March 18, 2010 – 11:01 am
The annual CORE Sustainable Opportunities Summit in Denver two weeks ago was a great event as usual, and one of the standout panels was called “The Art of Leading a Sustainable Company”. Panelists included: moderator Walt Rakowich, CEO of distribution facility powerhouse Prologis; Ellen Feeney from WhiteWave Foods; Lisa Grice from Environ Corporation; and Kim [...]
Last week I attended the Climate Change Leaders breakfast at the Boulder Chamber of Commerce. Really interesting stories about the financial and organizational impact of business efforts to reduce carbon footprint.
David Secunda runs a kids’ summer camp operation called Avid 4 Adventure www.avid4.com. He talked about setting out to reduce [...]
November 29, 2009 – 4:52 pm
The way we see ourselves, and the cultural mores that influence how we talk with each other, have a great effect on our behavior – sustainable or not. If we are to adopt an “integral” view of sustainability performance – a view that addresses both the “inner” view of consciousness, motivation, and culture and the [...]
November 20, 2009 – 9:23 am
It seems like there’s a book being published every week that addresses the case for sustainable business and economics. I try to keep up, but seldom finish reading one. I have to admit that I often find myself feeling bored and empty, as if I’m hungry for steak and have nothing in the cupboard but [...]
October 27, 2009 – 8:04 pm
What would a Triple Bottom Line Balanced Scorecard look like?
Building a Balanced Scorecard begins with the collaborative creation of a Strategy Map. The Strategy Map is a highly visual, and easily communicated, way to illustrate how the strategy of the enterprise translates into measurable objectives in each of the four perspectives – finance, customer, process, [...]
October 24, 2009 – 8:37 am
The Balanced Scorecard has proven to be one of the more enduring business management ideas of the last 20 years, and has proven surprisingly adaptable to the requirements of sustainability measurement. Building a Balanced Scorecard takes us through a conversation that answers four questions:
How does the business appear from the perspective of an owner or [...]
October 12, 2009 – 1:34 pm
A wide variety of reporting frameworks have been developed to address the need for standards in Triple Bottom Line reporting, including some broad frameworks from GEMI and GRI. These have been supplemented with literally hundreds of “green” seals and certifications, often specific to certain products or industries.
These frameworks and certification standards are a huge step [...]
September 29, 2009 – 8:55 am
In a recent column in Colorado Business Magazine, author Larry Turner reports on a panel discussion among three Colorado business leaders who’ve seen improved revenues and business performance in spite of the recession. Beyond the usual, and worthy, advice about moving quickly, cutting costs and finding ways to enhance revenues, two themes really struck me:
Collaboration [...]
August 3, 2009 – 10:23 am
It happened one Friday morning in 1991, just before Christmas. My boss eyed me as I arrived at work, and called me into his office. I found myself staring at a letter outlining my “package”.
As my boss was escorting me out of the building, there was so much I wanted to tell him about what [...]
August 13, 2008 – 9:23 pm
The companies that are on the leading edge of sustainability are demonstrating that it’s possible to be lean, green, and profitable. But being sustainable is more than a matter of just complying with regulations or mounting a PR campaign. It’s a different way of imagining possibilities, managing collaborative business relationships, and leading change. Blue Opal [...]