Business as Unusual

Business as Unusual

Business as Unusual is a podcast about breaking with outdated business logic—and rethinking what it means to build companies that last. Through honest, engaging conversations with founders, executives, and changemakers, the podcast explores how forward-thinking businesses are approaching sustainability—not as a compliance burden or PR move, but as a powerful lever for optimization, resilience, and long-term value creation. We challenge the old idea that sustainability is just a cost. Instead, we talk about how integrating it into strategy, operations, and culture often leads to smarter decisions, better risk management, more meaningful impact—and yes, sustainable profit.

Episodes

  1. #7: EXPERT: Doing Well by Doing Good and Purpose-Driven Innovation: Lorena Muñoz

    11/17/2025

    #7: EXPERT: Doing Well by Doing Good and Purpose-Driven Innovation: Lorena Muñoz

    In this episode of Business as Unusual, host Sara Fossum sits down with Lorena Muñoz from Bright Products, a company designing solar solutions for humanitarian settings.  With a rare background bridging human rights, sustainable business, and product development, Lorena shares how Bright Products embeds ethical practices into every part of the company—from R&D and supply chain management to field testing in places like Mozambique, Uganda, and Bangladesh. Together, they explore: - How true sustainability is built through culture—not just compliance - Why engaging directly with affected communities leads to smarter product innovation - How transparency and supplier relationships create competitive advantage - What shrinking humanitarian budgets mean for innovation and resilience - The real challenges of humanitarian supply chains - Why companies must rethink their role in delivering both profit and positive impact If you’re working in ESG, humanitarian innovation, sustainability strategy, human rights due diligence, or purpose-driven product development—this episode is full of grounded insights you can actually use. Learn more about bright products: https://bright-products.com/ 👉 Subscribe for candid conversations on strategy, sustainability, and smart business. ---- Brought to you by Vyve: https://www.vyve.no/ Produced by Amplitude Ventures: Your Partners in Early-Stage Venture Building - https://amplitude.ventures Brought to you by Vyve.

    35 min
  2. Why Every Company Needs a Circular Strategy: Mariya Simon

    08/12/2025

    Why Every Company Needs a Circular Strategy: Mariya Simon

    Step into the future of sustainable business with Mariya Simon, a pioneering force in circular economy implementation. As a Senior Environmental Advisor at Rambol with over 13 years transforming the construction sector, Mariya unpacks the urgent shift from linear to circular business models. This episode reveals why industries face a 'Kodak moment' if they don't embrace business innovation and long-term value creation through reuse and repair. Explore how accelerating ESG-focused regulations like Digital Product Passports are driving this transition, creating massive opportunities for green procurement and take-back systems. Mariya highlights the untapped potential and low-hanging fruits for companies to start their circular strategy today. Don't miss her unique leadership insights into a more resilient future. Follow for candid conversations on strategy, sustainability, and smart business. Brought to you by Vyve: https://www.vyve.no/ Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Your Partners in Early-Stage Venture Building - https://amplitude.ventures __________________________________________________________________________ If you enjoyed this episode follow us on socials below: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2omT8uLhBamH3GFeih4oo3?si=45206dd146a84ae1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/107639644/admin/dashboard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vyve.ai_official?igsh=cml1Y2dzN2lvOTh5&utm_source=qr TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@vyveai  Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576946198668&sk=about Brought to you by Vyve.

    43 min
  3. From Compliance to Innovation: Rethinking Sustainability in Business Strategy

    07/28/2025

    From Compliance to Innovation: Rethinking Sustainability in Business Strategy

    What if sustainability wasn’t just compliance but a core optimization strategy? In this first episode of Business as Unusual, Sara Fossum sits down with sustainability strategist Martin Gjessing to rethink how businesses create long-term value. Martin shares his journey from accounting to sustainability consulting, revealing why many companies approach sustainability as just regulatory reporting, and how this limits innovation and competitiveness.  Together, they explore how small businesses can shift from compliance-driven ESG to embedding sustainability in strategy, why startups often build circular business models without realizing it, and how concepts like the Economics of Mutuality help companies rethink purpose, profit, and ecosystems. As a consultant at Vekstpartner, Martin advises businesses on integrating climate risk, supply chain resilience, and value chain sustainability into everyday operations, not as add-ons, but as drivers of business success. Subscribe for candid conversations on sustainability strategy, business innovation, and smart leadership. Brought to you by Vyve: https://www.vyve.no/ Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Music Tech - https://amplitude.ventures __________________________________________________________________________ If you enjoyed this episode follow us on socials below: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2omT8uLhBamH3GFeih4oo3?si=45206dd146a84ae1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/107639644/admin/dashboard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vyve.ai_official?igsh=cml1Y2dzN2lvOTh5&utm_source=qr TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@vyveai  Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576946198668&sk=about Brought to you by Vyve.

    50 min

About

Business as Unusual is a podcast about breaking with outdated business logic—and rethinking what it means to build companies that last. Through honest, engaging conversations with founders, executives, and changemakers, the podcast explores how forward-thinking businesses are approaching sustainability—not as a compliance burden or PR move, but as a powerful lever for optimization, resilience, and long-term value creation. We challenge the old idea that sustainability is just a cost. Instead, we talk about how integrating it into strategy, operations, and culture often leads to smarter decisions, better risk management, more meaningful impact—and yes, sustainable profit.