Collaboration & Co-Creation Organizational Governance

‘Impact Report’ Captures Leadership Insights on Equity, Sustainable Innovation

At SB’24 San Diego, Bard College’s Impact Report Podcast gathered insights from a variety of leaders and innovators on building stakeholder trust, fostering inclusive decision-making; and taking meaningful action toward lasting, positive change.

Brand Provided | Published 4 hours ago | About a 5 minute read

Image: Florante Valdez

At SB’24 San Diego in October, the The Impact Report Podcast from Bard College gathered live insights from corporate leaders on the intersection of sustainability, equity and leadership. Hosted by Renay Loper, Clinical Faculty in Organizational Leadership for the Bard MBA in Sustainability and an expert in JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) workplace transformation, this special podcast series highlights bold ideas and purpose-driven strategies redefining leadership and innovation.

These episodes examine how organizations can build stakeholder trust; foster inclusive decision-making; and take meaningful action toward lasting, positive change. For professionals navigating sustainability goals, these conversations offer a practical guide to rethinking traditional approaches to finding success in a purpose-driven marketplace.

Special-edition podcast episodes

In the four episodes recorded onsite in San Diego, leaders reshaping finance, media and communication shared fresh strategies for advancing equity and sustainability across industries. From fostering financial inclusion and rethinking corporate decision-making to leveraging media for social impact, these discussions highlight the critical role of collaboration, trust and purpose-driven leadership in a future-proof business world. Each episode provides actionable insights to help professionals inspire change within their organizations and align their strategies with meaningful impact.

Kelly Beck: Redefining Philanthropy for Collective Impact

In this episode, Kelly Beck — founder of The Accomplis Collective and co-founder & CEO of Greenlight Energy Group — shares her transformative journey from "recovering white feminist" to radical philanthropist. Beck has developed a groundbreaking model for moving money equitably — free from extraction and traditional philanthropic barriers — that has directed over $10 million to Black and Indigenous communities. Drawing on powerful personal stories, including delivering water barrels to the Navajo Nation and challenging entrenched corporate sustainability practices, Beck underscores the critical difference between holding power and being in service. She advocates for a shift from individual success to collective action — urging leaders to build authentic relationships, center community needs, and know when to "get out of the way" to empower others to lead.

Francis Janes: Reimagining Banking for Equity and Inclusion

In this episode, Francis Janes — Industry Relations Director at Beneficial State Foundation — discusses how the financial services industry can become a catalyst for meaningful change through diversity, equity and inclusion. Drawing from Citibank's groundbreaking research on closing racial wealth gaps and his own work bridging grassroots organizations with banking institutions, Janes highlights the urgent need for banks to move beyond traditional models. He emphasizes the industry’s responsibility to address historical harms such as redlining by proactively engaging with marginalized communities, listening and building authentic partnerships. With a vision of banking that prioritizes humanity and inclusion, Janes shares inspiring insights into how financial institutions can develop long-term economic solutions and nurture the next generation to drive systemic change.

Alexis Schwartz: Journalism as a Catalyst for Change

In this episode, Alexis Schwartz — Head of Purpose Partnerships at The Guardian US — explores how quality journalism can serve as a powerful catalyst for social impact and sustainability. She highlights The Guardian's unique funding model, which eliminates paywalls to ensure equitable access to information, and addresses "the hush" — a troubling trend where brands withdraw from public commitments to DEI and sustainability due to fear of backlash. Drawing on partnerships with organizations including Doctors Without Borders and Bloomberg Philanthropies, Schwartz demonstrates how media can humanize stories of sustainability and social justice to foster trust and engagement. She also emphasizes the role of trusted journalism in combating misinformation and shares an inspiring vision of communities uniting to tackle climate challenges.

Nataki Williams: Transforming Leadership Through Inclusive Decision-Making

In this episode, Guardian US CFO Nataki Williams offers compelling insights into how inclusive decision-making can reshape corporate leadership. Drawing from her experience as a sustainability ambassador and a panel moderator on advancing women in leadership, Williams discusses how rethinking decision-making habits can foster innovation, profitability and sustainability. She emphasizes that true diversity goes beyond representation — it requires creating space to genuinely hear and integrate diverse perspectives. Sharing her personal journey of overcoming age-related insecurities, Williams champions collaborative approaches, transparency and disciplined hope as essential tools for driving meaningful change in business and society.

Continuing the conversation on building a regenerative future

As sustainability professionals face increasing scrutiny over their commitments, these conversations serve as a call to action. The stories shared on The Impact Report Podcast remind us that true progress requires courage, collaboration and persistence. Corporate leaders must continue doubling down on their values, aligning their actions with their commitments and building trust with stakeholders.

Take the next step by joining us at SB’25 San Diego — where the Sustainable Brands® community will gather again to continue courageous conversations, collaborative innovation and purpose-driven action at the event designed to empower industry leaders to turn commitments into measurable impact. Through inspiring keynotes, actionable workshops and peer-to-peer learning, SB’25 will provide the tools and connections to help brand leaders build trust with stakeholders and drive meaningful progress throughout their organizations and beyond.

Be part of a community dedicated to aligning values with action; co-creating solutions; and building resilient, future-fit brands that thrive in a changing world. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with leaders shaping the future of sustainable business — secure your spot at SB’25 San Diego today.