CSO Impact Podcast

In this episode, Harald Neidhardt interviews Renee Lertzman, a psychologist and engagement strategist, about the intersection of psychology and sustainability. They explore how understanding human behaviour is crucial for effective climate action, the importance of emotional processing in leadership, and the need for resilience among sustainability leaders. Renee emphasises the role of community and relational dynamics in fostering meaningful change, and offers insights on how to create supportive environments for dialogue and connection at events.

In this episode, recorded at the Terra Tuscany Conference, in Italy, Harald Neidhardt interviews Sandrine Dixson-Declève, co-president of the Club of Rome and leader of the Earth for All movement. She talks about her journey in sustainability, the importance of policy, and the role of Chief Sustainability Officers. Sandrine emphasises the need for a moral compass in defining sustainability and highlights key turnarounds necessary for a sustainable future. The conversation also touches on the importance of hope and optimism in the face of climate challenges.

In this episode, Harald Neidhardt interviews Antoine Sautenet, Chief Sustainability Officer at Michelin. They discuss the role of the CSO at Michelin and the company's activities, including tire manufacturing, providing services to fleets, and promoting experiences through Michelin guides. Antoine talks about Michelin’s commitment to pay all employees a living wage: enough to “live in a proper way, and not only surviving,” as he says. Antoine also highlights the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in sustainability efforts. He discusses his background and career journey, as well as the challenges and achievements he has faced as a CSO, providing insights into the future of the CSO role and offers tips for those starting a career in sustainability. Antoine believes that geopolitics will be an important part of the role of the CSO. He concludes by discussing Michelin's initiatives to develop sustainable materials for tires, such as recycled carbon black and sustainable natural rubber.

In this episode, Harald Neidhardt interviews Tobias Wollermann, the VP of Corporate Responsibility at the Otto Group. They discuss the sustainability initiatives and strategies of the Otto Group, a value-driven family-owned company with a long tradition of integrating sustainability into its business practices. Tobias shares his professional journey, coming from a career focused in music and cultural projects. He talks about some of the projects he is currently working on, including the revision and development of the company's corporate responsibility strategy, the implementation of a new data architecture, and the development of a new climate strategy. He also highlights the challenges of data management and the overwhelming wave of regulations in the sustainability field. Tobias emphasises the importance of being a good listener, having analytical skills, and being able to inspire and engage colleagues as a CSO. He envisions a future where sustainability is embedded in the core processes of the entire company.

In this episode, Harald Neidhardt interviews Melanie Kubin-Hardewig, Vice President of Group Corporate Responsibility at Deutsche Telekom. They discuss the projects Melanie is working on, including climate engagement and circularity. Melanie shares her journey to her current role and highlights the challenges and rewards of being a CSO. She emphasizes the importance of resilience, communication, and collaboration. Melanie also talks about the future of the CSO role and the need for integration and engagement within corporations. She shares her proud moments and challenges in her career and offers advice for those interested in pursuing a career in sustainability.

In this episode of the CSO Impact Podcast, Harald Neidhardt interviews John Elkington, founder and chief pollinator at Volans, author of 21 books, and member of the Grand Jury of the CSO Awards North America. They talk about John’s most recent book, Tickling Sharks, and discuss the evolution of sustainability over the past 50 years. John talks about the role of the Chief Sustainability Officer and the future of economic markets. He shares his insights on the triple bottom line framework, a concept that he created in 1994 to define the necessary integration across social, environmental, and economic dimensions. Finally, he emphasises the importance of self-care for sustainability leaders, asking questions rather than providing answers, and getting out of comfort zones to experience the real world.

n this episode of the CSO Impact Podcast, host Harald Neidhardt interviews Nick Heine, Chief Customer Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer at IntegrityNext. They discuss the role of IntegrityNext as a supply chain sustainability platform and the importance of sustainability in procurement and supply chain management. Nick shares his journey into the role and highlights the challenges and achievements of IntegrityNext. They also explore the evolving role of the Chief Sustainability Officer and the need for alignment between legislators and the economy in driving sustainability initiatives.

In this episode, Harald Neithard interviews Andreas Wade, Head of Sustainability at Viessmann Climate Solutions, about his role and the projects he is working on. Andreas discusses the company's focus on decarbonization, sustainable design, and upskilling. He also shares his journey in sustainability, from studying Environmental Engineering to working in the renewable energy industry. Andreas highlights the challenges of building bridges between sustainability and the current business environment. He predicts that the role of the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) will evolve to become more accountable and regulated, with a focus on sustainability accounting. Andreas also compares the sustainability landscape in Europe and the US and offers advice to newcomers in the field.

In this episode, Harald Neidhardt interviews Daniella Vega, SVP for Health and Sustainability at Ahold Delhaize. They discuss the role of a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) and the focus on health and sustainability in the food retail industry. Daniella shares some of the challenges in achieving sustainability targets, such as transitioning to a circular system and reducing food waste. She also highlights the opportunities in the food system to inspire customers to make healthier and more sustainable choices. Daniella reflects on her previous experience in the fashion industry and how fashion can become more sustainable. Lastly, she discusses the evolving role of the CSO and the importance of systems thinking and business transformation.

In this episode, Harald Neidhardt interviews Nicola Kimm, Chief Sustainability Officer at Heidelberg Materials, about their sustainability initiatives in the cement industry. Heidelberg Materials is one of the world's largest producers of cement, concrete, and aggregates. Nicola discusses their sustainability commitments for 2030, including achieving net zero by 2050 and capturing 10 million tons of CO2 by 2030. She explains that cement is responsible for about 8 % of global CO2 emissions, which makes it critically important to decarbonize the industry. Nicola mentions the three levers they use to reduce the environmental impact of cement production: product optimization, process optimization, and carbon capture. She also shares her career journey and the challenges she has faced as a CSO. She shares insights and advice for individuals starting as Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs), emphasizing the importance of working across the organization, understanding challenges, and exercising leadership. Nicola also discusses the role of the CSO in driving critical topics and the importance of having an outside-in perspective. She highlights the impact of circularity initiatives, such as fully recycled concrete. To know more about Nicola's ideas and trajectory, read her essay in our book "Leadership for Sustainable Futures". Keywords CSO, Chief Sustainability Officer, sustainability, cement industry, net zero, carbon capture, circularity, product optimization, process optimization, career journey, leadership, challenges Takeaways Heidelberg Materials has launched sustainability commitments for 2030, including achieving net zero by 2050 and capturing 10 million tons of CO2 by 2030. The three levers to reduce the environmental impact of cement production are product optimization, process optimization, and carbon capture. Nicola Kimm started her career as a manufacturing engineer and has worked in various industries, bringing sustainability knowledge and building strong sustainability strategies. The role of the CSO is evolving to become a board topic and requires T leadership, involving working broadly in the organization and adding value to the overall company. CSOs need skills in learning, building strong teams, influencing, and determining the right sustainability approach based on the company's challenges and maturity. Building a sustainability team requires the right experts and connections. Having an outside-in perspective and listening to external stakeholders is important for CSOs. Challenges for CSOs include the CSRD, EU taxonomy, and determining KPIs. Circularity initiatives, such as fully recycled concrete, can have a significant impact. Better access to concrete demolition waste and governance are needed to drive circular products.

In this episode, host Harald Neidhardt interviews Marc Buckley, founder of the ALOHAS Regenerative Foundation and a leader in climate activism and sustainability development. They discuss the evolution of the role of Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) and the increasing engagement of corporates in sustainability. They also explore the concept of a regenerative economy and the different ecological economic models that can be applied. Marc and Harald explore the concept of future fitness in regenerative economies, and the importance of sustainability as a mindset that should be integrated into all aspects of life and work. They also talk about Marc’s contribution to Futur/io’s latest book, “Leadership for Sustainable Futures” and about Marc's podcast, "Inside Ideas" https://www.futur.io/books/leadership-for-sustainable-futures https://www.insideideas.org/

In this episode of the CSO Impact Podcast, Harald interviews Márcia Balisciano, the Chief Sustainability Officer at RELX, about her role and the projects she is working on. Márcia discusses the RELX SDG Resource Center, a platform that provides information on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She also highlights the importance of integrating sustainability into all aspects of the business and the role of the CSO in the next five years. Márcia shares her journey in the field of sustainability and the challenges she has faced. She emphasises the importance of community building and collaboration among CSOs and offers advice for those starting in the field.

In this episode of the CSO Impact Podcast, we talk to Arthur Schneider, Head of Sustainability Management at the Bechtle Group. We discuss the role of the CSO in driving sustainability and the challenges and achievements of implementing sustainability practices in a corporate setting. Arthur emphasizes the importance of understanding the organization and building a network within it, as well as making oneself visible and showcasing the value of sustainability. They also touch on the role of IT in sustainability and the need for circularity and repairability in the industry. Arthur highlights the power of the sustainability community and the inspiration that comes from collaborating with peers in the field. Takeaways Understanding the organization and building a network within it are key to success as a CSO. Making oneself visible and showcasing the value of sustainability is important for gaining support and influence. The role of IT in sustainability is crucial, and there is a need for circularity and repairability in the industry. Policy making should be proactive in addressing sustainability challenges, such as AI's impact on energy consumption and resource use. The sustainability community is a powerful source of inspiration and collaboration.

In our second episode, we talk to Petra Wicklandt, Chief Sustainability Officer of Merck Group, about the role of CSO and the projects that Merck is working on to achieve their sustainability targets. Petra highlights the importance of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the need for companies to report non-financial data. She also discusses Merck's climate transition plan and their access programs in the healthcare sector. She shares her journey to becoming a CSO and the challenges and achievements she has experienced along the way. The episode concludes with a discussion on the future of the CSO role and the integration of sustainability into innovation. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes on how we can impact our futures together! Takeaways The role of a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) is becoming increasingly important. Compliance is not enough, it’s necessary to think ahead and integrate sustainability into all functions of a company. Sustainability reporting, including non-financial data, is a key aspect of the CSO role, with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive driving the need for companies to report on their sustainability efforts. Merck Group is working on various projects to achieve their sustainability targets, including a climate transition plan, access programs in the healthcare sector, and offering ethical advice to colleagues in science and digital. The CSO role requires a combination of hard work, resilience, and the ability to overcome obstacles in order to drive sustainability initiatives and make progress towards ambitious targets. Sustainability and innovation go hand in hand, with the CSO playing a crucial role in ensuring that sustainability requirements are integrated into the development of new products and solutions.

In this very first episode of the CSO Impact Podcast, we sit down with Karin Reiter, the CSO at Adecco Group and one of the authors of our book “Leadership for Sustainable Futures.” Karin discusses the challenges she faces and the importance of broadening engagement across organizations and making sustainability tangible for employees. She also emphasizes the connection between climate strategies and human capital strategies, while exploring the importance of upskilling and reskilling workers. Karin also discusses the evolving role of CSOs and the need for strategic thinking and collaboration across stakeholders. Reiter expresses optimism for the future but acknowledges the complexity and speed at which change needs to happen.