Weekly News: Patagonia's Bottom Line, Marketing Sustainability, Nestle Finds Child, and CEOs Promise Purpose

With so much going on in the realm of sustainability, entrepreneurship, and innovation, and only a limited amount of bandwidth for professionals in this space, I have created this post to highlight articles that I feel are (1) important, (2) relevant, and (3) interesting in the areas of social innovation and entrepreneurship.

If you have an article, or event, that you feel needs to be mentioned, please do so in the comments section.

Patagonia's environmental mission hasn't just been good for the planet — it's also boosted the bottom line .  Good news. Being a better corporate steward is profitable.  Now, if only we could get more CEOs to buy in.


Nearly 200 CEOs just agreed on an updated definition of “the purpose of a corporation” - Pledges are easy, but the nice thing about pledges from corporate CEOs is that we only need to wait a quarter to see the results


The truth on poverty reduction around the world An interesting, if not blunt assessment of why Africa has failed to keep up with the rest of the world on reducing poverty. Key to this was economic growth and migration, something Asia has performed at perhaps the highest levels on over the last 25 years. However, while the article focuses on migration as a rich-to-poor country migration, what we see in Asia is more of a rural to urban migration.


Nestlé admits slavery in Thailand while fighting child labour lawsuit in Ivory Coast - While cases like these are bound to come up in any large supply chain, the fact that Nestle is employing child labor in multiple regions of the world would indicate that their leadership has not made this a priority any more than their commitments to deforestation.


Recycling is all about being taken for a ride - A pretty honest assessment of municipal recycling, and the value of materials that are being collected, the value of those materials, and why "recycling" isn't the solution.


Marketing the climate emergency - A great piece, with a lot of things to consider, on how we should be communication "sustainability" for improved action vs. apathy. Some great tactical information.


River of no return: Mekong faces grim future - The Mekong is in real trouble. How are we going to urbanize the next 2 billion Asians without water?


Food after oil: how urban farmers are preparing us for a self-sufficient future - An area of focus for me. I recommend others get up on urban farming as a way to increase resilience in our cities.


Process

Why Every Entrepreneur Needs Process | Behind the Grind, Episode 010

In this episode of Behind the Grind, Brian and I talk why every entrepreneur needs process.  That without it, an entrepreneur will never build the foundation, or infrastructure, required to scale the business.

 

About the Behind The Grind Series:
Through this podcast series, Brian and I will speak about the realities (as we know them) of entrepreneurship.

Videos will be available every Saturday, and audience participation is HIGHLY encouraged!

About Rich
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.

Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a Visiting Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.

Follow Rich:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

About Brian:
Brian Tam leads corporate teams through FIRST TIME EVER challenges. From new business models to fresh brands, as CEO of Let's Make Great! he guides multinational companies in China to systematically create the future and explore uncertainties.

He's the mind behind PROTO Innovation Cards and the author of Awrignawl Creativity.

Born in New York, and proudly raised in New Jersey - he has been in China since 2007, working to drive the fantastic change that is happening in China & the world. Let's Make Great!

Follow Brian:
Website: http://www.letsmakegreat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.tam.56211
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamonline/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/letsmakegreat/

#BehindtheGrind #Entrepreneurship #Innovation


Pricing Strategies

Pricing Strategies for Entrepreneurs | Behind the Grind, Episode 009

In this episode, Brian and I speak about our experience with pricing our services, a

Was another really interesting discussion!


About the Behind The Grind Series:

Through this podcast series, Brian and I will speak about the realities (as we know them) of entrepreneurship.

Videos will be available every Saturday, and audience participation is HIGHLY encouraged!

About Rich

Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.

Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a Visiting Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.

Follow Rich:

Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

About Brian:

Brian Tam leads corporate teams through FIRST TIME EVER challenges. From new business models to fresh brands, as CEO of Let's Make Great! he guides multinational companies in China to systematically create the future and explore uncertainties.

He's the mind behind PROTO Innovation Cards and the author of Awrignawl Creativity.

Born in New York, and proudly raised in New Jersey - he has been in China since 2007, working to drive the fantastic change that is happening in China & the world. Let's Make Great!

Follow Brian:

Website: http://www.letsmakegreat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.tam.56211
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamonline/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/letsmakegreat/


John Wu

Next Generation Sustainable Leadership | John Wu, Novalis Flooring

In this episode of Entrepreneurs For Good, I speak with John Wu about the work he has done to green his family's flooring business.



 

About #EntrepreneursForGood Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.

It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action.

To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market.

About John:

John Wu is the second-generation president and CEO of Novalis Innovative Flooring, one of the largest players in the global LVT market. The company, started 34 years ago by Wu’s father, today creates all products under the LVT spectrum and goes to market via a number of channels, including its own Nova and Ava brands. Novalis manufactures its products in China.

Follow John:
Website: https://novalisinnovativeflooring.us/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-wu-72a0346a/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NovalisFlooring

About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step.

Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.

Follow Rich
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Rich
[email protected]

 


Entrepreneurs Need Community, Sina Farzaneh | Behind The Grind, Episode 008

In this episode, Brian and I peak with Sina Farzaneh about the need for entrepreneurs to build community.

A master of doing this himself, Sina gives some great insights into how he has done this in the past as a way to build brands, businesses, and launch products, but also as an entrepreneur, the importance of having a community of entrepreneurs and mentors.

Another great discussion, and one we know will bring an incredible amount of value to viewers!


About the Behind The Grind Series:

Through this podcast series, Brian and I will speak about the realities (as we know them) of entrepreneurship.

Videos will be available every Saturday, and audience participation is HIGHLY encouraged!

About Sina

Sina is the founder and CEO of Pullpath, a software platform that helps organizations to transform their audience into mini-influencers. He’s also the co-founder of Advocacy, the most awarded word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing agency globally and is the current president of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) in Shanghai.

Follow Sina:

Website: http://www.pullpath.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sinafarzaneh/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sinajahn

About Rich

Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.

Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a Visiting Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.

Follow Rich:

Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

About Brian:

Brian Tam leads corporate teams through FIRST TIME EVER challenges. From new business models to fresh brands, as CEO of Let's Make Great! he guides multinational companies in China to systematically create the future and explore uncertainties.

He's the mind behind PROTO Innovation Cards and the author of Awrignawl Creativity.

Born in New York, and proudly raised in New Jersey - he has been in China since 2007, working to drive the fantastic change that is happening in China & the world. Let's Make Great!

Follow Brian:

Website: http://www.letsmakegreat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.tam.56211
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamonline/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/letsmakegreat/


Social Entrepreneurs in Bangkok

Visiting Social Entrepreneurs in Bangkok

While visiting Social Entrepreneurs in Bangkok this week, I was reminded that as an "mission driven" entrepreneur, who has spent the last 20 years in Asia, I have been very fortunate to work in an amazing place, with amazing people, and be in a position to scale impact across a number of growing issues the region faces.

One of the best parts of this time has been the travel, and meeting other entrepreneurs in the region, and learning about what the work they are doing, the ecosystem for social entrepreneurship in their city looks like, and what the opportunities are for leveraging entrepreneurship and innovation to solve the social, environmental, and economic challenges their city faces.

More often than not, I leave very inspired by what I am seeing, and after my most recent trip to Bangkok, I decided to put together a short video for why I see amazing opportunities there.

It is a city that I visit every 2-3 months, and while I may be seeing things through glasses that have a bit of a rose tint to them, I very much believe that this is one of the best cities for social entrepreneurs.

It has NEED, there is a great ecosystem, awesome talent, and I am seeing a number of the early entrepreneurs see traction, even PROFIT, in their business models.

Doesn't mean that it is easy, but definitely a place I hold high on the list, and I hope you enjoy this short clip.



About Me:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I’ve spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve “the big” challenges cities face.

Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a former Adjunct Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I’m focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.

Follow Me:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Me:
[email protected]

#Richbrubaker #socialentrepreneur #socialinnovation

 


Dureen Shahnaz

You Can't Teach Entrepreneurship | Durreen Shahnaz, Impact Investment Exchange

In this episode of Entrepreneurs For Good, I speak with Durreen Shahnaz, Founder of Impact Investment Exchange and Shujong, about the work she has done to launch the world's first (and only) socially oriented stock market.

Born out of the recognition that the finance industry, which is largely run by Western/ white male executives, was not working for a large portion of the world, she has spent the last 10+ years developing a solution.

A solution that has not come easy, was largely built out of her own vision for what the system should look like, but for her there was no other choice or way.

She is a true entrepreneur.



About #EntrepreneursForGood Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.

It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action.

To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market.

About Durreen:
Durreen Shahnaz is a global leader of social impact and impact investing. She is also the founder of Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) and IIX Foundation. IIX is the home of the world’s first social stock exchange and the largest impact investment private placement platform. IIX is also a leader in impact assessment methodology and innovative financial structures such as the world’s first Women’s Livelihood Bond. The company bridges the gap between finance and development by carving out a third space for social and environmental solutions through financial mechanisms and subsequently driving forward the Sustainable Development Goals. IIX and IIX Foundation’s work has a particular focus on women empowerment, climate action and community resilience.

Follow Durreen:
Website: https://iixglobal.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iixglobal
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/durreen-shahnaz-3158101
Twitter: https://twitter.com/durreen

About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step.

Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.

Follow Rich
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Rich
[email protected]

 

 


Weekly News: Busting Myths on Vegans and Volunteers, IKEA goes Green, and SE Asia Battle with Water

With so much going on in the realm of sustainability, entrepreneurship, and innovation, and only a limited amount of bandwidth for professionals in this space, I have created this post to highlight articles that I feel are (1) important, (2) relevant, and (3) interesting in the areas of social innovation and entrepreneurship.

If you have an article, or event, that you feel needs to be mentioned, please do so in the comments section.


5 Surprising Myths About Volunteers and Donors - Some of these will come as no surprise to you, the educated and experienced Change Maker!

When You Burn Out While Changing the World - This is a big issue for many I know in the space.

Why a hipster, vegan, green tech economy is not sustainable - I am not sure the hipsters have ever tried to proclaim their vegan / green tech economy was sustainable.  I think it was more about the hipsters looking for better ways to act on their convictions, which at times meant transitioning to veganism and supporting cleantech (EV cars, solar panels, etc).

The milk industry is changing. We meet the man giving dairy a run for its money - In this article, the hipster vegan is behind the milk industry's decline.

In Shanghai, every Ikea delivery is now made with an electric vehicle - Awesome news, and STAY TUNED... I am going to tru and arrange an interview and drive along on one of these trucks!

Mekong water level lowest in 10 years - The lack of water will be THE challenge faced in Asia, and while we have only started speaking about Chennai's issues, the lower Mekong struggles to reach the sea.

The Sea Is Consuming Jakarta, and Its People Aren't Insured -  The poor always lose.


Brand Building

Thought Leadership & Brand Building for Entrepreneurs | Behind the Grind, Episode 007

In this episode, Brian and I speak about brand building as an entrepreneur, why the best path is to position themselves as a thought leader for their domain, and a few of the tips, tricks, and mediums that we have found most useful for ourselves.

It is a session that gets pretty tactical, but will require a number of followups where we speak more deeply and about tactic and tools.


About the Behind The Grind Series:

Through this podcast series, Brian and I will speak about the realities (as we know them) of entrepreneurship.

Videos will be available every Saturday, and audience participation is HIGHLY encouraged!

About Rich

Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.

Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a Visiting Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.

Follow Rich:

Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

About Brian:

Brian Tam leads corporate teams through FIRST TIME EVER challenges. From new business models to fresh brands, as CEO of Let's Make Great! he guides multinational companies in China to systematically create the future and explore uncertainties.

He's the mind behind PROTO Innovation Cards and the author of Awrignawl Creativity.

Born in New York, and proudly raised in New Jersey - he has been in China since 2007, working to drive the fantastic change that is happening in China & the world. Let's Make Great!

Follow Brian:

Website: http://www.letsmakegreat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.tam.56211
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamonline/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/letsmakegreat/


Weekly News: Feeding 10b People, 2030 SDG Update, 3D Printed Hearts, and AI Solves Urban Challenges

With so much going on in the realm of sustainability, entrepreneurship, and innovation, and only a limited amount of bandwidth for professionals in this space, I have created this post to highlight articles that I feel are (1) important, (2) relevant, and (3) interesting in the areas of social innovation and entrepreneurship.

If you have an article, or event, that you feel needs to be mentioned, please do so in the comments section.


Can Planet Earth Feed 10 Billion People? - This is a question I am beginning to spend a lot more time considering, not as a function of population itself, but of the challenges that are going to be faced by urbanizing the next 2 billion Asians and supporting their dietary shift.

The world will not meet the 2030 Agenda goals - I never thought they would.  Glad someone is willing to admit it.

The Man With the $13 Billion Checkbook - This is an amazing article that looks into Darren Walker, head of the Ford Foundation.  Less about the foundation itself, and more about his rise through Ford Foundation,and his vision for the organization, with some very interesting insights into the world of high net worth philanthropy.

World’s First 3D Printed Hearts And Functional Beating Hearts Grown From Stem Cells - Advances like these will have a dramatic impact going forward.

Bali officially bans all single-use plastic to curb ocean pollution - I'll get excited when they officially stop using plastic bags

Google-backed Bali start-up tackles waste crisis with AI - This is something to get excited by, but hope they are able to scale quickly.  Billions, in Asia, are looking at very uncertain water futures.

Using AI to make cities more responsive to their residents - Some interesting work and insights in this article

Some of the best places to eat, shop and sleep in Bangkok if you care about sustainability - Found this guide while doing a little research for my upcoming trip to Bangkok, and thought you might find it interesting as well.