Cambridge Executive Business Insights

Cambridge Judge Business School

Cambridge Executive Business Insights: Journey to Regeneration, is a new podcast brought to you by Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education. Host, Chris Marquis, is a professor at Cambridge Judge and world-leading expert in responsible business and corporate strategy. The podcast explores how businesses can go beyond sustainability to actively restore and enhance the vitality of the natural and social systems they rely on for long-term success. This is one of the biggest challenges companies face today—but one that will define the future of business. The podcast brings together leading academics, business leaders, sustainability strategists, and climate champions. The series explores key topics such as the challenges of regenerative business, policy catalysts for change, and what it means to be ‘net positive’. We welcome diverse guests from industry, who have pioneered regenerative practices in their own organisations, with the aim to inspire dialogue and share unique and forward-thinking perspectives on sustainable and responsible business practices. Find out more about Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education >   About the host: Christopher Marquis is the Sinyi Professor of Management at Cambridge Judge Business School and a globally recognised scholar in the fields of sustainable business, social innovation, and corporate purpose. He previously held faculty positions at Harvard and Cornell, and earned his PhD from the University of Michigan. Christopher’s research examines how businesses can drive systems-level change, with a particular focus on stakeholder governance, sustainability strategy, and the emergence of purpose-driven organisations. He is the award-winning author of The Profiteers: How Business Privatizes Profits and Socializes Costs and Better Business: How the B Corp Movement is Remaking Capitalism. Find out more about Christopher Marquis’ research >

  1. 12/09/2025

    Shifting Cocoa Farming From Exploitation to Regeneration

    In this episode, host Christopher Marquis is joined by Douglas Lamont, CEO of Tony’s Chocolonely, the Dutch chocolate company born when journalists exposed widespread child labour in West Africa’s cocoa fields and set out to prove a fairer model was possible. Douglas breaks down how Tony’s rebuilt its supply chain around five core sourcing principles—paying a living-income price, long-term contracts, full traceability, strong farmer cooperatives, and improved farming practices—and how these have dramatically reduced child-labour risks, lifted farmers out of poverty, and cut incentives for deforestation. The episode also dives into Tony’s Open Chain Initiative, which invites other brands to adopt the same ethical sourcing model in pursuit of a 5% market share tipping point for industry-wide change. Douglas discusses Tony’s mission-lock structure, the UK’s Better Business Act, and how stronger company law and bold leadership can shift businesses from extractive to regenerative models. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    40 min

  2. 12/02/2025

    Reimagining Accountability: The Future of the B Corp Movement

    In this week’s episode, host Christopher Marquis is joined by Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK, to discuss the evolution of the B Corp movement and what it reveals about the changing expectations of business in the 21st century.  They explore the rise of B Corps in the UK, now numbering around 2,700 companies employing more than 200,000 people, and consider insights from B Lab UK’s Take 10 report, which brings together evidence on how certified companies are approaching environmental and social performance.  Chris outlines the aim of the Better Business Act, an initiative to amend the UK Companies Act so that every company has a legal duty to align shareholder interests with those of workers, communities, and the environment. He also reflects on the updated global B Corp standards and what raising the bar for responsible business may mean worldwide. In this episode, we cover: How B Lab UK has grown and how the B Corp community has evolved Key findings from the Take 10 report  The goals of the Better Business Act and why governance reform matters How updated B Corp standards and assurance processes aim to strengthen accountability Why conversation, expectation-setting, and community play a central role in driving change Together, the discussion offers a thoughtful look at how governance, standards, and collective action might help embed environmental and social purpose more deeply into the DNA of business. Take 10: Celebrating 10 Years of the UK B Corp movement: https://bcorporation.uk/act-and-learn/campaigns/10-years-of-b-lab-uk/ Introducing B Impact: A better way to measure and manage impact: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/programs-and-tools/b-impact/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    44 min

  3. 11/25/2025

    Shaping Sustainable Choices

    In this week’s episode, host Christopher Marquis is joined by Ellen Jackowski, Chief Sustainability Officer at Mastercard, to explore how the company is experimenting with ways to support more sustainable consumer choices. Positioned within a payments network that reaches 150 million merchants and billions of cardholders, Mastercard has a vantage point on everyday spending that can help inform how incentives and information are designed. They discuss a recent pilot at University College London, created with Rewild, that linked item-level purchases to emissions data and offered rewards for lower-carbon food options. Early findings suggest that such incentives can influence purchasing decisions, offering useful insights into consumer behaviour. Ellen also highlights practical trials, from reusable cup systems in European cities to tap-and-go transit technologies, that aim to lower friction for more sustainable actions. A key theme throughout is Mastercard’s inspire, inform, enable framework, including tools like the Carbon Calculator and campaigns with public figures such as Gareth Bale, which seek to address the “say–do gap” by matching clearer information with convenience and rewards. Together, these examples demonstrate how practical tools can facilitate a transition from sustainable intentions to more sustainable everyday choices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    41 min

  4. TRAILER

    Follow Journey To Regeneration

    We hope you've been enjoying Journey To Regeneration from Cambridge Judge Business School. For more episodes of Journey To Regeneration with Professor Chris Marquis, follow the new feed here - https://podfollow.com/journey-to-regeneration Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1 min

  5. 11/11/2025

    Green Swans and Regenerative Business

    In this episode, host Christopher Marquis is joined by John Elkington, author, advisor, and originator of the “triple bottom line.” John revisits how that idea took off in the 1990s, and why he later issued a “product recall” to refocus leaders on truly integrating people, planet, and profit. The episode explores his concept of “Green Swans” - system-positive shifts that outpace incremental change. From renewables and EVs to greener cities, John shows where technology, policy, and strategy are already bending the curve toward regeneration. He also reflects on the B Corp movement and how sustainability is spreading across the C-suite, uniting impact, risk, and return under one agenda. John leaves us with practical advice: get out into the world - visit farms, factories, and front-line communities where the future is being built. By seeing what’s possible, leaders can move from theory to transformation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    51 min

  6. 11/04/2025

    Sustainability and Circularity

    In this episode, Chris Marquis explores regenerative business practices with Juliet Scott-Croxford, President for the Americas at Brompton Bicycle. Discover how the iconic folding bike company transforms urban mobility through their mission of "urban freedom for happier lives," connecting environmental sustainability with mental health and community design. Juliet reveals Brompton's rejection of throwaway culture through product longevity, repairability, and their innovative Brompton Renewed program—refurbishing second-hand bikes with seven-year guarantees. They discuss how Brompton views bicycles as systems interventions that create ripple effects across city infrastructure, public policy, and transportation narratives. As a newly certified B Corp, the company embeds ESG metrics into leadership accountability, demonstrating how purpose-driven governance drives innovation. This conversation illustrates that regeneration extends beyond environmental concerns - it's about creating systems that support dignity, mobility, and joy in urban life. A compelling example of how businesses can actively restore and enhance the natural and social systems they depend on for long-term success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    34 min

  7. 10/28/2025

    Regenerative Business Pioneers - Natura

    In this episode, Chris Marquis welcomes Ana Costa, Vice President for Sustainability and Corporate Affairs at Natura &Co, a pioneering beauty company rooted in Amazon conservation. They explore how Natura's Amazon origins have shaped their belief that regeneration is essential, not optional. Ana reveals how the company embeds regenerative practices across their entire value chain—supporting over 10,000 small-scale Amazonian producers, restoring biodiversity, and integrating social impact into core business operations. They discuss how Natura's unique approach to connecting local and global impact: investing in traditional knowledge systems and forest economies while influencing international standards through UN partnerships, B Corp networks, and climate coalitions. The company demonstrates how profitability and collective wellbeing can align through net-positive growth models and ecosystem restoration investments. Ana shares Natura's evolution from sustainability to full-spectrum regeneration, including groundbreaking governance innovations like their Integrated Profit and Loss Statement and stakeholder governance commitment. This conversation provides a practical blueprint for companies seeking to align purpose with power, showing how traditional businesses can adopt regenerative practices that restore natural and social systems while driving long-term success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    40 min

  8. 10/21/2025

    Indigenous Business Wisdom and Regenerative Practices

    In this episode, host Chris Marquis explores regenerative business practices with two inspiring leaders - Heidi Renata, co-founder of Innovate HQ and Māori entrepreneur, and Lisa Ferguson from The Nature Conservancy. Both guests emphasise that regenerative practices aren't new concepts—they're ancient wisdom being reapplied to modern challenges. Key themes include the importance of building trust, moving at the "speed of trust" rather than quarterly timelines, and recognising that true leadership means bringing others with you rather than controlling from above. te ao - Māori world/worldview curious wahine-preneur - this is more of a playful made up word versus a real one, which simply means, woman entrepreneur Ōtepoti – Dunedin, NZ marae – (verb) to be generous, hospitable, (noun) courtyard - the open area in front of the wharenui, where formal greetings and discussions take place. Often also used to include the complex of buildings around the marae. whānau – (verb) to be born, give birth, (noun) extended family, family group, a familiar term to address a number of people – the primary economic unit of traditional Māori society Manaakitanga – hospitality, kindness, generosity, support – the process of showing respect, generosity and care for others. Kotahitanga – unity, togetherness and solidarity, collective action Whanaungatanga - relationship, kinship, sense of family connection - a relationship through shared experiences and working together which provides people with a sense of belonging. It develops as a result of kinship rights and obligations, which also serve to strengthen each member of the kin group. It also extends to others to whom one develops a close familial, friendship or reciprocal relationship. Tikanga – customs, practices and procedures i.e. the right way of doing things according to Maori values and traditions Mātauranga – knowledge, understanding and wisdom whakapha ngaungatanga - building authentic relationships rooted in genealogy and lineage mokopuna's mokopuna - our children and our grandchildren's experiences Mātauranga Māori – a Māori practice, much like a living operating system, which is holistic, adaptive, and respects relationships. Maori knowledge and ways of knowing Tauiwi - non-Maori entities whenua – primarily means land or earth i.e. the land that sustains life. wairau – spirit, soul or essence of a person or thing Te Tiriti – the Treaty”, specifically Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi). Te Tiriti - New Zealand’s founding document, was meant to be a partnership between Māori and the British Crown. Although it was intended to create unity, different understandings of the treaty, and breaches of it, have caused conflict. From the 1970s the general public gradually came to know more about the treaty, and efforts to honour the treaty and its principles expanded. te reo Māori - Māori language Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    39 min
See All (18)

Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Cambridge Executive Business Insights: Journey to Regeneration, is a new podcast brought to you by Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education. Host, Chris Marquis, is a professor at Cambridge Judge and world-leading expert in responsible business and corporate strategy. The podcast explores how businesses can go beyond sustainability to actively restore and enhance the vitality of the natural and social systems they rely on for long-term success. This is one of the biggest challenges companies face today—but one that will define the future of business. The podcast brings together leading academics, business leaders, sustainability strategists, and climate champions. The series explores key topics such as the challenges of regenerative business, policy catalysts for change, and what it means to be ‘net positive’. We welcome diverse guests from industry, who have pioneered regenerative practices in their own organisations, with the aim to inspire dialogue and share unique and forward-thinking perspectives on sustainable and responsible business practices. Find out more about Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education >   About the host: Christopher Marquis is the Sinyi Professor of Management at Cambridge Judge Business School and a globally recognised scholar in the fields of sustainable business, social innovation, and corporate purpose. He previously held faculty positions at Harvard and Cornell, and earned his PhD from the University of Michigan. Christopher’s research examines how businesses can drive systems-level change, with a particular focus on stakeholder governance, sustainability strategy, and the emergence of purpose-driven organisations. He is the award-winning author of The Profiteers: How Business Privatizes Profits and Socializes Costs and Better Business: How the B Corp Movement is Remaking Capitalism. Find out more about Christopher Marquis’ research >

Information

  • Creator
    Cambridge Judge Business School
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    18
  • Copyright
    © Cambridge Judge Business School