Purpose and Profit with Kathy Varol

Kathy Varol
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Purpose and Profit with Kathy Varol

Dedicated to sharing the stories of business visionaries who are intentionally establishing a purpose beyond profit. From economy building to the refugee crisis. From climate change to equity. Listen in to hear how business visionaries are having a positive impact on the world by using their brand.

  1. OCT 23

    Eric Rubenstein on Growing the Future of the Climate Tech Industry

    Eric Rubenstein is the Managing Partner at New Climate Ventures (NCV). NCV launched in October 2021, holistically tackling climate change by investing in innovative early-stage startups that target carbon removal, reduction, and avoidance ecosystems. NCV has invested in companies across climate tech, recycling, alternative materials, food tech, and energy transition, among other emissions-avoiding technologies Before founding NCV, Eric held roles at Citigroup and Louis Dreyfus in their respective commodities and energy trading divisions. In this episode, we discuss: ●     Why New Climate Ventures decided to invest in early-stage start-ups ●     The different areas they look at when deciding what companies to invest in ●     The importance of the founder and leadership of a start-up Key Takeaways: ●     What's Your Life Thesis? Most Venture Capital (VC) firms have a thesis, which means a guiding framework or set of principles that defines the types of investments the firm will make, and outlines the firm's core beliefs. If you were to create a thesis to identify and evaluate where you spend your time and energy, what would it be? Take a moment to write it out, and then check where you are against your thesis. Are there any shifts you want to make with how you spend your time and energy? ●     Taking a Page Out of the VC Playbook: Three of the filters that New Climate Ventures uses when evaluating potential start-ups to invest in are, 1) alignment with their purpose of carbon reduction, 2) potential for strong financial returns, and 3) New Climate Venture’s ability to add value to the start-up beyond just money. These same filters work wonders when evaluating your next career move. First, does the work align with your purpose? Second, does it offer significant growth and return for you, both financially and personally? Finally, are there ways you are excited to contribute and show up beyond the job description? Remember, where you spend your career energy is a huge investment in the future you're helping to create. ●     What Stories Are You Amplifying? The stories we focus our attention on grow. They take up time and space as they’re passed from one person to another—entering rooms, heads, and hearts. The next time you share a story, consider if it’s a story you want to take up more space. Consider shedding light on the things you want more of. Consider making “good-finding” a habit, where you go out of your way to applaud what someone is doing and tell them to keep up the good work. It’s amazing the impact positive reinforcement has, not just to the person we’re patting on the back, but in our own brains when we use our attention to amplify the things we love. References: Connect with Eric on LinkedIn New Climate Ventures Listen to the Purpose and Profit episode with AIR COMPANY here CarbiCrete Rheom Materials Dimensional Energy Connect & Share: If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading them! If this episode resonated with you, I ask you to send it to a friend. Help bring even more visibility to these leaders that are using business as a force for good! Subscribe to the Purpose and Profit newsletter to make sure you don’t miss future episodes. This podcast is for you, the listener. I’d love to hear what resonated with you, or if you have a suggestion on who would be a great guest for this show. Please send me a note at info@KathyVarol.com.

    57 min

  2. OCT 9

    Chad Park on Creating Financial Security for Individuals and Communities

    Chad Park is the Vice President, Sustainability & Citizenship for Co-operators, a leading Canadian insurance and financial services co-operative with more than $62 billion in assets under administration. Co-operators is a holding company for a number of entities with one common goal: creating financial security for Canadians and their communities. Because they are a co-operative, their business decisions are guided by their values of inclusion, and responsible and sustainable development. Chad leads the co-operative’s efforts to embed and integrate sustainability principles throughout the organization, including in its investment strategy and underwriting practices. He also oversees Co-operators nation-wide community investment and partnership programs, including the Co-operators Community Funds. In this episode, we discuss: ●     What a co-operative business structure means ●     The impacts of climate change on the insurance industry ●     Canada’s Reconciliation Journey Key Takeaways: Reconciliation - Facing the Past to Create a New Future: It’s easy to brush off past generations’ actions as their responsibility alone—and yes, they were responsible. But here's the thing: we’re responsible for what we do now with that legacy. We can’t keep building on a rotten foundation and expect a solid future. The real challenge—and opportunity—is to take accountability, even retroactively, for the wrongs that were done. We have the power to dive headfirst into the messy work of deconstruction and build something better together. While daunting work, there is true liberation in taking radical accountability to break free from the past and create a new path forward that we’re proud to hand down to the next generation. Reimagining How We Protect Our Communities: It seems that for as long as governments have existed, they've handled public goods—our roads, parks, and water systems (to name a few). But just because it’s been done a certain way forever doesn’t mean it’s the best way to keep doing it. I’m excited about how Co-operators is challenging the old way of doing things by developing new models to build climate-resilient communities. They’re taking what’s traditionally been the government’s job and updating it for today’s challenges. It’s great to see organizations innovating new ways to protect our future. Balancing Risk and Resilience: Co-operators has an interesting dual focus: investments and insurance. On the insurance side, climate change is driving up risks and premiums, but there’s only so much people can pay before insurance becomes unsustainable. That’s where the investment side comes in. They’re investing in making communities more resilient to climate change, which in turn helps keep insurance premiums in check. How cool is that? It’s a holistic approach that puts the financial security of individuals and communities at the heart of their strategy, prioritizing their organization's purpose. References: ●     Connect with Chad on LinkedIn ●     Co-operators ●     ICLEI Canada ●     Green Economy Canada ●     Official page for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada   Connect & Share: If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading them! If this episode resonated with you, I ask you to send it to a friend. Help bring even more visibility to these leaders that are using business as a force for good! Subscribe to the Purpose and Profit newsletter to make sure you don’t miss future episodes. This podcast is for you, the listener. I’d love to hear what resonated with you, or if you have a suggestion on who would be a great guest for this show. Please send me a note at info@KathyVarol.com.

    52 min

  3. SEP 25

    Mark Kramer on How Creating Shared Value Can Transform Business and the World

    This is the #1 listened-to episode from the Purpose and Profit podcast. We’re doing a rerun, so if you’re new to the podcast, you don’t miss this great conversation. Professor Mark Kramer is a senior fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and a former senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and visiting lecturer at the Haas School of Business at University of California, Berkeley. He is also a co-founder and advisor with both FSG and the Shared Value Initiative. Mark has worked with leading companies around the world to find sources of competitive advantage by incorporating shared value into their business. Shared Value is defined as “policies and operating practices that enhance the competitiveness of a company while simultaneously advancing the economic and social conditions in the communities in which it operates.” He is also a member of the Creating Shared Value Advisory Board at Nestle. Alongside Harvard Professor Michael Porter, Mark has helped to introduce new concepts such as catalytic philanthropy, collective impact, impact investing, and shared value.  His course “Purpose & Profit” teaches creating shared value to both MBA’s and executives alike. In this episode, we discuss: How Paypal is impacting thousands of small business owners How an insurance company expanded the average lifespan of their customers by 10 years Why government and NGOs won’t be able to solve the world's biggest problems Key Takeaways:  How you do business is a choice. Instead of setting a bar of “do no harm” we can choose to act in a way that will leave the world better off because we existed. We can aim to delight future generations by the choices we make today. The examples Mark shared were so powerful at illustrating how, when a purpose is embedded into the heart of the business, it impacts innovation, identifying new revenue streams, and ultimately impact consumers in a positive way. When looking for businesses that are purpose-led and focused on shared value, Prof Mark Kramer instructs his students at Harvard Business School to look for companies that don’t have a separate Corporate Social Responsibility or Sustainability department. If these activities are separate, they are rarely business integrated. What a great point, and a great reminder to business leaders. If you want your company to stand for something, and lead in that thing—whether it’s being the most sustainable company in your industry, or like PayPal, democratizing access to financial tools—everyone in the company should be working to make it happen, not just one department. References: FSG resources on shared value Shared Value Initiative page, “What Is Shared Value?” “Creating Shared Value”, Harvard Business Review, 2011 PayPal Working Capital Unilever’s page for the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty and related pledges Connect & Share: If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading them! If this episode resonated with you, I ask you to send it to a friend. Help bring even more visibility to these leaders that are using business as a force for good! Subscribe to the Purpose and Profit newsletter to make sure you don’t miss future episodes. This podcast is for you, the listener. I’d love to hear what resonated with you, or if you have a suggestion on who would be a great guest for this show. Please send me a note at info@KathyVarol.com.

    50 min

  4. SEP 11

    Katherine Neebe on Sustainablility in the Energy Industry

    Katherine Neebe serves as senior vice president of national engagement and strategy, and chief sustainability and philanthropy officer for Duke Energy. She leads Duke Energy’s stakeholder engagement efforts to develop solutions to meet customer needs for continued reliable and affordable energy—while simultaneously working to achieve the company’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. In addition, Katherine maintains oversight of the Duke Energy Foundation, which provides philanthropic support to help meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. In this episode, we discuss: ●     Nuclear power’s resurgence ●     Modernizing the power grid ●     The surprising reason the US power industry has been able to reduce emissions by 40% Key Takeaways: ●     Tipping Point Industries: Tipping points can be for the better or the worse. When it comes to creating a sustainable future, there are tipping point industries that can have an oversized impact on our collective emissions reductions. The energy sector, for example, is foundational—it powers our lives and businesses. By making it sustainable, we create a massive ripple effect that benefits every organization and individual relying on it. Similarly, transportation is another cornerstone sector. Innovation in tipping point industries can profoundly impact our collective path to sustainability. ●     Energy: The Force of Transformation: Physics teaches us that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it merely changes from one form to another. This principle allows us to power entire cities by harnessing, transporting, and converting energy. It got me thinking—what do you want to power with the energy within you? What do you want to build and sustain with your life force? Reflecting on how you harness your energy can lead to a legacy that outlasts you. ●     Levers for Change: Three levers for driving sustainability are: business, government, and philanthropy. These forces work together, to create combined change that’s more than the sum of its parts. Like sustainability, most areas in life have multiple levers to create change, where a combined effort produces the best results. If there's something in your life, or your business, that you want to change, take some time to consider what the levers of change are for that thing. Chances are, your best results will come from approaching change from multiple directions. References: ●     Connect with Katherine on LinkedIn ●     Duke Energy ●     The U.S. National Science Foundation page on the CHIPS and Science Act Connect & Share: If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading them! If this episode resonated with you, I ask you to send it to a friend. Help bring even more visibility to these leaders that are using business as a force for good! Subscribe to the Purpose and Profit newsletter to make sure you don’t miss future episodes. This podcast is for you, the listener. I’d love to hear what resonated with you, or if you have a suggestion on who would be a great guest for this show. Please send me a note at info@KathyVarol.com.

    58 min

  5. AUG 28

    Breene Murphy on a “Divest, Reinvest, Pressure the Rest” Climate Investing Strategy

    Breene Murphy is the president of Carbon Collective, a climate investment advisor. They create low-fee investment portfolios for employer 401k plans and individuals that divest from fossil fuels and reinvest in climate solutions. They have launched two Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs): a climate solutions equity ETF (ticker: CCSO), and a green bond fund (ticker: CCSB).. Carbon Collective is an implementation partner of Project Drawdown, and a member of Rewiring America’s CEOs for Electrification coalition. If you are responsible for your company’s 401K plans, look to Carbon Collective’s ETFs as a sustainable option to offer employees. In this episode, we discuss: ●     What an ETF is, and why Carbon Collective needed to create their own ●     How an investment portfolio is made ●     Why it’s important to invest more funds into climate solutions companies Key Takeaways: ●     Investing: Simplify the Complex. Investing can feel like trying to decipher a foreign language. You're either lost in the weeds or barely skimming the surface. Here's my straightforward advice: First, if you're in the USA, start investing in your 401K as early as possible, and always contribute at least the maximum amount that your company matches. There is no fallback social system to rely on in retirement. Second, remember that your investments are your bets on the future. When you put your money into a company, you're saying, "I want this company to be part of tomorrow's world." So, invest with intention. Make sure your financial choices align with the future you want to live in. ●     Expanding Investment Choices. For markets to genuinely reflect individual choices, people need a full spectrum of options. Carbon Collective stepped in to fill a significant gap by creating new ETFs and 401K portfolios that exclude fossil fuel companies—something that was missing in the market. Considering that 401Ks are the primary retirement-saving vehicle for Americans, having no option to align those investments with personal values means the market can’t truly reflect individual preferences. It’s like having a dessert bar that only offers ice cream and then assuming everyone’s favorite dessert is ice cream. True choice requires diverse options. ●     Helping: The Antidote to Helplessness. Before we started recording, Breene shared his eye-opening experience of joining the workforce and realizing that most adults are just figuring it out as they go, struggling along the way. This shattered the illusion that adults “have it figured out”. He talked about the impact helping those around him had on his career. It reminded me of the phrase "helping is the antidote to helplessness". No matter what, every life journey will have spots that feel helpless. This phrase is a nice reminder. Helpful acts not only lift others up but also pull us out of our own helpless ruts, reminding us that we have the power to make a difference. References: ●     Connect with Breene on LinkedIn ●     Carbon Collective ●     Project Drawdown ●     International Energy Agency ●     Rewiring America Connect & Share: If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading them! If this episode resonated with you, I ask you to send it to a friend. Help bring even more visibility to these leaders that are using business as a force for good! Subscribe to the Purpose and Profit newsletter to make sure you don’t miss future episodes. This podcast is for you, the listener. I’d love to hear what resonated with you, or if you have a suggestion on who would be a great guest for this show. Please send me a note at info@KathyVarol.com.

    28 min

  6. AUG 14

    Julia Marsh on Seaweed-Based Plastic Packaging

    Julia Marsh is the CEO and co-founder of Sway, a clean tech startup scaling seaweed-based, home-compostable packaging. Sway’s patented products match the vital performance attributes of conventional plastics and are designed to plug into existing infrastructure, enabling scale and massive impact. Julia’s work is driven by a deep passion for regenerative design and biological circularity.  In 2023, Sway won first place in the TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Prize. In 2021, Sway also won the Beyond the Bag Challenge sponsored by Closed Loop Partners and a consortium of major retailers. Sway’s solutions have garnered recognition from Vogue, Condé Nast, Forbes, Business Insider, and Fast Company. As a member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, the Sustainable Ocean Alliance, and 1% for the Planet, Sway is working holistically to scale their product for a thriving, equitable future. Learn more at swaythefuture.com.  In this episode, we discuss: ●      Why recycling won’t fix our plastic problem ●      The properties of seaweed that make it a flexible plastic film substitute ●      The “Amazon Rainforest” ecosystem you never considered  Key Takeaways: ●      Seamless Integration for Easy Adoption: Introducing a new material into established supply chains and factory processes can be challenging. Take a page out of the Sway playbook. If possible, create a plug-and-play solution that works with existing machinery. This lowers the barrier for manufacturers to test and adopt the new product, making it significantly easier to scale and implement across their industry. ●      Understanding Product Lifecycles: To truly grasp the benefits and costs of any product, it’s crucial to examine its entire lifecycle. Take plastic, for example. The visible litter on beaches is just the tip of the iceberg. Microplastics in our oceans and bloodstreams are harming marine life and human health. The environmental impact of extracting petroleum for plastic production, and the long-lasting waste clogging our landfills, are often hidden from view but equally damaging. Out of sight should not mean out of mind—these unseen costs are critical to our understanding of plastic's true impact. ●      The Power of Innovative Thinking: We need more people like Julia innovating new ways to do things. People who question the status quo. People who notice the cost of continuing to do things the same way, and aren’t ok with that cost. People that are curious enough to lean in, tinker, and innovate new solutions that are better for everyone. The next time you notice something off, don’t dismiss it. Instead, explore it—maybe you’re the one who will come up with the next groundbreaking solution. Your curiosity could lead to innovations that make a better future.  References: ●      Connect with Julia on LinkedIn ●      Sway ○      Keep up with Sway on Instagram ●      Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Prize ●      Lonely Whale ●      Beyond the Bag Challenge Connect & Share: If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading them! If this episode resonated with you, I ask you to send it to a friend. Help bring even more visibility to these leaders that are using business as a force for good! Subscribe to the Purpose and Profit newsletter to make sure you don’t miss future episodes. This podcast is for you, the listener. I’d love to hear what resonated with you, or if you have a suggestion on who would be a great guest for this show. Please send me a note at info@KathyVarol.com.

    39 min

  7. JUL 31

    Dalila Wilson-Scott on the Holistic Approach to Diversity & Social Impact

    Dalila Wilson-Scott serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast Corporation, and President of the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation. Dalila oversees all Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives and philanthropic strategy with a focus on advancing digital equity and economic mobility through Project UP, which is supported by a $1 billion commitment. In 2023, Dalila was honored as WICT Woman of the Year in recognition of her work developing women leaders who transform the media, entertainment and technology industry. She has been named one of the “Most Powerful Women in Cable” by Cablefax Magazine; one of the “Most Powerful Women in Business” by Black Enterprise; and an “Innovative Rising Star: Building Communities” by Forbes magazine among other honors. In this episode, we discuss: ●     The importance of data and transparency in DEI ●     3 key lessons for running a Foundation ●     Looking at diversity through a holistic business lens to include employees, suppliers, customers, and product creation Key Takeaways: ●     Diversity: It's Not Just Business, It's Human: I’m done debating the business case for diversity—it's crystal clear, yet it hasn't solved the leadership imbalance. Let's focus on the human case. Look around the C-suites of S&P 100 companies: 70% of executives are white men, while they make up only 30% of the US population. Despite progress in diversifying executive teams over the past decade, these numbers don’t lie. Our system is still broken. It’s past time to fix a system that continues to perpetuate unfairness and bias, not just because diversity is proven to be good for business, but because it’s the right thing to do. Let’s not hide the need for fairness, justice, and ethics behind a business case. ●     Building Solutions Through Continuous Listening: Listening to the people you aim to serve is crucial, and it’s not a one-time act—it’s an ongoing practice. This dialogue informs how programs need to evolve to meet changing needs. When you continuously listen and adapt, you build solutions that resonate and have lasting impact. It’s about creating a dynamic partnership with those you serve. ●     The Importance of Community: The power of community cannot be overstated. We know the phrase “it takes a village”. This principle extends across all areas of life. Small businesses supported by their communities are more likely to succeed. Families with community support are more likely to thrive. Individuals who feel part of a work community are more likely to flourish. Humans are social creatures; we struggle in isolation but thrive when we come together. Building and nurturing community bonds is key to collective success and well-being. References: ●     Connect with Dalila Wilson-Scott on LinkedIn ●     Comcast ○     Project UP ○     Comcast RISE ○     NBCU Academy ●     Edelman Trust Barometer ●     National Skills Coalition ●     Pinnacle Group ●     Making Space ●     Code Path ●     Per Sholas Connect & Share: If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading them! If this episode resonated with you, I ask you to send it to a friend. Help bring even more visibility to these leaders that are using business as a force for good! Subscribe to the Purpose and Profit newsletter to make sure you don’t miss future episodes. This podcast is for you, the listener. I’d love to hear what resonated with you, or if you have a suggestion on who would be a great guest for this show. Please send me a note at info@KathyVarol.com.

    1h 1m

  8. JUL 17

    Staff Sheehan on Greening the Aviation Fuel Industry

    Dr. Stafford (Staff) Sheehan is an American scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur at the forefront of the carbon capture and utilization industry. Staff is the Co-founder and CTO of AIR COMPANY, a business converting captured carbon dioxide, water, and electricity into the fuels and chemicals that we get from fossil fuels today. He is the inventor of AIR COMPANY’s core patents and is responsible for the technology and operations of the business. Prior to founding AIR COMPANY, Dr. Sheehan served as the co-founder and CEO of Catalytic Innovations, where he developed electrochemical technologies to reduce energy consumption in refining processes. Staff was recognized on MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 in 2023, as one of Chemical & Engineering News Talented 12 in 2017, and a Forbes 30 under 30 in 2016. He received his BS in Chemistry from Boston College and his PhD in Physical Chemistry from Yale University. In this episode, we discuss: ●     Carbon capture and carbon utilization ●     The process to create sustainable aviation fuel ●     The magic of chemistry Key Takeaways: ●     Circular Economy in Fuel Production: AIR COMPANY is transforming captured carbon from the atmosphere into fuel, creating a circular economy in the fuel industry. When this fuel is burned, the carbon released can be captured again to make more fuel. This closed-loop system is an incredible leap forward in sustainable energy. ●     Cutting Costs and Emissions Globally: The ability to create fuel anywhere in the world means we can slash energy use and costs across the supply chain. By producing fuel locally, we eliminate the need for transportation, drastically reducing associated energy use, costs, and emissions. This innovation could revolutionize how we think about energy logistics and help eliminate global conflict over fuel. ●     Turning Thin Air into Valuable Resources: Chemistry often feels like magic, and AIR COMPANY's work with carbon capture and utilization truly embodies this. Their work gives the phrase "making something out of thin air" a whole new—literal—meaning as they convert atmospheric carbon into new products like - aviation fuel, perfume, and vodka. References: ●     Connect with Staff on LinkedIn ●     Air Company ●     To learn more about renewable hydrogen listen to the Purpose and Profit episode with David Reynolds, then Chief Executive of the Department for Trade and Investment for South Australia. ●     Defense Innovation Unit ●     “$400 per gallon gas to drive debate over cost of war in Afghanistan”, by Roxana Tiron, The Hill, October 16th, 2009 ●     NASA CO2 Conversion Challenge Connect & Share: If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading them! If this episode resonated with you, I ask you to send it to a friend. Help bring even more visibility to these leaders that are using business as a force for good! Subscribe to the Purpose and Profit newsletter to make sure you don’t miss future episodes. This podcast is for you, the listener. I’d love to hear what resonated with you, or if you have a suggestion on who would be a great guest for this show. Please send me a note at info@KathyVarol.com.

    37 min
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Dedicated to sharing the stories of business visionaries who are intentionally establishing a purpose beyond profit. From economy building to the refugee crisis. From climate change to equity. Listen in to hear how business visionaries are having a positive impact on the world by using their brand.

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