In a special episode filmed live at Position Meet, our podcast host Joachim Nahem, Executive Chairman at Position Green engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Claus Meyer, the celebrated co-founder of Noma, and a passionate advocate for sustainable food systems.

Claus Meyer shares his unique perspective on transforming the food industry to support planetary health, his experience in co-founding Noma, and his ongoing commitment to sustainable food production.

Learn about:

• The Shift to Plant-Based Eating: The importance of reducing meat consumption and adopting more plant-based diets to combat climate change.

• Sustainability in Fine Dining: How high-end cuisine can both influence and lead a more sustainable approach to food systems.

• Claus's Global Initiatives: Learn about Claus’s Melting Pot Foundation, which establishes food programs that empower local communities around the world.

• The Role of Technology in Food Production: Hear about the future of food tech, including Claus’s vision for fungi-based foods and local agricultural systems to reduce waste and foster healthier communities.

Meet Gustav Stenbeck, a former Head of Sustainability at Strawberry, the largest Nordic hotel chain, and ex-CEO of Mestro, a SaaS platform for energy efficiency in real estate. Now a venture capitalist, Gustav shares his remarkable journey and insights on leveraging investment to drive meaningful environmental change. He discusses his philosophy of balancing profit with purpose and the complex challenges and opportunities in the sustainability sector today.

• The evolution of the sustainability profession over the past decade and its integration into business strategies.

• How impact investing can drive both financial returns and positive environmental outcomes.

• The potential of tech solutions, including AI, to optimize energy efficiency and reduce the environmental footprint of buildings.

• The importance of transparency and accountability in public procurement to combat corruption and enhance public trust.

• Gustav's unique investment approach, balancing impact with profitability and scalability.

About Gustav Stenbeck

Gustav Stenbeck is a venture capitalist who started his career as an environmental activist. As the former Head of Sustainability at Strawberry and CEO of Mestro, Gustav has extensive experience in integrating sustainability into business models. His investment philosophy is driven by a desire to support companies that can both make money and contribute positively to the world. Gustav’s bold approach is built on the belief that true innovation should have the power to change the world for both the better and the worse, ensuring that the impact is significant and far-reaching.

Tune in to the latest episode of Sustainable Edge, where we’re delving into the challenges CEOs are facing in order to champion environmental and social goals, as well as the strategies they should adopt to overcome them. Your podcast host, Position Green’s Executive Chairman, Joachim Nahem, is accompanied by Alison Taylor.

Meet Alison Taylor, a seasoned expert in corporate ethics, as she shares her journey navigating complex business landscapes, building strong organizational cultures, and understanding the evolving role of sustainability, both in the U.S. and Europe. Discover what it looks like for businesses to truly do the right thing.

• How CEOs can define clear environmental and social priorities.

• Building a healthy and ethical organizational culture amidst societal divisions.

• Navigating the large-scale shifts in corporate values whilst building trust.

• Comparing ESG approaches and regulation differences between the U.S. and Europe.

• The role of human rights frameworks in shaping corporate ethics.

• Challenges faced by Chief Sustainability Officers and board members in integrating sustainability into business strategies.

• The impact of transparency on accountability and strategic decision-making.

Alison is a Clinical Associate Professor at NYU Stern School of Business and former Executive Director of Ethical Systems. In her new book Higher Ground, Alison provides a practical and grounded guide to help companies navigate the evolving ethical challenges and pitfalls in today's corporate landscape. She has spent the past two decades consulting with multinational companies on risk, anti-corruption, sustainability, human rights, culture and behavior, stakeholder engagement, ESG, as well as ethics and compliance.

Meet Alex Edmans, Professor of Finance at London Business School, TED Talk speaker and bestselling author. Together with podcast host Joachim Nahem, he dives into subjects such as why ESG matters but should not be exaggerated when it comes to long-term value creation and why confirmation bias can be problematic. Listen to partake in his expertise and insights gained from years of research.

• Why ESG matters but should not be overstated in the pursuit of long-term value creation

• The effectiveness of financial policies like carbon taxes compared to mandatory ESG disclosures

• The role of confirmation bias and how a lack of solid evidence can harm the ESG movement

• How arguments from both ESG skeptics and evangelists are often flawed

• The growing student interest in ESG and its integration into business education

Alex Edmans is Professor of Finance at London Business School, TED Talk speaker and author, listed in the Financial Times Best Business Books. He has spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos, testified in the UK Parliament and has written for the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Harvard Business Review. His recent book May Contain Lies. How stories, statistics and studies exploit our biases — and what we can do about it is quoted as a “much needed antidote” and is listed as an Amazon #1 category bestseller in the UK and US.

In this episode of Sustainable Edge, our host Joachim Nahem is accompanied by Nina Rawal, Partner at Trill Impact Advisory and Co-Head of Impact Ventures. They delve into the challenges and opportunities in impact investing, the role of venture capital in driving innovation, and the importance of measuring impact through frameworks like the theory of change. Nina emphasizes the need for transformative technologies to address health inequalities and improve access to healthcare globally. Listen in to hear about the transformative potential of impact investing.

Key Learning from this episode:

• Listen to innovative examples of how impact investments are making a difference

• Learn about the frameworks and metrics used to ensure that investments are not only profitable but also create measurable social impact

• Discover how venture capital is pioneering advancements in therapeutics, vaccines, diagnostics, and medical devices, with a special focus on historically overlooked geographies

About Nina Rawal:

Nina Rawal, Partner at Trill Impact Advisory and Co-Head of Impact Ventures, brings extensive experience from leadership roles at Industrifonden and Gambro, alongside consulting with Boston Consulting Group. With an academic background in Biomedicine and Molecular Neurobiology from Karolinska Institutet, her contributions extend to serving on boards like Cinclus Pharma and Stockholms Sjukhem, earning recognition as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

In this episode of the Sustainable Edge podcast, host Joachim Nahem explores why Gen Z is flocking to sustainability careers.

This months guest Pola Nachyla shares her journey into sustainability, driven by the Japanese concept of ikigai. They discuss the shift towards pragmatic sustainability and how Pola's role as a Senior Associate and Sustainability Manager aligns with her passion and purpose. From personal lifestyle choices to tracking Position Green's impact, Pola emphasizes consistency over perfection in sustainability. Tune in for insights on driving change and living purposefully.

Pola is a sustainability professional working at Position Green on various projects including sustainability strategy, reporting and climate target setting and actions. Sectors she worked in include logistics, finance, luxury goods and technology. She is also responsible for Position Green’s own sustainability practices and reporting.

Previously she worked in impact investing and academia in the areas of sustainability. Pola is a graduate of two top business schools: IE University (Spain) and HEC Paris (France). She has stayed one foot in the academic world as she is a published author and a guest lecturer in impact investing at IE Business School. She also has Law in Sustainability education from Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment and is a certified IEMA Environmental Management Practicioner.

Pia Heidenmark Cook, acclaimed sustainability leader and former CSO at IKEA, sits down with Position Green Executive Chair Joachim Nahem in our latest episode.

-

Listen to one of the world’s top sustainability influencers give advice on effective change management and how to ‘interpret the outside for the inside’ in driving your company’s strategic transformation. Pia shares insights from her time as Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA and discusses the untapped potential of sustainability reporting. Can double materiality be used as a tool for building a more robust and competitive business?

About Pia Heidenmark Cook

Pia is a senior ESG and sustainability leader, executive and advisor with over 25 years of global industry experience spanning multiple sectors, including professional services, healthcare, sports retail, sustainable materials and hospitality. During her tenure as IKEA’s Chief Sustainability Officer in 2017-2021, it became one of the top three sustainability brands ranked by Globescan.

Pia is also a frequent keynote speaker at high-profile conferences and events including for the UN, World Economic Forum and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. She has been named one of the top 10 female leaders in sustainability by the WBCSD and one of the top 20 sustainability influencers on LinkedIn by the CEO Magazine.

Andreas Rasche, Professor at the Centre for Sustainability at Copenhagen Business School, joins host and Position Green Executive Chair Joachim Nahem for this latest episode.

–

How can companies turn the perceived burden of ESG reporting into a benefit? And does sustainability performance actually pay at the end of the day? Acclaimed thought leader Andreas Rasche shares unique insights on the shifting compliance landscape and how sustainability is being talked about behind boardroom doors. As ESG moves further into the hard law domain, can a proactive mindset in the boardroom be the key to unlocking long-term business value?

About Andreas Rasche

Andreas is a Professor of Business in Society at the Centre for Sustainability, Copenhagen Business School, where he conducts research and teaching on corporate sustainability with a focus on ESG, governance and sustainable finance. He also serves as Associate Dean for the CBS Full-Time MBA program. Andreas has worked for and collaborated with the UN Global Compact on a number of projects, and he currently serves as Associate Editor of Business Ethics Quarterly.

Read more at http://www.arasche.com/