Podcast appearances and mentions of bob langert

Bob Langert, former VP of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability at McDonald's, and Jay Barney, author of ‘The Secret of Culture Change', join Tobias Sturesson to explore the nuanced journey of leading transformational change within an organisation. Drawing from decades of experience, Bob shares how McDonald's navigated criticism to embrace a proactive approach to social responsibility, while Jay highlights the significance of actions over words in fostering a true cultural shift. Tune in to this episode as we explore: Navigating criticism and fostering partnerships Actions as the foundation for cultural change Embracing vulnerability to strengthen trust The journey from defensiveness to proactivity Trust and its impact on business success Inspiring change through leadership actions Building authentic stories from transformative practicesLinks mentioned:101. Embrace Vulnerability: Insights from Ann Tenbrunsel and Lenny Wong on Avoiding Blind Spots and Navigating Human Fallibility‘The Secret of Culture Change' by Jay Barney‘You Can Culture: Transformative Leadership Habits for a Thriving Workplace, Positive Impact and Lasting Success' is now available here.

Nick is joined by ITV and Sky presenter Matt Chapman to discuss the latest news from around the racing world. They begin with initial reaction to the draw for the Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, and talk to Yann Lerner, trainer of one of the favourites for the race, Look de Vega. They consider the likely pace of the race in the conditions, and debate the merits of Yutaka Take's booking for Al Riffa. Also on today's show, news on Goffs Orby sale while Guy O'Callaghan from Grangemore Stud looks ahead to selling Charyn at Tattersalls Book One next week. Plus, Charlotte gets the NTF reaction to the proposed commercial agreements from CEO Paul Johnson, while Tom talks to Racing Foundation Conference keynote Bob Langert about tackling negative perception of the sport, and Nick catches up with James Harron, the Aus-based agent who has just sold this year's Everest slot. Anthea Leigh - the newest judge to the Godolphin TIEA awards - reminds everyone to get voting.

Nick is joined by ITV and Sky presenter Matt Chapman to discuss the latest news from around the racing world. They begin with initial reaction to the draw for the Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, and talk to Yann Lerner, trainer of one of the favourites for the race, Look de Vega. They consider the likely pace of the race in the conditions, and debate the merits of Yutaka Take's booking for Al Riffa. Also on today's show, news on Goffs Orby sale while Guy O'Callaghan from Yeomanstown Stud looks ahead to selling Charyn at Tattersalls Book One next week. Plus, Charlotte gets the NTF reaction to the proposed commercial agreements from CEO Paul Johnson, while Tom talks to Racing Foundation Conference keynote Bob Langert about tackling negative perception of the sport, and Nick catches up with James Harron, the Aus-based agent who has just sold this year's Everest slot. Anthea Leigh - the newest judge to the Godolphin TIEA awards - reminds everyone to get voting.

Do you struggle to form relationships with your competitors in business? Do your struggle to maintain relationships with people you aren't too fond of, but have to spend time with? If you said "yes" to either or both of those questions, you'll want to listen closely to the wise words of Bob Langert in this episode.  He was the former vice president of corporate social responsibility and sustainability at McDonald's, and in that job, he found enormous rewards in doing good in a corporate setting.  Bob also discovered that sometimes a company's strongest critics can help find solutions that are good for both business and society.  He's the author of the book, "The Battle to Do Good:  Inside McDonald's Sustainability Journey".   His website is https://www.boblangert.com/   Ritual's clinically-backed Essential For Women 18+ multivitamin has high-quality, traceable key ingredients in clean, bioavailable forms.  It's gentle on an empty stomach with a minty essence that helps make taking your multi-vitamin enjoyable. Here's a special offer for our Nobody Told Me listeners! Get 25% off your first month at ritual.com/NTM.  Start Ritual or add Essential for Women 18+ to your subscription today!

Today we're talking about the big topic of Sustainability within big business. Former Chief Sustainability & Social Impact Officer at McDonalds, Bob Langert, joins the show and shares his three decade long journey in making environmental change happen at one of the biggest organizations in the world.An environmental activist at heart, Bob shares how he was able to take a topic he cared deeply about but was low on the company priority list, and over time use his passion to make people notice and act. Sustainability started as Corporate Social Responsibility and Bob recalls how in the 1980's it was just starting to gain prominence and it took a long time for the topic to reach the mainstream status it has today in business. Companies need to be willing to change if they want to compete in a future environment 20 years from now which will look different to how it does today. Bob stresses the need for change agents within that; fewer people laying low and trying to stay out of trouble, more people who are open, patient and bring big ideas. Ultimately that passion and persistence helps the business, because as Bob says, “Businesses that are satisfied and content are going to die.”Bob does recognize that a key challenge in getting action on sustainability issues is trying to force it, either by being too emotional or pushing too hard. He describes how over time he achieved success by creating connections with people inside and outside the organization. These relationships rested on truthfulness, trust and empathy; putting yourself in others' shoes to see different ways of influencing them. That empathy allows you to see new allies, as often we assume people don't care, or will not be supportive, but they can surprise you. In fact some of your harshest critics can become your collaboration partners for change, or even your public advocates.Jo and Bob also discuss the need for companies to be more proactive and preemptive, but that often, that comes with little glory, as a hero in a crisis is easy to find, but credit for preventing a problem often never happens. But issues, like critics, will never stop coming, and Bob says that's a reality you need to accept, and a target you need to bear on your back, when part of a big organization that needs to make money (and there's nothing wrong with that).--To look outside, Bob reads a lot, particularly other perspectives of leadership and change through biographies. He also relies on travel to observe people across settings and cultures. He treats these as learning experiences that help him see things differently and promote a push beyond complacency, or accepting that 'things are the way they are'.--Bob Langert led McDonald's Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability efforts for more than twenty-five years before retiring in 2015. Currently, he provides corporate sustainability consulting through Mainstream Sustainability. Bob has been engaged in social responsibility issues at a global level since the late 1980s, leading environmental affairs, animal welfare, and Ronald McDonald Children's Charities' grants. He was appointed McDonald's first vice president to lead sustainability in 2006 with contributions spanning sustainable fish, coffee, palm oil, beef, packaging, extensive animal welfare progress, protecting the Amazon rainforest, nutrition strategy and CSR reporting, measurement, and accountability. His book about McDonald's sustainability journey, The Battle To Do Good: Inside McDonald's Sustainability Journey, was published in January 2019.Langert received his BA from Lewis University and his MBA from Northwestern University. In 2007, Langert was named as one of the 100 Most Influential in Business Ethics by Ethisphere. Follow Bob on

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Do you struggle to form relationships with your competitors in business? Or in maintaining relationships with people you aren't too fond of, but have to spend time with? If you said "yes" to either or both of those questions, you'll want to listen closely to the wise words of Bob Langert in this episode.  He was the former vice president of corporate social responsibility and sustainability at McDonald's, and in that job, he found enormous rewards in doing good in a corporate setting.  Bob also discovered that sometimes a company's strongest critics can help find solutions that are good for both business and society.  He's the author of the book, "The Battle to Do Good:  Inside McDonald's Sustainability Journey".   His website is https://www.boblangert.com/

When an organization is battered by critics, how does it usually respond? “Deny and push back, put out some sort of lame statement,” says Bob Langert, “and no progress is made at all.” But based on 25 years leading sustainability and corporate responsibility at McDonald's, Bob proposes another way: To work with critics. In this talk, he shares stories that take us from the Amazon to slaughterhouses, from tree huggers to corporate suits, all in the search for common ground with his greatest detractors. While we're taking a break, we hope you enjoy this favorite from the TED Business archive.

Bob Langert, author of The Battle to Do Good: Inside McDonald's Sustainability Journey, joins the podcast to discuss his 25-year career as head of CSR and Sustainability for McDonald's. Bob shares the strategy he used to partner with McDonald's critics at major environmental and sustainability organizations, and how he worked with these groups to find common ground and solutions.

"We need to invite in the critics. We need to open our doors. We need to listen to them." Join your host, Tobias Sturesson, and his guest, Bob Langert, for this episode on The Leading Transformational Change podcast. In this fascinating and helpful conversation, you will learn how Bob Langert, former VP of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability at McDonald's, shifted from fighting the company's critics to a posture of listening and even collaborating with organizations like Greenpeace and the Environmental Defense Fund to bring change to the company and to the food industry at large. A practice that could be vital to building a culture of trust, purpose and integrity, but that Bob believes is seldom utilized. Bob Langert led McDonald's Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability efforts for more than twenty-five years before retiring in 2015. Currently, he is a columnist and editor-at-large for the GreenBiz Group and Senior Sustainability Advisor for The Context Network, the premier global and agribusiness consulting firm in advancing agriculture. He has been engaged in social responsibility issues at a global level since the late 1980s, leading environmental affairs, animal welfare, and Ronald McDonald Children's Charities' grants. He was appointed McDonald's first vice president to lead sustainability in 2006. In 2007, Langert was named as one of the 100 Most Influential in Business Ethics by Ethisphere. His first book, The Battle To Do Good: Inside McDonald's Sustainability Journey, was published in January 2019. Duration: 50:02

When an organization is battered by critics, how does it usually respond? “Deny and push back, put out some sort of lame statement,” says Bob Langert, “and no progress is made at all.” But based on 25 years leading sustainability and corporate responsibility at McDonald’s, Bob proposes another way: To work with critics. In this talk, he shares stories that take us from the Amazon to slaughterhouses, from tree huggers to corporate suits, all in the search for common ground with his greatest detractors.

Do you struggle to form relationships with your competitors in business? Or in maintaining relationships with people you aren't too fond of, but have to spend time with? If you said "yes" to either or both of those questions, you'll want to listen closely to the wise words of Bob Langert in this episode.  He was the former vice president of corporate social responsibility and sustainability at McDonald’s, and in that job, he found enormous rewards in doing good in a corporate setting.  Bob also discovered that sometimes a company’s strongest critics can help find solutions that are good for both business and society.  Bob presented a TED talk about that a few months ago which has had nearly a million views.  He’s also the author of the book, The Battle to Do Good:  Inside McDonald’s Sustainability Journey. **** Thanks to our sponsor of this episode! --> AirMedCare: If you're ever in need of emergency medical transport, AirMedCare Network provides members with world class air transport services to the nearest appropriate hospital with no out of pocket expenses. Go to airmedcarenetwork.com/nobody and use offer code 'NOBODY' to sign up and choose up to a $50 Amazon or Visa gift card with a new membership! --> Hello Fresh: Go to hellofresh.com/nobodytoldme10 and use code 'nobodytoldme10' for 10 free meals, including free shipping. Find out for yourself why Hello Fresh is America's #1 Meal Kit! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I’m interviewing Bob Langert, the first McDonald’s VP who led sustainability efforts before retiring in 2015. We are speaking about leadership, influence, corporate responsibility, Bob’s favourite books and career lessons he learned after spending over 30 years at McDonald’s. Before you go: have an idea who I should interview next? Drop me a message on Linkedin or Email me directlyAbout Bob Langert He is a TED speaker and recently did a talk called “The business case for working with your toughest critics”. As VP of sustainability at McDonald's, Bob shaped the restaurant chain's commitment to the environment, supply chain sustainability and balanced menu choices. In January 2019, he published The Battle to Do Good; Inside McDonald's Sustainability Journey. He shares how he addressed some of the most significant societal issues of our times -- obesity, waste and packaging, deforestation in the Amazon, animal well-being and much more. Connect with Bob Linkedin Twitter GreenBiz PublicationBooks mentioned on the showThe Battle To Do Good: Inside McDonald’s Sustainability JourneyThe Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Defender of the Realm, 1940-1965Washington: A LifeFind out more at https://sergey-ross-podcast.pinecast.co

Do you struggle to form relationships with your competitors in business? Or in maintaining relationships with people you aren't too fond of, but have to spend time with? If you said "yes" to either or both of those questions, you'll want to listen closely to the wise words of Bob Langert in this episode. He was the former vice president of corporate social responsibility and sustainability at McDonald’s, and in that job, he found enormous rewards in doing good in a corporate setting.  Bob also discovered that sometimes a company’s strongest critics can help find solutions that are good for both business and society.  Bob presented a TED talk about that a few months ago which has had nearly a million views.  He’s also the author of the book, The Battle to Do Good:  Inside McDonald’s Sustainability Journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a “corporate suit” (his words) and former VP of sustainability at McDonald's, Bob Langert works with companies and their strongest critics to find solutions that are good for both business and society. In this actionable talk, he shares stories from the decades-long transition into corporate sustainability at McDonald's -- including his work with unlikely partners like the Environmental Defense Fund and Temple Grandin -- and shows why your adversaries can sometimes be your best allies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

En tant que décideur en entreprise et ancien vice-président de la durabilité chez McDonald's, Bob Langert travail avec des entreprises et leurs critiques les plus durs pour trouver des solutions qui sont à la fois bonnes pour les affaires et pour la société. Dans cette intervention exploitable, il partage des histoires issues de la longue transition vers la durabilité au sein de McDonald's -- y compris son travail avec d'improbables partenaires tels que le Fonds de défense de l'environnement et Temple Grandin -- et montre pourquoi vos adversaires peuvent parfois être vos meilleurs alliés.

맥도날드의 지속가능부문 전 부사장이자, 자칭 "높으신 분"인 밥 랭거트(Bob Langert)는 사업과 사회 모두를 위한 해결책을 찾기 위해 기업 및 가장 강력한 비평가들과 함께 일합니다. 이 실용적인 이야기에서 랭거트는 환경보호기금과 템플 그랜딘(Temple Grandin)처럼 협업이 불가능할 것 같은 협력자들과의 일화를 포함해 수십 년에 걸쳐 맥도날드를 지속 가능 기업으로 전환한 이야기를 공유합니다. 또한 어떻게 적이 때로는 최고의 아군이 될 수 있는지를 보여줍니다.

Como um "engravatado empresarial" (em suas próprias palavras) e ex-vice-presidente de sustentabilidade do McDonald's, Bob Langert, trabalha com empresas e seus críticos mais ferozes na busca de soluções que sejam boas para os negócios e a sociedade. Nesta palestra voltada para a ação, ele compartilha histórias da transição de décadas para a sustentabilidade corporativa no McDonald's, incluindo seu trabalho com parceiros improváveis, ​​como o Fundo de Defesa Ambiental e a Dra. Temple Grandin, e mostra por que nossos adversários às vezes podem ser nossos melhores aliados.

Como una "persona con traje de negocios" ("corporate suit" en inglés, según sus palabras) y ex-vicepresidente de sostenibilidad en McDonald's, Bob Langert trabaja con otras empresas y sus críticos más acérrimos para encontrar soluciones que sean buenas para la empresa y para la sociedad. En esta charla comparte historias de la transición (durante una década) de McDonald's hacia la sostenibilidad corporativa -- incluidos sus trabajos con socios poco comunes como el Fondo para la Defensa del Medio Ambiente y Temple Grandin -- y muestra por qué nuestros adversarios pueden ser a veces nuestros mejores aliados.

As a "corporate suit" (his words) and former VP of sustainability at McDonald's, Bob Langert works with companies and their strongest critics to find solutions that are good for both business and society. In this actionable talk, he shares stories from the decades-long transition into corporate sustainability at McDonald's -- including his work with unlikely partners like the Environmental Defense Fund and Temple Grandin -- and shows why your adversaries can sometimes be your best allies.

As a "corporate suit" (his words) and former VP of sustainability at McDonald's, Bob Langert works with companies and their strongest critics to find solutions that are good for both business and society. In this actionable talk, he shares stories from the decades-long transition into corporate sustainability at McDonald's -- including his work with unlikely partners like the Environmental Defense Fund and Temple Grandin -- and shows why your adversaries can sometimes be your best allies.

The loudest voices these days seem to come from protesters because they design their actions for attention. They aren't necessarily the most effective.Many of us are outraged. Our emotions become intense. Emotional intensity drives us to do what we want most, which doesn't necessarily lead to what's effective. As I see it, people are venting more than leading.I criticize the lack of leadership around the environment because people overwhelmingly spread facts, figures, doom, gloom, and telling people what to do. In no area besides the environment do effective leaders say, "Here's how to lead: spread facts, figures, doom, gloom, and tell people what to do."Effective leadership works when based on the views and motivations of the person you're leading. For many that's uncomfortable. But it works.Fred and EDF's sober, thoughtful approach of working with big business is accessing the biggest potential change and leading them.I wrote a friend on a group geared toward confrontation:They seemed heavy on demands. I hope that style works for them. It felt domineering to me. I consider protest important. At the same time, I consider it important to offer help to people and organizations we'd like to change but that don't know how to on their own, which is my strategy. One of my definitions of leadership is to help people do what they want to but don't know how.Fred and Environmental Defense Fund's strategy isn't designed for maximum attention, but for maximum effect in one area---in particular, those with large potential for change, even those not appearing environmental. This strategy is close to mine.Without organizations like EDF helping, companies that could change might instead protect themselves by hiding potential problems. I've been trying to meet Exxon, for example, but the "Exxon Knew" campaign motivates them to protect themselves and hide information. That campaign may be for the best, I don't know, but I see the need to offer a hand too, to help them come up with strategies they couldn't have.EDF does more that just work with corporations. For example, they're launching a satellite to detect emissions. Having helped launch a satellite as part of my PhD, I love the audacity and effectiveness.In my conversation with Fred, I focused on the leadership part, but we cover more, including his personal background and EDF's.After you listen, I recommend applying to EDF's internship he described. Organize, vote, and lead politicians, corporate executives, and others with authority to act environmentally.By the way, I met Fred Krupp, the head of the Environmental Defense Fund, through past guest, Bob Langert, McDonald's former head of corporate social responsibility.The Making of a Market-Minded Environmentalist, in Strategy+Business See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bob Langert, the Senior Sustainability Advisor for The Context Group, retired VP of Sustainability at McDonald’s and author of The Battle to Do Good: Inside McDonald’s Sustainability Journey, shares how you can create allies for your social causes by honing your purpose-driven storytelling skills.   Become a Master Storyteller Grab your free copy of The 5 Stages of Grief in Telling YOUR Business Story: http://bit.ly/StorytellingTools Like what you hear? Bring Park to your next event.

A Behind-the-Scenes Account of McDonald's Sustainability Journey: An Interview with Bob Langert Starting in the 1980s, McDonald's was repeatedly challenged on hot-button social and environmental issues by powerful NGOs. It spent over a decade in defensive mode, as groups like Greenpeace and PETA demanded that the company rethink its approach to issues like packaging, animal welfare, deforestation, and nutrition.  Eventually, though, the mega brand shifted to strategically solving issues with NGO partners. As it integrated sustainability into its core mission, it began to rebuild brand health with consumers. Former McDonald's VP of Sustainability Bob Langert recounts the company's sustainability journey in his new book, The Battle to Do Good. It's an insider's view of the company's highs and lows, as well as a guide to making business stronger and more relevant. Bard MBA alum Ben Volk spoke with Langert about the company's toughest challenges, how McDonald's made the shift to integrating sustainability, and where it can continue to lead by example. ImpactReportPodcast.com  

In the final episode of the series, social media is the elephant in the room and on the side of the consumer. Bob Langert, a former vice president over sustainability initiatives at McDonald’s and author of “The Battle to do Good: Inside McDonald’s Sustainability Journey,” discusses the impact of social media on Corporate America’s ability to define its responsibilities to society. And, he shares some “hard-knock nuggets” of advice for businesses trying to navigate the disruption caused by social media. Next week, Ryan McCarthy, digital media associate editor, sits down with MEAT+POULTRY Features Editor, Bob Sims who visited Prestage Foods of Iowa on assignment. Prestage Foods of Iowa began hog slaughter under USDA inspection in March of this year. The 700,000-sq.-ft. facility houses some of the most advanced pork processing technology in the industry. MEAT+POULTRY got a first look inside the plant. We hope you’ll listen in to Ryan and Bob’s conversation to learn more about this awesome facility.

Bob Langert, a former vice president over sustainability initiatives at McDonald’s spent more than 20 years at McDonald’s focused on ways for the company to address a range of issues related to sustainability. For his book,"The Battle to do Good: Inside McDonald’s Sustainability Journey", Langert says he interviewed about 51 people who were part of McDonald’s sustainability journey during his time with company. According to Langert, no company goes it alone when it comes to sustainability. But if sustainability is a team sport, who do you want to play for your side? Bob Langert has a few thoughts about this subject which kicks off the second installment of our conversation. Next week, we’re taking a break for the July 4 holiday, but we’re not quite done sharing what we learned from Bob Langert about McDonald’s and sustainability. So, in the third and final installment of our conversation, he answers several questions, including: Who defines the role of companies in society these days and how does social media influence that debate? Does big business have any business addressing social issues? And what’s a “hard knock nugget?”

McDonald’s Canada recently announced the launch of its Green Concept Restaurantsin Vancouver and British Columbia. These restaurants basically are testing sites for a variety of sustainable packaging and utensil solutions. Customers visiting these special stores will see paper straws, and wooden cutlery and stir sticks. Cold drinks, specifically medium-size ones, will be served in cups that are acceptable in recycling streams. The Green Concept Restaurant is one in a series of measures McDonald’s has taken to reduce their restaurants’ environmental footprint. But how did McDonald’s get to this point in the first place? To find out, MEAT+POULTRY spoke with Bob Langert, a former McDonald’s vice president over sustainability initiatives and author of The Battle To Do Good: Inside McDonald’s Sustainability Journey. McDonald’s battle to do good included external and internal skirmishes because, “…getting anything done in a business is hard as anything, and when it comes to sustainability, almost all the issues that I worked on for almost three decades — they’re all new things — implementing a new animal welfare program or fund new packaging policies. So, as you know, human nature when we start something new it’s always a challenge.”

Elizabeth Sturcken leads the work of the Supply Chain EDF + Business team. She works to leverage the power of the marketplace to make every product safer, healthier and better for the environment. She has been at EDF for over 20 years and has led our team of people working with retail and consumer product companies to create broad environmental change in areas including climate change, agriculture, green freight, toxics in products, waste and renewable energy. She leads EDF's work with Walmart and has done so for the past 10 years. She led corporate partnerships with other major companies such as FedEx, to develop the next generation delivery vehicle and UPS, to create more sustainable overnight shipping packaging. Elizabeth’s team includes three people based in Bentonville, AR, three in Washington, DC, two in San Francisco, and one in Raleigh, NC, and one in New York. Elizabeth Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: The Supply Chain Solutions Center  EDF's involvement in the development of Walmart's Project Gigaton program and what was learned Importance of science based targets and corporate engagement in climate policy Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders Highlights from the Interview: The Supply Chain Solutions Center. Tell us a little bit about this tool, how it came about, some features and how this is going to help people as they work sustainability through their supply chain. Let me tell you a story from my work years ago. Work that I'm really proud of. I led a partnership with Fedex to come up with our next generation vehicle which was a phenomenally successful bit of work. We really created a new vehicle in the medium duty truck marketplace and it's ended up rippling through that marketplace. I think we did it faster then the market would do on its own. But at the end of it, despite how successful it was, I just had this realization that this is not fast enough. This is not cutting it. It took six years to do that project and as successful as it was, and as wonderful as it was, the planet can't wait that long. We just need to be doing a lot more scaling of the work and doing it a lot faster. At EDF we collectively came to that realization. Well, EDF created the Supply Chain Solutions Center as an answer to this problem of how to engage many companies on sustainability and help them along this journey. The idea is to make sustainability as easy as using Netflix or Spotify. What we're doing with this Supply Chain Solutions Center is we have beginner, intermediate and expert resources, all sorts of different case studies, templates for building sustainability plans and then also opportunities for connecting with NGO experts. This all covers at this six different areas: agriculture, energy, chemicals, waste, forest and freight. Anybody could create a free profile by going to supplychain.edf.org. We created the Supply Chain Solution Center out of a need that we heard from supply chain professionals and we tried to gather up all of our years of experience in working with companies. We surveyed sustainability professionals ranging from people who are doing the work in the trenches to directors and C-suite executives at leading consumer package good companies and asked them what they need. Their top challenge with implementing sustainable supply chains was finding credible resources quickly that they could use or send to their suppliers. It's just an ongoing challenging need. One factoid that I found both hopeful and alarming is that 50% of Fortune 500 companies have at least one climate or clean energy goal according to calculations by WWF, but only 5% have goals on the scale science says is needed. So, everybody on this journey needs more help. Just as Netflix doesn't offer just movies from one studio or Spotify doesn't just promote one record label, the Supply Chain Solutions Center is meant to gather resources from many different parts. Over ten NGOs are contributing resources to the site and it's just a real product of collaboration. EDF has birthed this baby, but everyone is helping to make it thrive. The NGOs that have contributed resources are Business for Social Responsibility, the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council, Sustainable Packaging Coalition, Further with Food, Conservation International, Field to Market, The Sustainability Consortium, CDP, ReFED, Greenbiz group and Shelton Group. So, it's a phenomenal collection of resources all together in one place and done in a way that people can get at the content that they really need. Tell us about what you are seeing with companies setting sustainability targets in their supply chain and how your tool can help companies with this? The one thing that will differentiate companies that is the make or break thing in achieving sustainability is a public goal. That is so critical. If I had to urge companies to do one thing, I would say try and set an aggressive yet achievable sustainability target. Because what we've known really in companies for years is setting clear goals makes you drive towards them. You have to have goals that are appropriate. You want them to be achievable but you want them to stretch you. The other critical piece, given that we're talking about our planet and a healthy planet, is they need to be in line with what the science tells us is needed, and not just on climate but on chemicals of concern, water use and all sorts of different issues. So, really trying to follow the science and use the best available science is critical. I think the Science Based Target Initiative is a great resource and many companies are starting to do that. That's really what's needed. Now, that doesn't mean that if a company isn't at that point, they shouldn't set some goals. Set some goals, get going, get your feet wet, use the Supply Chain Solution Center and try to figure out what you can do. You can tailor the content for the beginning of your journey and you'll get what you need in order to figure appropriate goal setting. If you're further along, you want to try and set more aggressive goals, you want to do a materiality assessment and figure out what are the key issues that you need to focus on. The resources are there in the Supply Chain Solutions Center. I will emphasize to let data be your guide. Find out where your big hotspots are in your supply chain and in your operations. I think that that's one thing that I've learned over and over again from my work with companies, and most recently in our partnership with Walmart. We worked with Walmart to set the first supply chain carbon reduction goal in 2010. We all thought thought it would be a little easier than it turned out to be. They had just come off of exceeding their goal to sell a hundred million CFL light bulbs and then thought there's a lot of opportunity in the supply chain for greenhouse gas reduction. Yes there is, but the truth is that achieving the reductions is a lot harder than than you expect it to be. It definitely takes hard work, but I think our real breakthrough came when we started using data to look across their supply chain for all their different product categories. For example, we figured out fertilizer was a really big hot spot given how much food they sell and given how greenhouse gas intensive fertilizer is. So, the light bulbs went off and we realized this is a huge area of opportunity for us and for Walmart to engage it's food and ag suppliers who produce all the food that they sell. So, having science based targets, having rigorous goals and using data to figure out where to focus is important. Focus on the big boulders first and let the pebbles come later. I think that part is really critical. What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? Ask for help. I know that lots of nonprofits and NGOs like EDF want to help. We work with a number of other really excellent NGOs like WWF, TNC and groups that also focus on specific issue areas. They want to help so don't be afraid to admit that you need help and work together. What are you most excited about? Right now in the world of sustainability? The most exciting project I've led here is our work with Walmart on Project Gigaton. I guess I'm feeling like the most exciting thing that I'm seeing is it feels like people are really becoming aware that we need to act and I'm very hopeful and inspired by companies that continue to step up. I mentioned Walmart and Project Gigaton. Target just set their are science based goal and they committed to engaging their supply chain to set science based targets themselves. These are companies, along with Mcdonald's, who are just really leading and they're really big powerful companies that are setting the bar high. It's also important to make the point that right now sustainability leadership requires policy engagement by companies, and that's an area where very few companies are leading right now. The reality is that we will not get to where we need to go with just voluntary corporate action. We need policy to bring up the floor and create change and bring every company along. What is one book you would recommend sustainability professionals read? I recommend a brand new book that I just got. It was written by Bob Langert who ran sustainability at Mcdonald's for years. It's called The Battle to Do Good and it's excellent. I heard that you interviewed Bob for this podcast so I'm putting a plug in for folks to listen to that podcast. Bob worked at Mcdonald's for over 25 years and he was the person that EDF partnered with when we together created the model of corporate NGO partnerships. It really takes you through the journey of one person's attempt to change a whole company and who he partnered with and how he did it. What are some of your favorite resources or tools that really help you in your work? I guess I'd give a shout out to Greenbiz because I feel like they have been around forever and they are the go to resource. You read Joel's newsletter every Monday morning and it just hits the mark and it's really interesting. I highly recommend Greenbiz. One thing that I feel is important to highlight is what I'm seeing with my team, and that is that we're living in times that are really stressful. We're hearing a report every other week about climate catastrophe. There are horrible floodings in the Midwest. I live in San Francisco and we couldn't go outside and breathe the air two years in a row because the wildfires were so bad because of climate change. It can be really overwhelming, especially when you feel like things are going backwards in the country. I really believe that taking care of yourself and doing what you need to do to maintain your sense of balance and perspective is so critical because we can't fight this fight if we can't bring our whole selves to work and fight. So, take your vacation time, go read a really good fun, fluffy novel or whatever. I honestly think that that is as critical as a tool or support for people doing sustainability work is just take care of yourself. Go do that yoga retreat and exercise. We've got to be our best selves in doing this really important work. Where can people go to learn more about you, your work at EDF and where can they find the Supply Chain Solutions Tool? Our blog has lots of tips and our take on the corporate sustainability news of the day. You can check it out at business.EDF.orgblog. I'm on LinkedIn and my Twitter handle is @ESturckenurken. The Supply Chain Solutions Center is at: supplychain.edf.org. Please go and visit, use its resources and let us know what you think. About Sustridge Sustridge is a sustainability consulting firm providing consulting in sustainability strategy development, GHG emissions calculating and management, zero waste planning and guidance in TRUE Zero Waste, B Corp, LEED and Carbon Neutral certification.  

I got an email that Bob Langert, McDonald's former head of Corporate Social Responsibility, wrote a book on his experience in over two decades at the corporation.From my view, seeking change, I see places like McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Exxon, and Monsanto, to name a few, as the places with the greatest potential.Many protest them, which I consider important, but I also believe they could use help. I don't know how many large organizations can change without outside help. Am I the one to do it? I'm not sure, but I can't ignore their potential for change.I read the book and scheduled a conversation with Bob. My goal is to understand the man and his experience to find opportunity for help, if desired.I took more notes on his book than any other, a lot critical or challenging. I opted to make my goal with the conversation meet the man, not debate or criticize. If you think I should have acted otherwise, let me know.My goals, as ever, are, regarding the environment: to lower our effects that threaten life and human society and on leadership: for people to find meaning, value, purpose, joy, growth, and so on.I feel compelled to share personal context: I last ate meat in 1990, which would have been about the last time I spent any money on fast food. I've avoid packaged food and food with fiber removed for about four years and counting.I pick up a piece of trash per day and McDonald's is up there with Coca-Cola and Starbucks as the greatest sources of litter. I've watched the McLibel documentary multiple times.I stopped in one the other day to charge my laptop and one of the closest ATMs to my home is in a McDonald's, so I find myself in them periodically. I don't like the place.I worked in a Burger King on the Champs Elysees during my first summer in Paris, in 1989. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bob Langert led McDonald's Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability efforts for more than 25years before retiring in 2015. Under his leadership, the Golden Arches took on the chain's very vocal critics who were taking the company to task over issues like packaging, waste, recycling, obesity, deforestation, and animal welfare. Get some key insights in this Business Builders Show interview c-suiteradio.com BEFORE you read the book: The Battle To Do Good: Inside McDonald's Sustainability Journey.Learn how Bob and his team went on the offense, instead of being on defense about the claims from critics. How did they go about this important mission? Learn why on the side of the Filet-O-Fish container is says " The Bering Sea sends its regards: wild caught Alaskan pollock." Along side of that message it has"Certified Sustainable Seafood". You just might see McDonald's in a different way after you see it through Bob Langert's eyes. Learn more about Bob and his work at boblangert.comLearn more about Marty Wolff, the creator and host of the Business Builders Show at martywolffbusinesssolutions.com. Learn more about J. Kelly Hoey, the Business Builders Show guest host at jkellyhoey.co. Learn more about C-Suite Radio at c-suiteradio.comCall or text me with your comments and questions at 570 815 1626. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tom Szaky has been working on waste since his undergrad days at Princeton in 2001. Then I suddenly heard about him from many sources in the past few months.His company, Terracycle, recycles waste others don't. The new initiative, Loop, got attention at Davos and support from many companieswhose business plans depend on producing waste, within an economic model that promotes growth. He also published a book, the Future of Packaging, coauthored by top executives from these waste and growth places. I wrote more notes from that book to prepare for this conversation than any book, including Bob Langert's, McDonald's former head of Corporate Social Responsibility (that episode is still being edited).It never mentioned reducing consumption, twisting, as I saw it, the idea to reducing material per package. Almost no one gets the subtle but critical distinction between efficiency and total waste. Our polluted world is the result of centuries of increasing efficiency and total waste. Nearly every initiative extends that trend, missing that efficiency in a polluting system leads to more efficient pollution.His book did talk about responsibility, the counter to our system's goal of externalizing costs. So the book missed the most important part of handling waste, reducing supply and demand, but got responsibility. I wondered if he was serious or yet another person confusing feeling like you're reducing waste while increasing it, the way the Watt steam engine did, Uber does, widening roads does, and LED bulbs look on track to.You'll hear from this conversation that, as best I can tell, he understands the system issues and the need for systemic change. For therest, listen. He understands and seems to be acting for systemic change.I hope this conversation is the first of many, not just to hear about his personal challenge, which is pretty big, at least to me. I still eatcheese, about the amount on one pizza slice per year. Actually, it's been decreasing annually. Maybe I'll use his action as inspiration.I'm glad he got and explained the reasons behind reduction and explained why his book didn't touch it. I've heard enough to believe he understands the most important directions and changes. I don't know enough about the details of Terracycle and Loop to tell if I think they'll work.It's refreshing to talk to someone who understands the key issues. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When you think about picking a career that’ll help make the world a better place, do you think of working at the largest fast food company in the world? You may not, but that’s indeed what Bob Langert spent his career doing. The former McDonald’s executive was at the forefront of many of the decisions the restaurant behemoth made relating to social responsibility, from retiring styrofoam containers to paying tomato pickers more to improving farm animal welfare. Now retired, Bob has a new book out about his career spent trying to help the fast food chain do better. It’s a candid look at where he thinks his former employer got it right and where he believes they came up short. If you’ve ever wondered how a major corporation makes decisions about improving its sustainability footprint, this interview is for you.

McDonald’s serves 70 million people every day, worldwide. As one of the world’s most visible brands, McDonald’s has both an obligation and opportunity to create meaningful connections with those 70 million people and their local and global communities. Today, the company has a focused purpose to use its “scale for good.” Getting there wasn’t easy. Bob Langert, former VP of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability at McDonald’s, gave Purpose 360 a candid look into the company’s journey from reactive to proactive. It started in the 1980s, when the company was attacked for its use of CFCs in polystyrene clamshell packaging. Langert was tasked with addressing the challenge. Since then, he has helped the company navigate issues ranging from animal welfare and landfill waste to obesity and nutrition. Highlights from the episode include: Considering every touchpoint with society. In transforming the relationship between the business and society, McDonald’s considered macro and micro issues, from nutrition and animal welfare to the environment and the economy. That holistic view helped McDonald’s drive industry-wide change in practices like the treatment of animals. Treat purpose like a mindset, not an endpoint. For Langert, purpose has always been a journey – and one without an endpoint. When integrated within the business – from values to operations – purpose becomes a mindset that guides decision making at all levels of the organization. Partner with your challengers. Greenpeace in particular challenged McDonald’s for its supply chain practices in the Amazon. Rather than shrug off criticism, McDonald’s acknowledged its poor practices and asked Greenpeace for counsel. It took a similar approach to partnerships with organizations like the Environmental Defense Fund. Langert urges purpose leaders to look to partners for expertise and accountability. Support internal ethics. Through years of turbulence, Langert attested to the company’s internal ethics. Stakeholders from the C-suite down to franchise owners wanted McDonald’s to “do the right thing.” And that made difficult decisions easier to navigate, from publicly addressing negative actions to transforming its approach to animal welfare. This episode is just a taste of Langert’s story. Take a look into McDonald’s evolution in Langert’s new book, The Battle to Do Good: Inside McDonald’s Sustainability Journey. Resources + links Bob Langert LinkedIn Bob Langert on Greenbiz McDonald’s Scale for Good

In The Battle to Do Good, former McDonald's executive Bob Langert takes readers on a behind-the-scenes eye witness account of the mega brand's battle to address numerous societal hot-button issues, such as packaging, waste, recycling, obesity, deforestation, and animal welfare. From the late 80s, McDonald's landed smack in the middle of one contentious issue after another, often locking horns with powerful NGOs such as Greenpeace, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and Corporate Accountability. Bob Langert has engaged in social responsibility issues since the late 1980s. Bob joined McDonald’s system in 1983 with management positions in logistics, packaging and purchasing. In the 1990s, he had responsibilities for the environment, energy management, animal welfare and Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities’ grants. He was appointed McDonald’s first VP to lead sustainability in 2006. Bob led the development of McDonald’s 2020 Sustainability Vision and Framework, including McDonald’s commitment to the environment, supply chain sustainability and balanced menu choices. He retired from McDonald’s in 2015 and joined GreenBiz, writing a regular column titled "The Inside View" and helping with the GreenBiz Executive Network. Bob Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: His new book, The Battle to Do Good: Inside McDonald's Sustainability Journey Prioritizing sustainability efforts Collaborating with NGO's on transformative sustainability initiatives Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders Interview Highlights: You talked about moving from a reactive company and where you were at when this whole movement started within McDonald's with the Styrofoam packaging. Do you think a lot of companies are still operating in that reactive way and why is it important for them to change? I think so. A lot of the big companies and big brands had moved past this idea that sustainability is either a fad or it's going to go away or let's just play defense and be reactive to things. So, bigger companies, they get. They're coming up with these big goals and frameworks and strategies. It's getting integrated and it comes from the C suite. However, once you get past the big companies, there's a lot more companies that don't see it that way. They see it as a hindrance and that is not the way of the future. Sustainability is here to stay, it's a consumer mandate, an expectation that companies be very responsible and you just can't say that you're a responsible company. You got to prove it with actions and plans and goals and metrics, and sharing this in a very public way. So, companies need to take the ball and run with it and that's one of my main messages as I work with companies and organizations, is that the longer you sit on the sidelines observing and reacting, you're going to be left behind because the consumers got high expectations. The transparent world makes it imperative that you be open and honest about your performance and you need to start proving it every day so that your business can grow. I think the smart companies see sustainability as an avenue for growth for the business, an avenue for a better brand, more efficiency, more employees that stay with you and a stronger supply chain. I can build a business case almost ad nauseum and that's what we really should dominate with every company and organization out there. So yeah, the McDonald's story is very much that journey that I described. The subtitle of my book is called "Inside McDonald's Sustainability Journey." I think you captured it really well, Josh, as I really felt that we were playing defense for probably a couple of decades. We were playing defense, I think in a good way because we had a good defensive team. We're got attacked on waste and found a great partner in EDF. We came up with a great waste reduction plan. We got attacked on animal treatment and we found a great expert and we really changed animal welfare within really the whole global beef supply system by implementing her program. I cite other examples but it really wasn't until 2014 that McDonald's itself developed a really proactive sustainability strategy. And that's the best place to be, to stand tall for what you stand for and not be defined by your critics or defined by others. It's interesting just reading through this book and what you just described there about getting attacked by these different organizations. How do you pick your battles when you're such a large organization and you have so many facets of your business? Any large multinational corporation like that can really be scrutinized in so many different ways and I'm sure they are. How do you know where to focus your energy? I know you talk about a formula that you came up with in your book and I'd love to have you just explain that to our listeners and just give them an idea of that process of prioritizing and where you focus your work. I think it's where you pick your battles. Actually, the big answer to that is by developing your own strategy, because rather than pick battles, you should choose what you want to work with on a proactive way. But the reality is every business is in society, we serve society and things are going to come up that you just don't expect. So you're right, you can't work on everything. I guess the formula that you might be referred to in the book is that when you look at all the pros and cons of what you should work on, I really do think that the amount of resources and effort that you put into it should be in proportion to the impact it has on your business and society. This whole shared value concept. So, let me give you an example that I thought was interesting at McDonald's. We were attacked by Greenpeace in 2006 about soy farming in the Amazon, and we were attacked in Europe for that because a lot of it is exported to Europe. I looked at the issue immediately as we're getting campaigned against, the Greenpeace people dressed up in chickens as they came to dozens of restaurants in the United Kingdom. So, it was a pretty big issue and made a lot of news. So, we had to decide what to do. To your question, is this a battle that we should get involved with? So, in one hand, I think a typical response would be we're 1/10th of one percent through our suppliers of soy. However, you know, nobody buys a lot of soy, it's very desegregated, and we already had a policy on purchasing no rainforest beef. So, within a day we talked to our management team and decided if we have a policy on beef not to come from rainforest land, then that’s the way it should be for all of our products. Within a day we called Greenpeace back and to their shock, we said, we totally agree with you. I learned later on when I took a trip through the Amazon with Greenpeace, they told us how surprised they were that we agreed with them. But the important thing is we didn't agree with how to solve the problem. They had these strong mandates against McDonald's and we said McDonald's can solve the soy problem by ourselves. We're not farmers and traders. Let's get our suppliers involved. Let's get other retailers to the table, which we did. We ended up solving that problem with a moratorium within three months. So, I tell that story because sometimes you pick your priorities for how important it is your business or you're being consistent with your policies and programs as we were with that program. What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? Develop relationships and develop a relationship where you can build trust with others because as a sustainability leader, what I learned over the years, is that I'm given all this responsibility to help us be a good company, but you're not in charge of really anything. You're in charge of getting other departments and functions to lead on sustainability. You only do that through relationships, influencing them and them having faith and confidence in you. I was blessed with good bosses early on in my career that gave me a lot of rope to learn, travel and meet people. So, that's my first piece of advice. Less focus on getting things done and more focus on developing relationships and trusts where other people want to carry on the work that you're advocating for. What are you most excited about right now in the world of sustainability? I think the amount of collaboration I see on establishing big transformative changes gets me really excited. Certainly, my work in McDonald's gave me the most fulfilling feeling in the world - not only changing animal welfare for example, but changing it for the whole industry. Or when we helped save the Amazon a little bit through what we did. Or when McDonald's announced that it's going to be buying sustainable beef. So, working with the beef industry to change something for the industry. Doing that through partners like Conservation International, like Environmental Defense Fund, like the World Wildlife Fund is very rewarding. So, collaborating for big transformational change is what I see going on and that's the best thing in the world. What is one book you would recommend sustainability professionals read? Well, my book. I gave my plug already. I do like the Dave Stangis' book - 21st Century Corporate Citizenship. I recommend that book as well. What are some of your favorite resources or tools that really help you in your work? I think being connected to the networks. I learn best through talking with others, whether talking means in person through the GreenBiz network, which I think is phenomenal, or my connections through LinkedIn and Twitter and so forth. I learn the most from other people, other experts. Where can our listeners go to learn more about you, connect with you, and most importantly, where can they find your book? Well, I've got a new website: boblangert.com. Please read my columns. I put something out every three weeks or so Greenbiz.com. You can find my book right now at Amazon.com. It's a good deal. They get a nice discount. You can also get it through my publisher, Emerald Publishing. More about Bob Langert: http://www.boblangert.com/  More about Sustridge: https://www.sustridge.com/ 

A compendium of year-ahead reflections by GreenBiz contributors, including former McDonald's sustainability VP Bob Langert and ex-EMC CSO Kathrin Winkler.

Believe it or not, McDonalds has been a forward thinking corporation since the 90's with regard to sustainability. Author and former CSR officer Bob Langert tells the story What Doesn't Kill You is powered by Simplecast.

Believe it or not, McDonalds has been a forward thinking corporation since the 90's with regard to sustainability. Author and former CSR officer Bob Langert tells the story What Doesn't Kill You is powered by Simplecast.

Bob led the development of McDonald’s 2020 Sustainability Vision and Framework, including McDonald’s commitment to the environment, supply chain sustainability, and balanced menu choices.  He retired from McDonald’s, March, 2015 and joined the GreenBiz Group, writing a regular column, The Inside View; and helping with the Green Biz Executive Network. He is President of Mainstream Sustainability, advising companies on sustainability strategies, and a nationally recognized speaker. He is writing a book entitled “The Battle to Do Good; Inside McDonald’s Sustainability Journey,” scheduled for publication in January 2018.   Bob Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: Lessons learned from decades of experience in corporate sustainability Supply chain sustainability in large corporations Working with NGO's - The good, the bad and the ugly Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders Bob Langert Final Five Responses: What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? I noticed a lot of great leadership traits in my years of working with suppliers, working with great McDonalds leaders that made changes and with NGO leaders. You have to have courage because when making change you may have to face a lot of pain and grief. Having conviction. I look at Paul Polman from Unilever. It just kind of comes through in a very magical sense, positive sense of cleverness. And you have to be innovative. Never look at the situation in a standard way of being contrary. Being a sustainability leader, I found myself always in a position where everything I was trying to advocate was against the status quo.  And this often means, oh, you're against. No, that's not what I mean. You need to know how to be contrary in a positive way. Have to be collaborative, and that means listening and really being open to change and adaptation. And the last one is charisma. You don't have to have this magnetic, you know, slapping the back personality. But I think the ability to attract attention and gain trust is what I think is charismatic. You can write those down and then try to figure out how you could develop the plan for yourself to advance all of those in your leadership. What are you most excited about right now in the world of sustainability? I love the big goals that are being set by so many companies. Big goals on climate change and deforestation. When I left McDonald's, that's what's thrilled me the most. We set a goal at McDonald's that we're going to start buying sustainable beef by the year 2016. We didn't even know the definition of sustainable beef when we set that goal. That excites me to see a company's taking a big bold goal and leadership. It's not coming through government so companies are doing a great job and on a great track. What is one book you would recommend sustainability professionals read? The book I'm going to recommend reminds me of when I talked to Jim Cantalupo. He turned the company around as CEO from the early nineties. I asked him after a year or two on the job, I said "Jim, what's the biggest aha in your leadership as CEO of McDonald's?" He said, " I can't believe 99% of my job is communication." Once you develop a strategy, it's how you communicate. My answer is this great book on communication called Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath published about 10 years ago. It was my bible. He's got a formula for success in communicating. Sustainability professionals all need to look at this book or the principles of it.  What are some of your favorite resources or tools that help you in the work that you do? I'm a big fan of the GreenBiz community. The GreenBiz daily feeds and their website are the best daily news you can get. They have a group called the GreenBiz Executive Network. I found that to be the greatest tool around. Three times a year I get to be with 25 leaders from other companies who's going through the same struggles that I'm going through. Commiserating with them and understanding what they're going through and how they're solving problems was the best tool that I ever had. Where can our listeners go to learn more about you and your work or follow you online? The best place is go www.greenbiz.com. Look for Bob Langert. Look for my articles there. In the future, I'll be having a website within a month or two. Look me up for the Battle to Do Good that I talked about earlier and people that are interested in getting on the list to learn more about that book.

This week on the GreenBiz 350 podcast: Former McDonald's sustainability head Bob Langert talks about what he's learned from three decades of leadership experience, and an unveiling of the VERGE ecosystem map.

The end came for the styrofoam clamshell container twenty years ago, thanks to the innovative partnership of McDonald’s and the Environmental Defense Fund as part of a landmark project that reduced packaging waste for the company, and rippled to the entire industry.  Seen risky at the time, the collaboration was a business and environmental success.  Over the past two decades, we have seen many cross-sector partnerships in environmental and social innovation that stemmed from this groundbreaking work.  In this audio interview, host Jerry Michalski of the EDF speaks with McDonald’s Bob Langert and EDF’s Gwen Ruta as they celebrate their 20 year partnership and look ahead at opportunities for business leadership in sustainability. The Future of Green open call series is an initiative of EDF in collaboration with the Center for Social Innovation at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Gwen Ruta directs Environmental Defense Fund’s Corporate Partnerships program. She spearheads its work with leading multinational companies to develop innovative, business-based solutions to environmental challenges and to drive change through the corporate value chain. Prior to joining Environmental Defense Fund, Ruta was Vice President at Metcalf & Eddy, an international environmental engineering firm. She has also held senior management positions at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.  She has authored numerous articles on environmental issues and is a frequent speaker at business conferences. Bob Langert is the vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility at McDonald’s. Prior to joining the McDonald’s family, Langert was an operations manager for a McDonald’s distributor, Perlman Rocque, and served as Midwest logistics manager for the American Hospital Supply Corporation. Langert is a graduate of Northwestern University’s MBA program. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/20_years_of_business_partnership_at_edf