The Business of Impact

Wavestone

Delve into insightful conversations as we explore how business leaders around the globe utilize their resources and social capital to drive societal change.

Tailored to senior business leaders – CEOs, Chief Strategy Officers, heads of Sustainability, CSR and ESG executives and others who desire to drive change – each episode features stories from senior executives of major corporations, innovators from corporate ecosystems, and impactful societal leaders.

You will discover the unique positions these changemakers hold and the collaborative transformations they enable across diverse stakeholder groups to protect our planet and improve the lives the people who inhabit it.

“The Business of Impact” offers a two-episode format for each guest, providing a thorough understanding of their journey. The first episode delves into their personal motivations and driving forces, while the second episode uncovers key issues and learnings about the societal change they are engaged in.

The discussions touch on a range of topics aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including tackling climate change, eradicating poverty, ensuring quality education, promoting gender equality, fostering economic growth, and addressing racial disparities.

Aiming to inspire leaders to act and inform them of tactics for leading successful collaborative transformations, “The Business of Impact” invites you on a 30-minute weekly journey into the minds and hearts of the people shaping the world around us.

Tune in and become part of the conversation driving a more sustainable future for all.

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Balancing the Sustainability Ledger

Balancing the Sustainability Ledger

Is sustainability at odds with profitability?In this week’s reflection episode, I tackle the tension between sustainability and profitability. Hear from past guests Eleanor Allen of B Lab, Karine Rouge of Veolia, David Lewis of MoveEV, and Kristina Lund from Pattern Energy. We unpack how good business can be both profitable and sustainable, the importance of considering multiple stakeholders, and the need to stay agile in a rapidly changing market.Listen to the excerpts and understand the lessons on profitability from the guests’ collective perspective. And then, if you are curious, go back and listen to the full episode that piques your interest the most.Subscribe, share, and support the podcast for more discussions with leaders and innovators who drive meaningful change.Let's stay engaged, stay curious, and continue to make an impact.

Épisodes

Balancing the Sustainability Ledger

Balancing the Sustainability Ledger

Is sustainability at odds with profitability?In this week’s reflection episode, I tackle the tension between sustainability and profitability. Hear from past guests Eleanor Allen of B Lab, Karine Rouge of Veolia, David Lewis of MoveEV, and Kristina Lund from Pattern Energy. We unpack how good business can be both profitable and sustainable, the importance of considering multiple stakeholders, and the need to stay agile in a rapidly changing market.Listen to the excerpts and understand the lessons on profitability from the guests’ collective perspective. And then, if you are curious, go back and listen to the full episode that piques your interest the most.Subscribe, share, and support the podcast for more discussions with leaders and innovators who drive meaningful change.Let's stay engaged, stay curious, and continue to make an impact.

The Benefits of a New Economy

The Benefits of a New Economy

Have you made the shifts to your business required for the new economy?This week, I continue my conversation with B Lab’s Lead Executive, Eleanor Allen, where we discuss the B Corp movement, the necessity for a regenerative capitalism approach, and who the stakeholders are that will benefit from a new economy.Subscribe, share, and support the podcast for more discussions with leaders and innovators who drive meaningful change.Let's stay engaged, stay curious, and make an impact.

A Clear Connection to Impact

A Clear Connection to Impact

How can receiving a single postal stamp set the foundation for the course of an entire career?This week’s guest on The Business of Impact, Eleanor Allen, determined as a child that she would one day become a Peace Corps volunteer after receiving one of their stamps. Her passion for the environment and her Peace Corps experience has led her through an impactful career that has landed her the role of Lead Executive at B Lab Global, the organization that has certified over 7,300 companies as Benefit or B Corps.Subscribe, share, and support the podcast for more discussions with leaders and innovators who drive meaningful change.Let's stay engaged, stay curious, and make an impact.

Are You Listening?

Are You Listening?

Are you listening as you should be?This week’s episode is a reflection on a topic touched on by previous guests on the show – listening. Each of the first five guests, Don Williams, Karine Rouge, Michael Hinojosa, David Lewis, and Kristina Lund, touched on the importance of listening from different aspects.Listen to the excerpts and understand the lessons on listening from the guests’ collective perspective. And then, if you are curious, go back and listen to the full episode that piques your interest the most.Subscribe, share, and support the podcast for more discussions with leaders and innovators who drive meaningful change.Let's stay engaged, stay curious, and continue to make an impact.

Caring for the Environment and Community

Caring for the Environment and Community

Do you move forward with the implementation of green solutions no matter the impact?This week’s guest, Kristina Lund, former President and CEO of AES Indiana and AES Ohio (soon to be president of a renewable energy company), doesn’t think communities should be collateral damage in the quest for environmentally advantageous solutions.As we continue our conversation, we’ll hear some of the approaches to collaborating the community that AES uses execute their energy transformation, such as a shift away from coal plants to sustainable solutions.Subscribe, share, and support the podcast for more discussions with leaders and innovators who drive meaningful change.Let's stay engaged, curious, and make an impact.

Shared Vision Amidst Diverse Perspectives

Shared Vision Amidst Diverse Perspectives

Does your organization have enough diversity of thought to have a positive global impact on our planet?This week's episode features Kristina Lund, President and CEO of AES Indiana and AES Ohio. Kristina discusses how the diverse range of lived experiences helps her team tackle energy transformation challenges across markets. Learn how her college experience at a Seven Sisters school helped shape her as a leader.The episode is filled with inspiring stories of transformation, shared purpose, and embracing authenticity in leadership. Don't miss the preview of the next episode, where Kristina talks about the coordination of efforts to transform to green energy.Subscribe, share, and support the podcast for more discussions with leaders and innovators who drive meaningful change.Let's stay engaged, curious, and make an impact.

Understand the Real Problem

Understand the Real Problem

Why aren’t electric vehicles being adopted faster in the US?That is the question this episode’s guest, David Lewis, researched as he built his AI-backed, green tech company, MoveEV.He did not jump on the bandwagon to support obvious solutions, such as building more charging infrastructure. Instead, he studied the real barriers and partnered with enterprises and municipalities to address them.Subscribe, share, and support the podcast for more discussions with leaders and innovators who drive meaningful change.Let's stay engaged, stay curious, and continue to make an impact.

Entrepreneurs Role in Accelerating Progress

Entrepreneurs Role in Accelerating Progress

Have you recently encountered a problem that surprisingly has no solution. Might that be an opportunity for a new business venture the world desperately needs? Our guest this week, David Lewis, faced such a predicament. Dave, the Founder and CEO of MoveEV, an AI-backed green tech solution company, encountered challenges when purchasing an electric vehicle. Instead of despairing, he saw an opportunity for innovation. Tune into this week's episode to discover how MoveEV provides enterprises and their employees with solutions to navigate the complexities of transitioning to electric vehicles.Subscribe, share, and support the podcast for more discussions with leaders and innovators who drive meaningful change.Let's stay engaged, stay curious, and continue to make an impact.

Education is Good Business

Education is Good Business

What if you could scale success by creating a shared vision and constructing beneficial relationships with external stakeholders? In my continued conversation with Dr. Michael Hinojosa, former superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) and current superintendent in residence for the Council of the Great City Schools, shares just how he did it. His strategic approach to building relationships with business and other community stakeholders, and implementing effective programs at scale offers invaluable lessons for anyone keen on driving change, irrespective of their field of work.Subscribe, share, and support the podcast for more discussions with leaders and innovators who drive meaningful change.Let's stay engaged, stay curious, and continue to make an impact.

Attitude Matters

Attitude Matters

Do you have an abundance mentality required to achieve success regardless of the challenges? This week's guest believes that while smarts are required, one's attitude really matters. Dr. Michael Hinojosa, who served as a superintendent for six public education systems, including two of the largest school systems in America, shares his journey from immigrant student to a scholarship recipient to a teacher and coach, his passion for public education, and his experience as a superintendent in public schools. Listen as he discusses the importance of attitude in executing solutions and serving others, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.Subscribe, share, and support the podcast for more discussions with leaders and innovators who drive meaningful change.Let's stay engaged, stay curious, and continue to make an impact.

Prioritizing Beyond KPIs

Prioritizing Beyond KPIs

Do we stand a chance of realizing positive change in our world if CEOs focus solely on business KPIs? This week’s guest on The Business of Impact finds KPIs necessary but certainly not sufficient for leaders who feel called to have an impact that extends beyond their company’s bottom line. Tune in as I continue my conversation with Karine Rouge, Veolia North America’s Municipal Water CEO, as we discuss how she navigates the turbulent waters of gaining broader acceptance of water reuse.Subscribe, share, and support the podcast for more discussions with leaders and innovators who drive meaningful change.Let's stay engaged, stay curious, and continue to make an impact.

The Human Side of Global Change

The Human Side of Global Change

This week's episode features Karine Rouge, CEO of Veolia North America Municipal Water Services. Karine, who began her career as an investment banker with Goldman Sachs in London, shares her experiences in the water industry and how she is working towards protecting the water supply through water reuse. With a leadership philosophy shaped by her global experiences, Karine emphasizes the importance of strategic thinking and collaboration across different sectors to address escalating climate change concerns. The episode is filled with inspiring stories of transformation, shared purpose, and embracing authenticity in leadership. Don't miss the preview of the next episode, where Karine talks about how water reuse protects the water supply. Subscribe, share, and support the podcast for more discussions with leaders and innovators who drive meaningful change. Let's stay engaged, curious, and make an impact.

Convening Collaborations for Societal Change with Don Williams

Convening Collaborations for Societal Change with Don Williams

Cecilia Edwards continues her discussion with Don Williams, the former CEO and chairman of Trammell Crow Company. Listen as they highlight how Don and his team established the Foundation for Community Empowerment (FCE) and their strategies for addressing gang violence, affordable housing, and improving public education. Learn about FCE's role as a neutral third party and convener in collaboration with the community. Discover how they leveraged their credibility to make changes at scale and work towards community involvement to create lasting impact.

The CEO Call to Action with Don Williams

The CEO Call to Action with Don Williams

Don Williams, Former Chairman and CEO of Trammell Crow Company shares his insights on working to strengthen low-income neighborhoods in Dallas. Don created a commission to address inequities in Dallas and developed the Dallas Together Covenant, which included commitments to diversity and regular reporting of ethnic minority employee representation. Learn about Don's journey to build trust in the community through his encounter with a legendary principal of Lincoln High School and the importance of partnering with those most at risk to drive tangible change. Discover how listening and engagement can transform communities and improve their conditions. Tune in to the next episode to hear strategies Don used to strengthen low-income neighborhoods and the importance of trust in this work.

Season 1 Introduction - The Business of Impact backstory

Season 1 Introduction - The Business of Impact backstory

Welcome to 'The Business of Impact' podcast's introductory episode, a Wavestone podcast hosted by Cecilia Edwards. This episode uncovers the inspiration behind this podcast, Cecilia's journey, and her 'Collaborative Transformation Framework.' She discusses her experiences at Smith College, the U.S. Air Force, Berkeley Business School, and BCG that led her to believe in collaborative efforts for significant societal change. As a partner at Wavestone, she's committed to applying her extensive experience in business transformation to societal change.She invites listeners to join her on this journey as she explores her guests' motivations and contributions towards caring for our planet and its people.'The Business of Impact' is for all of us - to inspire us to act, share insights, and highlight the importance of collaborative efforts for accelerated change. Let's make an impact together.

Trailer - Discover The Business of Impact show

Trailer - Discover The Business of Impact show

Welcome to The Business of Impact, a podcast that dives into the stories of global business leaders who are leveraging their resources and influence to drive collaborative transformation and to unite stakeholders to accelerate positive societal change.Your host, Cecilia Edwards, is a partner at Wavestone, the global consultancy focused on driving transformation through the combination of business insights and technology know how, all executed in a sustainable manner.On "The Business of Impact", you'll hear from senior executives of major corporations, pioneers from corporate ecosystems and influential societal leaders."I believe we all have the potential to change the world." Cécilia Edwards