The Impact Report

Mahindra Group Companies Rise Against Climate Change: A Conversation with Anirban Ghosh For over a decade, the Mahindra Group has been leveraging its size and stature for maximum sustainability impact. Mahindra’s companies span 22 industries, operate in over 100 countries, and employ more than 240,000 people. Founded and headquartered in India, the Group is a US $20.7 billion global federation of companies. So when Mahindra launched its “rise against climate change” campaign, the impact was significant. Not only is it the first Indian company to set an internal carbon price, it has planted over 15 million trees and committed to setting science-based targets. Its automotive business recently announced its intention to be carbon neutral by 2040. Mahindra’s sustainability initatives are spearheaded by Anirban Ghosh. Under his leadership, Mahindra has developed an award winning sustainability framework and become a founding member of the Carbon Pricing Leadership. Ghosh, a noted speaker on sustainability, has

Crafting the Perfect Beer With the Spirit of Innovation Ken Grossman founded Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in 1980, with the goal of providing his customers with the kind of beer he liked to drink—hoppy, dark and flavorful. His background in home brewing, uncompromising approach to quality, and financial savvy helped him build one of the most successful craft breweries in the U.S.   Sierra Nevada’s products are distributed in all 50 states and overseas. A second Sierra Nevada brewery opened in Mills River, North Carolina in 2013 to satisfy growing demand and reduce the company’s environmental impact.   Grossman embraces a philosophy of environmental, social, and economic health that informs his business decisions. Sierra Nevada is a steadfastly family owned and run business, and Grossman plays a large role in the brewery’s day-to-day operations. Under his direction, Sierra Nevada’s brewing operation has evolved from using second-hand dairy vessels to one of the most state-of-the-art facilities in the world.

Focusing on Solutions—Not Silos: Vien Truong, CEO of Dream Corps Shaped by growing up in Oakland, CA during the 80s—the city’s crack years, she says—Vien Truong has dedicated her career to fundamentally ending poverty. Truong is the President of the Dream Corps, and she believes in the power of an inclusive and equitable green economy. Truong has developed numerous energy, environmental, and economic policies and programs at the state, federal and local levels, and has advised on billions of dollars in public investments for energy and community development programs. In 2016, Truong received the White House Champion of Change award for her work on climate equity. That same year, she was also recognized as a "Power Shifter" on the Grist 50. Bard MBA faculty member Jorge Fontanez spoke with Truong about what led her to this work, and how the Dream Corps is helping to solve tough problems by uniting innovators across racial, social and even partisan lines. The Impact Report brings together students and facu

Designing Buildings for Clients and the Environment How does a small architectural firm end up fielding calls from Tesla? By designing the largest residential microgrid on earth. The project, a recent home renovation in Tuxedo Park, NY, includes geothermal wells, a thousand solar panels, and enough battery capacity to interest Tesla. Architect Andrew Wright explains that he began with a design for a net zero home, but that the decision to go totally off grid turned out to be more cost efficient. Wright is the president of Wright Architects, based in New York’s Hudson Valley. The firm specializes in energy efficient design, complemented by renewable energy generation systems. Bard MBA Alum Cindy Wasser spoke with him about current trends in sustainable architecture and about what the future holds for Wright Architects and the industry as a whole. theimpactreportpodcast.com

Dow's Collaborative Blueprint for Unlocking Carbon Reductions To date, Dow Olympic & Sports Solutions has delivered 3.64 million tons of CO2e reductions, and it’s on track to exceed 6 million tons by 2026. This unique partnership between Dow and the International Olympic Committee uses sport and the Olympic brand as platforms to demonstrate how science and technology can help the transition to a lower-carbon fture. The collaboration leverages Dow’s materials science expertise, technologies, and science-based solutions to deliver climate benefits—and, in the process, to provide actionable lessons learned to organizations across sectors.   As Global Technology & Sustainability Director for Dow Olympic & Sports Solutions, improving the world through sport is more than an Olympic Movement philosophy, it’s a way of life for Nicoletta Piccolrovazzi. Piccolrovazzi helps organizing committees, bid cities, large-scale events, business partners and other key stakeholders address technology and sustainabi

Elytus: In the Business of Wasting Nothing In 10 years of business, Elytus has aided its clients in saving 175,000 admin hours, 20 million trees, and over $11 million dollars—all through its innovative technology and passion for the environment. Elytus partners with clients such as Red Robin, Omnicare and Bob Evans to “waste nothing” by managing their waste streams through recycling, diversion or reduced generation. The company’s proprietary software system provides transparency into the waste management process. Matthew Hollis, cofounder and president, is a mechanical engineer by training, and the company was born out of an incubator experience when he was a college sophomore. He currently manages daily operations, directs corporate strategy, and oversees the continued development of the firm’s software platform. Bard MBA Alum Heather Bowden spoke with Hollis in May 2018 about Elytus’ journey, its own zero-waste practices, and driving the cultural shift to reuse. impactreportpodcast.com  

Hunter Lovins On Our Finer Future Hunter Lovins, President and Founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions, believes that citizens, communities and companies, working together within the market context, are the most dynamic problem solving force on the planet. A champion of sustainable development for over 35 years, Lovins has consulted on business, economic development, sustainable agriculture, energy, water, security, and climate policies for scores of governments, communities, and companies worldwide. Time Magazine recognized her as a Millennium Hero for the Planet, and she has won the Rachel Carson and Right Livelihood awards, among dozens of others. Lovins has co‐authored fifteen books and hundreds of articles. Her best known book, Natural Capitalism, won the Shingo Prize. It has been translated into a more than three dozen languages and summarized in the Harvard Business Review. Bard MBA Director Eban Goodstein spoke with Lovins about her trailblazing work in sustainability and her latest book, A Finer

Moving the Needle Toward a More Holistic and Ethical Fashion Industry The Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator (BF+DA), a Pratt Institute initiative, is a hub for ethical fashion and design that provides design entrepreneurs, creative technologists and industry professionals with the resources they need to transform their ideas into successful, triple bottom line businesses. Approximately 15 emerging design businesses are selected to work from the BF+DA. Each year, the BF+DA also serves over 70 apparel production clients, 300 digital fabrication clients, and 4,000 event, tour, and educational program attendees. It’s also recently launched sustainability consulting offerings to further its mission and reach. Debera Johnson is the BF+DA’s Founder and Executive Director. She also founded the Center for Sustainable Design Strategies at Pratt Institute and has been leading the integration of sustainability into Pratt’s art, design and architecture programs for over 15 years. Bard MBA’s Lindsey Strange spoke w

How Danone North America Became the Largest Certified B Corp in the World Danone North America—maker of Dannon, Silk, So Delicious, Horizon Organic and Vega, among others—recently became the largest certified B Corp™ in the world for its commitment to social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. As a large multinational company, Danone North America demonstrated that certification is attainable, and should be an ambition for companies regardless of size or sector. Deanna Bratter, Senior Director of Sustainable Development Strategy for Danone North America, led the company’s B Corp initiative. Bratter drives the company's sustainability strategy and programs to support the interconnectivity between the health of people and the health of the planet, and works to amplify the positive impacts of sustainability within business. She oversees the organization's nature and sustainability focus areas, including commitments to solving climate change, advancing sustainable and regenerative

Lyft is Working to Reclaim Cities for People, Not Cars Lyft was one of the first U.S. companies to join former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s “We Are Still In” movement to declare its continuing commitment to the Paris Climate Accord. Shortly after, it outlined its own Climate Impact Goals, doing its part to address the threat posed by global climate change. Sam Arons is Director of Sustainability at Lyft, overseeing the company’s sustainability and climate impact efforts. Sam cames to Lyft after 10 years at Google, where he developed the company’s sustainability efforts as Senior Lead for Energy & Infrastructure. Prior to his time with Google, Sam researched wind energy and plug-in vehicles at Williams College and UC Berkeley, respectively. Bard MBA’s Reed Shapiro spoke with Sam about Lyft’s recent carbon offset announcement, vehicle electrification, and its vision for green cities—which it’s working to reclaim for people, not for cars. impactreportpodcast.com #leadthechange

S’well Proves Sustainability Can Be Stylish Sarah Kauss launched S’well in 2010 with the belief that a crave-worthy bottle that combined fashion with function would make people stop buying disposable water bottles, thus reducing single-use plastic consumption.  Eight years after launching, S’well is the fastest growing woman-owned business in the United States. Olivia Gossett Cooper, Bard MBA alum and founder of “Today We Will” and Silvr Inc., spoke with Kauss this past Spring about her inspiration for starting the company, how she got to scale, and how style matters in converting users to a sustainable lifestyle. The Impact Report brings together students and faculty in Bard’s MBA in Sustainability program with leaders in business, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. impactreportpodcast.com #leadthechange

Maximizing Positive Social Impact and Minimizing Environmental Impact: An Interview with Ali Kenney of Burton Snowboards  It’s almost impossible to upcycle used snowboards. Because their components—metal, wood, plastic, resin—are tightly fused during manufacturing, the best end-of-life outcome is usually chopped scrap that can be downcycled into fill. Which is why Burton is working with a new recyclable epoxy resin. ReRez allows used snowboards to be disassembled, and each material input to be reccyled into new life. This focus on end-of-life innovation is just one of the ways that Burton is meeting its ambitious 2020 sustainability goals. From 100% Fair Labor Association compliance in its factories, to the carbon-neutral Burton US Open, to Chill, its youth development program, the company believes that succeeding as a business means succeding at sustainability. The Bard MBA’s Cory Skuldt spoke with Ali Kenney, VP of Global Strategy and Insights at Burton, for The Impact Report. Kenney proposed and built B

Creating New Value Frontiers through Future First Leadership: A Conversation with Alice Mann of Mann Advisors Organizational psychologist Alice Mann talked with over 60 sustainable business leaders to find out how they’re innovating in the face of today’s global challenges. Her new book, Future First: How Successful Leaders Turn Innovation Challenges into New Value Frontiers, distills what she learned into these five business practices. In Future First, Mann argues that the three biggest challenges we face—climate change, resource scarcity, and social dynamism—offer opportunities for business to get out ahead of tomorrow’s market demands and beat the competition, while making a positive impact on the world. The Bard MBA’s Heather Bowden spoke with Mann about her work and Future First for the Impact Report.   #leadthechange ImpactReportPodcast.com

Beyond Politics-The Private Sector Steps Up on Climate Change: A Conversation with Michael Vandenbergh Michael Vandenbergh points out that 70% of us think that companies should be doing more on climate change. The good news, as he also points in his new book, is that the private sector is rising to that challenge. Beyond Politics: The Private Governance Response to Climate Change makes the case that the private sector can fill the environmental gap created by partisan politics. Vandenbergh and co-author Jonathan Gilligan highlight the emissions reduction initiatives of prominent firms like Hewlett Packard and Mars, Inc., and they call for further corporate action on a low-carbon future. Vandenbergh, the David Daniels Allen Distinguished Chair of Law at Vanderbilt University and director of its Climate Change Research Network, figures that the private sector can eliminate a billion tons of carbon emissions each year over the next decade. As he says, it’s a number that would matter. The Bard MBA’s Sarah Hut

“Conscious” Construction Builds Better Homes: A Conversation With Casey Grey of the Conscious Builder Casey Grey argues that you may not be able to build or renovate a home 100% sustainably, but that you can do it 100% consciously. Through his company, The Conscious Builder, Grey advocates making “conscious” construction decisions to create a positive, lasting change. He and his team focus on building and renovating homes that are cheaper to operate, better for the environment, more comfortable, and healthier for the families who live in them. And Grey practices what he preaches. His own home is net zero, producing at least as much energy as it consumes, and is built to the energy efficiency standards of the Passive House Institute—although, as he explained to the Bard MBA’s Sven Thiessen, it also features a big rain showerhead in the master bathroom. Thiessen spoke with Grey for The Impact Report about the costs of sustainable versus traditional construction, how he’s grown the company, and what he se

How Allagash Brews Sustainable Practices into its Operations: A Conversation With Luke Truman  The grain is just one way it's closing the loop. Portland’s Allagash Brewing Company has committed to purchasing 1 million pounds of Maine-grown and -processed grain by 2021. And three days a week, a local farmer stops by the brewery to pick up spent grain, which he uses as feed for his cows. Allagash demonstrates that same commitment to sustainability throughout its operations. From the cold Maine air that it uses to cool its largest refrigerated space, to the waste carbon dioxide (CO2) it captures from the brewing process and repurposes to keep head pressure on its tanks, the company sees sustainability potential in every aspect of its processes. The Bard MBA's Carolyn Pincus spoke recently with Allagash's sustainability lead, Luke Truman, about the brewery’s many initiatives — and about how the company manages its relationship with industry regulators. Born and raised in Wyoming, Truman's been handling sustaina

  Making Art, Making Change: A Conversation With Anne de Carbuccia “I wish to illuminate the damage, the breakage, the fragmentation. Somehow, if I can make it beautiful, I can make it one again.” Anne de Carbuccia is a French-American environmental artist working to document the effects of climate change. She first became interested in the era of human beings as a geological force, the Anthropocene, while studying Art History and Anthropology at Columbia University. De Carbuccia has spent the past five years traveling to the most extreme places on earth, creating photographs that capture human-caused threats to the environment, including water scarcity, pollution, and species extinction. In 2014, she established the Time Shrine Foundation to raise awareness and protect vulnerable species, environments and cultures. Her permanent One Planet One Future exhibitions in New York and Milan serve as centers for education, collaboration and community and are free and open to the public. Sustainability strategis

Eliminating the Idea of Waste - A conversation with Tom Szaky, CEO & Founder of TerraCycle   "Why does waste even exist?" That’s the question at the heart of TerraCycle’s own existence. Since 2001, the company has been taking hard-to-recycle waste and turning it into raw material for use in new products. It operates in over 20 countries and engages over 60 million people. 2017 marked a period of significant growth for the relentlessly innovative company. TerraCycle had its first acquisition, placing it on the path to going public. It’s leveraging the JOBS Act to crowdsource for equity. And it’s partnering with major organizations such as Proctor & Gamble (P&G), Mars, Nestlé and Unilever to generate ultra-durable packaging forms that’ll be owned by the manufacturer and merely loaned to the consumer. In December 2017, Bard MBA’s Alistair Hall spoke with Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle, about the company’s plans for growth and all the ways in which it continues to work toward eliminating

New York City Takes on Big Oil - A conversation with Dan Zarrilli, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of New York.  On January 10th, New York City became the first major US city to announce that the City’s $189 billion pension funds would divest City funds from fossil fuel reserve owners within five years.  Currently, the City’s five pension funds hold approximately $5 billion in securities from over 190 fossil fuel companies. To learn more about this, Bard MBA’s, Cindy Wasser spoke with Dan Zarrilli, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of New York. You can learn more about this and other steps New York City is taking to mitigate Climate Change by visiting www1.nyc.gov impactreportpodcast.com

Vermont’s Green Mountain Power obsesses on its customers. Under the leadership of CEO Mary Powell, it has radically restructured, positioning itself as an energy transformation company focused on meeting the needs of consumers with integrated, cutting-edge services that help them use less energy and save money. In the process, the utility has become the first to help its ratepayers go off the grid, the first to offer residential solar customers the Tesla Powerwall battery and the first and only utility to achieve B Corp certification. And consumers have responded. Green Mountain Power has grown from serving 88,000 customers in 2008 to serving over 260,000 today, with revenues of more than $640 million and $2 billion in assets. Last month, the Bard MBA’s Meghan Altman talked with Powell about the company’s transformative vision and where she sees the future of the energy system. Powell has served as president and CEO of Green Mountain Power since 2008 and she’s been the backbone of its comprehensive restruct