers alike. They share stories of grassroots innovators using platforms like Rebel Base to solve local problems—from disability emplo...

In this episode, Bard MBA student Sarah Bergman interviews Carrie Ellen Phillips, Partner at BPCM and sustainability policy advocate, and Erin Beatty, founder of Rentrayage, about the evolving landscape of sustainable fashion. They discuss how global disruptions are revealing which companies are truly committed to change, the promise of European textile circularity legislation, and why upcycling a...

In this episode recorded live at Bard College's Brooklyn campus, Bard MBA faculty member Dr. Michael Shuman interviews Karla Pinzón, manager of curriculum development at Solar One. Karla discusses her vision for sustainability in New York City through the lens of "local power by local people," emphasizing the importance of investing in local workforce development programs to train New Yorkers in t...

In this live episode recorded during Climate Week NYC 2025, Bard MBA professor Renay Loper hosts a conversation with Alec Turnbull, co-founder of Climate Tech Cities and the Climate Film Festival, and Lauren Kiel, Global Head of Community Innovation at Bloomberg Media. The panel tackles communicating climate action in a polarized environment, discussing why talking about 'value instead of values'...

In this special live episode recorded at Bard College's Brooklyn campus, host Renay Loper sits down with Reagan Richmond, a 2017 Bard MBA graduate who consults Fortune 500 companies on climate strategy, and Eban Goodstein, who leads Bard's Graduate Programs in Sustainability. They explore how to navigate sustainable business in an increasingly polarized political landscape, discussing Reagan's dia...

In this episode, Bard MBA candidate Milana Pakes interviews Tamara Stands and Looks Back-Spotted Tail about creating sustainable earth-block housing for the Shanju Lakota tribe. Tamara shares her entrepreneurial journey from jewelry artist to sustainable housing advocate, discussing how she bridges traditional Lakota values with modern sustainability practices. She explains her vision for self-suf...

  In this episode, Bard MBA in Sustainability student Deanna Diaz interviews Dale Ewing, Founder & CEO of Installnet, and John Friedman, sustainability expert and author, about transforming the office furniture industry. They discuss how 9 million tons of furniture end up in landfills annually and share Installnet's Ecoserv program for sustainable decommissioning. The conversation explores the...

In this episode, Bard MBA student Anastasia 'Stacy' Gramotneva interviews Lenore Kantor, founder of Growth Warrior , about her journey from corporate marketing executive to transformational coach and author. Lenore shares her personal 'tower moment' that led to an existential crisis after 20 years in the financial technology sector, and how it sparked her mission to help others find alignment betw...

In this episode, MBA Sustainability candidate Toni Skidmore interviews fashion experts Donald Pollard Jr. and Ngozi Okaro about creating a more ethical and sustainable fashion industry. They discuss how education must include business fundamentals alongside design skills, emphasizing human-centered approaches that balance profit with ethical labor practices. Both guests share how they preserve tra...

In this episode, MBA candidate Erin Malaney interviews Michelle Gabriel, Director of Sustainable Fashion at IE and NYC, and Ken Pucker, former COO of Timberland and professor at Tufts University. They discuss why current sustainability approaches in fashion aren't working, highlighting business models that prioritize profit over planet, lack of regulation, and externalized environmental costs. Bot...

In this episode, Bard MBA student Ana Caka interviews Kia Huggan , founder of Webquity, about creating accessible digital learning experiences for students with visual dyslexia and impairments. Kia shares her journey from engineering to educational technology, discussing her user-centered approach to entrepreneurship and the importance of staying mission-focused. She offers insights on balancing i...

Tom Wright & Jessica Dupont: Environmental Transformation Through Community Action - From Plastic Recycling to Lionfish Management in Panama Jessica Dupont interviews Tom Wright, founder of Wasteless World , about his journey building environmental initiatives in Panama. Tom explains how his organization evolved from a website on waste management solutions to a foundation running multiple comm...

In this compelling episode, we speak with Ray Oo, a Myanmar refugee and climate activist currently pursuing his MBA in Sustainability, and Lennox Omondi, founder and CEO of Ecobana Limited in Kenya. Their conversation explores how sustainable innovation can address critical social challenges, focusing on Ecobana's development of biodegradable sanitary napkins made from banana fibers. The discussio...

In this timely conversation, Working Families Party National Press Secretary Ravi Mangla and Bard MBA in Sustainability candidate Jackson Thompson join us to explore the intersection of political communication and climate action in the wake of the 2024 presidential election. Mangla shares insights on effective climate messaging for working communities, the importance of local organizing, and strat...

In this episode, Nataki Williams, CFO of The Guardian US, shares powerful insights on transforming corporate leadership through inclusive decision-making practices. Drawing from her experience moderating a panel on advancing women in leadership and her role as a sustainability ambassador, Williams discusses how changing the habits of how decisions are made can lead to more innovative, profitable,...

In this conversation, Alexis Schwartz, Head of Purpose Partnerships at The Guardian US, discusses how quality journalism can drive social impact and sustainability forward. She explains The Guardian's unique funding model that keeps journalism accessible by eliminating paywalls, which she argues breed inequity. Schwartz explores "the hush" - a recent phenomenon where brands have pulled back from p...

In this conversation, Francis Janes, Industry Relations Director at Beneficial State Foundation, explores how the financial services industry can drive meaningful change through diversity, equity, and inclusion. Drawing from Citibank's research on closing racial wealth gaps and his experience bridging grassroots organizations with banking institutions, he explains how banks must move beyond tradit...

In this conversation with Kelly Beck, CEO of Greenlight Energy Group and founder of The Accomplis Collective, we explore the transformative journey from "recovering white feminist" to radical philanthropist. Kelly shares how she built a unique model for moving money equitably - without extraction or traditional philanthropic barriers - that has directed over $10 million to Black and Indigenous com...

In this episode of the Impact Report, current Bard MBA student Milo Keller speaks with Steven Lichtin, CEO of Advantage Renewables, about the evolving landscape of renewable energy development. Lichtin, a member of Bard's inaugural MBA cohort, shares his journey from Wall Street trading to renewable energy, discussing how the industry has transformed since 2010. The conversation explores critical...

In this episode of The Impact Report, Bard MBA in Sustainability candidate Tricia Travis interviews Brett Davis, founding partner of the nonprofit Grounds Crew. They discuss the environmental challenges of New Orleans' Mardi Gras celebration, including the 2.6 million pounds of litter generated annually. Davis explains Grounds Crew's initiatives to make the festivities more sustainable, such as th...