"In Africa, businesses are born out of social necessity, making them inherently geared towards sustainability" 

In this episode we learn about green building, smart cities, and sustainable development with Tony Lee Luen Len , an influential sustainability expert from Mauritius. Tony shares his inspiring journey from a small village in Mauritius to becoming a leader in green building and sustainability consulting. Discover how Tony has been at the forefront of promoting green building practices, advocating for climate action, and leveraging technology for sustainable urban development. Learn about the innovative projects and initiatives Tony has led, including the development of a national net-zero roadmap and the greening of public sectors. This episode is packed with insights on operationalizing sustainability at local and global levels, making it essential listening for anyone passionate about sustainable development and climate action.

Indoor pollution is a silent killer; millions of lives are lost every year, but with the right solutions, we can change that narrative.

Meet Peter Scott, the visionary CEO and founder of Burn. In this episode, we explore the profound impact of Burn's work in transforming lives and saving forests across Africa through innovative clean cooking solutions.

Peter shares his journey, starting from a bold declaration at 14 to save the world, leading to a life dedicated to combating deforestation and indoor pollution. His commitment has resulted in Burn becoming the largest modern cookstove company in the world, producing over 250,000 stoves monthly and employing thousands across the continent.

Key points of discussion include:

• The Challenges and Innovations in Clean Cooking: Peter highlights the pressing challenges in the African energy sector and how Burn's range of wood, charcoal, LPG, and electric stoves are providing sustainable solutions.

"Communities are powerful because they help bring people together and find similarities... we start focusing more on what brings us together as human beings."

In this  episode of "The Sustainability Journey," host Samuele Tini sits down with Carlos Terol, the visionary founder of Good Ripple, a platform designed to connect changemakers across the globe. Carlos shares his journey from a capitalist mindset to becoming a passionate advocate for sustainability, sparked by a transformative trip to Western Sahara.

Discover how Good Ripple evolved from a simple idea into a thriving community of over 2,600 members from 97 countries, with an ambitious goal to connect 300 million changemakers by 2030. Carlos discusses the power of community, the importance of starting small, and the critical role technology plays in driving social change.

Highlights

• Carlos’s Eureka Moment: Carlos’s eyes were opened to the realities of social impact during a visit to Western Sahara, which led him to shift his career focus towards sustainability.

"We believe that before we even start to talk about education and entrepreneurship, we must cover the needs in terms of sexual health". 

Join us on a compelling journey of innovation and impact as Samuel Tini converses with Benoit Renard of TIKO, a pioneering tech NGO dedicated to promoting sexual and reproductive health for adolescents and young people in Africa. In this episode, we delve into the social side of sustainability, focusing on community work and women's rights.

Benoit shares his transformative journey from France to sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting his passion for mixing business practices with development work to bring efficiencies and impact. Discover how TICO, through its unique software platform, collaborates with local partners to deliver essential health services, especially in challenging environments.

Learn about the inspiring stories from the field, the challenges and triumphs of implementing technology in community health, and the future of tech-driven NGO work. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in sustainable development, technology for good, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of young people.

Learn more https://tiko.org/ 

In our latest episode we discuss with Professor Christopher Marquis, formerly at Harvard Business School and now at Cambridge Judge Business School, a world leading academic in the study of the business for good movement,. We explore the urgent need to shift from a shareholder-centric view of business to a stakeholder-oriented model that truly considers the environmental and social impacts of corporate actions.

Chris shares his insights on the evolution of sustainability, summarized in his 3 books, from Better Business to the most recent, “The Profiteers” . We discuss the pivotal role of movements like the B Corp in remaking capitalism and the challenges businesses face in this transition.

Then, discussing the second book, Mao and the Markets, we dive into the complexities of the Chinese economic system and what Western businesses can learn from China’s approach to sustainability and long-term planning.

His latest research, summed in the book “The Profiteers-How Business Privatizes Profits and Socializes Costs”  unveils the concept of the "Corporate Free Lunch," explaining how businesses have historically externalized their costs, pushing them onto society and the environment, and what can be done to change this extractive paradigm. Learn about pioneering companies leading the way toward a regenerative model of capitalism and how the concept of positive externalities is shaping the future of responsible business. From Natura’s innovative integrated profit and loss statement to the broader implications of European Union policies, Chris provides a roadmap for how businesses and consumers alike can contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world.

To learn more https://chrismarquis.com/the-profiteers-how-business-privatizes-profit-and-socializes-cost/ 

https://chrismarquis.com/mao-and-markets-the-communist-roots-of-chinese-enterprise/ 

https://chrismarquis.com/better-business-how-the-b-corp-movement-is-remaking-capitalism/ 

In this episode we explore the cutting-edge world of space-based solar power, with by Martin Soltau, the co-CEO of Space Solar. We explore a revolutionary approach to clean energy that promises to transform how we harness the power of the sun. Discover how space-based solar technology works, its potential to deliver continuous, reliable energy, and the significant role it can play in achieving global net-zero targets.

Key Points:

1. Introduction to Space-Based Solar Power: Understanding the basics of this groundbreaking technology and its benefits over traditional solar power.

Learn more https://www.spacesolar.co.uk/

Our special guest is Benjamin Bellegy, the Executive Director of WINGS, an organization that plays a pivotal role in enhancing the philanthropic sector's effectiveness and impact worldwide.

Philanthropy has always been a powerful ally in solving our most pressing problems, but as the challenges grow more complex and interconnected, the need for transformative change is more apparent than ever. Benjamin takes us on a journey through his experiences, highlighting how philanthropy can act as a catalyst for systemic change. From his start in Ethiopia to his current role in Brazil, Benjamin's story is one of passion, learning, and the drive to make a meaningful difference.

Key Points:

1. Philanthropy as an Enabler: Learn how philanthropy can shift from being just a funder to an enabler of systemic change, fostering partnerships and trust within communities.

"We are here to empower the sustainable transition with the most insightful information and data".

In this episode we meet Andrea Gori, a global leader, founder and Chief Earth Officer (CEO)  of Illuminem and a former sustainability lead at one of the top consultancy firm, to explore the transformative power of media in driving sustainability. Andrea shares his transition from consulting to creating Illuminem, a platform aiming to be the Bloomberg of sustainability, offering a centralized source of accurate and accessible information. we discuss into the critical role of sustainable practices in businesses and the evolving landscape of ESG investment.

Key points

• Transition from Consulting to Entrepreneurship: Andrea discusses his move from a high-level sustainability consultant at BCG to launching Illuminem, driven by his passion for impactful change.

"There's so much intelligence in nature... that's the new frontier for me" 

In this episode we explore the often unknown world of fungi with global sustainability and fungi expert Susanne Gløersen.  This conversation uncovers the untapped potential of fungi in addressing pressing environmental issues, blending science, innovation, and a passion for ecological solutions. Susanne would describe herself as "super passionate about the fungi revolution - and how to harvest the intelligence of nature for the environmental innovations that the world needs".

She has more than 12 years of extensive experience in sustainability across the financial ecosystem (most lately Sustainability Lead at SEB GreenTech VC), but has now jumped off to only immerse herself into accelerating fungal innovations for planetary wellbeing. She is the founder of a global award to honor truly cutting edge  fungi focused science and start-up innovation, leveraging fungi to solve some of humanity`s largest environmental challenges – The Future is Fungi Award.  An award nominated for The Earthshot Prize.

She is also investing in fungi focused start-ups and building an ecosystem of fungi oriented investors - having founded the The Fungi Investment Collective.

Susanne sees biology and nature itself will be the next wave in sustainability, with a particular interest in fungi and how it can support a more regenerative agriculture, nature & biodiversity restoration and the material needs in the world. And it is the truly frontier and breakthrough innovations that excites Susanne the most.

Key Points:

• Journey to Sustainability: Susanne shares her transformative journey from finance to a career driven by a passion for sustainability and responsible capitalism.

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