Better Business, Better World Seth Bollinger

What is the B Corporation movement and how is it changing capitalism today? In the last episode of Season 1 of the podcast, I interview Christopher Marquis, a professor of sustainable business at the Cornell SC Johnson School of Business and author of the book 'Better Business: How the B Corp Movement is Remaking Capitalism.' With a title like that, it only seemed appropriate to get him on the podcast! In our conversation, we chat about the origins of the B Corp movement and how it differs from traditional shareholder views of business. This was one of my favorite conversations to have and I learned so much – I hope you do as well!

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Can socially conscious work and profitable business intersect? In this episode, Lauren Taylor Wolfe, the co-founder of Impactive Capital, talks about how activist investing has the potential to help businesses improve in environmental, social, and governance objectives. Lauren details her journey through the investment world, from selling marketing bundles in college to working in high-end investment firms, and shows how stakeholder value is imperative for companies to consider when trying to grow for the future.

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What happens when a small, difficult idea becomes a sensation? Steven Izen, the Founder and CEO of Lokai and Elements, recalls his journey from a college athlete to an entrepreneur while also discussing topics of sustainability, charity, and how a brand mission is bigger than just one product. Lifestyle brands create unique opportunities for "better business" models that are mission-driven and focused on creating a positive impact, which encompasses the values of Lokai and Elements. 

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How can mechanization and modern tracking technology help rural farmers? Jehiel Oliver, the Founder and CEO of Hello Tractor, an agricultural technology company, has an answer. In this episode, we hear the story of the inception of Hello Tractor and how it has been impacting farmers in African countries. We also discuss how business can be a force for good within its own community and utilize community assets to create a better business model and better product. 

Follow us at @bbbwpodcast and learn more about the Grand Challenges program at the Dyson School at https://dyson.cornell.edu/programs/undergraduate/degree-requirements/grand-challenges/

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Many corporations today feel the need to always be creating more new products to satisfy consumers, but sometimes a simple, sustainable approach to common products can have a broader appeal. In this episode, we interview Lauren Rome, the founder and CEO of Romer Skincare, a gender-neutral skincare brand that focuses on sustainability and simplicity. We hear Lauren's journey from working on Wall Street to becoming an entrepreneur and hear the ups and downs of trying to create a skincare brand in an oversaturated market. Along the way, we'll hear about Lauren's time at Cornell, a story about smelling hundreds of essential oils, and how Lauren believes that connectivity and inclusivity are the keys to a better world. 

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @bbbwpodcast or check out the Cornell Dyson Grand Challenges program at https://dyson.cornell.edu/programs/undergraduate/degree-requirements/grand-challenges/.

When we think about the topic of development today, most of us imagine the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A few decades ago, however, developmental economics approached poverty and hunger very differently. In this episode, we chat with Dr. Christopher Barrett, a world-renowned scholar and professor of agricultural and developmental economics at Cornell, who has spent his life studying how to improve economic systems in order to alleviate poverty and promote human flourishing. He shares his journey of becoming an economist and gives some insights into Index-Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI), a program that tremendously benefits rural impoverished families. 

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