Journey to Impact

Hello friend, I’m so happy this has found you. We are at a pivotal time in the history of the planet when everything we do, say and think has an impact. In the face of rising sea levels, species extinction, social isolation and mass poverty, it’s become clear that our human-made constructs have been formulated on philosophies that no longer serve us, and perhaps never did. The stories and ideas in this guidebook will take you far in thinking a way out of the diabolical broken systems we have found ourselves in. The challenge will be to continue finding more conversations within and amongst yourselves to go even further. The best part of waking up from denial is the opportunity for growth and renewal. We have an exquisite window to…

Doughnut Economics Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economic Model measures the performance of an economy by the extent to which people’s needs and rights (the social foundation) are met without overshooting the Earth’s ecological ceiling. The work is in building a regenerative and distributive economy so that we can find our way back into the doughnut’s sweet spot—“the safe and just space for humanity.” Circular Economy A circular economy is a closed loop system that is restorative and regenerative by design, moving us beyond the extractive “take-make-waste” industrial model we currently have. It represents a systemic shift that builds long-term resilience, generates business and economic opportunities, and enables people and planet to flourish. Gross National Happiness First implemented in Bhutan, Gross National Happiness values collective happiness and wellbeing as the goal of…

Charles Eisenstein “I can’t say that I have a full-on vision for the next economy but I do get little glimpses of it. Enough to know that it will be based on generosity, gratitude and service rather than accumulation and control of resources. That it will encourage us to do the things that serve the health and wellbeing of the planet, of our places and of other people, rather than bribing us to not listen to our heart’s desire to do those things and to have to always make compromises. It’ll be aligned with the things that we find sacred and beautiful in the world. And I also know that this is not just a fantasy or a pipe dream, but that there are economic steps that we can take…

1. The Bullitt Center One of the first energy-positive green buildings, located in Seattle, Washington. The building collects and treats rainwater for its showers, sinks and drinking taps with grey water re-used on the green roof and in landscaping. There is also a solar array that completely covers the roof and overhangs the walls. Opened on Earth Day in 2013, it is designed to last for 250 years. bullittcenter.org 2. Full Cycle Bioplastics A circular economy startup that uses bacteria to break down organic waste and turn it into bio-plastic material for packaging which can then be upcycled after use. Established in California, the Full Cycle solution mitigates greenhouse gas emissions, and reduces plastic pollution and toxicity effects on land and in the ocean. fullcyclebioplastics.com 3. HCT Group A social…

“I think in the United States we got sold a ‘bill of goods’ instead of a Bill of Rights, and everyone decided that the ultimate goal of the economy is to be efficient, optimised. I like optimisation in some contexts, but optimising in a business firm usually means treating many, many stakeholder groups really bad. If you think about it, efficiency in human relationships is called rudeness.”Kat Taylor, CEO of Beneficial State Bank “Human beings are not born with dollar signs in front of their eyes. The real human is both selfish and selfless at the same time. If we include the selfless part of the human being into economic theory, then it changes completely. And it’s possible to undo wealth consolidation.”Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank “Purpose-driven business is…

Back in my university days, studying the Kyoto Protocol was an exciting bridge between my business skills and policy interests. I had always cared for the environment, but what this environmental treaty revealed was a new market mechanism approach to environmental solutions. Simply, it had identified that we had the technical solutions available to reduce global warming, and began creating the incentives and conditions to get the investment in. For someone like me, who was enjoying business and law but really cared about the environment, it opened up a path to applying my finance and law degrees to the climate change cause, and help make those investments happen. I worked on environmental sustainability, in both private and public sectors, for more than a decade before I started my own family.…