ESG Decoded Podcast

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. Thank you to EarthUP, our sponsor for the month of September. EarthUP enables employers to crowdsource corporate emissions reductions from their employees. This bottom-up approach reduces costs for sustainability teams while de-risking a company's emissions reduction strategy. EarthUP’s mission is to make sustainability part of everyone's job so companies can meet their emission goals. Visit them at earthup.eco. In this episode, Kaitlyn Allen talks with Lefteris Arapakis, Co-Founder and Director of Enaleia, an organization with a vision to make the marine ecosystem sustainable. Lefteris won the United Nations European Young Champion of the Earth 2020 award and was named the Ambassador for the Mediterranean Coast by UNEP-MAP for 2021-2022. He is an Athens University of Economics and Business graduate, TEDx speaker, and an AshokaChangemaker - listed in 2020's Greek Forbes 30under30 List. Lefteris comes from a long line of Greek professional fishermen. During the Greek economic crisis, he co-founded Enaleia, an organization with a vision to make the marine ecosystem sustainable. Enaleia created the first school for professional fishing in Greece and two wide-scale plastic clean-ups, the Mediterranean Cleanup & Bahari Safi. Working with 1.600 fishers, they collected waste and integrated it into the circular economy. The Mediterranean Cleanup is one of Europe's Top 5 marine plastic clean-ups. Listen as Kaitlyn and Lefteris discuss this innovative business model positively impacting fishers and sowing into the circular economy. While fishing, many nets capture large amounts of plastic waste that is simply returned to the ocean. Enaleia shares ways to recycle plastic with little to no expended energy or CO2 emissions to counter the effects of plastic pollution. This plastic then becomes a myriad of products that are useful to consumers. Before the solutions presented by Enaleia, it was predicted that by 2050 there would be more plastic in the oceans than fish. Thanks to this thought leadership, that trajectory may be course correcting. Enjoy this episode! - Episode Resource Links UNEP’s Fishing for Plastic Washington Post Article:  Press Release w/ ClimeCo Verra - Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platforms and our new YouTube Channel so that you’re notified of our vodcast episodes! Don’t forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy this episode! Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form.

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. Thank you to EarthUP, our sponsor for the month of September. EarthUP enables employers to crowdsource corporate emissions reductions from their employees. This bottom-up approach reduces costs for sustainability teams while de-risking a company's emissions reduction strategy. EarthUP's mission is to make sustainability part of everyone's job so companies can meet their emission goals. Visit them at earthup.eco. In this episode, Kaitlyn Allen talks with Luma Saqqaf, a Sustainable Finance Practitioner working with companies and financial institutions to achieve their desired ESG goals. Luma regularly advises the Dubai Financial Market on sustainable finance issues and regulations. Her experience is built from three decades in finance, Islamic finance, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. Listen as Kaitlyn and Luma discuss various ESG topics through a Middle Eastern lens. Every region of the world has unique perspectives on how to prioritize and address sustainability challenges. The Middle East is no different. Each country in the region operates with various commitments from its respective government. The spectrum of maturation in this space is broad. Some companies in this region are just beginning their focus on sustainability, while others are well into their journey with clear strategies to implement sustainable solutions. In typical ESG Decoded fashion, Kaitlyn does a great job deciphering the 'acronym alphabet soup' that often accompanies ESG-related discussions. Speaking of fashion, Luma is also the Funder and Creative Director for a sustainable womenswear brand, BYLUMA, founded in 2017. The team at BYLUMA is comprised of 100% women, many of whom are on flexible work schedules. Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platforms and our new YouTube Channel so that you're notified of our vodcast episodes! Don't forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy this episode! Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form. - Resource Links: Luma's LinkedIn BYLUMA Site Ajyal Site LinkedIn Instagram Facebook

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. Thanks again to EarthUP, our September Sponsor. EarthUP enables employers to crowdsource corporate emissions reductions from their employees. They use a bottom-up approach to reduce costs for sustainability teams while de-risking a company's emissions reduction strategy. EarthUP’s mission is to make sustainability part of everyone's job so companies can meet their emission goals. Visit them at earthup.eco. In this episode, Amanda Hsieh joins forces with Jayce Hafner, Co-Founder & CEO of FarmRaise. Jayce completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Trinidad and Tobago before serving as an Environmental Policy Advisor for the Episcopal Church where she mobilized large-scale land conservation and climate change campaigns in the U.S. Congress and United Nations. After completing an MBA and Masters of Environmental Science at Stanford, she co-founded FarmRaise to restore environmental resilience and profitability to the American agriculture landscape by connecting farmers and ranchers to farm funding. The agriculture industry presents unique opportunities to address climate change and water quality issues. However, Farmers need more efficient access to capital to implement sustainable solutions that promote regenerative agriculture. Listen as Amanda and Jayce introduce us to FarmRaise and discuss how the company is working to solve these problems within the industry while creating social equity. Jayce also touches on industry best practices and natural resource priority concerns. Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platforms and our new YouTube Channel so that you’re notified of our vodcast episodes! Don’t forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy this episode! Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form.

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. Thanks again to EarthUP, our September Sponsor. EarthUP enables employers to crowdsource corporate emissions reductions from their employees. They use a bottom-up approach to reduce costs for sustainability teams while de-risking a company's emissions reduction strategy. EarthUP’s mission is to make sustainability part of everyone's job so companies can meet their emission goals. Visit them at earthup.eco In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with CEO/Founder of EarthUP, Stephen Bay. EarthUP provides a vertically integrated SAAS platform that allows companies to measure emissions, purchase offsets, and reach net-zero through employee action. Stephen is passionate about creating solutions to reduce emissions and improve our environment. He channeled his passion for sustainability into his first company, Eco Consulting, in partnership with Puget Sound Energy, the largest utility in the Northwest. The concept for EarthUP came to life while working with Skanska to identify low-hanging opportunities to reduce their corporate emissions and get employees involved in their climate goals. EarthUP's mission is to "Make climate action part of everyone's job." Listen as Amanda and Stephen discuss how employee engagement can be the game changer in an organization’s sustainability efforts. Every job turns into a climate job by inspiring, educating, and activating employees. Organizations that are successful in this transformation make it personal for their employees by connecting sustainability topics and addressing the creation of healthy work-from-home environments. Stephen reminds us that sustainability changes are not about sacrifice but improvement. Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platforms and our YouTube Channel so that you’re notified of our vodcast episodes! Don’t forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy this episode! Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form. - Resource Links EarthUP Website: https://www.earthup.eco/ EarthUp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earthup-eco EarthUP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthup.eco/?hl=en EarthUP Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earthup.eco/ EarthUP Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarthUP_eco

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with Elizabeth Carlson, Tricon’s Chief Sustainability Officer. Elizabeth focuses on developing and driving the company’s sustainability strategy and initiatives. Her background is in corporate responsibility, economic development, and environmental and social impact in non-profit and private sector organizations with experience across the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Before joining Tricon, Elizabeth worked in various sustainability-related roles on construction and engineering projects in the oil, gas, and mining industries, most recently leading global sustainability at McDermott International. She holds a B.A. in International Studies and Russian from the University of North Carolina and an M.Phil in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge. Tricon is a chemical trading and distribution company headquartered in Houston with business relationships in approximately 140 countries across the globe. Listen as Amanda and Elizabeth discuss various topics, including Tricon’s overall approach to responsible sourcing, human rights in their supply chain, and the circular economy. As a best practice for sustainability leaders seeking insights on structuring programs, Elizabeth describes a framework consisting of three sustainability pillars, all rooted in a strong governance foundation. Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platforms and our new YouTube Channel so that you’re notified of our vodcast episodes! Don’t forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy this episode! Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form. - Resource Links Tricon’s Sustainability Report: PowerPoint Presentation (triconenergy.com)

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with Juliana Garaizar, Head of Houston Incubator and VP of Innovation for Greentown Labs. Juliana is a Board Member of the Angel Capital Association and the Lead Investor of the Portfolia Rising America Fund, which invests in BIPOC and LGTBQ founders, Portfolia Consumer, and Rising Tide Funds. She is an active Advisory Board Member of the Houston Diversity Fund, Investors of Color Network, Latin Startup Alliance, and Impulse4women. As a Kauffman Fellow experienced in bridging the gender gap in investing, she is a vital part of the City of Houston’s Women Commission. Juliana holds an MBA from the London Business School and Haas School of Business, Berkeley, specializing in Entrepreneurship. Listen as Amanda and Juliana discuss how Greentown Labs, the largest climate tech startup Incubator in North America, is driving innovative solutions for climate change, emerging trends, and their intentional efforts to create positive impacts for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platforms and our new YouTube Channel so that you’re notified of our vodcast episodes! Don’t forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy this episode! Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form. - Resource Links Greentown Labs Website: https://greentownlabs.com/ Houston Angel Network: https://www.houstonangelnetwork.org/ Portfolia.co: https://www.portfolia.co/

This week, we are featuring a fan favorite episode where Kaitlyn Allen talks with Bill Davis, founder of Stance Capital. Stance Capital was established in 2016 to bring to market investment portfolios that mitigate material environmental, social, and governance risks and generate excess returns while at the same time allowing investors to align their portfolios with their belief systems. Bill has a BA from Connecticut College and has taught or been a guest lecturer at Columbia University, Harvard College & Harvard Business School, MIT & MIT Sloan, and Vanderbilt University. Bill also serves on the Ceres and the Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation boards. Listen as Kaitlyn and Bill clarify some common ESG-related terms, including ESG investing vs. impact investing and greenwashing. They also bring up the genesis for intentional focus on ESG data gathering and how it started with voluntary CSR reports filed by companies. (Currently,  the vast majority of S&P 500 companies are now preparing these filings.)  Bill and Kaitlyn also cover the three key elements of portfolio construction and the importance of having industry-specific comparisons and measurements. Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platforms and our new YouTube Channel so that you’re notified of our vodcast episodes! Don’t forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy this episode! Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form.

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. The ‘S’ in ESG relates to the people elements impacting organizations. This includes employee relations, organizational health, people culture, DEI, and community outreach. In this episode, Yvonne Harris talks with Courtney Taylor, Senior Vice President of Community Development for Veritex Community Bank. Courtney is a Community Relations Powerhouse and Philanthropic Leader serving on several volunteer boards. At Veritex, Courtney develops relationships on behalf of the bank to achieve continuous improvement to the ongoing success of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) program, evaluates community development needs, and administers the bank’s volunteer program, which consists of recruiting volunteers to participate in community partner initiatives, track volunteer hours, and recruit bank employees to participate on local nonprofit boards. Courtney holds degrees from the University of Texas at San Antonio and Texas Woman’s University. Listen as Yvonne and Courtney discuss what Veritex considers when developing its community outreach strategic plan, why it is important to continue to invest in financial literacy, and how the Women in Business program is supporting women business owners in unique ways. Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platforms and our new YouTube Channel so that you’re notified of our vodcast episodes! Don’t forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy this episode! Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form. - Episode Resource Links Veritex Website Veritex ESG Report: https://veritexbank.com/ Veritex ESG Report: https://veritexbank.com/about-us/community/environmental-social-and-governance-esg/

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with Diane Kappas, PPG’s Vice President of Global Sustainability. Diane joined PPG in 1986 as an Engineer Trainee in Industrial Coatings, and since held several leadership roles with the organization. Prior to her current role overseeing global sustainability, Kappas served as Vice President of Automotive Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Coatings, Americas, where she was responsible for the regional business commercial strategy, execution, and financial performance of the business. Kappas is an avid believer in the power of diversity. She was the founder of PPG’s Women’s Leadership Council in 2001, which was created to attract, develop, and retain female talent. She is also an active member of PPG’s LGBTQ+ employee resource network. Kappas represents PPG in the “Sustainability 50”, a private community for sustainability leaders from globally respected organizations to share ideas, solutions, and collaborate on climate change issues. As a native of Pittsburgh, Kappas earned a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Pitt and a Master of Business Administration from Duquesne University. Listen as Amanda and Diane talk about PPG’s continued growth in ESG, focusing on providing sustainable solutions for their customers. PPG offers a myriad of products that help people and the environment. They create solutions that make food and beverage consumption safer and products that curb the spread of viruses on walls and other surfaces. PPG’s innovations contribute to fuel efficiency for airplanes and extend the life of assets by offering protection from erosion. As a practical best practice for other companies that intentionally solve their customers’ sustainability challenges, PPG hosts ‘innovation forums’ where scientists engage and learn first-hand how they can contribute to customers’ ESG goals and targets. Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platforms and our YouTube Channel so that you’re notified of our vodcast episodes! Don’t forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy this episode! Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form. Episode Resource Links PPG Website: https://www.ppg.com/ PPG Sustainability: https://sustainability.ppg.com/

ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with Lauren Mechak, ClimeCo’s Director of Program Development. Lauren leads ClimeCo’s efforts to evaluate new ideas for carbon offsets and other environmental commodities through technical, scientific, and financial feasibility. Lauren and the Program Development Team work through all aspects of early project development, including quantitative carbon offset methodology drafting with major registries, like the Climate Action Reserve and Verra. She has worked on projects ranging from industrial nitrous oxide abatement to nature-based solutions, such as reforestation. While Lauren’s work is primarily in the voluntary carbon offset space, she also has expertise in compliance markets, including California’s Cap-and-Trade and Low Carbon Fuel Standard. She received her Master of Environmental Management in Economics and Policy at Duke University. During her time at Duke, she worked with the university’s Carbon Offsets Initiative to help Duke achieve carbon neutrality and served as an Article Editor for Duke’s Environmental Law and Policy Forum. Before Duke, Lauren earned her B.Sc. from McGill University in Biology in 2013. Listen as Amanda and Lauren define carbon offsets, and discuss their purpose. This is an interesting time for the carbon offset market. There are many new investors in this arena, which is complex and confusing to some. Learn more through Lauren’s recent article, Are we missing the point of offsets? Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platforms and our new YouTube Channel so that you’re notified of our vodcast episodes! Don’t forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy this episode! Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form.