Episódios
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I’ve noticed that activism is having a moment in places I was not used to seeing it - inside companies. Back in my corporate days, I kept your head down and did my activism at home. Serial rebel Tessa Wernink has been shaking things up since co-founding Fairphone. I met her in her new role at The Undercover Activist. We get deep into employee activism: the dissonance about staying in a job and staying true to values, the role of power, and activism as a spiritual practice.
THE IMPACT. Tessa Wernink:
-leads The Undercover Activist, an education and research platform that coaches and emboldens young professionals to take constructive action to change their organisations from within
-was part of the founding team of Fairphone, turning a campaign for fairer electronics into an impact-driven business model
-is co-founder and host of the podcast series, What If We Get It Right?
-studied English Literature and International Development, Journalism, Deep Democracy, Non-Violent Resistance and Communications
-grew up in Hong Kong, and now lives in Amsterdam with her partner and their three boys
THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
-Tessa’s international upbringing: “there is more than one truth”
-Starting Fairphone: a rebel questioning systems
-Roots of The Undercover Activist: action research, a learning hub
-Befriending conflict: “resistance is the energy, not the enemy”
-The dissonance: “Should I stay in this job and try to kind of be that person I want to be”
-A learning journey: knowing our rights, safe spaces to be uncomfortable, making it personal
-Activism and power: the “power shadow” of leaders, “do we need power to have influence?”
-Activism as a spiritual practice: “how we get there is where we’ll arrive”
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What do you get when you cross a bestselling novelist with a masters in regenerative economics and a healthy dose of shamanic practice? This fascinating conversation with the brilliant Manda Scott, creator of Accidental Gods and the Thrutopia Masterclass.
THE IMPACT. Manda Scott:
- Has been, variously, a veterinary surgeon, veterinary anaesthetist, acupuncturist (people and animals), crime writer, columnist, blogger, economist, and author
- Teaches shamanic dreaming, creative writing and concept-based dog training
- Is the bestselling author of many books, including the Boudica series, and most recently of the upcoming thrutopia novel Any Human Power, to be released in 2024
- Created Accidental Gods, a podcast and membership program for people and ideas at the edge of regenerative change
- Teaches the Thrutopia Masterclass for writers to create inspiring stories that shape our futures
- Holds a Masters in Regenerative Economics from Schumacher College
THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
- A different childhood. How a unique upbringing on a rehabilitation center for birds of prey in rural Scotland meant that “being normal was never an option”
- A spiritual journey. As a young child, getting curious about pre-Roman shamanic cultures of her land
- Listening. Asking “what do you want of me?” and following the answer, creating Accidental Gods
- Writing Thrutopia. Writing a future beyond capitalism and extraction, challenging the publishing world
- What are we here for? Not to pay bills and die. What something new and different could look like
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For any of us working in sustainability, land guardianship is crucial to climate action. Yet the ways to support stewards of the land - Indigenous peoples and local communities - are not obvious. I learned so much from Nonette Royo from the Tenure Facility: she grew up seeing violence and land grabs in her home in the Philippines, and became a human rights lawyer to protect the protectors of land.
THE IMPACT. Nonette Royo:
- Is a human rights and environment lawyer, committed to supporting the aspirations of Indigenous and local peoples and helping forest communities protect their people and land
- Is currently Executive Director at The International Land and Forest Tenure Facility, an organization focused on securing land and forest rights for Indigenous Peoples and local communities
- Gave a TED talk on why Indigenous forest guardianship is crucial to climate action
- Has over 30 years experience advising funds dedicated to Indigenous Peoples and local communities in forest and climate programmes
- Co-founded and led the Samdhana Institute and set up several NGOs focusing on advancing Indigenous Peoples and women’s legal rights, helping design and implement funding portfolios for local communities and Indigenous Peoples in the global south
THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
- Origins of Nonette’s life and work in the Philippines: a "land of promise" and broken promises
- Becoming a lawyer and the challenge for Indigenous communities: traditions that don’t believe in land ownership in a capitalist system that demands deeds and titles
- Bringing alternative law solutions to bridge the two worlds: through basic human rights, ancestral domain law, and Indigenous People’s Collective Titles
- The hardest part of this work: bringing communities together to heal stories and land
- The key to climate change: land rights in conversation with stewards of the land
As always, send any feedback and ideas to impactjourneypodcast at gmail dot com.
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What did it take to start a first-of-its-kind sustainable business section at The Guardian? And why leave the big city life to live in a monastic community? Journalist Jo Confino describes his journey from covering finance and business to the next frontier in this time of crisis: mindfulness, compassion, feeling our suffering. As the podcast Jo hosts says: the way out is in.
THE IMPACT. Jo Confino:
- Bridges many worlds: executive coach, facilitator, journalist, and sustainability expert.
- Was Executive Editor of What's Working at HuffPo, executive editor of The Guardian and chairman and editorial director of Guardian Sustainable Business
- Is a Partner at Leaders’ Quest, partnered with UN Development Programme on a consciousness and systems change initiative, and sits on the Boards of various climate organizations.
- Is a mindfulness advocate, has worked closely with Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and his monastic community in France Plum Village, and now hosts their podcast The Way Out Is In.
- Gained his MSc in Responsibility and Business Practice at the University of Bath.
THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
- Early influences: the desire to make sense of the world
- Changing things at the edge: how he did that at Guardian Sustainable Business
- The next edge for anyone working on the climate and social crises: consciousness
- What does climate have to do with mindfulness: getting personal, feeling the feelings
- The wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh: connecting to our own suffering and the suffering of the world
- The thousands of choices we can make every day
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Since I've joined the board of Action Against Hunger, I've been on a learning journey. How big of a deal is the global food crisis? Why hasn't it been solved? What can we do about global hunger? Of course, my preferred way to learn is to call up experts and together explore tough questions on the podcast.
THE IMPACT.
- Cathryn Dhanatya, PhD, works at the intersection of health and research and advocacy, and sits on the Advisory Board of Action Against Hunger. She leads Growing Good, was the Chief Scientific Administrative Officer for Stand Up To Cancer, and held leadership research positions at UCLA and USC.
- Michelle Brown has a career in advocacy and development. After many years as the UN representative for Refugees International, she is now the Associate Director of Advocacy for Action Against Hunger.
- Get more information on the work of Action Against Hunger and support via my fundraising page.
THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
- Influences: what led both Cathryn and Michelle to work in international development and advocacy
- Listening to communities: getting close means learning as much as helping
- Hunger: there isn't a lack of food; there is a lack of distribution that's fair and equitable
- Proximity: understanding hunger close to home and around the world, and how all of it affects us
- Beyond hunger: not just about food, it's about access to health, clean water, education, livelihoods and income
- The climate crisis: and how it is inextricably linked to the hunger crisis
- Systemic change: transferring power to local communities
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In my attempts to connect with people on some of our most important issues like climate change, I have been missing a huge pathway - faith. These issues need hard conversations, and hard conversations need us to tap into more than facts and fears. My conversation with Dekila opens the door to bringing the sacred back into science.
THE IMPACT. Dekila Chungyalpa:
- is the founder and director of the Loka Initiative, an interdisciplinary capacity building and outreach platform at the University of Wisconsin - Madison for faith leaders and culture keepers of Indigenous traditions who work on environmental and climate issues. Its mission is to support faith-led environmental and climate action efforts, locally and around the world, through collaborations on project design and management, capacity building, training, media and public outreach. Their vision: that inner, community, and planetary resilience are interdependent and that we cannot achieve any one of these goals without working on the other two. To sign up for their quarterly newsletter: https://go.wisc.edu/lokanewsletter
- founded and led Sacred Earth, a faith-based conservation program at the World Wildlife Fund; at WWF-US she was also Director for the Greater Mekong Program
- serves as the environmental adviser for His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism.
- received the prestigious Yale McCluskey Award in 2014 for conservation innovation
- recently published in Psychology Today on how to cope with eco-anxiety
THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
- Her path to wholeness: bridging her spiritual heritage growing up in Sikkim in a Tibetan Buddhist community and her environmental conservation background, after being “an environmentalist by day and a person of faith by night”
- Eco-anxiety amidst success: her own path through the urgency and panic while being externally “successful” at the World Wildlife Fund
- People and planet: why faith leaders are uniquely positioned to lead us in spiritual truth-seeking on some of our toughest issues
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THE IMPACT. Dr. Rita Sambruna:
- Is an astrophysicist working on black holes in galaxies, and the Deputy Director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. She was awarded the NASA Extraordinary Achievement Medal in 2019 for her work at NASA and service to the profession.
- At Goddard, she Leads the DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility) activities of her Division to improve diversity in astrophysics, connected to a broader new NASA program called Mission Equity
- Previously was a professor of Physics and Astronomy at George Mason University, in Fairfax, Virginia
- Is a certified yoga teacher, with specialization in Yoga for Cancer
- Is trained in Applied Behavior Analysis and its applications to non-human animals, and lives with 5 parrots
THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
- Two merging inspirations from childhood: discovering the universe, and a humanitarian focus
- A take on billionaires going into space when we have other problems on Earth
- Planning in decades vs. bridging near-term needs
- The biggest challenge: changing culture, not only policies and numbers
- We are all made of star stuff: that is social justice
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From the Brundtland Report in the 1980s to the Super Bowl in 2021, Norway has led on sustainability. How does this small country have such a big impact? Hege Barnes takes us behind the scenes at Innovation Norway and one country’s sustainable focus.
THE IMPACT. Hege Barnes:
- Is Regional Director Americas for Innovation Norway, the Norwegian government's entity for trade and industry, where she assists Norwegian companies and entrepreneurs enter and grow successfully in the Americas, and promotes Norway as a travel destination.
- Sits on the board of Nordic Innovation House-New York and the Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce.
- Has a Masters in International Business and a love for all aspects of creative development, innovative thinking and working with people and companies.THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
- Growing up in Norway: wanting to leave yet wanting to take the pride and values
- A holistic sustainability focus: in tourism, industry, and investment
- Protecting nature: a good place to live is a good place to visit
- The Super Bowl ad with Will Ferrell: a rivalry with Norway and reactions -
In sustainability, we’re trying to make the world better... but a better world by whom and for whom? Heather Mak asks these uncomfortable yet instrumental questions with co-founding Diversity in Sustainability.
THE IMPACT. Heather Mak:
- Is co-founder of Diversity in Sustainability, a membership organization aimed at increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the field of sustainability.
- Has spent almost 15 years consulting on sustainability issues and previously held sustainability roles at Deloitte, Tim Hortons, Retail Council of Canada, SustainAbility, and Canadian Business for Social Responsibility.
- Has lectured at the MBA level at the Schulich School of Business, York University, and regularly mentors students and new immigrants who are interested in the field.
- Holds a B.Com with Distinction in Marketing from McGill University, and an MBA with Honours in Sustainability from Schulich School of Business, York University.
- Is a mom, wife, sister, and daughter to two Chinese immigrants to Canada.
THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
- Early influences: following environmental crises in school
- Early barriers: not seeing people like herself in the field
- The many needs for diversity in sustainability: supporting career paths, addressing historical social issues, gathering data and stories, creating better outcomes
- Challenges and learnings in the last year: creating a network of networks, creating a tent across cultural and country differences
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From teen magazines to fashion to sustainability, Jessica Marati Radparvar brings her diverse background to make the emotional case to sustainability.
THE IMPACT. Jessica:
Is the founder of Reconsidered, a boutique social impact consultancy that publishes a curated sustainable business newsletter and jobs board
Led content for the Fashion for Good Experience; managed corporate responsibility at PVH
Founded a social enterprise selling artisan goods made in Cambodia
Worked as a freelance consultant and travel writer across nearly 60 countries
Has a degree in History from Princeton and an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of BusinessTHE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
The origins of three paths that came together: media, fashion, sustainability
Learning from media: the power of artful and vulnerable storytelling
Learning from fashion: the potential for positive impact with small artisans and corporate scale
Learning from sustainability: making the business case AND the emotional case
Creating Reconsidered: filling gaps for people working in the impact space
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We often hear about tradeoffs in impact investing - impact or profit, people or planet. Cecile’s journey to lead impact at Israel's largest VC shows that it’s not either or. It's interconnected.
THE IMPACT. Cecile:
Is Head of Impact and Sustainability at Pitango Venture Capital, Israel’s largest VC fund, where she merges technology, profit and social impact
Co-founded GITA, the Global Impact Tech Alliance, a new organization to empower tech innovations to achieve the SDGs
Previously founded Impact First Investments, Israel’s first impact investing company; managed the Noaber Foundation’s Israeli investments for over 14 years, and held executive positions at several companiesTHE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
Early influences - martial arts, entrepreneurship, rebalancing capital and values
Impact investing, from 20 years ago to now - from its own asset class to a mindset shift
False tradeoffs in impact investing - profit vs. impact, people vs. planet, incremental vs. systemic
Two types of companies - impact natives and impact migrants
A surprise on the people side - you don’t need to convince companies or investors
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In business, how much is beauty in your life? What about art, music, science, activism? Tim Leberecht co-founded the House of Beautiful Business as a space for this unexpected mix, to challenge us to be more human.
THE IMPACT. Tim Leberecht:
Is co-founder and co-CEO of the House of Beautiful Business, a global think tank and community bringing together leaders and changemakers to make humans more human and business more beautiful
Was chief marketing officer of NBBJ, a global design and architecture firm; and chief marketing officer of product design and innovation consultancy Frog Design
Has several popular TED Talks, including “3 Ways to (Usefully) Lose Control of Your Brand” and most recently “4 Ways to Build a Human Company in the Age of Machines”
Is the author of the book The Business Romantic, and most recently, The End of WinningTHE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
Early influences - art, creativity, curation, creating spaces and experiences
Creating the House - a secret society, an experiment to put beauty at the center of business
A challenge to bridge - words / ideas and action / specificity
Thinking about our role - a thought leader vs. a critic and challenger
Adapting - creating experiences and intimacy from a physical space to a metaphorical space
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From being a changemaker at a very early age, through 17 years at Greenpeace, Femke walks through the modern day tensions of leadership, and makes the case for this new type of leadership - a creative, complex, and collective leadership.
THE IMPACT. Femke Bartels:
Is Managing Director of THNK School for Creative Leadership, a purpose-driven social enterprise with transformative programs to develop leaders to solve the world’s greatest challenges
Worked for Greenpeace for 17 years in many roles, including Campaign Director, Global Forest Network Director, Global Director of Strategy and Planning, and Executive Director of Greenpeace Mexico
Served as a policy advisor to the European Parliament and the Dutch Ministry of Environment
Studied Political Sciences and International Relations at the University of Amsterdam, and has a Master of Public Administration at the University of TwenteTHE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
Origins as a changemaker: “chicken is chicken?”
Joining Greenpeace as a campaigner: “they were looking for me”
Societal change: “what are your motivators?”
Collective leadership: “ordinary people doing extraordinary things”, “connection over polarization”
Complex leadership: “comfortable not knowing”, “courage is not the absence of fear”
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In this second episode in a Synergos series, Tarlin Saye takes us from Liberia to the US, from traveler and writer to event organizer, as she creates spaces and shares stories with a long term view on uncomfortable topics like racial equity.
THE IMPACT. Tarlin:
Leads Global Programs and Experiences at Synergos for the Global Philanthropists Circle (GPC), a network of leading philanthropic families committed to becoming more effective social investors
Has led Synergos’ series on Dismantling Systemic Racism (first and second sessions, and videos one two and three)
Spearheaded leadership roles in youth organizations on issues like income inequality, racial divides, and societal stigmas against the homeless and/or terminally ill
Has spent time on 6 continents, exposed to many cultural backgrounds and schools of thought
Holds a B.A. in Theology from the University of St. ThomasTHE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
Early influences - storytelling and travel, from theology to events to philanthropy
Racial equity - creating a space to challenge assumptions and share stories
How to hold a strong space - allowing for discomfort while bringing in positive touchstones
A long-term view on systemic racism - making a commitment and acknowledging privilege
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In a beautiful personal story, Swati Chaudhary of Synergos shares insights on the power of listening, from her ancestors in Bihar India to fighting injustice today.
THE IMPACT. Swati:
Is Managing Director of Synergos Advisory, where she advises foundations, philanthropists, and companies around the world. Synergos is a global non-profit that brings people together to solve complex problems of poverty.
Was a Manager at PwC Advisory, where she advised clients on topics like payments and banking, financial inclusion, and anti-corruption
Worked with the UN Global Compact on developing Compass, a guide for companies to align their strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals and assess their contributions
Brings experience in investing from Acumen Fund, and growth equity at General Atlantic
Receive a BA from Franklin and Marshall College, and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia UniversityTHE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
Early influences - a story of ancestors in Bihar, India
Seeing injustice - in childhood, in being an immigrant, in the private sector, in COVID
Listening to the most vulnerable - a key ingredient for moral leadership and systemic change
Investing in people - the radical potential for philanthropy to create a more just world
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What are your savings doing for the climate? Duncan Grierson, founder and CEO of Clim8 Invest, brings together his two lives as an investor and cleantech entrepreneur to help us all invest in the climate.
THE IMPACT. Duncan:
Is a cleantech and sustainability entrepreneur and venture investor
Is founder and CEO of Clim8, a digital platform for sustainable investment, focused on themes including clean energy, clean technology, electric mobility, sustainable food and clean water
As Founder CEO raised over $100m as he built cleantech companies in biofuels, plastics recycling, batteries, smart composites
Started in venture capital with top tier venture fund TCVC in London, Silicon Valley and Paris
Has a Master of Laws degree from Cambridge University, and an MBA from INSEADTHE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
Bringing two lives together -- investing and sustainable cleantech
Good business sense -- investing in sustainability and starting environmental businesses
Putting our savings to work -- how we can all make a difference on climate with our money
The awareness challenge -- starting with savings and pensions to influence trillions
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How can we better connect with each other, now that we need it most? Veronica Marquez of Dinner Confidential shares what she’s learned about having confident AND compassionate conversations.
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THE IMPACT. Veronica:
Is co-founder of Dinner Confidential, a brave space in over 25 cities worldwide, from NYC to Berlin to Tokyo, for women to talk confidentially about topics like fear and control. They recently launched their approach as a course on confident and compassionate conversations.
Is a Certified Professional Coach with Guided and with her own practice, Neuro-Linguistics Programming (NLP) Practitioner, and Reiki Practitioner.
Has traveled the world as a researcher at ?What If! Innovation, Flamingo, and The Wellbeing Project.
Is from Venezuela, has a BS in business from Universidad Metropolitana, and a MA from Emerson College.THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
Curiosity about people - growing up in Venezuela, seeing different religions and cultures
Seeking intimacy and belonging - creating Dinner Confidential in a moment of seeking connection
Ingredients for connection - a safe structured space, stories not opinions, no judgment or advice
What we need now - harder conversations and lighter joy, expressing and listening, confident and compassionate conversations
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Chris Marquis, Professor at Cornell and author of Better Business: How the B Corp Movement is Remaking Capitalism has dedicated his academic career to studying how business can do good. In this crisis, as we ask what does it mean to be a better business, Chris lays out how B Corps give us a model.
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THE IMPACT. Christopher Marquis:
Is SC Johnson Professor in Sustainable Global Enterprise at Cornell University; has a PhD in sociology and business administration from the University of Michigan, and a background in financial services, including as VP and technology manager at J.P. Morgan Chase
Is author of the new book, Better Business: How the B Corp Movement is Remaking Capitalism
Recently published the cover story of the Stanford Social Innovation Review article called “The B Corp Movement Goes Big”THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
A circuitous path - from history to financial services to academia, focused on social impact
Two advantages of B Corps - solving the measurement challenge and the legal challenge
Going mainstream - the B Corp model expanding to big companies, impact investing, consumers
Better business - long-term orientation, easier hiring, working together on our toughest challengesA big thanks to Chris. You can follow his recent writings on business and society on Forbes and Medium.
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What’s the hardest part about creating meaningful systemic change? Globally recognized youth leader Nora Wilhelm walks the talk in doing the inner work to do the outer work.
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THE IMPACT. Nora Wilhelm:
Co-founded collaboratio helvetica, an initiative that catalyses systemic change towards the societal renewal of Switzerland
Has a background in youth engagement and active citizenship, including with the European Youth Parliament as president for Switzerland, with the World Economic Forum as a Global Shaper, and with UNESCO as a Youth Catalyzer
Was recognised for her outstanding achievements by various awards, the Swiss government, and spoke at events such as the Conference of Swiss Development Cooperation and TEDx
Was the youngest participant of Presencing Institute Advanced Program on Ecosystem Leadership
Is pursuing a Master’s degree in Political Science at the University of Bern, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs at the University of St. Gallen
Speaks English, French, German, and SpanishTHE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
From anger to action: being useful by starting close to home
Working at different levels: local, national, international
Inner work and outer work: asking the hard questions of the self, the organization, the system
Seeing blind spots to see results: applying the inner work to listen better in the Gender Lab
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How do you tackle a massive challenge like plastic pollution? Dopper CEO Virginia Yanquilevich talks about all the ways that Dopper is creating a “wave” to change people’s behavior.
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THE IMPACT. Virginia:
Is CEO of Dopper, the Dutch B Corp the mission to reduce plastic pollution in our oceans and bring clean drinking water where it's needed. Their initiatives include Dopper Wave, a pledge against single-use plastic, and working on access to clean water in Nepal.
Was CMO at Fresh & Rebel and Sitecom
Started her career as a journalist and editor at Caras magazine in Argentina
Has a degree in Communication Science from Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales
Speaks Dutch, Spanish, along with EnglishTHE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:
Growing up in Argentina: bringing supplies to at-need regions and telling the stories
Combining passion and career: coming back to a childhood interest after 17 years in marketing
The multi-part mission of Dopper: reducing plastic and providing access to clean drinking water
How all Dopper efforts are interlinked: from Cradle2Cradle certification to “best place to work”
The challenge of behavior change and what we’ve learned from solidarity in the coronavirus crisis
Positioning a big challenge: communicating both what you’re “for” and what you’re “against”
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