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So many books; so little time!
There are so many books about sustainability and embedding it into business. A quick search on Amazon with the combination of sustainability and business yields close to 8000 entries! Instead of sifting through them all, I decided to just venture into the local library – which has an excellent management collection – and see what…
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The experiment with women in management
Flashback to 1993: I left immediately after a (French) general manager answered my question about women in management positions. It was a cold day in Chicago as I rode the train back to campus to file a complaint at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management career office against this man and his company. This company invited…
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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Sustainable Investment in the Netherlands
“The fish rots from the head down” was the closing remark by a panelist at one of the events I joined on sustainable investment this week. He was referring to the crucial role of corporate leaders in creating culture that is both good for the company and the world. Perhaps it is time to change…
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Does sustainability build brand value?
Every year, Interbrand releases the results of their Best Global Brands research, based on their brand evaluation model. This year, two brands broke the 13 year reign of Coca Cola as the most valuable brand in the world: Apple and Google. If I consider how these two brands have become part of my life, this…
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Netherlands’ Sustainability Queen calls for visionary leadership and guts
On the third Tuesday in September, the Dutch government traditionally presents the new plans for the year ahead. The (new) King will read the “troonrede”, a speech from the throne written by the ministers to present the plans to the parliament (the senate and the house of representatives). After this speech, the Minister of Finance…
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A beautiful story about change through positive collaboration
Meet my cousin Cathelijne Lania, founder of A Beautiful Story, driving change through fairtrade jewelry. In 2012, her company was voted the most sustainable company in Amsterdam. What is your model of change towards a more sustainable world? For me, sustainability is all about people and their mindsets. My key drivers for change are collaboration…
