The Next Innovation

Episode: How Corporate Sustainability Can Keep Your Top Talent
Host: Situation Room Studios, Samantha Murphy Kelly
Date: August 22, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores how sustainability is evolving from a mere corporate buzzword to a core business strategy essential for recruiting and retaining top talent. Industry insiders and sustainability consultants discuss why meaningful environmental and social responsibility efforts are now a top concern among employees, how regulations are changing the playing field, and what innovative tools are shaping the future of sustainable business. Notably, the conversation bridges transatlantic differences, describes the latest consulting strategies, and spotlights technology-driven solutions for both companies and consumers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining Corporate Sustainability ([00:01] – [01:48])

• Samantha Murphy Kelly introduces sustainability as a business and talent issue, not just an environmental one.
• Josh Prigge (Cestridge): Defines corporate sustainability as "moving forward in a way that minimizes impacts on the environment, impacts on people, has strong governance and transparency" ([01:06]).

Quote

"It's a boardroom priority, a hiring strategy, and believe it or not, a competitive advantage."
— Samantha Murphy Kelly ([00:01])

2. Why Companies Embrace Sustainability ([01:48] – [03:40])

• New regulations (especially in Europe and California) compel action, but talent attraction/retention is equally crucial.
• Commitment to sustainability boosts employee engagement, retention, and productivity.
• Joan Michaelson (Forbes, ESG consultant):
  • 70% of workers "will only work for companies that have a significant sustainability profile and practice that they can truly believe in and like verify." ([02:48])
  • Increasingly, recruits inquire about company sustainability before accepting roles.

Memorable Quote

"People across the board of every generation...really want to align their values with their work."
— Joan Michaelson ([02:48])

3. Consultants Advancing Corporate Sustainability ([03:40] – [06:51])

• Paul Murphy (Climaction):
  • Urges urgency: "If you think about the length of time that companies have to act between now and 2030, it's not a lot of time." ([04:07])
  • Describes the FAST program: Footprint, Audit, Strategy, Targets.
  • Their work: Split between consulting, digital tools, project development, and 'climate action as a service'.

Quote

"Within eight weeks they have a very clear picture of what they need to do, how much it's going to cost and any grants or funding that is available for it."
— Paul Murphy ([05:10])

4. Core Challenges: Emissions, Supply Chains, and Regulation ([06:13] – [09:55])

• Decarbonization is tough, especially for industrial firms reliant on fossil fuels.
• Supply chain (Scope 3) emissions are the most complex to address.
• Big companies now require suppliers to set sustainability targets.
• The US lags behind Europe, where regulatory frameworks like the CSRD are more advanced.

Notable Quotes

"Scope 3 emissions is the one that most people forget about..."
— Paul Murphy ([06:51])
"The corporate world and the asset managers…understand the risk of not doing this. I think the corporations will continue to probably lead the way for the country for the foreseeable future."
— Josh Prigge ([07:58])

5. European vs. American Approach to Sustainability ([09:05] – [10:39])

• Europe’s long-term, solutions-driven approach contrasts with the US's shorter-term, financial focus.
• Regulatory leadership: EU's CSRD increases transparency and comparability.
• Cultural differences: "Europe by nature has a longer term view…they look for solutions." — Joan Michaelson ([09:55])
• European major events discuss climate change as a matter-of-fact, solutions focus.

6. Supply Chain Data and Agriculture ([10:39] – [11:33])

• Food/agriculture firms—major emitters—are adopting data-driven approaches.
• Gathering accurate data from vast supply chains is an ongoing challenge.

"[Companies want to] understand how the practices in their vineyards or their agricultural fields impact their overall Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions."
— Josh Prigge ([10:58])

7. Technological Innovations in Sustainability ([11:33] – [12:44])

• Climaction’s AI Video Platform ("vsag"): Enables remote analysis and advice, saving resources.
• AI streamlines consultancy, lets companies and farmers upload images/videos for instant feedback.

"[A farmer] can just take a photo…we can review it remotely…they'll have the feeling that they're speaking to a consultant when really they're actually speaking to a pre-programmed AI.”
— Paul Murphy ([11:47])

8. Empowering Sustainable Consumer Choices ([13:03] – [14:45])

• Yasmin Abdou (Carbon Track):
  • Platform helps shoppers pick climate-friendly products in supermarkets.
  • Makes impacts tangible with relatable stats (e.g., "your choices have saved two penguins or three turtles").
  • Founded with the mission: “Through the power of small sustainable actions…” ([13:03])

Quote

"It's not just that, because when people start making these sustainable choices...we can actually tell you how much of an impact you have by translating it into something that you can understand…It hits you different when you realize the choices you make are actually making a difference."
— Yasmin Abdou ([14:24])

9. Sustainability Drives Business Innovation ([14:52] – [16:00])

• Sustainability is now linked to innovation in products, management, and internal processes.
• "Authenticity" in purpose and leadership crucial for talent retention.
• Constraints (resource and regulatory) fuel creativity.

Quotes

“Companies who are more likely to be leaders in sustainability are also more likely to be leaders in innovation.”
— Josh Prigge ([14:52])
“People really want to work for leaders that they believe in and believe are authentic and walk the talk…”
— Joan Michaelson ([15:12])
"The constraint of how do I use less energy, how do I use less water, and how can I do it for less money? ... those things can actually drive creative people to come up with another solution."
— Joan Michaelson ([16:00])

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "It's a boardroom priority, a hiring strategy, and believe it or not, a competitive advantage." — Samantha Murphy Kelly ([00:01])
• "People across the board...really want to align their values with their work." — Joan Michaelson ([02:48])
• "If you think about the length of time that companies have to act between now and 2030, it's not a lot of time." — Paul Murphy ([04:07])
• "We become integrated as part of their team to support them in delivering on their decarbonization strategy." — Paul Murphy ([05:39])
• "The big companies, the leading companies, are really now asking their suppliers to set their own science based targets..." — Josh Prigge ([07:40])
• "Europe by nature has a longer term view... the United States tends to be very, you know, boom, boom, boom, instant gratification." — Joan Michaelson ([09:55])
• "When people start making these sustainable choices...we can actually tell you how much of an impact you have by translating it into something that you can understand." — Yasmin Abdou ([14:24])
• "Companies who are more likely to be leaders in sustainability are also more likely to be leaders in innovation." — Josh Prigge ([14:52])
• "Authenticity is a critical thing...walk the talk and live their values." — Joan Michaelson ([15:12])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• What is corporate sustainability? – [00:01]–[01:48]
• Talent and sustainability's connection – [02:20]–[03:40]
• Decarbonization strategies & consulting – [04:07]–[06:51]
• Supply chain & regulatory challenges – [06:51]–[09:55]
• Europe vs. America – [09:55]–[10:39]
• Tech tools for corporate sustainability – [11:33]–[12:44]
• Consumer engagement, Carbon Track – [13:03]–[14:45]
• Sustainability sparks innovation – [14:52]–[16:00]

Conclusion

Corporate sustainability now underpins recruitment, innovation, and competitive strategy. The episode showcases how both regulatory push and cultural pull are propelling companies to act. From boardrooms to farms and supermarket aisles, authentic, data-driven, and tech-enabled actions are shaping tomorrow’s business and talent landscape. With global best practices, creative problem-solving, and digital tools, the sustainability imperative is clear: the businesses that lead, will keep the best minds and drive the next wave of innovation.