Lead the Change

While the United States is fresh off the heels of the 2024 Presidential election, and as the world watches with baited breath to see what impact the incoming administration will have on the sustainability and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) movements, specifically the momentum led by corporations, I remain even more energized, steadfast, and hopeful - especially after having attended Sustainable Brands ‘24 San Diego (SB ‘24). 

A self-described ‘community of courageous optimists’ that represents ‘the vanguard of brands enabling business and society to thrive in harmony with nature’, Sustainable Brands held space for courageous (and tough) conversations to breathe, supported collaborative solutioning, and encouraged aspirational action, all in service of creating a future where business can thrive in harmony with nature. (Sounds a lot like changing the game to enable shared well-being on a healthy planet – the Bard MBA approach to sustainability!)

In this time of paralyzing uncertainty for some and invigorating assuredness for others, it is critical to be in community and in spaces that allow us to be in intimate conversation with colleagues and friends. It is hard to imagine a conference would provide such space, but that’s what SB ‘24 provided for me - through the panel discussion around the intersection of people-centered leadership and sustainability that I led, the multiple Impact Report Podcast episodes I recorded, and the insightful breakout sessions I attended. I hope that by proxy, I can share some insights that encourage dialogue in the spaces you occupy.  

DEI and Sustainability: Fostering inclusive leadership for a brighter future

The business case for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) has been proven time and time again. Yet in the face of growing political pressures and social threats, we are seeing companies quieting or simply rolling back their DEI efforts out of fear.

In my SB ‘24 panel conversation with Nani Vishwanath of REI, Francis Janes of Beneficial State Foundation, Khalilah Olokunola “KO” of ReEngineering HR, and Kelly Beck, of The Accomplis Collective and Greenlight Energy Group, we examined the current season of DEI, the persistent relevance of DEI and its integral relationship with sustainability, as well as practical actions (with examples) companies can take to hold the mirror to themselves and bridge the say/do gap. 

What struck me most about the conversation was not Janes’ illustration of the moral and economic case for DEI in banking; not KO’s reminder that DEI must be integrated into every facet of an organization and it must be executive level leaders’ responsibility to ensure its integration and survival; not Beck’s self introduction as a “recovering white feminist”; nor Vishwanath’s multiple examples of how REI is centering diverse customers and allows them to inform the products and services REI offers. 

Instead, what struck me was the immense curiosity, integrity, and resolve the packed room of seasoned and rising leaders brought.  From questions like ‘how do we balance external pressures with our internal values?’, ‘what language can we use these days?’, and ‘what’s the first step to truly hearing from the diversity of our customers in order to learn and inform our products and services?’ It is clear to me that many SB members are doubling down on their efforts to continue to align DEI and sustainability - and are seeking to learn and share with each other as they do.

Special Edition: The Impact Report Podcast x Sustainable Brands

Building from the energy of the panel discussion, I was fortunate to record four podcast episodes, featuring the voices of five SB '24 session speakers. While each episode includes varied perspectives from each guest and their work, the common thread that links them is the intersection of corporate and individual leadership through the lens of equity and trust.

You can find all of the episodes here and a brief description of each below.

• Kelly Beck, Founder, The Accomplis Collective, Co-Founder & CEO, Greenlight Energy Group shares how she built a unique model for moving money equitably - without extraction that has directed over $10 million to Black and Indigenous communities. Through personal stories, from driving water barrels to the Navajo Nation to challenging corporate sustainability practices Kelly advocates for a shift from individual success to collective action, emphasizing that true sustainability and social justice require us to build authentic relationships, center community needs, and sometimes simply "get out of the way" to let others lead. 
• 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 traditional models to actively engage with historically marginalized communities. Janes emphasizes the industry's responsibility to repair historical harms like redlining, advocating for a proactive approach where financial institutions enter communities to listen, build partnerships, and develop long-term economic solutions. Through personal insights and professional experience, he paints a vision of banking that prioritizes humanity and inclusion, while sharing hope in the next generation's capacity to drive systemic change. 
• Alexis Schwartz, Head of Purpose Partnerships, 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 breeds inequity. Schwartz explores "the hush" - a recent phenomenon where brands have pulled back from publicly discussing DEI and sustainability initiatives due to fear of backlash and economic uncertainty. Through examples of The Guardian's partnerships with organizations like Doctors Without Borders and Bloomberg Philanthropies, she illustrates how media can effectively humanize sustainability and social justice stories. Schwartz emphasizes the importance of trusted media environments in combating misinformation and shares hope in seeing communities come together to address climate challenges.
• 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, and sustainable businesses. She emphasizes that true diversity isn't just about having different voices at the table, but actually creating space to hear and incorporate those perspectives. Williams also shares her personal journey of overcoming age-related insecurities to become a leader who champions collaborative approaches, transparency, and hope as a discipline for creating meaningful change in business and society

At the time of this writing, it was just released that Walmart is rolling back its DEI policies, becoming the latest company to do so after succumbing to pressures from conservative activists. Unfortunately the answers to some of our questions around the impact of the incoming administration are being answered in real-time. It is disturbingly obvious that, today and every day moving forward, we need corporate leaders to continue to double-down on their espoused values, commitments, and most importantly, their actions.