The Resilience Report

Todd is the founder of BRACHER, an Industrial Design and Advisory firm. With over 25 years of experience, Todd integrates design, science, and business to drive sustained growth. He has launched over 200 products, secured two dozen patents, and a three-time International Designer of the Year recipient. Known for guiding strategic differentiation and navigating disruption, Todd is a sought-after advisor for top brands and startups. In 2022 he launched Betterlab to champion science-based design. Residing in New York, Todd is a dedicated father committed to making a positive impact.

In this episode, Todd shares his insights on how design extends beyond aesthetics, influencing everything from business strategy to environmental impact. We dive into the role of data in decision-making, the balance between sustainability and functionality, and the power of circular design principles. He also sheds light on how businesses can integrate wellness into their design approach and why resilience is crucial for long-term success.

Todd brought such a fresh approach to this topic, and our conversation honestly challenged me to think outside of the box, considering the critical role design plays in building a more sustainable and resilient world.

Learn more about Todd's work at www.toddbracher.com

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From making 100% of their apparel here in Canada to designing with recycled and bio-based materials to reshaping how we think about ethical production and supply chains, Cynthia Savard and her team at ORAKI are proving that fashion can be both stylish and sustainable.

Before founding ORAKI, Cynthia worked for 15 years at some of the biggest names in the fashion industry as head designer. Determined to climb the ladder, she landed a position in charge of a design team and traveled the world. Exposed to fast fashion and clothes made from animal by-products, she set herself a goal that would determine the rest of her career: to create a sustainable solution to transform this industry.

In this episode, we’ll be diving into what inspired her to launch ORAKI, how she’s built a thriving online community with little to no advertising, and her experience pitching on Dragon’s Den. Plus, we’ll explore her latest venture, Akanoma, and the lessons she’s learned as an entrepreneur who’s truly in it for the long haul.

Shop ORAKI at www.oraki.ca

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Like any growing industry, certain terms gain momentum over time. In the sustainable business space, we have seen this over recent years with terms like emissions, CO2 avoidance, carbon neutral, net positive and more. To be honest, some might argue that many companies have had emissions blinders on. But this is slowly changing, as regulations and best practices around the world are starting to look at other key sustainability considerations. As a result, new terms are bubbling up, and leaders are left trying to adapt quickly (and meaningfully). One such term is that of “circularity”, and today I am going to dive into what this means for the business leaders and entrepreneurs listening in. 

While this episode will be short and sweet, the goal is that by the end of this, you will feel more comfortable talking about the concept, and possibly even start getting ideas as to where you might be able to apply it within your own business. Even as a consumer, hopefully this helps you to make more informed decision as the term “circularity” slowly starts to make its way into company messaging and marketing.

Circularity truly holds the potential to be the engine for resilient growth!

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Professors Julia Binder and Knut Haanaes co-edited the new book “Leading the Sustainable Business Transformation: A Playbook from IMD”. In it they bring together renowned IMD thought leaders to offer action-orientated, practical support to business leaders ready to move beyond understanding why sustainability is essential to tackling the critical question of how to achieve it.

Julia is Professor of Sustainable Innovation and Business Transformation at the Institute for Management Development (IMD) and Director of the IMD Center for Sustainable and Inclusive Business. She is co-author of “The Circular Business Revolution” and director of the program “Creating Value in the Circular Economy”. With over a decade devoted to sustainability research and teaching, she actively supports business leaders in driving meaningful change to address global challenges and was a Thinkers50 ‘top 30 thinkers to watch’ in 2023.

Knut is IMD Professor of Strategy, Lundin Chair Professor of Sustainability and co-director of two programs: Leading Sustainable Business Transformation and Sustainability from the Boardroom. His TED Talk ‘Two reasons companies fail - and how to avoid them’ has attracted over 2.3M views. Knut was the driving force behind the creation of the Business Schools for Climate Leadership alliance and was previously a Senior Partner in BCG and Dean of the Global Leadership Institute at the World Economic Forum between 2018 and 2020. 

In this episode, we dive deep into the work from their book “Leading the Sustainable Business Transformation: A Playbook from IMD”. We tackle the evolving regulatory landscape, the politicization of ESG, the role of technology, the critical balance of short term vs long term sustainability strategies, and hear about a few companies that are truly getting it right!

Get ready for a thought-provoking conversation on how businesses can navigate complexity, embrace innovation, and lead with impact. 

Access the "Leading the Sustainable Business Transformation" book: https://www.imd.org/ibyimd/leading-the-sustainable-business-transformation/

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Our next guest is the host of the podcast, cleverly titled “Let’s Take This Outside”: Mary Anne Ivison. The show focuses on athletes, outdoor professionals, and scientists about their connection to nature, how it affects their performance and everyday life. 

Mary Anne is a trusted media professional with over 13 years of experience in radio broadcasting, television, voice over, and live-hosting and emceeing. After many successful years in radio, in the summer of 2021, Mary Anne shifted her focus from radio to her own voiceover business, and in 2022 she launched her podcast Let’s Take This Outside. 

Mary Anne’s core values are firmly planted in empathy and compassion, and she strongly believes that human connection is vital to our collective happiness and success. When she isn’t recording audio, you can find Mary Anne hiking, cycling, cross country skiing, or staring at mossy rocks. 

In this episode, we’ll explore her professional journey, uncover lessons from remarkable guests over the years—ranging from athletes and travelers to journalists, psychologists, and business leaders—and discover how nature plays a pivotal role in everything from performance and conservation to wellness and leadership. Plus, we’ll hear about her vision for how media (in its evolving forms) can reconnect us with the environment.

Learn more about Mary Anne's podcast: www.letstakethisoutside.ca

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If sustainability were a professional sport (and let’s face it, sometimes it certainly can feel like it!) our next guest would be in the first round draft pick.

I am so honored to be joined by Catherine Atkin, Co-Founder and Director of Carbon Accountable, whose expertise has been pivotal in advancing corporate transparency on greenhouse gas emissions. Catherine and her team played a leading role in shaping California’s SB 253 Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, a landmark piece of legislation with implications that extend far beyond the state’s borders.

Catherine Atkin is an attorney and global expert on new climate data reporting regimes, carbon markets and the role of next-gen technologies to drive decarbonization and sustainable development.  She is the Director of Carbon Accountable and was the architect and chief technical and legal advisor on California’s recently enacted corporate GHG emissions reporting law (SB 253), a first in the nation requirement for full scope emissions reporting by the largest US companies.  

As the Chair of the Stanford CodeX Climate Data Policy Initiative (CDPI) she brings together climate experts, policy makers and technologists to explore how next-gen technologies like AI, blockchain, and IoT can improve the quality and quantity of global climate data and catalyze the development of climate finance and carbon markets.   She is the Co-founder of the Capital Coalition’s Global Digital Single Market Data Alliance and works closely with the UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub on projects to drive low emissions sustainable development in cities across the globe.  She received a BA from Stanford University and a law degree from UC Berkeley School of Law.

In today’s episode, we turn our focus to the critical topic of greenhouse gas reporting—a cornerstone of corporate accountability in the fight against climate change. What does it entail, and how does it balance the dynamics between voluntary action and mandatory compliance?

Together, we’ll explore the importance of clarity and transparency in combating greenwashing, the role of policy in driving change, and what it means to lead with resilience in an increasingly complex global landscape. Catherine will also share her reflections on the sustainability journey, her experiences at COP29, and the insights she’s gained throughout her impactful career.

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Avishai (Avi) Greenstein is the innovator behind Bamboozle, the brand that helped composting become an urban household must with its eco-chic countertop bin. 

Before launching Bamboozle in 2016, Avi innovated a new plant-based material that would become the essence of the Bamboozle brand. A repurposed bamboo mold supplemented by melamine, this bamboo fiber became the first ever sustainable and biodegradable plastic that was both cost effective and dishwasher safe. Following Bamboozle’s success using this in their compost bins and dinnerware, Avi continued to pursue more effective solutions to drive the company’s sustainability mission further forward. By mixing bamboo and a 100% plant-based plastic, Avi invented a revolutionary material called Astrik.

Astrik is made from raw material that is grown and harvested, not extracted. It emits a fraction of the greenhouse gases as petroleum-based plastics during the manufacturing process, is dishwasher and microwave safe and is 100% biodegradable in just 2 years.

In today’s episode, we’ll dive into the creation of Astrik and the innovation it represents, explore the inspiration behind Bamboozle’s chic, at-home composting bins, and hear how partnerships with major brands like The Kitchn have expanded the company’s reach. We’ll also uncover the careful balance between durability and eco-friendliness in product design, learn how Avi selects design and manufacturing partners, and get a sneak peek into exciting circularity projects on the horizon.

For our entrepreneurial listeners, this episode is packed with insights—from standing out in a crowded market to pivoting into sustainability and staying resilient in the face of challenges. 

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Miranda Gardiner is the Executive Director of the iMasons Climate Accord.

With over 16 years of experience, Miranda brings extensive industry knowledge in green buildings, energy and water efficiency, and sustainable master plans and policies.  She most recently served as the Global Manager, Data Center Sustainability at Meta, Inc. where she led the sustainability strategy for the entirety of their  Data Centers, including LEED® Gold certification for every facility  as well as site-specific pilot projects such as  Material Circularity and low-carbon concrete.

In 2020, Miranda was recognized by the US Green Building Council as a LEED Fellow – the highest recognition achievable for aLEED professional in the green building industry, recognizing outstanding accomplishments and marking a career high point.

The iMasons Climate Accord was founded in 2022 as a coalition of companies and individuals united on carbon reduction in digital infrastructure. Now, with almost 300 member companies, the ICA is focused on driving significant changes to reduce our environmental impact through the lenses of Materials, Equipment, and Power

In this episode, Miranda and host Lauren Scott discuss the genesis of the iMasons Climate Accord, its work in reducing the sector’s environmental impact, and its emphasis on a common methodology for carbon accounting. Miranda also shares how her background in architecture overlaps with the world of digital infrastructure, how sustainability in the built space it tackled around the world, and more.

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Our "Best of 2004" episode is a heartfelt thank you to all of our listeners and guests for being part of The Resilience Report. Your support, feedback and desire for positive impact is truly magical!

Finance (our most downloaded topic in 2024!)

• Lauren Ott, Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships @ Impact Genome 
• Milla Craig, Founder & CEO @ Millani Inc.
• Pierre-Laurent Macridis, Senior Associate - Private Investment Research @ Rally Assets
• Abby Massey, Vice President of Energy Incentives @ TaxTaker

Fashion & Beauty

• Jenn Harper, Founder and CEO @Cheekbone Beauty
• Annette Nguyen, Founder @ Shwap Club 
• Mireille "Dr. Mimi" Vega, Founder @ VGAM Biome 
• Elaine Kim Smith & Leslie Hoolaeff, Co-Owners @ Lover's Tempo

Food & Beverage

• Missy Schaaphok, Director of Global Nutrition & Sustainability @ Taco Bell 
• David Cote, Co-Founder and Superhero@ LOOP Mission
• Kim Chackal, Co-Owner and Director of Sales and Marketing @ Equifruit
• Jonathan Defoy, Founder & CEO @ FoodHero

Strategy

• Dr Marie-Helene Pelletier, Author of The Resilience Plan: A Strategic Approach to Optimize Your Work and Health.
• Lori Saitz, Founder & CEO @ Zen Rabbit

Manufacturing

• Christian Schmidt, Owner @ Black Sheep Mattress Co. 
• Tamara Mekler, Co-Founder & COO @ Nutshell Coolers
• Jeff White and Carman Pirie, Co-Founders @ Kula Partners 

Thank you to every single person who has listened in this past year, and for proactively choosing to

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Sustainability in the corporate world is changing so quickly. Over the past few years alone, investors, boards and companies have suddenly all had to understand the ESG considerations of their respective ecosystems. Many are feeling overwhelmed by the speed of change, even those who are lucky enough to have an in-house sustainability lead. Which is why the solution in speaking to many of our guests is seeking out an external sustainability consultant. In fact, this is one area that you, our listeners, have specifically requested we dive in deeper. 

Our next guest has been at the forefront of sustainability consulting for over 16 years and the financial space for over three decades: Milla Craig. 

Milla is President and CEO of Millani Inc., an independent advisory firm helping investors integrate ESG issues into their investment decisions, companies communicate their material ESG issues to investors, boards of directors understand their ESG responsibilities and capital markets participants create their proprietary ESG strategies.

On this episode, we unpack how Millani bridges the gap between investors and companies, what the sustainability consulting world looked like when the company was founded, and how it’s evolved over nearly two decades. We also discuss the rise of in-house sustainability experts, the impacts of game-changing legislation like California’s SB-253 and CSRD, how investors can sift through the fluff. And as ESG becomes a hot-button issue, we’ll discuss strategies for advancing sustainability in ways that resonate across industries and ideologies. Finally, for those of you tuning in who are early in your careers, we’ll explore what it takes to work with a leading firm like Millani. 

This episode is packed with insights, advice, and actionable takeaways for anyone passionate about ESG in the capital markets space. 

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