Inspiring Perspectives
Inspiring Perspectives is a sustainability and ESG podcast featuring fresh takes, bold ideas, practical application, and real-world sustainability challenges and solutions as told by sustainability leaders from a variety of industries who are doing the work.
Produced by the team of experts at the sustainability strategy and communications agency, thinkPARALLAX, Inspiring Perspectives gives you a sneak peek behind the sustainability scenes of some of the world’s most respected brands and companies.
Hosted by Derek Sabori, a Senior Director at thinkPARALLAX, new episodes featuring valuable takeaways drop every other week.
Visit the show at https://www.thinkparallax.com/podcast.
Inspiring Perspectives
Invest your values | How to harness your shareholder power for lasting change
This week, we sat down with Andrew Behar, CEO of As You Sow, to discuss the organization's work in shareholder advocacy and investing in alignment with values; two powerful concepts that can drive positive change and benefits for both shareholders and stakeholders.
You’ll find the finer details in the show, but in general, As You Sow engages with companies (some of the biggest and most influential) to reduce material risk and improve their operations - thus improving their potential for revenue and yes, profits, but not at the expense of people or the planet. They file shareholder resolutions to initiate change and have had success in areas such as reducing ocean plastics, tackling climate change, and promoting diversity. And this isn’t just about institutional shareholders, we’re talking about small and individual owners of a public company as well.
It’s a fascinating take on tackling sustainability from the outside in.
Here are some of the key takeaways from our chat:
- Shareholders have power in holding companies accountable and driving positive change
- While it seems daunting and sometimes confusing, individuals can invest and vote their proxies in alignment with their values
- Shareholder resolutions have power and companies often respond positively to shareholder concerns
- You have more power than you might know when it comes to making sure your money and your earnings are invested in line with your values
- Finding win-win opportunities is the best way to create the change you want to see (good for business, good for people and planet)
Links for things we discussed:
- As You Sow
- The Clean200® - Research companies that are effectively balancing people, planet, and profit.
- Workplace Diversity & Financial Performance Study
- As You Sow work on Ocean Plastics
- Business Roundtable, Purpose of a Coporation - An Economy That Serves All Americans
- Invest Your Values online tool - See what's hidden inside your 401(k) or personal investments
- Google Employees Missed Out on $1 Billion Due to 401(k) Plan’s Investments in Fossil Fuels
- Fossil Free Funds - Don't want your retirement savings invested in fossil fuels?
Produced by our team of experts at thinkPARALLAX.
Intro/Outro music by QubeSounds from Pixabay.
#inspiringperspectives #sustainability #corporatesustainability #esgadvice #shareholderadvocacy #sustainableinvesting #shareholders #shareholderresolutions #thinkparallax
Got a topic you’d like us to explore on the show? Get in touch with us at thinkparallax.com/podcast.
