How do you find champions from the local city council to the UN? Simon Leiva of the FAO Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture shares his unlikely journey.

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THE IMPACT. Simon:

THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:

Why does a PhD physicist design fashion and graphic novels? Dr. Kitty Yeung of Microsoft Garage looks to understand our world and bring people together to create a more beautiful world.

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THE IMPACT. Kitty:

THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:

What does one see in nearly 20 years at the World Bank? Head of Investor Relations Heike Reichelt recounts the human side as investors move from evolution to revolution in considering impact.

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THE IMPACT. Heike:

- Is Head of Investor Relations and New Products at the World Bank, which she joined in 2000

THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:

- The unique role of the World Bank, an international development organization owned by 189 countries, bridging capital markets and global needs

A big thanks to Heike. You can follow her work at worldbank.org and find the projects referenced here:

- Bonds for Sustainable Development - newsletter and website

How do we stay calm and balanced while having intense conviction, especially with something as urgent as climate change? Bruno Sarda, CEO of CDP North America, shares his experience and what’s possible.

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THE IMPACT. Bruno is:

- North America CEO at CDP, a nonprofit that runs the global environmental disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts

- Previously Chief Sustainability Officer for NRG, a leading integrated power company, and director of sustainability and social responsibility at Dell

- Professor and senior sustainability scholar at Arizona State University

THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:

- Developing an appreciation for balance in nature and in organizations

- How the 90’s disruption of the internet is similar to the current disruption of sustainability

- Going from a reactive change management role to proactively intentionally guiding change

- Having a long lens that shows what’s possible in every sector and geography

A big thanks to Bruno. You can follow his work at cdp.net and on Twitter @bruno68

From getting locked out of buildings to convening leaders on global challenges, BSR CEO Aron Cramer recounts his impact journey through the past decades in sustainable business.

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THE IMPACT. Aron is:

- Recognized globally as an authority on sustainable business

- CEO of BSR, the long-running sustainability network and consultancy, where he advises senior executives on social and environmental issues

- On advisory boards at Marks & Spencer and SAP, and previously also at AXA, Shell, and Nike

- Director of the Natural Capital Coalition, the International Integrated Reporting Council, and We Mean Business

THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:

- How sustainability in business has evolved in the last 25 years

- A shift in business, from sitting on the sidelines to taking a stand on global challenges

- Balancing urgency and patience

- Leading from the head and the heart

- Overcoming fear with faith in the future

- Transforming the individual vs. the organization

A big thanks to Aron. You can follow his work on BSR.org and on Twitter @aroncramer

How does a social impact activist end up at the world's largest social network? How do we balance being a big fish in a small pool vs. a small fish in a big pool? Joanne Sprague channels what she's learned in her journey, from international development and social justice to the big pool at Facebook.

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THE IMPACT. Joanne Sprague has a deep background in social impact, from the Peace Corps to international development to LGBT-ally-ship at Friendfactor (that’s how we met!). She now manages social impact partnerships with Facebook, where her work includes initiatives from making the platform more effective for nonprofits to leveraging VR as a medium for empathy and connection.

THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore …

Systems thinker and lifetime activist Margot Brandenburg has worked to scale the global impact investing movement, launched her own climate resilience startup, and everything in between. She connects the dots of her journey and shares what she’s learned, and what she’s passing on to her kids.

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THE IMPACT. Margot:

- Is founder of My Strong Home, a benefit corporation that uses insurance-based financing to fund climate resilience

- Is a former Senior Associate Director at The Rockefeller Foundation, where she focused on economic development program initiatives, and literally wrote the book on impact investing

- Received her Masters in Public Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton, and her BA in International Relations from Stanford University

THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:

- Becoming an activist in middle school after watching the movie Dirty Dancing

- Toggling between the 40,000-foot and the 3-inch view of impact

- Finding satisfaction in playing the “inside-outside” game simultaneously

- How two activists raise kids in this urgent time

From facing mental illness to changing the culture around mental health and wellness, Dr. Megan Jones Bell, Chief Science Officer at Headspace, shows how our vulnerability can be our greatest strength.

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THE IMPACT. Megan:

THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:

We’re used to celebrating one superstar who saves the day, but we forget that lasting change needs many groups to come together. And someone helps those groups come together, work together, and keep working together for years -- what we call “field building”. It’s a big tough role, but Jen Splansky Juster of the Collective Impact Forum finds energy in the small victories.

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THE IMPACT. Jen:

THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore:

References from our conversation: