ESG and Sustainability: A Key Business Strategy for Growth w/ Laurie White | S5E3

Growing your business with People

In this episode of Growing Your Business with People, host Jeff Lackey interviews Laurie White, the President of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. They discuss the importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and sustainability in today's business landscape.
Laurie highlights how businesses need to align their values with their actions to attract and retain top talent. They also delve into the role of sustainability in supply chain management and the competitive advantage it can provide. Laurie introduces a certification program developed in partnership with KPMG that helps businesses understand and implement sustainable practices.
This episode provides valuable insights into the evolving business landscape and the importance of sustainability in driving growth.

For more information on this certification, visit: https://www.providencechamber.com/esgcert
Key Takeaways:

• Businesses need to align their values with their actions to attract and retain top talent.
• Sustainability is a business imperative and can provide a competitive advantage in the supply chain.
• The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce has partnered with KPMG to offer a certification program in ESG and sustainability.
• The program helps businesses understand and implement sustainable practices, providing a valuable skill set for employees.
• The rise of independent contractors and distributed workforces offers new opportunities for businesses and employees alike.

In this episode:

00:00:00 Introduction to team building exercise and its benefits

00:00:23 Lori White, President of Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, joins the podcast

00:01:40 Discussion on CEOs' priorities, including ESG, sustainability, and workforce recruitment

00:03:23 Return to office policies, real estate, and cost management

00:05:54 Link between company values and ESG efforts

00:09:38 Competitive advantage for vendors with sustainability credentials

00:11:31 Introduction to the KPMG digital academy for certification

00:14:19 - 00:14:50 Helping businesses understand where to begin with sustainability

00:18:14 - 00:18:37 Tailoring the program to local businesses

00:22:30 - 00:22:32 Advice: Recognize the disruption and adapt to the new normal

00:22:32 - 00:23:15 Advice: Embrace work-life balance and focus on the culture of work

00:25:44 Rise of independent contractors and desire for agency

00:29:05 Digitization of the economy creates career opportunities

00:30:00 Conclusion and gratitude for guest appearance

Special thanks to all those who encouraged me to do this podcast, with a special thanks to my son Jeffrey who challenged/inspired me to do this podcast, Vinnie and Emmett who have helped to post and promote it, and Aubrey who has provided me with good, constructive feedback along the way! Love, Dad