ESG Decoded Podcast

In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with Jennifer Singh, the Sustainability Catalyst for Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), where she coaches and connects early-stage companies focused on solving climate and environmental challenges. Jennifer has over 15 years of experience building and scaling innovative businesses at startups and large corporations and is an industry expert, inventor, and author. Listen as Amanda and Jennifer discuss the power of collaboration and how ATDC, a technology incubator, plays a vital role in providing startups with the necessary resources to grow. Jennifer highlights their sustainability vertical, which includes startups in renewable energy, circular economy, and water technology. She also explains how ATDC bridges the gap for startups by connecting them with capital & customers and shares her insights on venture capital investment trends and how to get involved. Unlock the world of sustainability and join the ESG Decoded Podcast community! Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new episodes on your favorite streaming platforms, YouTube, and our social channels (linked below). Prepare for insightful episodes that ignite your passion for positive change. Tune in, engage, and let's decode ESG together! Episode Resource Links Jennifer’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifersingh2/  Amanda’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahsieh1/  ATDC Sustainability Program: https://atdc.org/industry-programs/sustainability/ 

In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with Saskhia Menendez, an equality and diversity ambassador, researcher, public speaker, mentor, and social change activist. Saskhia works to help diversify the music industry landscape, as well as help improve representation, access, and educate people of the issues and barriers certain underrepresented groups face. She is a multi-racial trans woman who transitioned 12 years ago and has over 10 years’ experience in the music industry. Saskhia is making brand new tracks, which are due for release early this year. During their discussion, Amanda and Saskhia highlight the need to diversify the 'business side' of the music industry, including the boardroom and other leadership roles. Saskhia explains the terms 'authentic proportional representation' and 'intersectionality' and their relevance to the music industry. They also discuss how music artists can use their creative efforts to promote Diversity & Inclusion. Unlock the world of sustainability and join the ESG Decoded Podcast community! Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new episodes on your favorite streaming platforms, YouTube, and our social channels (linked below). Prepare for insightful episodes that ignite your passion for positive change. Tune in, engage, and let's decode ESG together! Episode Resource Links Saskhia’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/misssaskhia/  Saskhia’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mizsaskia/  Amanda’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahsieh1/ 

In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with Marc Held, CEO of Fishtail and a serial entrepreneur focusing on advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) for the supply chain industry.  Listen as Amanda and Marc discuss how to leverage supply chain data to more efficiently underwrite global trade financing and create nudges for more sustainable purchasing decisions. Marc sheds light on the global Trade Finance Gap, which is comprised of countless small businesses that cannot secure affordable funding for the delivery of their goods to international markets, ultimately impacting their long-term viability.  Fishtail’s platform has a seamless connection to ESG by converting trade finance into an ESG investable asset class, connecting previously overlooked small companies with lenders and incentivizing the selection of less carbon intensive shipping options. This episode is a great resource for those interested in ESG financing opportunities, decarbonizing global shipping, and business owners seeking capital support. Unlock the world of sustainability and join the ESG Decoded Podcast community! Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new episodes on your favorite streaming platforms, YouTube, and our social channels (linked below). Prepare for insightful episodes that ignite your passion for positive change. Tune in, engage, and let's decode ESG together! Episode Resource Links Marc’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mheld/  Amanda’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahsieh1/  Fishtail: https://fishtail.ai/ 

In this episode, Kaitlyn Allen talks with Christy Cooke, Head of Capital Markets & ESG Finance Northern Europe for EcoVadis. EcoVadis is a well-known rating agency that assesses companies' ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance and maturity. Christy has over ten years of experience working in the field of sustainability, with roles in both NGOs and the private sector. Previously, he worked at CDP, working closely with investors and companies on environmental disclosure.  Listen as Kaitlyn and Christy discuss best practices for the survey submission process. Christy shares survey use case examples and emerging trends for ESG reporting needs in the capital markets. Familiar with the perception that the EcoVadis scoring process may appear to be an enigma, he addresses the topic head-on while discussing the survey's relationship within the scope of the larger ESG regulation landscape.  Unlock the world of sustainability and join the ESG Decoded Podcast community! Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new episodes on your favorite streaming platforms, YouTube, and our social channels (linked below). Prepare for insightful episodes that ignite your passion for positive change. Tune in, engage, and let's decode ESG together! Episode Resource Links Christy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-cooke-35454471/  EcoVadis: https://ecovadis.com/ 

In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with Dr. Carolyn Kousky, Associate Vice President for Economics and Policy at the Environmental Defense Fund. Dr. Kousky is an expert in natural disasters, disaster insurance markets, and climate risk management policies. She has been featured in major media outlets and has a PhD in Public Policy from Harvard University. Her latest book, Understanding Disaster Insurance: New Tools for a More Resilient Future, is an excellent resource for the episode. Disaster insurance is good, but you hope you never have to use it. In light of the unfortunate increase in climate-related disasters worldwide, a greater understanding of insurance products and the financial impact of response and recovery is needed. Listen as Amanda and Dr. Kousky talk about how the insurance industry is evolving its response to disaster risk and the trend towards increased climate-related financial disclosures. Dr. Kousky also explains the concepts of reinsurance and non-traditional insurance products like parametric insurance and microinsurance, shedding light on how the insurance industry is working to implement different models to facilitate more widespread coverage while increasing transparency around climate risks and possible financial impacts for insurers and the insured. Unlock the world of sustainability and join the ESG Decoded Podcast community! Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new episodes on your favorite streaming platforms, YouTube, and our social channels (linked below). Prepare for insightful episodes that ignite your passion for positive change. Tune in, engage, and let's decode ESG together! Episode Resource Links Dr. Kousky’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckousky/  Amanda’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahsieh1/  Dr. Kousky’s Book: https://islandpress.org/books/understanding-disaster-insurance 

In this episode, Kaitlyn Allen speaks with Angela Baker, Director of Business Development for Envita Solutions, formerly known as Heritage Interactive Services. Angela's primary focus is bringing consistency, best practices, and innovative solutions to the sustainability marketplace. She aims to help her clients achieve their sustainability goals and contribute to building pathways for carbon neutral programs and landfill-free solutions. Listen as Kaitlyn and Angela discuss Envita’s service offerings and recent rebranding. Angela shares several current client examples, highlighting Envita's standardized approaches to waste management that facilitate transparency and metrics reporting.  She also introduces S.W.E.A.T (Solid, Water, Energy, Air, and Toxins) objectives, which could be a new concept for some listeners, and discusses the current trends in waste management. Additionally, they explore the topic of competition within sustainability goals and how it can drive innovation and progress. Unlock the world of sustainability and join the ESG Decoded Podcast community! Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new episodes on your favorite streaming platforms, YouTube, and our social channels (linked below). Prepare for insightful episodes that ignite your passion for positive change. Tune in, engage, and let's decode ESG together! *Disclosure: The Heritage Group is an investor in ClimeCo. Episode Resource Links Angela’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-price-baker-69711215/ Envita LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/envita-solutions Envita Website: www.envitainc.com

Nick Maynard, Senior VP for Commonwealth, discusses innovative pathways to build employee financial security. Topics include: services provided by Commonwealth, collaboration with BlackRock's Emergency Savings Initiative, closing the racial and gender wealth gap, gamifying savings, and measuring employee financial security as part of ESG efforts.

Thanks to The Untangling Circularity Podcast, our December Sponsor. The Untangling Circularity Podcast tackles unanswered circular economy questions. Co-hosts Cynthia Power and Laura Novich, both experienced sustainability and circularity professionals, have identified topics they would like more clarity on, and by addressing these questions head-on and bringing in experts, they begin to bring shape to the answers. In this episode, Erika Schiller talks with Stephanie McLarty, Head of Sustainability at Quantum Lifecycle Partners, Canada's largest IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) and e-waste recycling company. In her role, Stephanie is in charge of building and executing a sustainability strategy across Quantum's 10 locations and beyond to help the company's stakeholders: customers, team, and the planet. She is also a respected thought leader and the host of The Circular Future podcast.  Reusing and repairing our electronics at work and home have a win-win impact on financial value and carbon savings. Listen as Erika and Stephanie explore her ESG journey, which began with a niche focus on reusing telecom equipment and expanded to a marketplace solution. In her area of expertise, Stephanie leverages data to demonstrate the financial & environmental impacts when products are reused versus recycled. As our devices get smarter, the circular economy of electronics continues to evolve. Unlock the world of sustainability and join the ESG Decoded Podcast community! Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new episodes on your favorite streaming platforms, YouTube, and our social channels (linked below). Prepare for insightful episodes that ignite your passion for positive change. Tune in, engage, and let's decode ESG together! Episode Resource Links Stephanie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smclarty/  Erika’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-schiller-2773a52/  Quantum Lifecycle Website: https://quantumlifecycle.com/ The Circular Future Podcast: https://quantumlifecycle.com/en_CA/podcast/ December Sponsor: https://www.moltevolte.com/podcast

Thanks to The Untangling Circularity Podcast, our December Sponsor. The Untangling Circularity Podcast tackles unanswered circular economy questions. Co-hosts Cynthia Power and Laura Novich, both experienced sustainability and circularity professionals, have identified topics they would like more clarity on, and by addressing these questions head-on and bringing in experts, they begin to bring shape to the answers. In this episode, Kaitlyn Allen welcomes Derek Six, ClimeCo's Chief Operating Officer, and Nico van Aelstyn, a Partner with Sheppard Mullin.  Listen as Kaitlyn, Derek, and Nico unpack California's Assembly Bill (AB) 1305, which requires sellers/marketers and buyers/consumers of voluntary carbon credits to disclose certain information on their websites. The climate-related law goes into effect on January 1, 2024, to increase consumer knowledge. During their conversation, Nico and Derek clarify potential ambiguities related to this law, including what it means to 'do business in California' and how to prepare for its enactment. The information shared is a great 'crash course' for the upcoming changes in 2024.  Unlock the world of sustainability and join the ESG Decoded Podcast community! Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new episodes on your favorite streaming platforms, YouTube, and our social channels (linked below). Prepare for insightful episodes that ignite your passion for positive change. Tune in, engage, and let's decode ESG together! Episode Resource Links AB1305 Legislation: https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB1305/id/2832513 Nico’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicovanaelstyn/ Derek’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-six-1524645/ December Sponsor: https://www.moltevolte.com/podcast Disclaimer: Neither ClimeCo LLC nor Sheppard Mullin are rendering legal advice or offering legal assistance by their participation in this podcast.

In this episode, Erika Schiller talks with Dan Diehl, Chief Executive Officer of Aircuity. Dan has over 25 years of industry expertise in commercial and light industrial building markets. Listen along as Erika and Dan discuss how indoor air quality is an ESG issue that impacts business, health, and workforce productivity. Their discussion also covers systems that better manage HVAC and indoor air, which can significantly reduce carbon footprints and energy costs. Unlock the world of sustainability and join the ESG Decoded Podcast community! Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new episodes on your favorite streaming platforms, YouTube, and our social channels (linked below). Prepare for insightful episodes that ignite your passion for positive change. Tune in, engage, and let's decode ESG together! Episode Resource Links Dan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-diehl-2a97114/  Erika’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-schiller-2773a52/  Aircuity Website: https://www.aircuity.com/  New York Times Article (requires subscription): https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/27/health/schools-indoor-air-covid.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare