ESG Decoded Podcast

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. The ‘S’ in ESG relates to the people elements impacting organizations. This includes employee relations, organizational health, people culture, DEI, and community outreach. In this episode, Yvonne Harris talks with Courtney Taylor, Senior Vice President of Community Development for Veritex Community Bank. Courtney is a Community Relations Powerhouse and Philanthropic Leader serving on several volunteer boards. At Veritex, Courtney develops relationships on behalf of the bank to achieve continuous improvement to the ongoing success of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) program, evaluates community development needs, and administers the bank’s volunteer program, which consists of recruiting volunteers to participate in community partner initiatives, track volunteer hours, and recruit bank employees to participate on local nonprofit boards. Courtney holds degrees from the University of Texas at San Antonio and Texas Woman’s University. Listen as Yvonne and Courtney discuss what Veritex considers when developing its community outreach strategic plan, why it is important to continue to invest in financial literacy, and how the Women in Business program is supporting women business owners in unique ways. Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platforms and our new YouTube Channel so that you’re notified of our vodcast episodes! Don’t forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy this episode! Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form. - Episode Resource Links Veritex Website Veritex ESG Report: https://veritexbank.com/ Veritex ESG Report: https://veritexbank.com/about-us/community/environmental-social-and-governance-esg/

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with Diane Kappas, PPG’s Vice President of Global Sustainability. Diane joined PPG in 1986 as an Engineer Trainee in Industrial Coatings, and since held several leadership roles with the organization. Prior to her current role overseeing global sustainability, Kappas served as Vice President of Automotive Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Coatings, Americas, where she was responsible for the regional business commercial strategy, execution, and financial performance of the business. Kappas is an avid believer in the power of diversity. She was the founder of PPG’s Women’s Leadership Council in 2001, which was created to attract, develop, and retain female talent. She is also an active member of PPG’s LGBTQ+ employee resource network. Kappas represents PPG in the “Sustainability 50”, a private community for sustainability leaders from globally respected organizations to share ideas, solutions, and collaborate on climate change issues. As a native of Pittsburgh, Kappas earned a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Pitt and a Master of Business Administration from Duquesne University. Listen as Amanda and Diane talk about PPG’s continued growth in ESG, focusing on providing sustainable solutions for their customers. PPG offers a myriad of products that help people and the environment. They create solutions that make food and beverage consumption safer and products that curb the spread of viruses on walls and other surfaces. PPG’s innovations contribute to fuel efficiency for airplanes and extend the life of assets by offering protection from erosion. As a practical best practice for other companies that intentionally solve their customers’ sustainability challenges, PPG hosts ‘innovation forums’ where scientists engage and learn first-hand how they can contribute to customers’ ESG goals and targets. Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platforms and our YouTube Channel so that you’re notified of our vodcast episodes! Don’t forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy this episode! Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form. Episode Resource Links PPG Website: https://www.ppg.com/ PPG Sustainability: https://sustainability.ppg.com/

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with Lauren Mechak, ClimeCo’s Director of Program Development. Lauren leads ClimeCo’s efforts to evaluate new ideas for carbon offsets and other environmental commodities through technical, scientific, and financial feasibility. Lauren and the Program Development Team work through all aspects of early project development, including quantitative carbon offset methodology drafting with major registries, like the Climate Action Reserve and Verra. She has worked on projects ranging from industrial nitrous oxide abatement to nature-based solutions, such as reforestation. While Lauren’s work is primarily in the voluntary carbon offset space, she also has expertise in compliance markets, including California’s Cap-and-Trade and Low Carbon Fuel Standard. She received her Master of Environmental Management in Economics and Policy at Duke University. During her time at Duke, she worked with the university’s Carbon Offsets Initiative to help Duke achieve carbon neutrality and served as an Article Editor for Duke’s Environmental Law and Policy Forum. Before Duke, Lauren earned her B.Sc. from McGill University in Biology in 2013. Listen as Amanda and Lauren define carbon offsets, and discuss their purpose. This is an interesting time for the carbon offset market. There are many new investors in this arena, which is complex and confusing to some. Learn more through Lauren’s recent article, Are we missing the point of offsets? Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platforms and our new YouTube Channel so that you’re notified of our vodcast episodes! Don’t forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy this episode! Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form.

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with Christine Tomas, Managing Director, Head of Business Development, and member of the Executive Leadership Team at iSelect Fund. Christine joined the iSelect Fund Executive Leadership Team in 2020, bringing over 25 years of global investment experience with institutional investors, family offices, sovereign wealth funds, and business owners. Christine previously served as Managing Director and trusted portfolio advisor at Goldman Sachs in London and New York. Christine is a bilingual Spanish speaker, also fluent in French and German. She received her M.B.A. from the MIT Sloan School of Management, and her B.A. Magna cum Laude from Harvard College. Christine is passionate about the investment opportunity created by technology’s transformation of AgTech, NutritionTech, and WellnessTech and loves to engage iSelect Fund’s current and prospective investors on the topic. Listen as Amanda and Christine talk about how investments are helping to address sustainable challenges by transforming wellness and supply chain issues, driving increased productivity, and decreasing inflation. The information shared will support both novice and experienced investors who wish to create strategic investment strategies with long-term ESG impacts top-of-mind. Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platforms and our YouTube Channel so you’re notified of our vodcast episodes! Don’t forget to connect with us on social media. Enjoy this episode! Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form.

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. In this vodcast episode, Kaitlyn Allen talks with Mandi McReynolds, Head of Global ESG at Workiva. This connected cloud platform enables collaboration and integration into existing workstreams to simplify financial and ESG reporting. Mandi is also an award-winning author and host/executive producer for the video podcast series ESG Talk. Listen as Amanda and Mandi talk about the rise of Workiva in the compliance and SEC filing space. They also discuss the most significant challenges with ESG reporting and share advice on how it can be more measurable and transparent. Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form. Make sure to hit the subscribe button to be notified of future vodcast episodes and subscribe to the ESG Decoded Podcast on your favorite streaming platforms! Don't forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy tuning in to this episode!

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with James Rasteh, the founder of Coast Capital, an investment management firm with an engaged approach to investing in public companies. Coast Capital works with a collection of leading CEOs and sector experts to identify, conduct due diligence on, and help create value from the companies it invests in. Coast actively works to improve the ESG metrics of its invested companies. Before starting Coast Capital, James was the founder of White Eagle Partners; a European event-driven fund started in partnership with a private equity firm. Previously, James was an International Portfolio Manager at JANA Partners, an event-driven and activist hedge fund in New York. He is a guest lecturer at Columbia University, Oxford, and Warwick University. Listen as Amanda and James take an in-depth look at the hot topic of ESG investing. In short, ESG investing is guiding the world down a more sustainable course by focusing on investments that bring about positive changes. Learn more about divestment vs. engagement, how companies can manage activist investors, and considerations for balancing the ‘E’, ‘S’, and ‘G’ in these investment portfolios. James is a leader in the ESG investing space; therefore, this work is personal and it comes naturally to him.  His passion for ESG-related work started in school, working on completing his volunteer service hours. James believes that ESG investing should be driven by those who care about these issues. We hope that this is true of ESG Decoded listeners. Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platforms and our new YouTube Channel so that you’re notified of our vodcast episodes! Don’t forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy this episode! Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form.

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. In this episode, Kaitlyn Allen talks with Stephen Brown, Founder and CEO of the Clean Energy Fund of Texas, Inc., (TxCEF), which is focused on making the emerging green economy affordable and just for all Texans. TxCEF believes that an equitable transition to clean energy will help to mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis, eliminate energy poverty, create green jobs and catalyze economic development opportunities in historically under-resourced communities. Stephen's career spans over 20 years of government relations, public affairs, and energy sustainability experience. He was the 2014 Democratic Nominee for Texas Railroad Commissioner, making him the youngest African American to win a statewide primary in Texas. Steve is also currently the President of Capital Assets Energy LLC, a successful clean energy development consulting firm specializing in financing retrofits of commercial, non-profit, and multi-family properties with energy-efficient and renewable energy improvements. Listen as Kaitlyn and Stephen discuss the clean energy transition, emphasizing the impact on marginalized communities. Their conversation provides a solid foundation for this topic, including the key stakeholders and financial considerations, including green energy investment opportunities and wholesale lines of credit. This episode highlights the intersection between the ‘E’ and the ‘S’ of ESG. It reminds us of the challenges we face as a global community to ensure that no one is ‘left behind’ as we adjust to meet current energy demands. Many of us may be familiar with situations when this was not the case; the information shared gives us hope that all communities can become winners in pursuing clean, sustainable energy sources. Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platforms and our new YouTube Channel so that you’re notified of our vodcast episodes! Don’t forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy this episode! Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form. 

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. In this episode, Kaitlyn Allen talks with Tim Kim, CEO of ibV Energy Partners and its direct affiliated companies. Before founding ibV Energy, Tim led closings on M&A transactions in the US and globally. ibV Energy Partners LLC is a privately held company based in Miami and direct investors and developers of large-scale solar and storage power plants across the US. Their customers include investor-owned utilities, power agencies, corporates, and municipalities engaged in procuring grid-connected clean energy. ibV was founded by a group of US military veterans. Listen as Kaitlyn and Tim explain what Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are, how they work, and why more companies are bypassing utilities to work directly with developers to realize their ESG goals. They also explore the ESG-related risks of solar panels and the sourcing of minerals. Tim is a proud veteran of the US Navy, and his military background and dedication to public service are driving forces for his life’s work. He shares his perspectives on why veterans should consider careers in the renewable energy industry and how their military skillsets are assets to this industry. Drumroll… this is the first video podcast (Vodcast) for ESG Decoded! We are thrilled to offer a visual format to our audience for some of our future episodes moving forward. Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platform, YouTube for our newest Vodcast, and as always, don’t forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy this episode!

In this episode, Kaitlyn Allen welcomes back Erica Lasdon, Senior Director, Capital Markets for ClimeCo.  Erica joined ClimeCo in 2021 after serving as a Senior Consultant with Global Affairs Associates, LLC. A seasoned ESG professional bringing over 20 years of experience from the investment and non-profit sectors, she specializes in ESG integration, materiality analysis, investment trends, and engagement strategy. Erica has deep expertise in multi-stakeholder engagement, proxy voting, and ESG data analysis and management across a wide range of asset classes. She served on the development team for the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board’s Level II exam for the inaugural FSA credential, the Steering Committee for the Intentional Endowments Network, and as an Advisory Committee Member for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Culture of Health for Business framework. Erica earned a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in History from the University of California, San Diego. She loves skiing, exploring new places, and any activity involving excellent food. As a reminder, the ‘G’ in ESG relates to governance. This is a broad term that is particularly important to top-level management and shareholders. Listen as Kaitlyn and Erica take us through some basic ‘blocking and tackling’ of the proxy season (April- June) and closely examine the trends behind the important topics. For example, climate issues have become far more in-depth than GHG footprint disclosures. Learn more about the top issues being addressed in shareholder resolutions as investors are emphasizing greater awareness of environmental and social issues, including DEI, human rights, and health issues in the wake of the pandemic. So, get ready to take notes, as this episode covers a lot of ground: a review of some SEC rules, the threshold for filing resolutions, advisory/non-binding votes, and more. This is excellent information for companies and investors alike and can serve as a reference throughout the year.  Subscribe to ESG Decoded, where you consume your podcasts and connect via social media to share your feedback and topic suggestions. Enjoy this episode!

The ‘S’ in ESG relates to the people elements impacting organizations. This includes employee relations, organizational health, people culture, DEI, and community outreach. In this episode, Yvonne Harris talks with Catherine McLean, Founder and CEO of Dylan Green, a clean energy recruitment agency with extensive experience working with start-ups and corporate businesses operating in the clean energy and technology markets globally. Catherine is an experienced entrepreneur with a demonstrated history of working in the clean energy recruitment industry. She is a serial networker skilled in Sales & Marketing, Management, Negotiation, CSR, and ESG. Catherine is truly passionate about helping companies achieve their diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. Listen as Yvonne and Catherine candidly discuss why it is essential to have more women, women of color, and people of color in Clean Energy/Tech/ESG careers. These recruitment efforts remain a challenge. They also explore practical tips on what organizations can do to make positive contributions to this effort and how individuals can be a catalyst for change. Catherine shares her inspirational career journey that serves as a reminder to ask for what you want and how you can create a powerful intersection of your expertise and passion. She also speaks to the power of networking and shares practical tips on how to skill up in this space. After hearing this episode, you will understand why Catherine is a master at her craft. Subscribe to ESG Decoded, where you consume your podcasts and connect via social media to share your feedback and topic suggestions. Enjoy this episode!