Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World (BCG Henderson Institute)
Explore every episode of Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Oct 2022 | Corporate Governance and Sustainability with Peter Tollman and Ron Soonieus | 00:30:09 | |
In the newest episode of the Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young — BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation — is joined by BCG Senior Advisors Peter Tollman and Ron Soonieus. They discuss how CEOs and Boards partner to create strategic advantage through sustainability, the evolution of corporations’ roles in society, and the criticality of the G in ESG. Ron’s perspective is informed by his decades of experience on both sides of the corporate agency divide as an executive and board member. Peter leads BCG’s CEO Advisory program where his decades of experience within BCG advising clients enables him to work alongside CEOs to elevate the success of the companies and organizations they lead. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 27 Oct 2022 | Bringing Sustainability to the Fore in Fashion with Art and Annin Peck | 00:39:01 | |
In the newest episode of the Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young — BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation — interviews Art and Annin Peck. Art is the former CEO of GAP Inc. and Executive Chair and Partner at fashion start-up The Great as well as a Boston Consulting Group alum. Annin leads sustainability at GAP Inc. as the Director of ESG Strategy and Business Integration. They discuss the evolution of GAP Inc.’s sustainability strategy, how ambitious goals can drive business innovation, the force multiplier effects that data and technology can effect within sustainability efforts, and how consumer-facing companies can help consumers make more informed and sustainable choices. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 18 Nov 2022 | The Challenges and Values of Achieving Organizational Sustainability with David Stanton | 00:27:43 | |
In the latest episode of the Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young — BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation — interviews David Stanton, CEO of UGSI Solutions, an infrastructure technology supplier to water, wastewater, and energy industries. Together, they discuss the challenges and values of helping companies enhance their sustainability by effectively dealing with their waste streams to achieve operational efficiencies and business model advantages. Stanton explains the shift in perspective that organizations face when deciding how to best allocate their waste so that it can be reinvested into the economy instead of simply disposing and destroying them. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 02 Oct 2024 | Chaos to Order: Doyne Farmer on Complexity Science and Economic Transformation | 00:52:19 | |
J. Doyne Farmer is director of the Complexity Economics program at the Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School, Baillie Gifford Professor in the Mathematical Institute at the University of Oxford, and an external professor at the Santa Fe Institute. He is a renowned physicist and complex systems scientist with a career spanning more than four decades. As a pioneer in chaos theory and complexity science, he has made significant contributions to understanding dynamic systems and their applications in various fields, including economics and financial markets. In this conversation with Dave Young, the Global Leader of the BCG Henderson Institute’s Center for Climate & Sustainability, Doyne discusses his journey from astrophysics to pioneering work in chaos theory and complex systems. He explains how modern computational power and big data are revolutionizing economic modeling, sharing insights from his team’s accurate prediction of COVID-19’s economic impact in the U.K. Farmer argues for a shift from traditional macroeconomic models to more dynamic, data-driven approaches that can capture the intricacies of our complex economic systems. | |||
| 28 Jan 2021 | Lessons from Unilever (Part I) | 00:08:51 | |
In the new episode of the Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young — BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation — interviews Amanda Sourry — former President of Unilever North America. Together, they discuss her experience of Unilever’s journey to create and implement its “Sustainable Living Plan” and reflect on practical insights on what it took to get there. Companies embarking on their sustainability transformation should define big goals, map and baseline the footprints of their products and services across the value chain to identify where they can have the most impact, form new partnerships, and surround themselves with a set of “critical friends” to help them on the journey. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 23 Nov 2020 | Trailer - Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World | 00:02:11 | |
Dave Young, Fellow at the BCG Henderson Institute and Global Lead for the Total Societal Impact topic at BCG, introduces his new podcast series, Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World. In this series, Dave will interview senior business executives across the world to discuss their experiences and views on what it will take for companies to reunite the two "S-words" of business strategy: sustainability and sustainable competitive advantage. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 04 Aug 2022 | Lessons From Purpose-Driven Media with Gary Knell | 00:26:25 | |
In the first episode of season 2 of Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young — BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation — interviews Gary Knell — former Chairman of National Geographic Partners, former CEO of Sesame Street, and former CEO of National Public Radio. Together, they discuss how National Geographic, Sesame Street, and NPR staked out their competitive advantage by anchoring themselves in purpose-driven media and how purpose can serve companies to navigate this period of disinformation and distrust. Gary shares his perspective on the role of media in shaping the context for sustainability and how companies can tap into the power of story-telling to engender trust and empower their brands by seeking out new non-traditional partners in the social sector. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 19 Aug 2024 | Threading the Needle: Navigating the Challenges of Business in Society | 01:02:49 | |
Today’s guests are Janine Guillot, Judy Samuelson, Gary Knell, and Ron Soonieus. Janine is the former CEO of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). Judy is the founder and executive director of the Aspen Business and Society Program. Gary is the former CEO at National Geographic, and Ron is a director in residence at INSEAD. Janine, Gary, and Ron are senior advisors to BCG. In this conversation with Dave Young, the global leader of the BCG Henderson Institute’s Center for Climate & Sustainability, the expert panel covers the intricate role of business in addressing global challenges such as climate change, economic inequality, and social justice. Key topics include the evolution of fiduciary duty, the importance of sustainability disclosure, and the critical role of employees and partnerships in fostering a more just and sustainable society. | |||
| 22 Jul 2024 | Leadership in Sustainability: How Orbia Tackles Global Challenges | 00:41:16 | |
Sameer Bharadwaj received a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from Harvard University. He started his career as a research engineer at Dow Chemical Company before progressing into multiple executive roles at Cabot Corporation. Today, as the CEO of Orbia, he leads a purpose-driven company that is addressing critical global challenges spanning water & food security, decarbonization & the energy transition, and information access & connectivity. Orbia’s strategic innovations —whether advancements in more environmentally-friendly PVC and fluor technologies, lighter-footprint solutions for urban climate resilience, precision agriculture, telecommunications, or the EV transition—are emblematic of the company's transformation journey in bringing purpose to life and sustainable solutions to market. In this conversation with Dave Young, the Global Leader of the BCG Henderson Institute's Center for Climate & Sustainability, Sameer highlights Orbia's approach to integrating sustainability into its business model and leveraging its diverse portfolio to drive global development and pursue a net-positive future. | |||
| 01 Sep 2022 | Lessons on Sustainable Finance and Investing with Nili Gilbert | 00:33:23 | |
In the latest episode of the Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young — BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation — interviews Nili Gilbert — Vice-chairwoman of Carbon Direct, Chair of the Investment Committee for the David Rockefeller Fund, Chair of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero Advisory Panel, and Chair for U.S. Policy for the UN Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance. Together, they discuss how asset owners and asset managers are taking collective action to reshape the financial ecosystem and use finance to shape the global economic system, while at the same time creating a unique competitive advantage for themselves. Nili also shares how companies need to go beyond their net-zero pledges by disclosing high-quality interim targets at 5 and 10-year horizons, consistently reporting progress against targets, and demonstrate action towards decarbonization. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 30 Jan 2025 | Creating Enduring Value: Lessons from The Heritage Group’s CEO Amy Schumacher | 00:40:31 | |
Amy Schumacher is the chief executive officer of The Heritage Group, overseeing the company’s portfolio of more than 30 businesses and 5,000 employees. Amy has been part of The Heritage Group family of businesses for over 13 years. In 2008, she founded Monument Chemical, the group’s specialty chemicals business, and served as president and CEO for eight years, marking the fourth generation of Fehsenfeld family leadership. She graduated from Purdue University with a BA in Education and BS in Civil Engineering and received her MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She serves on the boards of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, and Calumet Specialty Products, and is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization. In this conversation with Dave Young, the Global Leader of the BCG Henderson Institute’s Center for Climate & Sustainability, Amy shares how this fourth-generation family business blends innovation, sustainability, and values-driven leadership to build enduring success. She describes the company’s journey from its beginnings during the Great Depression to becoming a diversified enterprise with over 50 companies, emphasizing the power of sustainability as a competitive advantage. They delve into transformative projects like building North America’s largest lithium-ion battery recycling operation and a runway project that showcases groundbreaking sustainable practices. Amy’s insights on fostering collaboration, empowering people, and maintaining a long-term perspective highlight The Heritage Group’s unique approach to creating businesses that tackle hard problems and leave a lasting legacy. | |||
| 18 Aug 2022 | The Long View and Sustainability with Mark Preston | 00:31:09 | |
In this episode of the Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young — BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation — interviews Mark Preston, Executive Trustee and Chief Executive at Grosvenor. Grosvenor is a global privately held trustee-owned organization whose operations span urban property, food and AgTech, rural estate management, and support for philanthropic initiatives. The firm’s history dates back over 340 years and currently manages over £11 billion in assets under management across its portfolios. Beneficial ownership of the firm remains with the Grosvenor family, the Duke of Westminster being the primary beneficiary. Mark’s three-decade-long career at Grosvenor has spanned continents, taking him from the UK to Hong Kong and San Francisco, before returning to the UK in 2006 to head up Grosvenor’s property business as Chief Executive. David and Mark discuss how Grosvenor’s unique legacy and governance structure has facilitated managerial decision-making from a long-term perspective on not only financial returns but sustainability and stakeholders as well. In the latter half, they discuss how Grosvenor made the pivot to new lines of business beyond real estate, and where the frontier of sustainable business model innovation is today. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 03 Sep 2024 | Redefining Business: Judy Samuelson on Purpose, Culture, and Sustainable Advantage | 00:39:51 | |
Judy Samuelson is a seasoned leader with more than four decades of experience spanning public policy, philanthropy, and business education. As the founder and executive director of the Aspen Business and Society Program at the Aspen Institute for the past 26 years, she has been driving change to align business decisions with societal well-being. Her diverse career includes roles as director at the Ford Foundation, vice president at Bankers Trust Company, and a legislative aide in California, complemented by her education from Yale School of Management and UCLA. In this conversation with Dave Young, the Global Leader of the BCG Henderson Institute’s Center for Climate & Sustainability, Judy covers the evolving role of business in society, emphasizing the importance of intangibles like reputation and employee engagement. Judy highlights the need for businesses to embrace a purpose beyond profit and to integrate this purpose into their operations and decision-making processes. Further, she critiques the narrow focus on shareholder value. | |||
| 29 Sep 2022 | Continuous Process Improvement and Sustainability with Tony Thene | 00:32:18 | |
In this episode of the Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young — BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation — interviews Tony Thene, President and CEO of Carpenter Technology, a global leader in high-performance specialty alloy materials. They discuss how Carpenter Technology has applied their learnings from their CPI expertise in materials, manufacturing, and processes to develop their sustainability initiatives as well as diversity, inclusion, and safety among their labor force. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 15 Sep 2022 | Creating Advantage from Trustworthy Sustainability Data with Antoine Giros | 00:23:47 | |
In the new episode of the Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young — BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation — interviews Antoine Giros — Vice President of Certification Global Service Line for Bureau Veritas Group, a leader in testing, inspection and certification services. They discuss how Bureau Veritas Group has shaped its strategy and innovation agenda to create a competitive advantage for itself and for its clients by creating transparency of high-quality, trustworthy sustainability data. Antoine shares how important it is to build the right digital systems to bring sustainability data to senior decision-makers to enable sustainability strategies and demonstrate credibility to external stakeholders on ESG commitments. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 09 Jan 2025 | How Science Meets Strategy: Chris Killian on Sustainability in the Materials Industry | 00:38:25 | |
Dr. Chris Killian is Senior Vice President, Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer for Eastman’s global technology, innovation, and sustainability organizations. Chris leads Eastman’s innovation-driven growth strategy to deliver sustainable material solutions to customer and societal needs. Prior to his current position, Chris served as senior vice president and chief technology officer. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) and a doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He joined Eastman in 1996 as a research chemist. During his career at Eastman, he has held various technology and business leadership positions, including director of polymers technology, director of the Tritan™ growth platform, and vice president of Advanced Materials technology. In this conversation with Dave Young, the Global Leader of the BCG Henderson Institute’s Center for Climate & Sustainability, Chris shares Eastman’s journey in pioneering technologies like molecular recycling and bio-based polymers, offering insights into how the company has built a “better circle” by integrating circular economy principles into its core operations. The discussion highlights Eastman’s principles-based approach to innovation, where high environmental and societal standards are seamlessly aligned with business performance. From creating sustainable supply chains to addressing global challenges in material science, Chris provides an inspiring blueprint for how businesses can leverage innovation to drive growth, deliver value, and create a more sustainable future. | |||
| 25 Feb 2021 | The Investor Perspective on Sustainability | 00:17:21 | |
In the new episode of the Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young — BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation — interviews Mark Wiseman — Former Global Head of Active Equities and Chair Global Investment Committee, BlackRock; Former President & CEO, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) Mark shares his perspectives on the evolution and the role of purpose and sustainability in the ability of companies to create value for the long-term, and how that translates in investors’ capital allocation decisions. To win in the years ahead, executives and companies — across sectors and industries — need to build on the skills they have applied for years to traditional business decisions and financial metrics, and expand these to sustainability decisions and ESG metrics. They need to define clear objectives and strategies for sustainability as a driver of business performance and advantage, measure progress and hold people accountable against these objectives, and communicate these strategies and outcomes in clear way to investors. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 11 Feb 2021 | Lessons from Unilever (Part II) | 00:14:15 | |
In the new episode of the Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young — BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation — continues his discussion with Amanda Sourry — former President of Unilever North America. Reflecting on Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan, Amanda shares her thoughts on how companies can and should undertake a purpose-driven sustainability transformation journey to drive business value, shareholder return, and corporate longevity in the decade ahead. This will require purposeful leaders, who seek to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals in ways that create new sources of value and advantage for the business. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 13 May 2021 | Lessons from Schneider Electric (Part I) | 00:18:48 | |
In this episode of our Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young — a BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation — interviews Schneider Electric’s Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, Olivier Blum. Schneider Electric was recently named the world’s most sustainable company by Corporate Knights, a leading global sustainable business publication. David and Olivier discuss how the company achieved this, by transitioning from having Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives that were separate from the business to making sustainability a core source of business advantage. Olivier has a unique perspective on this transformation, having held a range of positions at Schneider over the course of almost three decades. Olivier has led various global business units and served as Chief Human Resources Officer in this time. He says companies looking to make sustainability core to their business strategy should embed sustainability into corporate purpose, make bold bets, translate those bets into clear long-term direction, define measurable short-term targets and milestones, and wire sustainability performance into compensation and promotion. Throughout all of this, Olivier speaks to the critical importance of senior leaders’ commitment to making Schneider a progressive company that constantly raises the bar on sustainability — from the environment to gender equity and broader societal issues. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 11 Mar 2021 | Lessons from Veolia and Renault | 00:20:30 | |
In the new episode of the Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young — BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation — interviews Christine Rodwell — former Vice President, Social & Sustainable Impact at Renault and Former Vice President, Business Development Cities at Veolia. Together, they discuss how the role of sustainability in corporate strategy has changed over time. Looking ahead, companies need to clearly define the impact they want to create for society; develop a focused sustainability strategy aligned with that vision; and fully embed sustainability into the core of the business and in every employees’ incentives to deliver on that strategy. Companies that succeed stand to gain tremendous value: attracting and retaining the best talent, reinforcing and expanding the license to operate, boosting innovation, and unlocking access to new markets. Christine shares concrete examples of how she helped make that happen at Veolia and Renault, “walking the talk” on sustainability. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 03 Dec 2020 | Lessons from a Sustainability Catalyst, Danone | 00:16:27 | |
In this episode, Isabelle Grosmaitre, Catalyst at Danone, and Co-Chair Collaboration for Healthier Lives at Consumer Goods Forum, discusses how the company defined its “One Planet. One Health” vision, what it took to embed sustainability into the core of the business and innovation, and how companies should rethink how they engage stakeholders to create real, systemic impact and realize business advantage. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 27 May 2021 | Lessons from Schneider Electric (Part II) | 00:15:51 | |
In the newest episode of our Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young—a BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation—continues his interview with Schneider Electric’s Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, Olivier Blum. Together, they discuss the importance of innovation to reframe and unlock sustainability as a source of advantage. In these efforts, it is critical to engage customers and empower employees to drive sustainable innovations. Olivier explains how Schneider created a culture around sustainability that belongs to all their associates, allowing them to deliver on their bold ambitions across both environmental and social objectives. Looking to the future of sustainability, Olivier discusses the limitations of seeing sustainability as only an issue of compliance. For him and for Schneider, there is no finish line for innovating to make sustainability a source of business advantage. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 22 Apr 2021 | Harnessing Purpose for Sustainability | 00:14:09 | |
In our next episode of the Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young, our BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation, interviews BrightHouse CEO Ashley Grice. Ashley discusses how Purpose helps companies articulate how they differentially and authentically solve a need in the world, bringing the ideas of environmental and societal sustainability and sustainable business together. Following the proliferation of the concept for corporate Purpose in the last few years, Ashley anticipates Purpose will become even more relevant as societies work to recover from the series of crises that occurred in 2020. Boards, employees, customers, and even regulators will all demand more Purposeful businesses. While digging deep into Purpose will be uncomfortable initially, companies that harness it will find a powerful lever to help transform their culture, align people, stimulate innovation, accelerate growth, and infuse true meaning into their business for the long-term. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 16 Sep 2024 | MUFG and Financing the Energy Transition | 00:39:18 | |
Tomohiro (Tomo) Ishikawa is a financial executive with more than 25 years of experience in investment banking, regulatory affairs, and sustainable finance. Currently serving as the chief regulatory engagement Officer at MUFG and head of the corporate planning division, Tomo also holds key positions in global sustainability initiatives, including membership in the MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) Sustainable Finance Advisory Panel and the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative. As one of Japan’s largest financial institutions, MUFG has committed to achieving net-zero emissions in its finance portfolio by 2050 and has pledged to provide ¥100 trillion (approximately US$660 billion) in sustainable finance by 2030. In this conversation with Dave Young, the global leader of BCG Henderson Institute’s Center for Climate & Sustainability, Tomo highlights MUFG’s role as its clients’ partner in achieving net-zero targets and underscores the necessity of balancing energy security, affordability, and CO2 reduction in the transition process. | |||
| 12 Jan 2023 | Business Impact on Nature with Tony Goldner | 00:24:17 | |
In this episode of the Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young — BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation — interviews Tony Goldner, Executive Director of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures. Together, they discuss the urgent need to address businesses’ impact on nature and the opportunities and risks that businesses face. They discuss the role that business ecosystems, corporate transparency, and public-private partnerships can play in the solution. Goldner also explains the similarities and differences with the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures and the imperative for businesses to focus on climate and nature simultaneously, rather than simply one or the other. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 08 Apr 2021 | Cross-sector partnerships for Sustainability | 00:18:02 | |
In the new episode of the Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young — BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation — interviews Vicki Escarra, Former Global CEO, Opportunity International; Former President & CEO, Feeding America; and Former CMO, Delta Airlines. Vicki shares her inspiring journey across the private and social sectors. She reflects on the importance of cross-sector collaboration to drive meaningful, societal impact at scale while generating benefits for all organizations involved, including corporations. She shares her lessons learned on what it takes to build effective strategic partnerships for collective impact. Organizations involved need to: Set a common agenda, clarify the mutual benefits, match skilled resources to execute on both sides, measure and share progress frequently, and communicate. Trust, shared purpose, focus on impact, clarity of objectives, and accountability are the critical enablers for success. Applying these principles, organizations across sectors have a massive opportunity to create social impact, business benefits, and lay the foundation for a great legacy. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||
| 07 Aug 2024 | Accelerating Climate & Sustainability: Harnessing Collaboration and Innovation | 00:49:39 | |
Today’s guests are Wendy Woods, Robert (Hutch) Hutchinson, and Richard Kidd. Wendy is BCG’s Vice Chair of the Social Impact, Climate & Sustainability practice, Robert is a Senior Advisor to BCG and Senior Fellow at the Rocky Mountain Institute, and Richard is a Senior Advisor to BCG and Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Environment & Energy Resilience. In this conversation with Dave Young, the Global Leader of the BCG Henderson Institute’s Center for Climate & Sustainability, our expert panel considers the challenges and strategies pivotal to the energy transition and sustainability efforts globally—including the significant impact of collaborative initiatives and the crucial role of innovative thinking in overcoming systemic barriers to decarbonization. | |||
| 25 Mar 2021 | Lessons from Eneva | 00:11:29 | |
In the new episode of the Building Competitive Advantage in a Sustainable World podcast, David Young — BCG Henderson Institute Fellow researching Sustainable Business Model Innovation and Heitor Carrera — BCG Senior Partner in Sao Paolo, Brazil — interview Pedro Zinner, CEO of Eneva, a major Brazilian energy company. Together, they discuss the evolving context in Brazil, underscoring the increasing investor demands for companies to embed sustainability into corporate strategy and operations. Pedro describes how Eneva initiated its sustainability journey and shares lessons learned. To get started, companies need to align on and measure ESG KPIs to establish their baseline, set challenging targets for these KPIs, and develop an inspiring narrative that articulates the business benefits to key stakeholders. While transformation for sustainability will be a journey, companies that commit to it will ensure they have a successful business for the long-term. *** About the BCG Henderson Institute The BCG Henderson Institute is the Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration, sign up to receive BHI INSIGHTS, our monthly newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. | |||