Rebooting Capitalism

I hear regularly from multi-generational businesses that feel a shift toward a more sustainable model after being in business for so long is an uphill task, but not this week's guest: Lynn Giacomini Stray. Women business owners are leading the charge in integrating sustainability into their organizations, and what Lynn and her sister have done in the field of sustainable cheesemaking is truly rema...

COVID made many things painfully clear about our world, and one of the biggest ones was the sensitivity and precariousness of our world's supply chain. This week's guest, Lisa Dolan, is the Vice President of Supply Chain Strategy at ALOM, a supply chain management company that works with some of the world's biggest and best-known brands.   Tune in this week to discover why environmental stewardshi...

Are you aware of the new business laws that came into effect this year? Do you know how these laws will impact your organization? Sit back and listen in to learn about the new Anti-Green-Washing Law, and the Corporate Transparency Act. There are also laws regarding the minimum wage, smoking pot while off duty without retaliation, and the increase in mandatory sick leave. To discuss these new laws...

In some minds, accounting and sustainability don't go together. But the truth is, they need to. In order for our economy to stay strong for the future, accounting needs to have a greater focus on sustainability, and my conversation this week dives into exactly what that is going to look like.   In his day job, Okorie Ramsey is the Vice President of Sarbanes/Oxley for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan...

How can you shift your business to become more ESG focused? How and what should you be doing in 2024 to move your organization's sustainability journey further, and why undertake this work at all?    I'm answering these questions and more in this episode. Tune in this week to discover five ESG trends to focus on in 2024, and eight reasons why right now is the time to start addressing sustainabilit...

Insect agriculture is transforming the pet industry, fighting climate change, and keeping our furry friends happier and healthier while also looking after the planet. Using insect proteins addresses the overall health of our pets while reducing their carbon pawprint, and Anne Carlson, the founder and CEO of dog food and treats brand Jiminy's LLC is here to discuss all of it.   Elizabeth is taking...

Forced labor is a worldwide problem that we cannot ignore. It's a dark and opaque crime, and my guest this week is playing a huge role in bringing the practice of forced labor to light. Adam Thatcher is the cofounder and CEO of Grace Farms Food and has pioneered a way to give back with a new philanthropic capitalism model through ethically and sustainably sourced coffees and teas.   Tune in this w...

Tune in for a panel discussion that I had the pleasure of moderating and participating in that was generously shared by the San Francisco Business Times: Business of Climate and Sustainability on the Bay Area. The panelists include Antoinette Mayer, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship at Blue Shield California, Nicole Kho, Director of Sustainability at Gilead, and Maura Fallon-McKnight, Execut...

What can your company do to start harnessing the power of purpose? Whether you're an aspiring purpose-driven leader, herbal enthusiast, or you're simply curious about the power of purpose in business, this episode is for you.  My guest this week is Jamie Horst, the Chief Purpose Officer at Traditional Medicinals. Jamie is a visionary leader who has taken the concept of purpose-driven business to n...

With the new ISSB Standards, we now have a common language for disclosing the impacts of industry-specific sustainability issues and climate-related risks and opportunities in a capital markets world. Sustainability accounting standards are a real gamechanger, and I'm sharing everything you need to know so listen in. Tune in to discover what you need to know about the new ISSB global reporting sta...

Andrew Behar is the CEO of As You Sow, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy. As You Sow helps companies gage their social and environmental impact, improve their culture, and generally do better in the ways their individual stakeholders really want to see.   Discover the work As You Sow does in bringing shar...

Consumers are looking at products with a more discerning eye than ever before and have no problem calling out companies and their claims. Companies need to ensure every claim they make about their product can be backed up. That's where Radicle Science comes in. They pioneered a proof-as-a-service concept which helps natural food and supplement companies prove the effects of their products.   Pelin...

I'm joined by Daniel Kurzrock, the cofounder and CEO of ReGrained, a company that is solving food waste by t aking spent beer grain and transforming it into a nutritious flour-like powder that can be incorporated into any carb-based product. Daniel learned how to make beer as a freshman in college. But every time he produced a batch, he was left with huge amounts of what he thought looked like oat...

More and more consumers are searching for plastic-free options that support the longevity of our planet. So today, we have Trey Velcoq on the show. Trey is the CEO of BRIXY, a maker of long-lasting hair and bath bars that actually work. I'm a personal fan of their shampoo and conditioner bars and I love their plastic-free mission.   Trey and I are discussing the challenges of building a plastic-fr...

I'm discussing one of my favorite topics: B Corporation Certification, commonly referred to as a B Corp. Discover the benefits of becoming B Corp certified, both tangible and intangible. I'm discussing the process of how to get certified, the types of challenges you might face along the way, how to overcome them, and I'm digging in to some of the questions in the environmental social governance as...

You're probably familiar with composting in your home or office, but today, we're digging into composting on a much larger scale. I'm speaking with Adrienne Mrsny, the Conservation Manager at the Conservation Society of California, also known as the Oakland Zoo.   Discover the role the Oakland Zoo plays in conservation efforts all over the world, how composting is a vital part of protecting our cl...

What does it really mean to be a mompreneur? Pallavi Pande is a mom of two, a passionate entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of Dtocs. She remembers eating on banana leaves while growing up in India and, even as a child, she loved how this connected her to the planet. Today, she's brought that experience to the western world through her business, making tableware from naturally fallen palm leave...

Accounting firms have really been struggling to find new talent recently. Students are learning about conscious capitalism, and we've found at our firm that they're eager to work with a company that operates with stakeholder values, not shareholder values. While I'm not sure the accounting industry is really ready for the burden of ESG, I think it will make accounting appealing again to younger pe...

Impact and purpose-driven entrepreneurs have some unique challenges that they go through on their journeys. Whether it's stress, imposter syndrome, wondering if they're making a big enough impact, or whether they are being taken seriously by the general business world, there's a lot to consider.   Andy Scott is an Executive Coach, Senior Advisor, and mastermind/peer group leader for CEOs and leade...

To make a steak, it takes approximately two years. You have to grow a cow, feed it, and generally keep it alive before the meat can even reach you. But what if I told you that you could have nutrient-dense protein in just a matter of days? Well, it's possible. This week's guest is literally creating meat from thin air.   Dr. Lisa Dyson is a scientist, physicist, and the founder of Kiverdi, a biote...

There is a lot of data out there that states women-owned and founded businesses run better, and research shows that empowering women and promoting gender equality can positively impact climate change.   Joining me to discuss this topic is Lara Dickinson, the executive director and co-founder of OSC2. Lara has been in the natural products industry for over 25 years and is passionate about not just...

People often don't stop to think about where their food comes from or who has handled it. Who actually picks it and who is the human behind it? This is where Fairtrade comes in.    Carlos Urmeneta is the Director of Commercial Partnerships at Fairtrade America, the most recognized ethical label in the world. Fairtrade changes the way trade works by prioritizing better prices, decent working condit...

This week, I'm joined by Graham Stewart, the Executive Vice-President of Fibre52, a revolutionary company in the fabric industry. Their patent-pending prepare for dye (PFD) and dye technology is cost-effective, low-impact, and eco-conscious and retains cotton's natural properties resulting in a stronger, kinder fabric. Hear some of the struggles Graham has observed while working in the industry th...

Tune in this week to hear more about food waste and how it is a humanitarian concern and driver of climate change. Marina Duchesneau, Global Business Development Manager for the Upcycled Food Association, and I are digging into the upcycled food movement, what upcycled food is, and how your business can either supply or use upcycled ingredients, as well as what you can do as an individual to upcyc...

This week I'm joined by Phil Shuttlewood from Plastic Bank. Plastic Bank is a social, economic, and environmental enterprise designed to build and support ethical recycling ecosystems in underdeveloped communities. He joins me to share more about their work in areas with high levels of pollution, poverty, and unemployment and how they fight to educate people on plastic pollution in oceans. Learn s...