A weekly podcast series from 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.
Listen on:
SEASON 1
Season 1 introduction episode: The Business of Impact backstory
This introductory episode uncovers the inspiration behind thes podcast, Cecilia Edwards’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.
Guest: Don Williams, Former Chairman and CEO of Trammell Crow Company
Episode 1: The CEO Call To Action
Don Williams shares his insights on working to strengthen low-income neighborhoods in Dallas. Don created a commission to address inequities in Dallas. Learn about Don’s journey to build trust in the community and the importance of partnering with those most at risk to drive tangible change.
Episode 2: Convening Collaborations for Societal Change
Don and his team established the Foundation for Community Empowerment (FCE). He shares their strategies for addressing gang violence, affordable housing, and improving public education. Learn about FCE’s role as a neutral third party. Discover how they leveraged their credibility to make changes at scale and work towards community involvement to create lasting impact.
Guest: Karine Rouge, CEO of Veolia North America Municipal Water Services
Episode 3: The Human Side of Global Change
Karine shares her experiences in the water industry and how she is working towards protecting the water supply through water reuse. She emphasizes the importance of strategic thinking and collaboration across different sectors to address escalating climate change concerns.
Episode 4: Prioritizing Beyond the KPIs
Discover how Veolia is addressing the issue of water reuse and collaborating with various stakeholders to develop a strategic plan for it. Find out how the reuse of water can help solve issues of water management, and how Veolia is using treated wastewater in the textile industry for sustainability.
Guest: Michael Hinojosa, Former Superintendent Dallas Independent Public Schools
Episode 5: Attitude Matters
Dr. Michael Hinojosa shares his journey from immigrant student to a scholarship recipient to a teacher and coach, his passion for public education, and his experience as Director for six public education systems. Listen as he discusses the importance of attitude in executing solutions and serving others, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Episode 6: Education is Good Business
Dr. Michael Hinojosa shares how he scaled success by creating a shared vision and constructing beneficial relationships with external stakeholders. His strategic approach offers invaluable lessons for anyone keen on driving change, irrespective of their field of work.
Guest: David Lewis, CEO of MoveEV
Episode 7: Entrepreneurs Role in Accelerating Progress
David Lewis, 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. Discover how MoveEV provides enterprises and their employees with solutions to navigate the complexities of transitioning to electric vehicles.
Episode 8: Understand the real problem
As an expert in green tech, David shares his insights on the hurdles faced by individuals and organizations when it comes to embracing EVs. Join us as we delve into the intricacies of EV adoption, the importance of infrastructure, and the financial benefits of owning an electric vehicle.
Guest: Kristina Lund, President and CEO, AES Indiana and AES Ohio
Episode 9: Shared Vision Amidst Diverse Perspectives
Kristina shares how her women’s college education and mix of lived experiences of the team at AES help them align on a shared and deep commitment to sustainable and clean energy.
Episode 10: Caring for the Environment and Community
Kristina doesn’t think communities should be collateral damage in the quest for environmentally advantageous solutions. You’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.
Reflection episode: Are you listening?
This 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.
Guest: Eleanor Allen, Lead Executive B Lab Global
Episode 11: A Clear Connection to Impact
Eleanor Allen’s 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.
Episode 12: The benefits of the new economy
Eleanor and Cecilia discuss the B Corp movement, the necessity for a regenerative capitalism approach, and who the stakeholders are that will benefit from a new economy.
Reflection episode: Balancing the sustainability ledger
In this episode, Cecilia tackles 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.
Season 1
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Guest: Don Williams, Former Chairman and CEO of Trammell Crow Company
Episode 1: Building Trust Within a Community
Don Williams shares his insights on working to strengthen low-income neighborhoods in Dallas. Don created a commission to address inequities in Dallas. Learn about Don’s journey to build trust in the community and the importance of partnering with those most at risk to drive tangible change.
Episode 2: Velut Aegypto et detortum turbidum
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Have a question? Just ask.
Cecilia Edwards
Partner
Wavestone US
“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.