The Business Revolution

Cherry, Alan and Mik
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Podcast hosts Cherry, Alan and Mik are three consultants working independently in this field of transformation in Australia. In a series of interviews and segments they ask some of Australia’s leading experts, decision makers, sustainability officers, carbon accountants and employees how we make it happen – how we turn what is still just an idea, a mindset, into a genuine, serious and deep revolution and reinvention of how we do things in business.

  1. 09/08/2025

    Episode 16: Beyond sustainability – a regenerative revolution

    The Business Revolution Episode 16 In this episode of The Business Revolution, we explore the field of regenerative business with Tomi Winfree, a systems thinker and mentor with 25 years of experience across business, education, government, and community development. Tomi’s approach, grounded in regenerative practice, is about reconnecting people, businesses, and communities to what gives life meaning, enabling them to contribute to the well-being of their place, their people, and the future. Tomi shares how she helps individuals and businesses move beyond an extractive, top-down approach to one that is more dynamic, collaborative, and purpose-driven. She explains that real change happens by working with a diverse group of people within an organisation to focus on a single, tangible project, building capability through doing rather than following checklists. The conversation highlights how this regenerative mindset can be applied at three levels: Individuals: By helping people reconnect with their unique essence and inner purpose, leading to personal and professional thriving. Organisations: By helping businesses align their identity and purpose, fostering a culture of collaboration and coherence. Communities: By engaging diverse stakeholders – including government, businesses, and Indigenous groups – to work together on local issues and create “thriving states”. Tomi shares a powerful example of her work on the Mornington Peninsula, where she is facilitating a grassroots alliance to care for the Wonga Arthur’s Seat escarpment. Tomi explains that these hard conversations are essential to overcome polarisation, build trust, and recognise that we have more in common than what separates us, ultimately ensuring a future for our species. Audio version: Episode 16 links  𝐓𝐁𝐑 notes and transcript: www.businessrevolution.earth/businessrevolution16 This episode for download: audio mp3  𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲: open.spotify.com/episode  𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭: podcasts.apple.com  𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐞: video Social media posts: Linkedin – Facebook – Instagram Transcript – episode 16 Mik Aidt (00:00) Welcome – or welcome back – to The Business Revolution, the podcast where we are not afraid to say that we are rewriting the rules of business for a sustainable future. My name is Mik, your co-host. Cherry Ward (00:13) And I’m Cherry. Alan Taylor (00:14) And I’m Alan. Mik Aidt (00:15) We’re your guides on this journey to explore the intersection of business, sustainability and positive change. Cherry Ward (00:20) Each episode will bring you inspiring conversation with experts, entrepreneurs and changemakers who are proving that sustainability isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for businesses too. Mik Aidt (00:31) We’re always on the lookout for innovative solutions and we’re sharing with you the practical strategies that we find and we’re discovering new trends in what is going to hopefully to shape this future of sustainable business. And that’s certainly very much what we aim to do today in this podcast episode. Jingle – signature song Cherry Ward (00:49) So grab a cuppa, settle in and get ready to be inspired. This is the business revolution. Mik Aidt (00:56) In this episode, we’re going to explore the field of regenerative business and learn what that could mean and how coaching and mentoring and consulting all can work together at three different levels. We’ll get into all the nitty gritty of that in just a moment. Cherry Ward (01:11) Today’s guest is a systems thinker, a regenerative practitioner, and a mentor with over 25 years of experience across business, education, government and community development. Alan Taylor (01:22) She helped shape the National Green Skills Agreement and has worked across a range of industries from business services to trades, the built environment and manufacturing, supporting professionals through vocational and continuing development. Mik Aidt (01:35) Tomi’s approach is grounded in regenerative practice, which is about reconnecting people, businesses and communities to what gives life meaning, nothing less. And they can contribute together to the wellbeing of the place, the people around them and the future which we are all a part of. Cherry Ward (01:53) Tomi is now leading Regenerative Mornington Peninsula where she supports individuals, teams and communities to move beyond overwhelm and reactivity into a place of clarity, contribution and deeper connection. Please welcome Tomi Winfree. Tomi Winfree (02:08) Hello everyone, thank you for having me this morning. Alan Taylor (02:12) Thank you for coming, Tomi. And we’d love to hear you share a little bit about what led you into this journey and what it actually means to you. Tomi Winfree (02:18) Yes, thanks, Alan. I have to say it’s been a long journey. After 25 years in sustainability, I have to say it wasn’t a big awakening, but it’s been a becoming. So it’s partly remembering, going back and remembering my own essence and the things that I’ve questioned as I’ve grown up. So questioning the systems that I’m a part of and questioning things about race, class, gender, religion, the things that power structures, the things that really kind of control how we think and what we do and what we choose to become. And so it was a bit of going back for me to see how I wanted to be in this world. So beyond sustainability is my journey beyond where I thought I was contributing and really trying to figure out what my purpose was in this life. So I hit a point where I was part of an extractive system, I felt. I was very top down. I was trying to put more and more control into the system to maintain and monitor and comply. And I realised that it wasn’t really working as well as we could be if we looked at it from a living system and a dynamic approach and what each unique business can contribute and each individual within that business and the uniqueness of their place. So that’s where my journey has started, just post-COVID and looking at who I’m becoming and what I’m doing, building my capacity and how I can contribute to all life thriving. Mik Aidt (03:51) So how does that look in your work life? I mean, how does that, what kind of support do you offer to people? Tomi Winfree (03:56) So I pull from regenerative practice and in that we work on individuals, so our own capacity and what we want to contribute. So I work with individuals one-on-one. I also work with businesses and organisations. So I look at what their purpose is. So how did they contribute to the place where they are? What is it that is unique about them? What’s their story? What’s their passion and purpose for contributing to a thriving living system around them and really getting to the heart of that, but also each individual within that business and how they can contribute to the business and that wider place. And then at a community level with community development, so working between government and business and community, but doing it, walking with them, walking with the group and co-creating from the ground up. So it’s emergent and we never know what’s gonna come out of it. Yeah, it’s a discovery of the journey together. So really looking at that identity and purpose of what that group’s coming together to do, to become. Alan Taylor (05:02) I can sort of hear a theme here in your own journey and you know that questioning in a constructive manner of where your journey is, where you want to be, what the systems are you’re offering, functioning in. And it seems like you’ve, it sounds like you’ve carried that across into your work you’re doing with others. How can we question that in a collaborative and constructive way to enable those changes together? What does that actually look like in practice? Perhaps a few stories would be interesting. Tomi Winfree (05:26) Yes, so I can talk about individual journeys or I can talk about collective journeys. Where would you like to start? Cherry Ward (05:34) let’s go with individual because I think, you know, it all starts with the individual, right? I think it’s like the interior condition of the individual before they go and have impact on the world and the collective journey. Tomi Winfree (05:47) Yeah, so there a couple of people that come to mind. Some of the first people I worked with and some of the stories that I draw from even to today. So one individual that I’ve helped is a photographer. So a really amazing woman and she had stepped away from her work due to physical health problems and she just kind of have lost her way and we connected and I helped her explore her past and the things that she could remember along her journey to the point where she was in her practice. And it really helped her reconnect with what she referred to as her inner voice. And I feel like everyone can relate to that, you know, what guides us, what our intuition and what gives us purpose, that feeling that you get when you know something’s right or you know it’s not. And making that choice at that moment, which way you want to go. And in the work that I did with her over eight weeks, yeah, we went back into those relationships that she’d had in the past and the work that she had done and really explored the things that drove her and gave her that passion. And she reconnected with herself and she’s now doing an amazing piece of work where she’s showcasing what people do when they go beyond retirement. And she’s really shining a light on the contribution that the older generation can make. and looking at that intergeneration

    29 min

  2. 07/23/2025

    Episode 15: Powering a regenerative future

    The Business Revolution Episode 15 In this episode of The Business Revolution, we delve into the exciting frontier of sustainable agriculture and renewable energy with Stephen Todd, founder and CEO of Volt Farmer. Stephen is driving a quiet revolution in rural Australia, proving that profitable farming and planetary health can go hand in hand. In this interview, Stephen shares Volt Farmer’s regenerative approach, which combines ancient farming wisdom with cutting-edge technology like AI and bioacoustics to create ecologically balanced systems. He explains how this approach increases farm carrying capacity and drought resilience, while also generating long-term productive assets.  Our conversation explores: The “Valley of Death”. The challenging 3-5 year transition period for farmers moving from chemical to organic or regenerative practices, and the need for more supportive banking systems. Agri-solar innovation and how combining elevated solar panels with farming (agroforestry systems) can maximise land use and generate multiple benefits, including growing traditional crops between vertical panels. Drawing lessons from Germany and the UK, Stephen highlights the importance of local community involvement and co-investment in renewable energy projects to ensure value returns to the community, not just energy traders. Zambia’s rapid transformation. An inspiring example of how a nation facing severe climate and energy stress is fast-tracking solar farm permits and embracing innovative, collaborative agricultural and energy solutions, driven by a young, tech-savvy population unburdened by Western conditioning. The current and future impact of AI and swarm robotics in agriculture, providing actionable insights, automating tasks, and enhancing productivity, while also discussing the evolution of human roles. How the application of predictive algorithms and looking for “surrogate indicators” (predictive trends) from regenerative agriculture can be applied across various business sectors to drive efficiency, predictive maintenance, and improved employee well-being. Join us for a fascinating discussion on how ancient wisdom, modern technology, and community engagement are shaping a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future. Bio Stephen Todd is the founder and CEO of Volt Farmer, a company at the forefront of bringing cutting-edge renewable energy solutions to the agricultural sector. With over 18 years of experience, Stephen is passionate about sustainable farming practices and technological innovation, empowering farmers to reduce their environmental footprint, cut costs, and build more resilient operations by combining ancient wisdom with modern technology. Links Volt Farmer website: www.voltfarmer.com.au Connect with Stephen Todd on LinkedIn Audio version: Episode 15 links  𝐓𝐁𝐑 notes and transcript: www.businessrevolution.earth/businessrevolution15 This episode for download: audio mp3  𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲: open.spotify.com/episode  𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭: podcasts.apple.com  𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐞: video Social media posts: Linkedin – Facebook – Instagram Transcript – episode 15 Alan Taylor (00:00)  Well, welcome or welcome back to The Business Revolution, the podcast where we’re rewriting the rules of business for a sustainable future. I’m Alan, your co-host. Cherry Ward (00:08)  And I’m Cherry. Mik Aidt (00:09)  And I’m Mik. We are your guides, or we would like to be your guides, on this journey to explore the intersection of business, sustainability, and positive change. Alan Taylor (00:19)  And to do that, every episode will bring you inspiring conversations with experts, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, proving that sustainability isn’t just good for the planet; it’s actually good for business. Cherry Ward (00:30)  So we will uncover innovative solutions, share practical strategies, and discover new trends that will shape the future of sustainable business. Mik Aidt (00:39)  Whether you are a seasoned CEO, a budding entrepreneur, or simply curious about how to make a difference in the business world, well, you’ve come to the right place. Alan Taylor (00:49)  So I hope you’ve got your cup of tea or your favourite sustainable brew to settle in and be ready to be inspired. This is The Business Revolution. Mik Aidt (00:57)  In this episode, we’re going to explore the exciting frontier of sustainable agriculture and renewable energy, and how innovative technology is transforming the way we grow food. Alan Taylor (01:15)  And to help us explore this intersection of farming, technology, and environmental stewardship, we’re excited to welcome Stephen Todd.  Stephen is the founder and CEO of Volt Farmer, a company at the forefront of bringing cutting-edge renewable energy solutions to the agricultural sector.  With a deep passion for sustainable farming practices and a keen eye for technological innovation, Stephen is empowering farmers to reduce their environmental footprint, cut costs, and build more resilient operations.  He’s driving a quiet revolution in rural Australia, proving that profitable farming and planetary health can go hand in hand. Welcome, Stephen, to The Business Revolution. Stephen Todd (02:02)  Thank you for having me. Cherry Ward (02:03)  Stephen, could you share your story behind Volt Farmer? So, what’s your core mission, and how are you bringing renewable energy solutions to the agricultural sector? Stephen Todd (02:16) We describe our activities as being regenerative. So we essentially go into communities, identify the opportunities, work with the existing experts in the area.  We find consensus among the technology players, but also the ancient wisdom of the area. We use precision regenerative agricultural techniques to measure and baseline the performance of the landscape and the energy systems.  And then, using AI-based systems, we create outcomes because they’re called actionable insights from that data.  So it all sounds very cold and clinical, but it’s actually about using ancient wisdom. And a lot of the ancient farming cultures that we actually deal with use an intuitive basis when they’re managing the landscape.  When they walk onto a farm, they can feel whether it’s in tune or whether it’s out of tune. And to give you a basic example, you walk onto a farm that the soil feels soft underfoot. It’s likely full of biological activity.  If you’re very quiet, as a lot of the older farmers will be, you can hear the birds and the insects, so that’s a bio indicator. And you’re basically feeling the vibration.  Now, with modern technology, we can start to put measurement onto that using bioacoustics, actually listening to what the landscape is telling us, and looking for trends in that landscape.  So we look at a whole system. We actually basically design the system like an ecologically balanced trope at Cascade.  So we’re looking at what’s pushing what, what’s the best way to actually live in harmony to produce what you want, and long-term productive assets for the owner. Alan Taylor (03:47)  That’s wonderful. Talking about, obviously you’re educating us, we’re not farmers, and there’s so much in there. I’m wondering, a lot of people like myself, or people who are not aware of farming, think, well, that sounds great, but what is the value of that to modern farming? Stephen Todd (04:08) There’s a couple of big reasons. One is to increase the carrying capacity of your farm. Carrying capacity is the ability to carry animals or produce crops.  It also makes the farms more drought resilient or climate event resilient. You’re understanding the trends, but you’re actually being able to react to change better outcomes.  Traditionally, data collection is about telling you what you already know. If you go back to the older way of doing it, it’s looking where the birds are resting in the trees.  That will tell you what next year’s weather is going to be, where the insects are putting their nests. There’s lots of stuff that we can take from people who actually understand the landscape.  Once you understand that, you can apply a thing called the landscape wellness rating system to understand at this point in time, where does that landscape sit. So as an investor, if you want to be called in commercial, you’re ideally looking to buy a farm that’s a one star, use an applied set of systems to then renovate it to seven star.  And if you want to be a banker or an investor, you then have got a long-term productive asset. The actual farm operator then, when you’re getting these really strange changes in the climate or long-term droughts, because you looked after it well, it’s a much more resilient, ecologically based farming system. And Australia leads the world in a lot of this technology. Alan Taylor (05:25)  Wow. So, if I understand that correctly, you’re saying that not only do you get actually higher productivity, but you get quick wins. So it’s not like a long wait for return on investment, and you’ve got resilience built into that. Is that a good summary? Your correct summary? Stephen Todd (05:41)  The summary in the middle is not correct, because it’s called the valley of death. So whenever people transition from chemical agronomy, so that’s a lot of artificial synthetic fertilisers, high yields.  If you want to go either organic or regenerative, there’s probably a three to five year period in th

    28 min

  3. 06/12/2025

    Episode 14: Demystifying the “G” in ESG

    The Business Revolution Episode 14 In this captivating episode of The Business Revolution, we complete our ESG series by diving into the often-misunderstood but absolutely critical “G” for Governance. We’re joined by Perrin Carey, the visionary founder and CEO of CoSteer, who radically redefines governance beyond rigid checklists and compliance. Perrin unveils a powerful vision of governance as “beautiful synchronicity,” akin to a murmuration of starlings, an interconnected, non-hierarchical system centered on shared purpose and values. Perrin explains how the true essence of governance lies in the quality of the millions of daily decisions made across an organisation, not just in the boardroom. This episode will challenge your perceptions and offer profound insights into: Why traditional, rigid governance models are a risk and how adaptability is key to organisational survival and agility. How embedding core values and purpose into decision-making frameworks fosters a living, human system of governance. The immense role of AI in improving decision quality, when approached with a human touch. Practical applications of biomimicry, showing how decentralised, interconnected systems lead to robust outcomes. The ultimate driver of good governance. Based on extensive research, Perrin reveals the single most influential factor in high-quality decision-making is compassion. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that will inspire you to see governance as a dynamic opportunity, a competitive edge and a path to building institutions worth inheriting. Bio Perrin Carey is the visionary founder and CEO of CoSteer, a technology business dedicated to integrating governance effectively into organisations. Perrin;s work stems from extensive research into how to move beyond traditional, process-driven governance towards a more holistic and human-centered approach, focusing on enhancing the quality of decision-making within organisations. Links CoSteer website:  www.costeer.co CoSteer’s research at the Good Governance Academy: goodgovernance.academy/research CoSteer’s research report: www.costeer.co/2025report ISO 37000 – The Governance of Organisations Audio version: My call to CEOs – about the “G” in ESG Episode 14 links  𝐓𝐁𝐑 notes and transcript: www.businessrevolution.earth/businessrevolution14 𝐓𝐁𝐑 episode 14 for download: audio mp3  𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲: open.spotify.com/episode  𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭: podcasts.apple.com  𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐞: video Social media posts: Linkedin – Facebook – Instagram Transcript – episode 14 Alan Taylor (00:00)Well, welcome – or welcome back – to The Business Revolution, the podcast where we’re rewriting the rules of business for a sustainable future. I’m Alan, your co-host. Cherry Ward (00:08)And I’m Cherry. Mik Aidt (00:09)And I’m Mik. We are your guides, or we would like to be your guides on this journey to explore the intersection of business, sustainability and positive change. Alan Taylor (00:19)And to do that every episode will bring you inspiring conversation with experts, entrepreneurs, change makers, or proving that sustainability isn’t just good for the planet, it’s actually good for business. Cherry Ward (00:30)So we will uncover innovative solutions, share practical strategies and discover new trends that will shape the future of sustainable business. Mik Aidt (00:39)Whether you are a seasoned CEO or a budding entrepreneur or simply curious about how to make a difference in the business world, well, you’ve come to the right place. Alan Taylor (00:49)So I hope you’ve got your cup of tea or your sustainable favorite brew to settle in and be ready to be inspired. This is The Business Revolution. Mik Aidt (00:57)In this episode, we’re going to explore the often overlooked but very important, the crucial ‘G’ in ESG, governance. Alan Taylor (01:07)And to help us explore the intricacies of good governance and its impact on sustainable business practices. We are super thrilled to welcome Perrin Carey, the visionary founder and CEO of CoSteer. Cherry Ward (01:18)Welcome Perrin. Perrin brings a wealth of experience in helping organisations navigate the complexities of modern governance. Co-Steer is at the forefront of providing innovative solutions that empower businesses to build robust and transparent governance frameworks. So Perrin, can you tell us a bit about CoSteer and specifically how you and CoSteer address the G in ESG? Perrin Carey (01:43)Goodness, that’s a whole podcast just in one question there, Cherry. But very quickly, because I really want to dive into our perspectives on governance. But firstly, it was born out of a research project that I did for a master’s degree back in 2018. But it has been a long standing challenge of mine as to how do we integrate governance properly into organisations.That research led to a deep exploration through the years of COVID and then the development of a piece of technology which supports organisations. So CoSteer is an unusual business. It’s a tech business, but in the space of governance. Your second bit of that question, we’re going to have to dive in separately. So you see, let’s look at the way that we see governance currently, most of us.We see governance most commonly as a process driven framework, often surrounded by aspects of compliance, maybe risk management. And in the ESG space, it sits as this tag on at the end of this acronym. But imagine if you would something different. Picture that beautiful spectacle in the sky that you see at dusk. Starlings in murmuration. You can see it across woodlands and across seaside towns in the UK, the US, around the world. That for me is governance. Governance is beautiful synchronicity. It’s interconnectedness.It’s a group of human beings centralised around a common purpose with really clear shared values. No hierarchical leadership, decentralised decision making. And if you can imagine that transition of moving an organisation, a group of organisations, a whole concept towards that type of ideology, then you move into a different space. You move into a world where governance is in fact beautiful. And that isn’t something you hear often in boardrooms. Cherry Ward (03:55)No, absolutely not. I love that that starling that murmuration Perrin. I think, you know, I’ve worked in that space and often governance is about hierarchy. It’s about delegations of authority, who can make those decisions and structures and processes. So how are you working with organisations to to make that shift to think differently about governance. I think it’s almost like as you said earlier, the G has to come before the E and the S. Perrin Carey (04:24)Yeah, how do we do it? I’ll come on to a minute. I think my, my ideal is that these three things are completely interconnected, they’re interwoven. And we’ve, we’ve given it an acronym, because that helps us as human beings, what we tend to then do, because we are human beings, and therefore we, we’re almost obsessed with linearity. Cherry Ward (04:27)Yes. Perrin Carey (04:47)So we go, ooh, there’s an E, ooh, there’s an S, ooh, there’s a G. But really these three elements are utterly interconnected and interwoven. So how do we address this with boards and leadership and organisations? I think we tackle it first and foremost by just clarifying that governance is not corporate governance.Governance is really about the quality of the decisions that are cascading and rippling across your organisation every single day. So there was a Harvard Business Review that was done a while ago looking at the number of decisions that we make as human beings today. 33,000. 33,000 decisions.Now even if you just go into the workplace and you extract eight hours of a day, suddenly you’re at 10,000.Multiply that up across people in your organisation. You are talking about millions and millions of decisions that are made every single day in your organisation. For me, governance is everything that informs, that wraps, that begins to inspire the quality of those decisions across your organisation.And so once you begin to have a conversation in that vein, then governance becomes a living thing. It’s not something that sits on a policy or a piece of paper or an intranet. It becomes a living human system. And that’s how we approach governance with organisations as a living human system. Alan Taylor (06:25)Wow, that sounds beautiful. I’ve worked in environments where you’ve got a reasonable level of alignment and that alone is a massive improvement, but this is taking it two or three levels further. What are some of the big challenges that you’re seeing in leadership, I guess, to overcoming that and to actually become that one? Perrin Carey (06:46)Wow, there are lots of challenges. A lot of it is around education, an acknowledgement of the fact that governance is in fact, this deeper, broader living thing. I think once leaders have gone on that journey of acknowledgement, there’s a kind of wave that comes with them. And we see this across organisations and leadership.What we’ve found is that when leaders have the opportunity to measure and observe the governance in their organisations, then it comes alive. And so the challenge that we addressed really at CoSteer was, can we begin to bring alive in visual form governance, rather than it being this report that’s done you know, every year and we go through and we comply or we explain or we do both of those. We list all the policies and procedures that we do.We pat ourselves on the b

    29 min

  4. 05/20/2025

    Episode 13: Demystifying the “S” in ESG

    The Business Revolution Episode 13 In this episode of The Business Revolution, Mik, Alan, and Cherry dive deep into the often-misunderstood “S”-pillar of ESG – the “Social” pillar.  Moving beyond typical perceptions of diversity and inclusion, they broaden the lens to explore the fundamental responsibility businesses have to the very fabric of society.  Cherry, with her extensive background in organisational development and D&I, leads the discussion, emphasising that the “S” is not “soft,” but rather the foundation of trust, resilience and a company’s license to operate. It is the heart of your company! Key discussion points include: Why social impact is critical for business success and longevity, extending beyond mere ethical considerations to tangible business outcomes. Moving beyond shareholder centricity and the imperative for businesses consider the impact of their decisions on all stakeholders – employees, customers, communities, suppliers, and the planet. Unpacking the hidden human suffering often embedded in global supply chains (e.g., modern slavery, unfair labor practices) and the ethical responsibility of businesses to ensure clean sourcing. How involving employees in social initiatives can boost loyalty, innovation, and overall organisational performance. The Importance of Awareness & Action. Encouraging businesses to understand the broad scope of social issues (beyond just DEI) and to take tangible steps towards positive community impact, even when noise from anti-ESG movements might suggest otherwise. A brief preview of how social impact can be measured to demonstrate tangible returns on investment for social initiatives. The episode challenges leaders to ask, “Are we just? Are we human? Are we proud of how we treat people?” It underscores that there is no sustainable future without focusing on the people within and beyond the business. Audio version: My call to CEOs: About the ‘S’ in ESG Bios in brief:  Mik AidtMik has been a highly influential player with respect to our environment, with very active communications experience for over 10 years. Examples include playing a very significant part in the global ‘Climate Emergency Declaration’ movement, and long-lived podcasts. Cherry WardCherry is a seasoned leadership development expert, coach (ICF ACC), and advisor with over two decades of experience in the corporate world. She is also the founder of Bluebird Leadership, a boutique consulting firm pioneering innovative solutions that cultivate thriving leaders, teams, cultures, and a sustainable planet. Alan TaylorAlan has moved from corporate IT consulting into this domain because he adamantly believes that humans need to adapt, businesses can benefit from this new revolution and therefore he is determined to help it happen. Alan is an accredited coach (ICF ACC), supporting leaders and teams in personal and leadership development and transformation. Episode 13 links  𝐓𝐁𝐑 notes and transcript: www.businessrevolution.earth/businessrevolution13 𝐓𝐁𝐑 episode 13 for download: audio mp3  𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲: open.spotify.com/episode  𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭: podcasts.apple.com  𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐞: video Social media posts: Linkedin – Facebook – Instagram The ‘S’ in ESG: Glow Up Careers’ impactful approach Transcript – episode 13 Mik Aidt (00:00) Welcome, or welcome back, to The Business Revolution, the podcast where we are trying to rewrite the rules of business for a sustainable future. I’m Mik, your co-host. Alan Taylor (00:11) And I’m Alan. Cherry Ward (00:12) And I’m Cherry. We’re your guides on this journey to explore the intersection of business, sustainability and positive change. Mik Aidt (00:20) In each episode, we bring you inspiring conversations with experts and change makers who are proving that sustainability is not just good for the planet, it’s good for business. Alan Taylor (00:31) And we uncover innovative solutions, we share practical strategies, and we discover the new trends that will help the future of sustainable businesses in all of their contexts. Cherry Ward (00:41) So whether you’re a seasoned CEO, a budding entrepreneur, or simply curious about how to make a difference, you’ve come to the right place. Mik Aidt (00:50) So grab a cup of your favorite sustainable brew, settle in and get ready to be inspired. This is The Business Revolution. JINGLE with song Alan Taylor (00:58) In this episode, we’re diving deep into the often misunderstood, yet absolutely critical pillar of the ESG, the S for social. Mik Aidt (01:06) And this is, you know, we often talk about it as something with diversity or being nice, you know, inclusion among the employees and so on. And that’s of course, that is a part of it. But today we are hoping to broaden out our lens to explore the fundamental responsibility that business actually have to the very fabric of society that they operate in. Cherry Ward (01:27) So we will be unpacking what it truly means for businesses to be good social citizens from how they treat their employees, know, engage with their communities to the ethical considerations within their supply chains and beyond. So this is going to be a really great episode to look at more broadly at the S. Mik Aidt (01:46) And we should mention that today we haven’t invited an expert in because we have one among us. Cherry, we consider you the expert of the S in ESG. So we’ll be hearing from you and about your experiences and actually interviewing you a little bit. But I think before we start, let’s again, like last time when we talked about the E, let’s first of all hear what would it sound like if a CEO was to stand up and say, listen, folks, employees, I’m calling you. This is what we are going to talk about when we talk about the S in ESG. Here’s a take on that: CEO (02:21) Thank you for taking the time to listen. I know you’re busy. Leading teams, driving strategy, managing complexity. We’ve talked about the S in ESG before. You might have written some soft kind words about it in your company’s latest CSR or ESG report. But let me be clear. The S in ESG is not soft. It’s not an afterthought. It is the foundation of trust, of resilience, of your license to operate. Because here’s the truth. Businesses do not exist in a vacuum. Every company is embedded in a social fabric made up of workers, customers, suppliers and communities. And that fabric is fraying. We live in an era of polarisation, inequality, dislocation and mistrust. Around the world, people are questioning whether the system still works for them. Whether business still serves just shareholders and disregards everything else. If we as leaders don’t address that head on, then we are not just risking reputational damage for our company. We are actually at risk of social collapse at a global scale. I am not here to suggest you can fix everything, but I am here to tell you that every business decision you make, how you treat your workers, how you pay your people, how you engage with your suppliers and community, it all matters. Social responsibility is not charity, it’s a strategy. Treat your employees fairly and you build loyalty, innovation and lasting retention. Invest in your communities and you create stable markets and sustainable growth.  Prioritise diversity and inclusion and you unlock talent and resilience your competitors are missing. And let’s not pretend this is just an issue in the Western world. The global supply chains we depend on, from minerals to manufacturing to food, are often built on human suffering. Forced labor, child labor, unsafe conditions, these are not distant problems. They are embedded in the products we profit from. And silence is complicity.  So the question becomes what kind of leaders do we want to be? The ones who look away? Or the ones who take responsibility? Who is accountable for the decisions and choices we’ve made? We cannot outsource ethics. We cannot defer values to a compliance department. Social impact is a boardroom issue, a leadership issue, your issue. And here’s the opportunity. Business can be the most powerful force for good in the world. We can raise standards, empower workers and lift communities. Not someday, not hypothetically, but today through the decisions we make. So this is my challenge to you. Look beyond quarterly results. Ask what kind of society your business is helping to create. Will your legacy be extraction or contribution, exploitation or dignity? Because the world is watching, employees are watching, customers are watching, and the next generation of talent is making values-based choices. So ask yourself not just are we successful, but are we just, are we human? Are we proud of how we treat people? The S in ESG is about people and there is no sustainable future without them. on the right side of history. Ban Ki-moon, former United Nations General-SecretaryIt may sound strange to speak of revolution, but that is what we need at this time. We need a revolution. Revolutionary thinking, revolutionary action! SongIt’s both cheaper and cleaner and healthy too. Now the business revolution starts with you. Mik Aidt (06:14) And as we mentioned in our last episode where we talked about the E in ESG, we’ve created these courses. We’re still working on making more courses about ESG, E-learning courses that can be used for you if you’re running a business and you have employees, then these courses are meant to educate and inspire employees about wha

    25 min

  5. 03/19/2025

    Episode 12: Demystifying the “E” in ESG

    The Business Revolution Episode 12 In this episode, we delve into the “E” of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), focusing on the environmental aspects and their growing importance in the business world. We demystify the ESG framework, explaining how it helps stakeholders understand an organization’s sustainability risks and opportunities. The discussion covers: • Businesses that adapt quickly, embrace innovation, and stay ahead of regulations can turn ESG into an opportunity for growth and resilience. • What “E” entails – greenhouse gas emissions, waste management, natural resource stewardship, and resilience against climate risks. • The evolution of ESG from EHS (Environment, Health, and Safety) in the 1980s to corporate sustainability in the 1990s and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) in the 2000s, leading to the comprehensive ESG framework we see today. • The urgency of climate action and the need for immediate action to address climate change, urging business leaders to phase out fossil fuels and embrace renewable energy. • Practical steps for businesses to Assess climate-related risks, reduce carbon emissions, adopting circular economy practices, and managing resources sustainably. • The role of technology and innovation – the importance of clean technologies, green innovation, and the use of AI and blockchain in ESG reporting. • The changing regulatory landscape and the increasing number of environmental regulations. • The relevance of ESG in 2025, its continued importance as an investment trend, despite regional differences and challenges. • Employee engagement and the importance of engaging your employees in your environmental and sustainability goals. Audio version: My call to CEOs – about the “E” in ESG Bios in brief:  Mik AidtMik has been a highly influential player with respect to our environment, with very active communications experience for over 10 years. Examples include playing a very significant part in the global ‘Climate Emergency Declaration’ movement, and long-lived podcasts. Cherry WardCherry is a seasoned leadership development expert, coach (ICF ACC), and advisor with over two decades of experience in the corporate world. She is also the founder of Bluebird Leadership, a boutique consulting firm pioneering innovative solutions that cultivate thriving leaders, teams, cultures, and a sustainable planet. Alan TaylorAlan has moved from corporate IT consulting into this domain because he adamantly believes that humans need to adapt, businesses can benefit from this new revolution and therefore he is determined to help it happen. Alan is an accredited coach (ICF ACC), supporting leaders and teams in personal and leadership development and transformation. Episode 12 links  𝐓𝐁𝐑 notes and transcript: www.businessrevolution.earth/businessrevolution12 𝐓𝐁𝐑 episode 12 for download: audio mp3  𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲: open.spotify.com/episode  𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭: podcasts.apple.com  𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐞: video Social media posts: Linkedin – Facebook – Instagram Transcript – episode 12 Cherry Ward (00:00) Welcome or welcome back to the business revolution, the podcast where we’re rewriting the rules of business for a sustainable future. I’m Cherry, your co host. Alan Taylor (00:09) And I’m Alan. Mik Aidt (00:10) And I’m Mik. We are your guides on this journey to explore the intersection of business, sustainability and positive change. Alan Taylor (00:18) And in each episode, are bringing inspirational conversations with experts, entrepreneurs, and change makers who are proving that sustainability isn’t just good for the planet, it’s actually good for business. Cherry Ward (00:28) We will uncover innovative solutions, share practical strategies, and discover the new trends that will shape the future of sustainable business. Mik Aidt (00:37) So whether you are a seasoned CEO or an entrepreneur or simply curious about how to make a difference, you’ve come to the right place. Alan Taylor (00:46) So grab a cup of your favorite brew, settle in, and get ready to be inspired. This is the business revolution. Cherry Ward (00:52) So this episode is just the three of us and we have a special three part series on ESG, environmental, social and governance. You may have heard of us referring to ESG many times throughout the various episodes on this podcast. So we want to demystify this acronym. Alan Taylor (01:10) So what is ESG? Well, ESG is essentially a framework which helps, and this is an important bit, help stakeholders understand how an organisation manages risks and opportunities around sustainability issues. And starting with the E, the environment, environmental factors refer to an organisation’s environmental impacts and risk management practices. That sounds all big and complicated, but these include directly and indirectly all of the things that a business creates or has an impact on. They include things like greenhouse gas emissions, waste management and pollution, management stewardship over natural resources.  That means its impact on things like biodiversity, trees, all those sorts of things. And quite often, they’re not as obvious. You’re not as avoided from that as you might think. So please listen on.  You’ll hear more as we talk through, because this has an impact also on the firm’s overall resilience against physical climate risks, like climate change, flooding, and fires. But there’s more than that. The thing is, all of these things impact the business indirectly as well. As the politics and the things around the world are changing, the environment is very broad reaching. Cherry Ward (02:17) Then there’s the social pillar, which refers to the organisation’s relationship with all of its stakeholders. Examples include human capital management metrics, so things like fair wages, employee engagement, employee wellbeing, but also an organisation’s impact on communities in which it operates. And a hallmark of ESG is how social impact expectations have extended outside the walls of a company, to its supply chain partners, and particularly in those developing countries where environmental and social labor standards may be less robust. Mik Aidt (02:54) And then there’s the G, which stands for governance. Governance in a corporation, that’s about how a CEO, how the management leads and takes the organisation to a new place. You could say, ESG analysts will seek to understand.  For instance, how leadership incentives are aligned with stakeholders’ expectations, how shareholder rights are viewed and honored, and what types of internal controls exist in the company to promote transparency and accountability on the part of leadership. And I think that’s a very important word when we talk about the G accountability. So that was just a brief on what is the E, what is the S, and what is the G. But how did it all come about, this ESG thing?  We’ve created a little course, and when I say we, in that context, it’s a company from Denmark. A good friend of mine has a company called Kelsa Media, and together with a friend here in Geelong, where I am based, we run a company called Geelong Media. So it’s a collaboration between Geelong Media and Kelsa Media that stands behind producing these small courses about different topics. We talk about cybersecurity, we talk about personal data protection, and we have started a new series about ESG, which is all about getting the employees in tune with what does this mean? So the first course we have in that series is simply called An Introduction to ESG. And in that course, we have just a little explanation about how did ESG come about, where did it all start? And it goes like this.————————————————————————— Cherry Ward (04:27) The concept of ESG has evolved over several decades. We may have heard of EHS, environment, health and safety in the 80s, which is still around, corporate sustainability in the 90s, CSR, which is corporate social responsibility.  And there’s been several iterations, which has broadened the scope of how businesses consider their impact on the environment, society, and the wider stakeholders. So while early approaches were often reactive or used for marketing purposes, greenwashing, ESG has emerged as a more proactive and a comprehensive framework, which encompasses environmental and social impact, as well as governance structures, how a company goes about governing you know, it’s ethical decision making and so on that prioritises stakeholder wellbeing as a fundamental basis. Alan Taylor (05:21) Just adding into that is, there’s a common perception that the stakeholders or the people around are not actually that bothered. And there’s a few cases in the last couple of years where the big Australian business people have gone, I don’t think that’s true. And they’ve upset the apple cart. This happened in particular with AGL. Mike Cannon-Brooks attempted a takeover and you can see that what happened then was the shareholders who had previously been believing, know, everybody believed was not interested when actually, yeah, this is important. And they had a very big shift in the organisation over the next two years. So that gives you an idea that sometimes what we perceive and what is reality are not the same. Mik Aidt (05:59) So let’s get even deeper into what the E in ESG means. And as we have already mentioned a couple of times, there’s a lo

    26 min

  6. 02/09/2025

    Episode 11: Sustainable transformation with a coaching-led approach

    The Business Revolution Episode 11 In this episode, we explore the power of coaching in driving sustainability progress within organisations. Our guest, Dr Jon Rhodes, a chartered psychologist and co-founder of Net Zero MAP, shares his insights on how a coaching-led approach can empower individuals, strengthen teams, and accelerate sustainable change. We discuss the Net Zero MAP framework, the importance of intrinsic motivation, and the role of leadership in creating a culture of sustainability. Tune in as we uncover the transformative potential of coaching for a more sustainable future. Tune in to gain valuable insights and get inspired to attend our event on 26 March 2025. Audio version: Dr Jon Rhodes’ bio:  Dr Jon Rhodes is a highly accomplished Chartered Psychologist with a proven track record of empowering individuals and teams across a diverse range of fields, including Olympic athletes, Members of Parliament, business executives, the Ministry of Defence, education, and healthcare. He holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Plymouth and is a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society.As the co-founder of Imagery Coaching, Jon co-developed the groundbreaking Functional Imagery Training approach, specifically designed to enhance individual and team performance. By focusing on values, beliefs, thoughts, and actions, his approach leverages the fundamentals of intrinsic motivation – connection, autonomy, and mastery, which demonstrably drives lasting behaviour change including increased self-awareness, self-efficacy and resilience and consistent goal achievement.​ Links: Net Zero MAP: www.netzeromap.org Dr Jon Rhodes on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jon-rhodes-phd Imagery Coaching: www.imagerycoaching.com Inner Development Goals The world’s progress towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals is slow. Why?A key factor is how we think and act. Research shows that individual and organisational challenges, such as limited self-awareness, unconscious biases, short term thinking and ineffective collaboration, hinder our ability to translate strategies into action. To overcome these challenges, the Inner Development Goals project was initiated in 2019 by a number of organisations that identified an urgent need for the development of relevant skills and qualities for inner growth of leaders who work with complex societal issues. The result is a framework with five dimensions:Being: Understanding ourselves and our motivations.Thinking: Expanding our awareness and seeing problems as opportunities.Relating: Building empathy and appreciation for others.Collaborating: Fostering trust and effective teamwork.Acting: Overcoming inner blocks and taking action. By consciously applying these dimensions, we can improve our decision-making, collaboration, and overall effectiveness in achieving our goals. Businesses like 3P Impact and Bluebird Leadership are using the Inner Development Goals in their work, helping unlock the best in ourselves and our teams. You can find out more about the Inner Development Goals here Episode 11 links  𝐓𝐁𝐑 notes and transcript: www.businessrevolution.earth/businessrevolution11 𝐓𝐁𝐑 episode 11 for download: audio mp3  𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲: open.spotify.com/episode  𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭: podcasts.apple.com  𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐞: video Social media posts: Linkedin – Facebook – Instagram Transcript – episode 11 Mik Aidt (00:00) Welcome or welcome back to some of you to The Business Revolution, the podcast where we tend to rewrite the rules of business for the green transition for a sustainable future. I’m Mik, your co-host. Cherry Ward (00:14) And I’m Cherry. Alan Taylor (00:16) And I’m Alan and we’re your guides on this journey to explore the intersection of business, sustainability and positive change. Cherry Ward (00:24) Each episode will bring you inspiring conversations with experts, entrepreneurs, changemakers who are proving that sustainability isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for business as well. Mik Aidt (00:36) We do our best to uncover innovative solutions and good practical strategies for businesses. And we’re always on the lookout for new trends that will shape the future of sustainable business. Alan Taylor (00:49) Even whether you’re a seasoned CEO, a budding entrepreneur, or simply curious about how to make a difference, you’ve come to the right place. Cherry Ward (00:57) So grab a cup of your favourite sustainable brew, settle in and get ready to be inspired. This is The Business Revolution. Mik Aidt (01:05) And in this episode, we’re going to explore how a coaching led approach can drive sustainability progress in a company. And not only that, it can also empower the employees and strengthen their connection to their organisations. Cherry Ward (01:20) And to help us explore this fascinating topic, we’re joined by our colleague from Net Zero Map, Dr Jon Rhodes. Alan Taylor (01:27) Jon is a highly accomplished chartered psychologist with a proven track record in empowering individuals and teams across diverse fields, from Olympic athletes to business executives. He’s the co-founder of imagery coaching and co-developer of the groundbreaking functional imagery training approach. Jon, welcome to The Business Revolution. Dr. Jon Rhodes (01:50) Thank you very much, thank you. Great intro. I know, yeah, it feels like I’m busy. It’s like I’m busy a lot, but I suppose I have been. Alan Taylor (01:58) You’ve got your PhD in psychology and the University of Plymouth and you’re doing all of your other businesses. I think so. Dr. Jon Rhodes (02:05) I think I’m just curious. I’m curious too. I’m of service. I like to support people. I like to support organisations and I think that behavior change is a fascinating thing we talk about a lot. In industry, in sport, in the military and even at home we talk about change. So I think it’s a good word. It can also be a naughty word as well. So I think it’s just navigating that with the right motivation in mind. Cherry Ward (02:30) Yeah, it’s a really relevant topic. Well, it always is, right? There’s always change. It keeps us busy, keeps us employed in terms of the work that we do. Dr. Jon Rhodes (02:41) That’s the truth. Yeah. And it’s interesting, you know, because there are so many frameworks and things that exist within behavior change, but they’re also unique to the situation, the circumstance, the time, the priorities, the purpose, all those things are already important when you think about change.  You know, and we’re all at different levels of readiness to change as well. So I think it’s meeting the person where they are, figuring out what the best route is, and then supporting them or giving them a MAP in our case, to really work through navigating change over time. Cherry Ward (03:16) I think that’s a good starting point. And I think, this is a question for both yourself, Jon and Alan and for our listeners who might not know, Alan and I are also partners in the Net Zero MAP team, along with Jon and a couple of others.  We’re a collective of coaches and consultants, and we all have diverse backgrounds in psychology, sustainability, business, coaching, etc. tut this might be a good starting point in terms of, you know, you guys are the co-founders or started the journey. Tell us a little bit about the MAP model and where that came from. Dr. Jon Rhodes (03:47) Yeah, I think from my point of view, it’s thinking about the problem first. You know, we’ve all been in organisations where we struggle to make a change.  We’ve all, you know, been in organisations where the leaders are perhaps the issue. We’ve all been in organisations where we have lots of information around change, but there’s no real motivation to act. So we all know that, right?  We have this kind of inbuilt human way that, you know, being the change makers are really important, but actually as humans, we struggle to adapt and to change quite often. We like our routine and our habits.  So, yeah, I suppose our problem to start off with was really figuring out, you know, where people are in their journey of change.  Do they actually care about net zero? Do they care about being sustainable in their behaviours? Some people do not, some organisations do not.  So it’s meeting people where they currently are and then working with them to really focus on intrinsic motivation to then, I suppose, to kind of pollinate these ideas within groups so that people can kind of gain tracks around why it’s important to you first, to you as an individual, and then why it’s important for us as an organisation. And what can we do beyond the organisation as well? Thinking about that kind of global change or community change and then national change and global change.  So we’re looking at all those different levels. But my interest is really again around, can you measure it? Can we do something about it? Can we retest it? And so what? Can we actually have an impact over time? And the people show behavioral intentions and actions as well. Mik Aidt (05:27) Hmm, so what’s the answer to all that? I mean, I’m really curious now. Dr. Jon Rhodes (05:32) Yeah, yeah, I mean, you know, it’s an age old answer. The age old answer is emotion drives behavior change, not information.  And, you know, we could talk about Aristotle and all these historical figures and why it was so important, but we kind of forg

    29 min

  7. 11/07/2024

    Unlocking your business’ sustainable advantage

    The Business Revolution Episode 10 This special episode of The Business Revolution offers a sneak peek into our upcoming Melbourne event, “Unlocking your business’ sustainable advantage.” Join us for mini-interviews with three inspiring speakers: Evannah Jayne (Terran Industries): Evannah discusses the economic benefits of sustainability and how businesses can turn ESG risks into opportunities. Ishara Fernando (Blue Rock): Ishara shares her journey in the social impact space and highlights the importance of collaboration and taking action. Geoff Gourley (ESG&I): Geoff, a leading ESG consultant and AI innovator, emphasises the need for businesses to adapt to the changing regulatory landscape and leverage technology for positive impact. Tune in to gain valuable insights and get inspired to attend the event on 28 November 2024. Audio version: Evannah Jayne’s bio:  Evannah Jayne is the founder and CEO of Terran Industries, an ESG services firm focused on creating impact driven results by strategically implementing sustainability solutions within organisations. Terran Industries accelerates the green transition for businesses, by acting as their dedicated sustainability team. Evannah is a self taught academic in the sustainability and business sectors, collecting certificates from leading universities including The University of Cambridge and University of Copenhagen, as well as completing a course by the United Nations. Evannah is the host of The Green Economy on Import Export TV, a show dedicated to promoting and showcasing sustainable solutions to the International Trade & Logistics sectors.  Links: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/evannahjayne Evannah on TBR Episode 3: businessrevolution.earth/thebusinessrevolution3 About Terran Industries Terran Industries stands as your committed sustainability partner, offering tailored, full-circle ESG solutions to meet the unique needs of your organisation. Our role extends beyond conventional strategy & reporting; we actively assist organisations in navigating the ever changing ESG landscape. Together, we orchestrate and implement strategies that align with your existing organisational goals and also contribute towards internationally recognized sustainability goals. At Terran Industries, we empower our clients to drive innovation in their sector and future proof their business by integrating sustainability & climate resilience into their core offering. Link: terranindustries.com.au Ishara Fernando’s bio: Ishara Fernando is the Philanthropy and Impact Manager at BlueRock, a certified B Corp. Ishara leads their Be BlueRock Foundation and drives the firm’s community impact strategy. She has extensive experience in social enterprise and FinTech, and is passionate about using her skills to create positive change. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/fernandoishara Blue Rock: www.bluerock.com.au Geoff Gourley’s bio  Geoff is a LinkedIn Top Voice, leading Global Social Innovator, Entrepreneur, Impact Investor, ESG Consultant and NED with a portfolio career, in 2017 acknowledged in the Top 100 Social Entrepreneurs & Innovators around the world.  Geoff is the Founder & CEO of ESG&I. and creator of ChatESG ™ leveraging technology & AI for good and also the Founder & Chairman of Impact Investment Fund and Founder of Social Impact Consultancy One10 Group, Director ESG & Program Delivery & Investor at CLARA Energy, Member at Swinburne University TIVCC, NED at Urban Polo Association.  He is passionate about enabling purpose-driven business on a local and global scale. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/geoffgourley ESG&I: esgandi.com.au Episode 10 links  𝐓𝐁𝐑 notes and transcript: www.businessrevolution.earth/businessrevolution10 𝐓𝐁𝐑 episode 10 for download: audio  𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲: open.spotify.com/episode  𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭: podcasts.apple.com  𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐞: video Social media posts→ Linkedin – Facebook – X – Instagram Transcript – episode 10 Cherry Ward (00:00) Welcome, revolutionaries. My name is Cherry Alan Taylor (00:03) I’m Alan. Mik Aidt (00:04) And I’m Mik, and together we are the three business musketeers who are doing our best to try and guide you through the evolving landscape of business and sustainability. Cherry Ward (00:15) This podcast is made on the lands of the Boon Wurrung, Juggera and Turrbal, and Wadawurrung people to whom we pay our respect and acknowledgement.  Alan Taylor (00:24) And this is a special episode of The Business Revolution, bringing you mini-interviews with three incredible speakers who will be featured on our upcoming Melbourne event on the 28th of November. Cherry Ward (00:35) Join us as we get a sneak peek into the insights and inspirations that we’ll be sharing at the event, which focuses on helping businesses navigate the exciting world of ESG and sustainability and upcoming changes. Mik Aidt (00:50) In this Business Revolution podcast, we are on a mission. We admit it. We intend to prove to the world that sustainability isn’t just good for the planet. It’s also good for our health, for our pockets, for businesses and for the economy of the businesses. Cherry Ward (01:09) So whether you’re a business owner, a climate advocate, or simply curious about the future of our planet, you won’t want to miss this episode of The Business Revolution. Alan Taylor (01:20) And so first up, have Evannah Jayne from Terran Industries. Evannah, welcome back to The Business Revolution. Obviously, for those of you who’ve been following us, Evannah has been in quite a wonderful talk once before. Evannah is the founder and CEO of Terran Industries, an ESG services firm with 30 employees globally, focusing on creating impact driven results by strategically implementing sustainability solutions within organisations. Evannah, tell us a little bit about what you’ll be speaking about at the Melbourne event. Evannah Jayne (01:56) Thank you. Good to be back. I will be talking about sustainability and climate risk and how it is essential for businesses and hoping to be able to inspire people in the room and explore what climate risk is for business, how it affects businesses throughout supply chains, emissions, and even the social and governance side of sustainability and how it affects the business as a whole. Mik Aidt (02:24) And in short, what is the risk? Evannah Jayne (02:27) Risks can be very tailored to the individual organisation. Most common one we see today is in supply chains. Plastic is a common example. It’s an everyday material, but it’s also made from fossil fuels, which is a finite resource.  Everyone looks at fossil fuels and how they’re producing emissions and disrupting the energy sector, but they’re also very common raw material and everyday products. And sooner or later, that raw material is going to run out. So if you want to have a functioning supply chain in the future, you need to switch to a more resilient supply chain and material source. Mik Aidt (03:04) And is that even possible? Evannah Jayne (03:06) It is. There’s hundreds and hundreds of bio materials growing into the market today. Most common one, anything that’s made out of plastic can be made out of seaweed. It’s an incredible material. Grows really, really fast.  Kelp is the most common one. It is incredible to see what products you can make from seaweed. And it’s a great selling point for businesses too. You can sell a little product and go, hey, it’s made of seaweed. And that’s a really interesting point for consumers. Alan Taylor (03:38) So what are you looking forward to most about the event? Evannah Jayne (03:43) I’m looking forward to meeting all the excited people who are there and sharing the knowledge that I’ve built over the last five, 10 years in the sustainability sector. There’s so much, well, as one thing I like to say is knowledge is power and I want to be able to share that knowledge. Alan Taylor (04:02) That’s wonderful. I think that’s what we all value is when somebody else can provide that knowledge and experience to help us along and that will help businesses. Like you say, there’s alternatives. So finding those alternatives, which will be beneficial for their business and the planet and then business will go on for a long time. Evannah Jayne (04:21) Absolutely. And there’s thousands of solutions currently in existence across all areas of sustainability and climate.  We ourselves have documented over 5,000 existing solutions in our database. One of the things we do with our clients as well is helping them navigate the existing solutions out there. Most of the time you don’t know what you’re looking for unless you know what to search for.  You Google ‘sustainability’, there’s too many millions of results. How do you navigate it? So we’re documenting the ecosystem. We’ve pre-vetted over 5,000 result solutions, which we’re happy to promote to our clients as well. Cherry Ward (05:00) Wow, that’s fantastic. And I know in our sort of pre podcast recording discussions, you’re mentioning, you know, product that you’re developing around risk, this might be relevant to, to some of the, you know, the audience that’s attending and also listening as well.  Do you want to share and give us a little bit of, I guess, a preview of what you’re working on? Evannah Jayne (05:22) Sure. So we’ve just updated our new climate risk measurement framework. It’s across seven

    36 min

  8. 10/29/2024

    A global perspective on leadership and sustainability

    The Business Revolution Episode 9 In this ninth episode of The Business Revolution, we venture to Europe to explore the critical intersection of leadership, technology, and sustainability in a globalised world. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion with Robin Weninger, Managing Director of the Global Institute of Leadership and Technology, and Alyssa Jade McDonald-Baertl, a professional board member working in the multilateralism space. Audio version: Tune into learn more about: Redefining leadership and moving beyond traditional definitions to embrace the activation of groups towards a shared goal. The role of technology and the implications on business models, organisational structures, and the future of work. Long-termism vs. short-termism and balancing the need for immediate results with long-term vision and sustainable growth. Embracing systems thinking and flexibility to navigate a constantly changing world and create adaptive pathways. Fostering open dialogue and diverse perspectives to drive progress and collaboration.   Tune in to gain a global perspective on the evolving landscape of business and sustainability. Alyssa Jade McDonald-Baertl bio Alyssa is an entrepreneur at heart and a seasoned board member by experience. Alyssa has reimagined innovation frameworks and built bridges across global teams, navigating the intertwined paths of global governance, climate, conflict, and connectivity. Alyssa is the founder of BLYSS Group. In 2009, BLYSS began as a seed of change planted in the diverse landscapes of Ecuador, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea. From these seeds grew a social enterprise that not only farms sustainable cacao but turns it into an award-winning premium chocolate – a delight so profound, it earned a stellar 93/100 from independent evaluators, gracing Europe with the most exquisite and priciest chocolate retailed at €30 per 50g.  Alyssa Jade doesn’t just lead BLYSS; she serves on various multilateral and multinational boards, tirelessly weaving sustainability and innovation into the fabric of our future. Evidence-based sustainable business and science for investment and  innovation: BLYSS GmbH Current programme: Vaka Pasifika Fellowship, Fiji. Current supervisory: Board Chair World Fish Malaysia & Supervisory Board Member, TAKKT AG Germany Current paper:Science and Digitalization for a Better Future Robin Weninger bio Robin Weninger, Co-Founder and Managing Director of the executive education company Global Institute of Leadership and Technology (GILT), is committed to assisting organisations in addressing the multifaceted challenges of the 21st century. His series “Leadership In Times of Uncertainty” and his initiatives on “The Infinite Organisation” have positioned him as a sought-after speaker and educator in the domain of leadership and technology. Robin’s explorations into exponential technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Technologies, and Blockchain, has allowed him to share invaluable insights at many conferences, as well as offer immersive sessions and workshops that address the ever-changing business landscape. Links → www.blyss.group Home → www.robinweninger.com ROBIN WENINGER → gilt.global Episode 9 links  𝐓𝐁𝐑 notes and transcript: www.businessrevolution.earth/businessrevolution9 𝐓𝐁𝐑 episode 9 for download: audio  𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲: open.spotify.com/episode  𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭: podcasts.apple.com  𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐞: video Social media posts→ Linkedin – Facebook – X – Instagram Transcript – episode 9 Alan Taylor (00:00) Welcome revolutionaries, my name is Alan. Mik Aidt (00:03) And I’m Mik. Cherry Ward (00:05) And I’m Cherry, together we are the three business musketeers who will guide you through the evolving landscape of business and sustainability. Mik Aidt (00:15) This podcast is made on the lands of the Boon Wurrung, the Yoghurt and Turabal and the Wadawurrung people to whom we pay our respects and acknowledgement. And in today’s episode, we are moving from Australia up to Europe. Alan Taylor (00:32) As businesses increasingly recognise that their success is intertwined with well-being of society and across the globe, businesses are not just local. Today we’ll explore how a business can create a more inclusive and equitable future across the world. Cherry Ward (00:48) So today we’ll explore global issues and multilateralism. Mik Aidt (00:53) And if this isn’t the first time that you’re listening to The Business Revolution podcast, then you know already that we are on a mission here. We are all about proving to the world that sustainability isn’t just good for the planet. It’s good for our health, our pockets, and for our businesses. For the economy. Alan Taylor (01:12) So whether you’re a business owner, a climate advocate, or simply curious about the future of our planet, you don’t wanna miss this episode of The Business Revolution. Cherry Ward (01:22) And that’s why we’re thrilled to have Robin and Alyssa with us today. Robin is the Managing Director of the Global Institute of Leadership and Technology, and Lyss is the Professional Board Member in the Multilateralism space. Welcome to The Business Revolution, Lyss and Robin. Can you start by telling us a little bit about what you’re currently working on? Robin Weninger (01:44) Great to be here. Thank you for the invitation and happy to discuss this wonderful topics that are lying in front of us here. So I mean, you pretty much summed it up from the title of the company. So we’re working on leadership development and technology implementation. And one big part of technology here is that it’s not just the techie part of it, but also the non-technical aspects. What can we gain from technology, how can we use it to create a better planet, whatever that might mean. We will explore this later. Alyssa Jade McDonald-Baertl (02:16) Excellent. What I’m currently working on is three things at the moment. Number one, as chair of the International Centre for Living Aquatic Marine Resources, we’re looking at how fish breeding and breeding of marine resources can be as sustainable as possible in the global context, as well as what role aquatic foods has either in terms of new materials, new goods, and its symbiotic relationship with fish. On the other side, as a board member of a large German corporation, we’re looking at our sustainability footprint in industrial plastics and classic product development in terms of how do we really move forward in this world with ensuring our value chain is fit, strong, representing our values, solid in the current and future geopolitical environment, which is today, September 24. We don’t know how we’ll be. And the third thing I’m engaged with is the United Nations in the Pacific Island region, specifically looking at developing governance around transparency and accountability in public finance management, especially important in the Pacific Islands as they are facing a very existential threat regarding their safety, security, population and livelihoods. So what is the mechanism today that we can use to work together with civil service organisations, NGOs, science and the government about expenditure for these populations’ future developments. Alan Taylor (03:39) I’m particularly intrigued by that last point around the Pacific region. saw in today’s news how the Indonesian government has lost a court case for not actually creating strong enough targets from 2031 onwards. And so that’s the people fighting back in those countries. So it’s quite an interesting dynamic that will be changing there, I’m sure. I’m going to start with this… we get into a very big minefield there – so I’m going to pull away at that point and actually go to Robin. And I’m curious coming from a tech background and you’ve talked about technology and sustainability and your business name being leadership and technology. Can you always define what that technology and leadership are in respect to sustainability? Robin Weninger (04:33) I love this question because it’s already a fire that we’re now putting here into this room because there’s like so many definitions out there. But I think it’s a really valuable question because in my perspective, the definition itself is not that important. It’s rather the understanding of each other what we mean when we’re actually using these kinds of words.  So my background is actually I’m a typical business school graduate, but I was always really frustrated with that aspect that in my whole life at business school, I’ve barely touched on any technology topics. I always found it like super, super cool what you can actually do with that. And I think, like, all these buzzwords that we have heard over the last years, be it digital transformation, be it industry 4.0, you name it, was always like driven from the business world, but actually nobody was talking about this in this whole context.  And that really got me onto this track of saying like, hey, why not combine leadership slash business education with technology and make it more accessible and built the bridge between those two disciplines because it turned out that a lot of those things that we’re referring to in traditional business education, also in traditional businesses called management is actually partly being replaced by technology. And we are seeing this is going on and on and on and on.  So more of those things that us

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About

Podcast hosts Cherry, Alan and Mik are three consultants working independently in this field of transformation in Australia. In a series of interviews and segments they ask some of Australia’s leading experts, decision makers, sustainability officers, carbon accountants and employees how we make it happen – how we turn what is still just an idea, a mindset, into a genuine, serious and deep revolution and reinvention of how we do things in business.

Information

  • Creator
    Cherry, Alan and Mik
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Geelong Media
  • Show Website
    The Business Revolution