At the start of 2016, I promised myself to make it a year for positive change. Part of that promise was a commitment to blog more frequently about sustainability as a driver of positive change. Continuing the interviews with inspiring people I meet, stepping up reviews of relevant books, and posting other blogs about positive change. Not always easy to make the time, yet a very positive experience! In the end, I wrote nearly 40 blog posts, generating close to 6000 page views, more than the years 2013-2015 combined! Here is the countdown of my best-read blogs from 2016.
10. Integrating sustainability into your career
February 19, 2016: Looking for top tips on how to make your next career move more sustainable? This blog covers the key pointers from a workshop I organized at Nyenrode University. The workshop was expertly led by Annick Schmeddes, founder of Sustainable Talent. Read more …
9. Investors are joining consumers and NGOs on tax evasion
February 15, 2016: When defining what sustainability and corporate social responsibility are really all about, tax should be part of the discussion. Increasingly, various stakeholders view corporate tax responsibility (CTR) as part of corporate social responsibility (CSR). In recent years, media coverage of companies’ tax policy and tax avoidance schemes has resulted in dented reputations, even consumer boycotts. Deep public spending cuts in the wake of the financial crisis have made more consumers interested – and outraged – about corporate tax policies that minimize tax benefits for a broad group of stakeholders to the benefit of just one specific stakeholder – the shareholder. Read more …
8. Naming, claiming, framing the S-word
May 8, 2016: Ahead of moderating a panel of sustainability communications experts at the 2016 Global Reporting Initiative’s global conference, this blog explored whether it is time to forget the S-word: sustainability. Read more …
7. Reporting sustainability data for action
May 24, 2016: From May 18-20, 2016, I joined Global Reporting Initiative’s global conference. This blog covers my overall takeaways, highlights, and concerns from this event, focused on collaboration, SDGs, big data and action for impact. Read more …
6. Psychology for sustainable change
November 22, 2016: An interview with Vincent de Klerk, who uses psychology to support teams and individuals through change. As sustainability always calls for change within organizations and teams, I was very keen to learn from him. We talked about psychology and leadership for sustainable change. Read more …
5. Simon (Sinek) Says “Start with Why”
January 20, 2016: The first book review of the year covered Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why”. Not only did it help me formulate my own why better, but I also had the opportunity to immediately put the theory to use. Initially on a pro-bono case for a local ecology NGO in the Netherlands and I’ve put the golden circle to use many times since. Read more …
4. Don’t just do something, stand there
February 3, 2016: An interview with André Nijhof, Professor Sustainable Business and Stewardship at Nyenrode Business University. Always nice to be back at my alma mater. Since the interview, our conversations have continued about personal drivers, responsibility, and intent. Read more …
3. Leadership for positive sustainable change
August 24, 2016: What defines effective leadership to drive positive sustainable change? I asked this question to all people I interviewed for my blog in the past three years. This post builds on their collective wisdom, quoting some of the best-read interviews, supplemented with my own views. Read more …
2. Driving positive change for a better retirement future
May 22, 2016: An interview with Jacqueline van Koert, who was Change and Corporate Responsibility Manager at Zwitserleven. In 2015, this company was recognized for its responsible investment policy. She shared her views on the world in which she’d like to retire, trust and change. Read more …
1. Dare to care about what you wear
March 8, 2016: An interview with Anita de Wit and Joanneke Lootsma, the women driving ReBlend, a Dutch upcycling startup that turns non-wearable textile waste into new textiles and fashion. I was inspired by both their fabrics and their story. We talked about positive change through innovation, partnership and upcycling. Read more …
Bonus: best-read blog ever: Avoid the materiality traps
Just before I started the countdown of my best-read blogs on Twitter (and compiling this post), I co-authored a blog post with Nelmara Arbex of Arbex & Company. At the time, it wasn’t anywhere near number 10 on the list in terms of views, so I thought it would be safe to start the list. But I was (happily) proven wrong by you – my readers. It not only became the best-read blog of 2016 but the best-read blog so far on my site! By far. It also sparked great discussion in various LinkedIn groups and elsewhere. I guess that shows just what collaboration can do! Read more …
Best wishes to all my readers for 2017. Let’s make it another year for positive change!
This overview of best-read blogs on the Changeincontext.com platform was written by Marjolein Baghuis (@mbaghuis). To read about interesting people, book reviews and other posts about change, communications and sustainability in 2017 as well, please subscribe near the top of the right-hand column.