Doing Sustainability

Randy Burns believes in the importance of human decision-making when initiating sustainable actions. As Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer at O-I Glass, he is well-placed to understand leadership’s role in driving change, as well as the value of collaboration. In this installment of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Randy joins Gary Baker and Roxanne “Rocket” White to discuss the concept of sustainability as a value creator, how sustainability can relate to behavioral psychology, and the tendency to focus on "shiny objects" as solutions. Randy Burns is the Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer at O-I Glass, an innovative sustainable glass company. O-I Glass is made in over twenty years, and partners with the world’s leading food and beverage companies. Before working at O-I Glass (where he has been since 2017), Randy was a shareholder partner and associate with several law firms, including Edwards, Burns & Krider, and Baker Botts. He got his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School and also attended Stanford and the Executive Education

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Gary Baker and Roxanne “Rocket” White are joined by Susan McPherson, the Founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies. Join them as they explore how to build meaningful relationships, the intersection of communication and social impact, and supporting women-led startups. Susan also discusses her experiences in the marketing, public relations, and sustainability communication sectors. Susan is the Founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy firm focused on the intersection of brands and social impact. McPherson Strategies is women-owned and led, and provides storytelling, partnership creation, and visibility to corporations, NGOs, and social enterprises including The New Profit, Dell, Zoetis, Ford Motor Co., Nike, and The Women's Philanthropy Institute. Susan is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships and speaks regularly at industry events including Massachusetts Conference for Women, BSR, DLD, Worth Women and Techonomy. She also received Forbes magazine’s 50 over 50—Impact 2021 award and Worth Media’s Worthy100 award.

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Gary Baker and Roxanne “Rocket” White are joined by Geoff Trotter, the CEO of ESG Excel. Together they explore the concept of regenerative growth, the shift from a mono-capitalistic to a multi-capitalistic economic system, and the role of leadership in tackling climate disruption. Geoff also discusses the challenges of achieving long-term change and the importance of ESG disclosures in generating business and brand value. Geoff is the CEO of ESG Excel, a RegTech SaaS platform designed for companies in any industry to support their ESG measurement, monitoring, and reporting. ESG Excel also ensures compliance with relevant regulations. Furthermore, Geoff is the Co-Founder of Regenerative Business Live, a series of events hosted at the United Nations with a focus on driving UN Sustainable Development Goals. Also, in 2009, Geoff founded KMPact, an independent Management Support Organization that helps create impact and shared value through multi-platform stakeholder engagement and cross-functional organizational capacity building.

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Gary Baker and Roxanne “Rocket” White are joined by the Founder and Chief Catalyst of illumine.earth. Together, they explore the importance of purpose, action, and connection in creating a positive impact on people and the planet. Karimah also explores the idea of regenerative leadership and the need to integrate sustainability into business practices. Karimah has over twenty years of experience in the Fairtrade and corporate sustainability sectors. In 2023 she founded illumine.earth which advises organizations on scaling their environmental, social, and governance impact, and encourages leaders to scale up their positive impact on people and the planet. Before illumine.earth, Karimah was the Senior Director of Partnerships and Engagement at Nike, the Global Sustainability Lead and Associate Director of Mondelēz International, and Head of Asia at Fairtrade International.

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Gary Baker and Roxanne “Rocket” White are joined by Joe Rozza, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ryan Companies. Join them as they discuss net-zero carbon commitments, the future of sustainability, and its impact on market value and brand reputation. Joe also delves into the significance of sustainability reporting and why organizations without a net-zero commitment may face vulnerabilities in the market. Joe is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Ryan Companies, a national real estate development, design, construction, and management firm. His primary responsibilities include strategy development/management, public affairs, communications, reporting, innovation, governance, capability development, government relations, and business development. Joe has thirty years of experience in delivering “transformational sustainability performance” which includes reducing risk, increasing productivity, and giving organizations the edge. He was published in the Journal of Management and Sustainability in 2013, has given a TED Talk on ‘Industry’s Role in Solving Water’, and is a registered professional engineer.

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Gary Baker and Roxanne “Rocket” White are joined by Kristen Fulmer, the Head of Sustainability for Oak View Group. They explore how sports and entertainment venues can illuminate important issues through sustainability, and discuss the need for personalized and relatable solutions for each community (debunking the misconception that it is always an added cost). Kristen also delves into the differing roles of leadership and grassroots efforts in driving change. Kristen is the Head of Sustainability for Oak View Group, the largest developers of sports and live entertainment venues in the world. Through her architecture, construction, and development expertise, Kristen mainstreams sustainability in sports and live entertainment and is dedicated to inspiring positive change. Kristen was the Founder and CEO of Recipric, an agency that integrates sustainability and wellbeing solutions into existing properties. In this role, she worked with teams such as the Chicago Red Stars and the Portland Sea Dogs on green initiatives. Kristen has been working in sustainability for over seven years.

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Gary Baker and Roxanne “Rocket” White are joined by Farrell Calabrese, the Purpose and Sustainability Director at Crowe. They delve into the importance of aligning personal values with the ethos of the organization, and the impact this has on society and the environment. They also highlight how sustainability relates to the longevity and viability of a business. Farrell has a career spanning over two decades in communications, design, innovation, and corporate sustainability. At Crowe, she is involved with strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and environmental impact strategies to drive meaningful change; she also chairs the Crowe Foundation. She attended Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, worked in a managerial capacity for Eastman Chemical Company, and served on the Board of Directors for Aether.

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Gary Baker and Roxanne “Rocket” White are joined by Joan Michelson, sustainability consultant and public speaker. Together they delve into the future of sustainability and the importance of ESG initiatives for long-term success. Joan also discusses her Electric Ladies podcast and the power of storytelling in motivating action. Joan has twenty years of experience in sustainability, having worked with Fortune 250 companies such as American Express and Chrysler. A member of the faculty at the esteemed Competent Boards, she leads ESG training programs for company boards and senior executives. She is also a dynamic public speaker and workshop leader on social impact, women-diversity, and energy. Joan further produces and hosts, Electric Ladies podcast, which focuses on energy and sustainability, and features interviews with groundbreaking women innovators and leaders.

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast: Gary Baker and Roxanne “Rocket” White are joined by Bonnie Nixon, ESG & Sustainability Director at Long Beach Container Terminal and long-time Environmental “Factivist”. Together they discuss the very important subjects of Supply Chain Sustainability and Bonnie dives into the phrase “from the first mile to the last mile”. Bonnie Nixon’s passion for renewables started in the late 70s/early 80s when she joined protests at Three Mile Island around the potential radiation leaks from a nuclear Power Plant. From there, her focus turned to the environment and researching sustainable improvements for our supply chains. Bonnie has worked on research and sustainability advisory services for her own business BonnEco for the past thirteen years. Today: Bonnie is responsible for keeping the Port of Long Beach as eco-friendly as possible. Listen to how her dedication and expertise are helping LBCT reach their Net Zero commitments, and get a glimpse into the discussion of Supply Chain Sustainability that everyone needs to hear. From discussing The Law of Unintended Consequences, the conversation also turns to Bonnie’s current PhD thesis looking at Modern Slavery in Complex Supply Chains, and how her first-hand experiences on the ground have inspired her to fight equally for human rights and environmental causes.

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Laura Asiala, Chief Sustainability Officer at WholeWorks, joins Gary Baker and Roxanne "Rocket" White to dive into the importance of integrating sustainability into every aspect of a company. They discuss how Whole Works helps clients cultivate business acumen, strategic agility, sustainability thinking, and leadership skills for long-term success. They further highlight the need for action, transparency, and accountability in creating a sustainable future, rather than just focusing on reporting and assessments. Laura is a trailblazer in sustainability, leveraging nearly three decades of experience at Dow Corning Corporation to drive transformative change. Her journey through various leadership roles culminated in directing corporate communications and championing corporate citizenship, shaping sustainable initiatives that intertwined business strategy with environmental responsibility. Transitioning to PYXERA Global and later the Council of the Great Lakes Region, Laura's impact expanded globally. Her roles as a Senior Vice President at PYXERA and as Senior Director for Business Engagement, alongside editing the Great Lakes Economic Forum, amplified regional dialogues on social, economic, and environmental fronts. Beyond her professional prowess, Laura's commitment extends to board memberships, volunteer roles, and advisory positions, resonating with her dedication to community development, women's leadership, and impactful global dialogues. She embodies a blend of leadership, sustainability, and community stewardship, shaping change that transcends boundaries and inspires multifaceted impact.

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Jeanine Ballone, Chief Sustainability Officer at Fashion 4 Development - World Collective, joins Gary Baker and Roxanne "Rocket" White to dive into sustainable fashion. They explore the importance of promoting transparency and traceability in the fashion world, the power of the younger generation to drive change, and the future of the fashion industry. With over 35 years of experience in the fashion industry, Jeanine stands out as a results-driven fashion executive and innovator. She has developed vast expertise in global sourcing, product development, technology innovation, production, and business analysis. In addition to her professional achievements, Jeanine is the President and Founder of the Zero to Hero Foundation and serves as the Sustainability Editor at Page Magazine. She also holds a multitude of volunteer advisory and mentor roles at Women4Empowerment, Threads for Freedom, Save the Children and many more.

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Noah Miller, Founder and Chief Advisory Officer at Rho Impact, joins Gary Baker and Roxanne "Rocket" White to shed light on the role of ESG leadership in meeting stakeholder expectations, delivering real business value, and driving meaningful change. Noah is also the Founder and Managing Director at Calibrate Partners, an ESG Subject Matter Expert and Advisor at the Corporate Finance Institute, and Lead ESG Consultant of Regennabis ESG Accelerator Program and ESG Excel. He also currently volunteers in the following roles: Board Member at Vermont Business for Social Responsibility and ESG Advisory Committee Member at the Green Building Initiative.

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Kent Gregoire, Founder and CEO of Symphony Advantage, joins Gary Baker and Roxanne "Rocket" White to uncover the magic behind conscious capitalism. Learn how business purpose, values, and stakeholder capitalism can drive sustainable actions and create a caring culture within organizations. For more than three decades, Kent has been an entrepreneur, consultant, speaker, and angel investor. As one of only seven globally certified conscious capitalism consultants, his expertise is truly remarkable. Recently, Kent added another feather to his portfolio by co-founding Stakeholder Business, a pioneering agency within the conscious capitalism movement.

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Pratik Raval, Partner and Head of Sustainable Business Strategy and Transformation at Tata Consultancy Services, joins Gary Baker and Roxanne "Rocket" White to unveil the role of sustainability as a key driver for business growth and transformation. With an expansive network across the globe, Pratik stands as a distinguished leader with over two decades of expertise in ESG and Sustainability. In 2022, the Consulting Report honored him among the Top 25 Global Leaders in Sustainability, while CEO Magazine acknowledged his influential perspective, ranking him among the Top 20 Global Sustainability Thought Leaders.

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Sienna Jackson, CEO and Founder of Zoran Creative Strategy, joins Gary Baker and Roxanne "Rocket" White to share her insights on cause culture, impact measurement, and diversity. They also discuss the importance of trust, storytelling, and finding common ground to address societal issues. Sienna Jackson stands out as a distinguished ESG and Social Impact consultant and producer operating out of Los Angeles. With over thirteen years of expertise, she has left an indelible mark on the realms of film and television music, social ventures, nonprofit initiatives, advocacy campaigns, and growing startups.

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Rachel Hutchisson, former Vice President of Global Social Responsibility at Blackbaud, joins Gary Baker and Roxanne "Rocket" White to share her philosophy of "good is for everyone," the key steps for companies on their ESG journey, and how Blackbaud plays a crucial role in enabling nonprofits to fulfill their missions successfully. Rachel stands as a distinguished executive in the realms of social impact and philanthropy, having earned praise for developing and expanding social responsibility initiatives, reinforcing stakeholder engagement, and enhancing brand reputation. Until recently, Rachel was the Vice President of Global Social Responsibility at Blackbaud, a company she started working for in 1997. Some of her awards include the FORTUNE Most Powerful Women Next Gen (2022), the Riley Institute Diversity Fellow (2014), and the Influential Women in Business Rising Star Award (2009).

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Tim Mohin, Partner and Director of Boston Consulting Group, joins Gary Baker and Roxanne "Rocket" White to explore the future of ESG disclosure regulations and standards. They dive into topics like the current state of ESG, the challenges of implementing sustainable practices, why some companies have dropped out of sustainability discussions, and the proliferation of the Chief Sustainability Officer role. Tim Mohin is a globally recognized ESG executive with over twenty years of experience developing strategies to embed sustainability into business operations for Fortune 500 companies. He is one of LinkedIn's 2022 Top Voices in the Green Economy, consistently recognized in the top twenty corporate social responsibility influence leaders. Before his current role at BCG, Tim was the Chief Executive Officer of ESG Advisor, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer of Persefoni, and the Chief Executive of the Global Reporting Initiative. Tim is also the author of Changing Business from the Inside Out.

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Richard Peterson, Head of ESG Enterprise Solution Strategy for Capital Markets at FIS, joins Gary Baker and Roxanne "Rocket" White to discuss the best practices regarding integrating ESG data, metrics, and analytics into the capital markets. FIS is passionate about helping businesses and communities thrive by advancing the way the world pays, banks, and invests. Richard was the Chief of Staff to the CEO at Virtus Partners before FIS acquired it. Before that, Richard was the Director at Moody's Analytics and the Associate Vice President of Moody's Investors Service.

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Anne Nai-tien Huang, Head of ESG at Dun & Bradstreet, joins Gary Baker and Roxanne "Rocket" White to take a closer look at third-party sustainability risk and understand the link between supply chains and sustainability. Anne Nai-tien Huang is a certified ESG investor with a deep passion for sustainability. Before Dun & Bradstreet, she was the Global ESG Product and Sales Lead for Sustainability & Innovation Services at Bureau Veritas Group. Anne has also served in sustainability roles at several other companies, including Institute for Sustainable Communities and EcoVadis.

In this episode of the Doing Sustainability podcast, Richard Burge, Chief Executive Officer of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, joins Gary Baker and Roxanne "Rocket" White to discuss all about the validation of ESG claims and the risk of liability. Richard Burge is an adviser on international affairs, sustainability, trade regulation, and facilitation. He is also a Founding Partner of ESG Validation and has held top management and governance positions in private, public, and civil society organizations. Currently, Richard is a Trustee at the Verification Research Training and Information Centre (VERTIC), Chair of the Global Health Assurance Partnership, Advisory Council Member of the Global Trade Professionals Alliance, and a Court Assistant of the Worshipful Company of World Traders.