Today we’re joined by our very first guest, Marnie Hawson. She’s an entrepreneur, a building photographer, and a good friend to both of us. Our conversation explores Marnie’s career path and how she has integrated her passion for nature into her business.  We hope this episode shows the huge difference we can make as business owners when we prioritise positive change.  

From Environmental Scientist to Visionary Photographer

Like both of us, Marnie’s career has taken a winding path. She worked in environmental science for some years before transitioning to photography. This move wasn’t about leaving science, or even pursuing a creative field, rather Marnie wanted to work in the world of business. She leverages her business as a tool to advocate for environmental awareness and changes to sustainability.

Sustainability in Practice

A significant part of our conversation is around B Corps - businesses that meet stringent standards of social and environmental performance. Marnie was able to get her business certified B-Corp and she walks us through that rigorous process. She also talks about why it was important to her to focus on making a meaningful impact over just profitability.

Becoming a B Corp isn’t the only way to be sustainable in business. So, we discuss other ways businesses, regardless of size, can prioritise sustainability and make a meaningful impact. Marnie suggests practical steps like evaluating your supply chain and giving back to the community.

Marnie then shares some of the projects her business has worked on, like their efforts to create a threatened species sanctuary. Currently, she has partnered with Odonata for a project aimed at integrating biodiversity projects with business operating models. Marnie isn’t all talk, she’s leveraging her business to make a real difference in the world, which is something we should all be aiming for.  

We hope this episode will inspire you to think about what you can do differently in your business. Striving for sustainability is hard work. You need commitment, collaboration, and a willingness to learn, but it’s so so important. No one is going to be perfect, but if we all do our part we can make a better future, one photograph or one building at a time.

LINKS:

Connect with Marnie: 

Website: www.marniehawson.com.au

Instagram: @marniehawson

Connect with Us: 

Sanctum Homes:   www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Carland Constructions:  www.carlandconstructions.com/