Engaging ESG with Jennifer Owens and Kati Kallins

Dr. Victoria Hurth joins Jennifer and Kati for our season finale to explore how purpose-driven governance can transform business decision-making for sustainability. As co-designer of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership's course on sustainable marketing and a leader in the development of ISO 37011, Victoria explains why our current economic systems systematically undermine the well-being they claim to create. Victoria also shares the three-horizon framework for understanding organizational transformation — from short-term self-interest to long-term self-interest to purpose-driven organizations optimizing for "long-term well-being for all" — and closes out our season by highlighting the abundance of positive human energy just waiting to be directed. Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com! Show links Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman Citizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us by Jon Alexander Our theme music is "Lost in Translation" by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daphany Rose Sanchez shares her powerful journey from growing up in New York City public housing to founding Kinetic Communities Consulting, a social enterprise transforming energy equity for underserved communities. Daphany explains why effective climate solutions must meet people where they are, addressing immediate concerns like utility bills rather than abstract climate concepts alone. She demonstrates how building genuine trust with communities leads to more effective sustainability outcomes, while offering a refreshingly human-centered approach to clean energy initiatives that challenge the tech-focused status quo. Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com! Show links Learn more about Daphany Rose Sanchez. Explore Kinetic Communities Consulting. Check out Power Up NYC, New York City's first long-term energy plan. Our theme music is "Lost in Translation" by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Jennifer and Kati sit down with Al Iannuzzi, Vice President of Sustainability at The Estée Lauder Companies, for a candid conversation about sustainable product evolution in today's challenging business landscape.  Al shares his provocative perspective that "There's no such thing as a green product" and offers practical guidance on communicating sustainability improvements without greenwashing.   Drawing from his book, "Greener Products," he also discusses how companies can balance economic pressures with growing stakeholder demands for sustainability.  Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com!  Show links  Learn more about Al Iannuzzi.  Greener Products: The Making and Marketing of Sustainable Brands  The Value of Values: How Leaders Can Grow Their Businesses and Enhance Their Careers by Doing the Right Thing  Read Suzanne Shelton at ERM Shelton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Kati and Jennifer are joined by Paull Young, GitHub's first head of sustainability, for a wide-ranging discussion about leveraging technology to accelerate climate action.   From green software to the role of artificial intelligence in climate solutions, our conversation explores how developers and technologists can contribute to sustainability goals, the realities of AI's energy footprint, and why giving people tangible ways to take action may be the best antidote to climate despair.   Drawing from his experiences across multiple tech platforms, Paull offers his thoughtful perspective on why he remains optimistic about technology's potential to accelerate positive environmental change.  Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com!  Learn more about Paull Young and listen to his podcast Climate Dads.  Our theme music is "Lost in Translation" by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professor Robert Barlow from Hult International Business School joins Jennifer + Kati to explore how business schools can effectively teach sustainability and ESG in an evolving political landscape. From building Hult's highly-ranked sustainability curriculum to his current research on Chief Sustainability Officers, Rob discusses why business education needs to develop new frameworks for measuring impact, why sustainability roles can't simply be distributed across organizations, and how today's MBA students are approaching these topics differently than previous generations.  Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com!  Learn more about Rob Barlow.  Our theme music is "Lost in Translation" by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard.  Episode Links  Cormac McCarthy: Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West  The Brothers Karamazov  Return on Sustainability Investment research at NYU  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Jennifer + Kati are joined by Jarami Bond, founder of Bond Studio and Green Biz 30 Under 30 alum, who shares his unique approach to impact storytelling through film. From his experience at Interface and GreenBiz to founding a mission-driven production company, Jarami explores how to tell authentic stories that honor communities while advancing environmental and social impact. He discusses navigating the current political climate, the importance of pre-production in storytelling, and why taking time to build trust leads to more meaningful outcomes.    Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com!    Learn more about Jarami Bond's work in sustainable storytelling at Bond Studio.    Our theme music is "Lost in Translation" by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard.    Episode Links    The Night Agent    Washington Commanders   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a fascinating conversation about sustainability communications in turbulent times, Louise Wilson, SVP of Partnerships at Futerra, joins Jennifer and Kati to share insights from her decade of helping global brands drive environmental and social impact. From navigating shifting political landscapes to the power of consumer activism in 2025, Louise explores how companies can effectively communicate their ESG efforts by focusing on progress over perfection, breaking down silos between teams, and making sustainability messaging accessible to all.    Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com!    Learn more about Louise Wilson.    Learn more about Futerra at wearefuterra.com.    Our theme music is "Lost in Translation" by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard.    Show Links    Bad Sisters    Sex Education  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when sustainability communications meets pushback? This week, Kati and Jennifer are joined by Mike Hower, founder of Hower Impact and host of The Sustainability Communicator podcast, for a candid discussion about the state of ESG and sustainability communications in 2025. From the evolution of corporate sustainability messaging to navigating today's fragmented media landscape, Mike shares insights on why sustainability professionals need to think beyond their echo chambers and how to build narratives that resonate in challenging times. The conversation explores historical parallels with other social movements, the importance of picking strategic battles, and why reading beyond sustainability literature might make us better communicators. Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com! Learn more about Mike Hower's work, subscribe to his Engage newsletter and find The Sustainability Communicator podcast at howerimpact.com. Our theme music is "Lost in Translation" by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it take to land (or hire for) a sustainability role in 2025? This week, Kati and Jennifer are joined by Richard Kent, Head of Research for North America; and Catherine Harris, Executive Director, Sustainable Business, Americas, at Acre, a leading sustainability recruiter for more than two decades. From "kitchen sink" job descriptions to the value of sustainability courses, our guests share candid insights about what companies are really looking for, how sustainability roles are maturing, and why change management may be the most critical skill for senior sustainability leaders. Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com!  Learn more about Richard Kent.  Learn more about Catherine Harris.   Our theme music is "Lost in Translation" by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sustainability expert Lyrica McTiernan joins Jennifer and Kati to explore how companies are navigating the evolving world of corporate climate commitments. From the shifting terminology of ESG to the emergence of climate transition plans, they discuss what's working, what's broken, and why 2025 could be a pivotal year for corporate environmental action. Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com Learn more about Lyrica McTiernan at lyricaconsults.com. Our theme music is "Lost in Translation" by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Engaging ESG is a bimonthly series exploring the evolving landscape of ESG communications. Join Jennifer Owens, senior director of marketing at CEEZER, and Kati Kallins, global sustainability lead at Adobe, as they talk with fellow ESG pros to address the pitfalls and possibilities hidden in each of our ESG comms plans — and provide practical answers you and your team can use today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're ending Season Two by tackling the question we've all been asked at one time or another: Why should we care about ESG?   In this episode, Kati and Jennifer look at our history, from the early concepts of a “license to operate,” to today's increasing regulations around sustainability claims coming from both EMEA and the U.S.   As Mike Wallace, decarbonization officer at Persefoni, states: “You're going to have to figure out what's the language you're going to use to stay in compliance, but also continue to do business with your biggest customers asking you for sustainability, carbon data or ESG data.”  Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com!  Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard.  Episode Links  Science Based Targets  Updated - Corporate Social Responsibility: A Brief History  “Nobody Wants to Work Anymore” on Instagram  America's ESG Hiring Boom Is Starting to Cool  Companies Say Push to Decarbonize Comes From Their Own Boards - WSJ  MPP Global Project Tracker  ESG is everything you do  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scope 3 emissions are the big beast many companies must tackle to truly reduce their carbon footprint. In this episode, Jennifer and Kati explore how major companies like Walmart are going beyond their own operations to drive emissions reductions across their vast supply chain. They also look at what lies beyond Scope 3 in the journey towards true net zero.  Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com!  Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard.  Episode Links  CEO Doug McMillon: Walmart's supply chain cut 1 billion tons of emissions 6 years ahead of schedule | GreenBiz  Walmart reaches halfway to Project Gigaton | GreenBiz  Why a Sustainable Supply Chain Should Be a Business Imperative | Progressive Grocer  Scoping out: Tracking nature across the supply chain - CDP  The SBTi releases new reports to help accelerate corporate climate action beyond the value chain  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the roofs over our heads to the floors beneath our feet, the environment built around us surrounds us an estimated 90% of our day — everyday.   In this episode, Kati and Jennifer consider what it takes to make our homes and workplaces healthy, from our carpets, desks and office chairs to massive green roofs designed to support biodiversity.   Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com!  Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard.   Episode Links  Google I/O 2021: Being helpful in moments that matter  New progress toward our 24/7 carbon-free energy goal  Building with Mushrooms to Reduce Drywall Waste | landfill, sustainability  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to the road ahead there are no easy fixes, only continuing progress, for the automotive industry. Relatable education on the nuances, trade-offs and limitations in play across vehicles, supply chains and business models are key but so are activist voices.   In this episode, Kati and I flip the script and explore climate activist messaging targeting the auto industry, focusing on great examples of emotional, visceral and innovative creative work — while also assessing their impact on the industry overall.  Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com!  Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard.  Episode Links  We Tried to Warn You! Environmental Crisis Posters, 1970–2020  ‘Crying Indian' Ad That Targeted Pollution to Be Retired - The New York Times  Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda talks about why he isn't all-in on EVs — and what made him do a 'happy dance'  How to make automotive companies sustainable | EY - Global  US Could Become Odd Market Out in EV Success Story  Fake ads mocking corporate sponsors of the COP21 climate talks pop up in Paris | CBC News  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just Transition seeks to build economic and political power for communities to move away from extractive systems towards regenerative ones — but what will take to get there?  In this episode, Jennifer + Kati consider the frameworks and elements that fuels the work towards a just transition, including reparations, social equity as well as decentralizing production/consumption.  Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com!  Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard.  Episode Links  Just Transition - Climate Justice Alliance  Plenty Opens World's Most Technologically Advanced Indoor Vertical Farm in Compton  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The finance sector is key to unlocking the system-wide change needed to reach net-zero emissions and a recent survey finds the vast majority of senior investors and business executives planning to increase their ESG investment over the next five years. In this episode, Kati + Jennifer consider where financial institutions are investing and lending money — and how major players like Blackrock, Citi and Chubb are responding to stakeholder pressures. Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com! Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard.   Episode Links Thereal impact of the ESG backlash Investors,Businesses to Increase ESG Investment Despite Greenwashing Scrutiny & Political Pushback: Bloomberg Survey Sustainability in Insurance - MetLife, Liberty Mutual &HSBC ChubbAnnounces New Climate and Conservation-Focused Underwriting Standards for Oiland Gas Extraction - Mar 22, 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Kati and Jennifer drive up a semi-sequel to our retail and packaging episode — as in what comes next when it comes to getting food into your fridge and your clothes in your closet.   Shipping and trucking are complicated industries that touch nearly every aspect of our lives. In this episode we'll consider how ESG professionals are communicating a puzzle that consists of a zillion interlocking pieces and impacts legions of stakeholders.  Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com!  Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard.  Episode Links  California Pushes Electric Trucks as the Future of Freight - The New York Times  Outrage and Optimism Podcast: Greening Shipping  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Kati + Jennifer cover how big familiar consumer brands like PepsiCo, H&M, Unilever and Amazon are approaching sustainability in packaging and materials — and the lessons we can take from them as ESG comms professionals. Join us as we dive into the upstream efforts of these companies to reduce waste and carbon emissions, learn how they are communicating these efforts to consumers and of course, consider how they are reacting to climate action criticism in real time. Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com! Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard. Episode Links The Burning Problem of Japan's Waste Disposal - Tokyo Review PepsiCo Struggles to Advance its Plastic Sustainability Goals | Packaging Dive H&M Launches Green Loan Program to Finance Suppliers' Emissions Reductions Initiatives - ESG Today Why We Need a Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution Breaking the Plastic Wave: Top Findings for Preventing Plastic Pollution | The Pew Charitable Trusts Great Pacific Garbage Patch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fasten your seatbelts because we're going to zoom into travel — specifically, airlines. It's certainly a hot topic for sustainability but it's also a return visit for a theme we considered in Season One: airline advertising. From carbon-neutral claims to sustainable airline fuel, travel is a hotbed of sustainability questions, concerns and even lawsuits. Join Jennifer + Kati as they break it all down and consider its impact on ESG comms overall Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com! Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kati and Jennifer are back on the mic for a brand-new season of Engaging ESG. This time they're shifting gears to spotlight how specific industry sectors are navigating and communicating through the ever-evolving sustainability landscape. The new season kicks off with a round-up of key sustainability news and policy changes impacting the world of ESG comms. Have a question? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com! Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard. Episode Links  COP28: Key takeaways for investors from the global climate summit  Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters  CSR Needs CPR: Corporate Sustainability and Politics  New California Law Imposes Anti-Greenwashing Disclosure Requirements Starting January 2024  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Kati and Jennifer are looking to the future of ESG comms work. From stories told at the intersection of diversity and sustainability to those told by AI, where do you see ESG content going? This episode marks the end of our current season but we'd love to hear what — or who! — you'd like us to cover in the future. Email us today at engagingESG@gmail.com. Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vanguard. Episode Note  Putting AI to Work for your Sustainability Communications by Nicole Loher  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Kati and Jennifer are taking your ESG comms questions — from tips on building a global strategy to working with your subject matter experts without getting lost in the weeds and everything in between. Have another question for us to consider or a strategy you'd like us to cover? Email us today at engagingESG@gmail.com. Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vanguard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get out your dirty laundry! This week Kati and Jennifer are talking greenwashing, diversity washing, rainbow washing — and what it means for our future when companies are too worried to talk about their ESG work at all. Have a question for us to consider or a strategy you'd like us to cover? Email us today at engagingESG@gmail.com. Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vanguard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Customers are more conscious and informed about diversity, sustainability and social issues than ever before. This week, Kati and Jennifer discuss the important connection between authentic commitment and meaningful action — as well as what can happen when that connection doesn't exist. Have a question for us to consider or a strategy you'd like us to cover? Email us today at engagingESG@gmail.com. Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vanguard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Kati and Jennifer dissect the difference between corporate ESG and ESG investment — and discuss what some opponents deem “woke capitalism.” How should your company respond to a dust-up over your efforts to curb emissions, improve circularity or crack down on discrimination in the workplace? We have thoughts. Have a question for us to consider or a strategy you'd like us to cover? Email us today at engagingESG@gmail.com. Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vanguard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many companies speak of the importance of their “people” in driving company strategy and ESG topics are no different. This week, Kati and Jennifer focus on employee engagement, a key stakeholder group for your ESG communications strategy, and offer tips for educating employees, tackling real-time questions and empowering your “super greens” to act as ambassadors for your work. Have a question for us to consider or a strategy you'd like us to cover? Email us today at engagingESG@gmail.com. Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vanguard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Partners can play an important role in not only in establishing or strengthening your ESG strategy but verifying and amplifying your messaging as well. This week on Engaging ESG, Jennifer and Kati spell out the benefits, challenges, and best practices of working with external organizations — and offer strategies for vetting the best partners to work with for your company. Have a question for us to consider or a strategy you'd like us to cover? Email us today at engagingESG@gmail.com. Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vanguard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Engaging ESG, Jennifer and Kati discuss the evolving world of required and voluntary reporting — and how each impacts the other. From crafting an ESG narrative and deciding who owns it to targeting specific audiences where they live, we tackle what it really takes to create impact. Have a question for us to consider or a strategy you'd like us to cover? Email us today at engagingESG@gmail.com. Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vanguard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Engaging ESG, Jennifer and Kati map the “who” and “what” of ESG comms, as in the many, many reports and content options available to your team and the even more stakeholders, partners and experts who will play a part in showing and sharing your ESG story. Have a question for us to consider or a strategy you'd like us to cover? Email us today at engagingESG@gmail.com. Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vanguard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Engaging ESG, the new podcast that considers what it takes to get ESG communications right — and how it can go oh so wrong. This week, Jennifer Owens, former external content strategy lead for Meta Sustainability, and Kati Kallins, former head of sustainability engagement at Meta, map out the fundamentals of what Environmental, Social and Governance really means — to your business, to your customers, to our planet. Have a question for us to consider or a strategy you'd like us to cover? Email us today at engagingESG@gmail.com. Our theme music is “Lost in Translation” by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vanguard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Engaging ESG is a 10-part weekly series exploring the evolving landscape of ESG communications. Join Jennifer Owens, former external content strategy lead for Meta Sustainability, and Kati Kallins, former head of sustainability engagement at Meta, as they address the pitfalls and opportunities hidden in your ESG comms plan and provide practical answers you and your team can use today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices