In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with Preity Gurung, a passionate young processional who found her purpose through a career in sustainable development. As a Program Officer at the Center for Indigenous Peoples’ Research and Development (CIPRED), Preity shares her journey from intern to field leader, working to preserve the knowledge, culture, and customary practices of indigenous communities facing the mounting pressures of climate change, displacement, and margina...
Jul 03, 2025•31 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with Diana Njeru, Project Director at BBC Media Action, about her work equipping local journalists across Africa to tell community-centered stories of climate change. Diana shares how her team partners with rural media stations — often lacking resources, infrastructure, and formal training — to build storytelling capacity that can save lives and inspire action. From early warning systems for floods and droughts to stories that chall...
Jun 26, 2025•28 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, I speak with Philipp Meister, Global Fashion and Sporting Goods Chemical Lead at Quantis, about the need for sustainability leaders to begin rebuilding the business case for sustainability. With over 16 years in the sporting goods industry at companies like Nike and Adidas, Philipp brings deep insight into how sustainability roles are evolving inside organizations—and how today’s Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) must adapt to shifting bu...
Jun 19, 2025•36 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we’re joined by Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet, who speaks about their recent work to create a new model for environmental philanthropy. A bold new initiative for the organization, the Planet Impact Fund, introduces a new philanthropic tool that blends investment and grantmaking to amplify their impact. Kate walks us through the fund’s origin, structure, and vision, and explains how this new model creates space for broader participa...
Jun 16, 2025•35 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with Bernadette Victorio, Program Lead for Fair Finance Asia, to explore how raising the bar for transparency and accountability across the region’s banking sector. Bernadette outlines the network’s three-tier strategy—capacity-building at the national level, coordinated advocacy at the regional level, and alignment with global standards—to ensure capital respects both people and planet. Together, we unpack the legacy of the 2008 fi...
May 30, 2025•37 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with Blair Glencorse, founder and co-CEO of the Accountability Lab, about their research to measure the impact of USAID's closure. With over 800 NGOs surveyed, their research seeks to understand the immediate and long-term impacts, and in this conversation, Blair shares what the data reveals about financial vulnerability, sector-wide reliance on aid, the structural weaknesses exposed by this shift, and the urgent need for resilience...
May 22, 2025•36 min
In this episode, we speak with Veronica Lee, who shares insights of USAID's mission, impact, and closure. A 15 year veteran of the organization, Victoria discusses her path into international development, the critical role USAID plays in global soft power and development assistance, and the detailed processes behind the agency's operations. She candidly addresses the recent events surrounding USAID's closure, reflecting on the immediate and long-term impacts on global communities and partners. V...
May 15, 2025•38 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, I sit down with Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, Climate Envoy for the Netherlands to speak about the work of a climate envoy We explore the critical role of climate diplomacy in today’s shifting geopolitical landscape—from translating science into action to brokering climate finance and empowering local solutions. Jaime shares how he navigates resistance, builds global coalitions, and why he believes everyone can contribute to the climate agenda—...
May 03, 2025•37 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speaks with Pritha Hariram, iPAC Director for Water Infrastructure and Climate Adaptation at Ramboll, about the complex challenges and opportunities surrounding global water resilience and climate smart cities. Drawing on her 23 years of experience across nonprofit, multilateral, corporate, and consulting sectors, Pritha highlights the urgency of the water crisis, the importance of financing and stakeholder collaboration, and the essentia...
Apr 26, 2025•28 min
In this episode, we speak with Madhu Marasini, Secretary at Nepal’s National Planning Commission, about his work to support Nepal's path to economic and climate security. Through our conversation, Madhu explains how, as one of the world's most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, Nepal seeks to integrate Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change policies, and international partnerships into its planning and budgeting processes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...
Mar 03, 2025•34 min
In this episode, we speak with Martina Igini, Editor-in-Chief of Earth.org, about her journey into a career in climate journalism, the unique volunteer-based model at Earth.org, and the challenges of covering climate and environmental news. Martina sheds light on how she coordinates a global network of more than 400 contributors, balances editorial quality and content variety, and navigates fundraising in an era where journalism itself faces financial hurdles. She also offers practical tips for ...
Feb 22, 2025•32 min
In this episode of The Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speaks with Sanushka Mudlair, Director of the Red Cross Red Crescent Global Migration Lab, about the work they are doing to better align policies and programs to support safer pathways for migrants. As part of our conversation, we speak about the complexities of global migration, the importance of understanding migrants’ lived experiences, and the ways in which humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross can better align programs and po...
Jan 27, 2025•35 min
In this episode, we speak with Christine Goulay, a sustainable innovation expert, about her recent report on next-generation materials and sustainable fashion. It is a report, and conversation, that brings to light some of the key challenges of scaling sustainable solutions and provides practical advice for how innovators can learn to pitch better, corporates can learn to better align with innovators, and through new models of collaboration, scale can be achieved. If you’ve ever wondered how new...
Jan 19, 2025•30 min
In this episode, we speak with Ellen Weinreb, founder of the Weinreb Group about the rise of fractional chief sustainability officers (CSOs) that are growing in number as firms seek to better develop and deploy their sustainability strategies. At times, it is at the behest of an investor, who wants to build capacity within a portfolio company, but multinational firms with large / complex supply chains are also finding value bringing in co-pilots who are able to support existing teams on acute ch...
Jan 13, 2025•29 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, I am joined by Hiroko Muraki Gottlieb, an accomplished environmental lawyer whose career spans global business, nonprofits, intergovernmental organizations, and academia. Hiroko shares her journey from practicing corporate environmental law to becoming deeply involved in international policy making, including her critical role in shaping the High Seas Treaty. Together, we explore the role of legal professionals in sustainability, the challen...
Dec 02, 2024•27 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with Stacy Williams, Executive Director of ISER Caribe, about her journey as a marine biologist focused on coral reef conservation and adaptation. Based in Puerto Rico, Stacy discusses the challenges coral reefs face, from rising ocean temperatures to invasive algae and diseases, and she highlights innovative restoration techniques, such as introducing herbivorous species like sea urchins and crabs, and breeding resilient corals. St...
Nov 17, 2024•29 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with Dr. Martin Frick, Director of the World Food Program in Berlin about his 25+ year U.N. career and impacting the lives of millions through global initiatives in food security and climate action. Through our discussion, Martin shares his perspective on the UN’s unique role in addressing some of the world’s most pressing issues, the importance of local action, the power of youth in shaping global agendas, and the challenges faced ...
Nov 10, 2024•36 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with Isabel Felandro, Head of Programmes at Cool Earth, about their recent pilot program testing the potential of Universal Basic Income to prevent deforestation in the Amazon. Through our conversation, Isabel shares insights on the program’s design, the role of Indigenous communities in conservation, and how they approached trust and unconditional funding, and we speak to how they approached the unique challenges, risks, and philos...
Nov 02, 2024•29 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with Laurie Goering, the Extreme Heat Editor for Climate Resilience for All. about the challenges of reporting on extreme heat and the importance of telling human-centric stories. Through our conversation, Laurie speaks to the nuances of effective communication in climate journalism, the need to balance alarming facts with actionable solutions, and she wraps the conversation with valuable career advice to aspiring climate journalist...
Oct 25, 2024•27 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with photographer Chris Jordan about how photography has the ability to inspire a global environmental movement. Known for his striking images of environmental degradation, including the famous photographs of dead albatrosses filled with plastic, Jordan reflects on his journey from lawyer to photographer, the role of beauty and art in environmentalism, and his evolving perspective on how to inspire change. The conversation touches o...
Sep 28, 2024•32 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, host Rich Rigger speaks with Andrew Jack, the Global Education Editor at the Financial Times about the future of sustainability at business schools. Through our discussion, we explore the current state of sustainability within business education, how schools are evolving in this area, and the roles of students, faculty, and businesses in driving change, and Andrew shares insights on the challenges academic institutions face in embedding sust...
Sep 22, 2024•24 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, host Rich interviews award-winning science writer and Anthropocene researcher Gaia Vince about her latest book, Nomad Century. The conversation focuses on the increasingly pressing issue of climate-driven migration, the lack of global preparedness for the inevitable movement of millions of people, and the need to change the narrative around climate migrations as a key starting point. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...
Sep 08, 2024•21 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, I speak with Jeana Wirtenberg from Rutgers Business School about the evolving role of business leadership and sustainability that she has seen over the last 20 years of engaging business leaders in areas of corporate social responsibility, innovation, and leadership, and the important role academic has to help leaders drive sustainability through their organizations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 30, 2024•24 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with with Ivonne Bojoh, CEO of Circle Economy, about the circular economy and her journey from a career in entrepreneurship and innovation to leading a global impact organization focused on the circular economy. It is a conversation that starts with a framing of circularity, its practical application, and the systemic challenges that must be overcome to achieve a truly circular economy before focusing in on her own career transition...
Aug 24, 2024•22 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador podcast, we speak with Tiffany Crawford & Krista Milne about their work as Chief Heat Officers for the City of Melbourne. It is a discussion that starts speaking to the challenges of climate change to cities, and their work to develop and deliver an effective solution. About Tiffany Crawford Tiffany Crawford brings nearly two decades of experience for the City of Melbourne, working with stakeholders to advance climate change initiatives. “We want...
Jul 27, 2024•27 min
In this Sustainable Ambassador Podcast episode, we chat with Paul Shapiro on the transformative power of plant-based products in replacing animal proteins, and the key lessons he has taken away from from recent market shifts in the plant-based sector. Lessons that should be a goldmine for anyone developing a 'sustainable' product or brand. About Paul Paul Shapiro is the author of the national bestseller Clean Meat: How Growing Meat Without Animals Will Revolutionize Dinner and the World (publish...
May 21, 2024•16 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassadors Podcast, I speak with my former student Talha Khan about his decision to leave McKinsey to become the Executive Director of Pakistan Environment Trust (PET). It is a conversation that starts with Talha speaking about Pakistan's challenges and the opportunity he saw to return "home" and lead the Trust. From there, we spoke in depth about the position of Executive Director and how the role itself has changed as the organization has grown. Towards the ...
May 14, 2024•16 min
In this episode of The Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with Professor Björn-Ola Linnér challenges of creating tangibility around environmental issues, the need to change rules and societal norms, and the role of academia in driving impactful change. Through our time we dive deep into the complexities of societal transformations, governance frameworks, and the need for actionable options to empower stakeholders, but end with a great discussion about the passion and capacity of his curren...
May 11, 2024•22 min
In this episode, we speak with Salisa Traipipitsiriwat about her work as Senior Campaigner to rid the ocean of plastic waste, and the early lessons she has learned in campaigning, managing teams, and the importance of being aligned with the organization's mission. Lessons that will serve her well throughout her career, and one's we hope will help you as well! Timestamps: 00:14 - Welcome to the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast 00:55 - Salisa Introduction 01:25 - Mission to Solve Plastic Waste 02:10...
May 07, 2024•18 min
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador podcast, we speak with Nick Oldridge, about his work at the Climate Science Breakthrough to partner comedians and climate scientists in the hope that through the use of humor and hope a great level of engagement on the issues of climate change can be achieved. It's an incredible conversation with a "regular dude" who saw the need for a shift in how we engage on this topic, and through our conversation we dive into the details about this incredible pl...
May 04, 2024•24 min
