Impact Talk with Nadine Zidani

Climate change affects all industries, including the creative space, which not only needs to decarbonize its operations but also holds a responsibility in the stories it tells—the power it entails in the fight against climate change. Gunjan Nanda and Ninoksha D’souza, two inspiring climate activists, addressed this crucial topic at COP28 within the Culture and Entertainment Pavilion.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• The importance of culture and entertainment in driving climate action.
• Their personal climate stories and experiences at COP28 while running the Entertainment and Culture Pavilion.
• Why climate storytelling matters and how it can drive change.
• Advice for you to explore more climate stories.
  

Gunjan Nanda:

Gunjan is the Co-founder of Dubai Climate Collective, a Community Facilitator, and a key member of the Founding & Convening Team for Entertainment and Culture for Climate Action (ECCA). Aligned with the UNFCCC and the Paris Climate Agreement, Gunjan's responsibilities include global inclusion efforts, crafting a decarbonization roadmap for the entertainment sector, and catalyzing climate action through art and narrative power. As the Co-founder and Director of the Entertainment + Culture Foundation, Gunjan recently organized the foundation's inaugural E+C pavilion at COP28 in Dubai.

Ninoksha D’souza:

Ninoksha is a dedicated climate activist and sustainability strategist with over a decade of experience at the intersection of sustainability communications and the creative industry. As the Operations Coordinator at the Entertainment and Culture Pavilion during COP28, she plays a crucial role in connecting the creative sector with global climate goals. Ninoksha's expertise includes upskilling the advertising industry in climate communications, leading sustainable campaigns for various agencies, and fostering responsible advertising frameworks as a strategy director.

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Did you know that Palestinians have one of the world's highest literacy rates? In the midst of the devastating current war in Gaza, this episode introduces you to TAP, a career accelerator that helps youth in Palestine secure remote jobs at international companies. Co-founder Chris Vezjak shares his personal story as half-Palestinian, discusses how he met his co-founder and explains how his visit to Palestine inspired him to start this new venture. From exploring social impact to delving into the challenges of launching such a venture, Chris openly and genuinely shares his experience and his hope to create fair and equal opportunities for people in Palestine.

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A special podcast series “Stories of UAE's Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurs” in collaboration with Advanced Media Trading.

Meet Sahar Karoubi, the founder of Bambuyu, an impact-driven tissue company addressing the issue of deforestation.

Fueled by her passion for sustainability and her desire to create a better world for her children and future generations, she challenged conventional norms in the tissue industry, giving rise to the tree-free tissue brand. With a decade of experience in digital marketing and a vision for a brighter future, Sahar hopes to transform the way tissue products are manufactured and consumed.

In this episode, Sahar and Nadine discuss topics such as:

• Finding a problem and tackling it
• Purpose & Mission of Bambuyu
• The impact of deforestation
• Transitioning from the Marketing field into Sustainability

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We are introducing our special podcast series “Stories of UAE's Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurs” in collaboration with Advanced Media Trading.

In today's episode, we have a special guest, Ranjitha Raghavan, an entrepreneur who is making a difference in the world through her business, Back to Nature.

Join us as we dive into her journey of promoting eco-friendly food service packaging and plant-based single-use bags in the UAE and how her passion for sustainability led her to create a business that prioritizes our planet.

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We are introducing our special podcast series “Stories of UAE's Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurs” in collaboration with Advanced Media Trading.

Meet the inspiring woman entrepreneur Namrata Budhraja, who is the co-founder of Shift Eco, a company curates honest and impactful eco-friendly products. Their mission is to build a conscious community by creating awareness and providing eco-friendly products.

The discussion covers her journey from a project that transformed her life to becoming an entrepreneur, building a successful organization, and influencing a conscious community to adapt and support eco-friendly products.

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We are introducing our special podcast series “Stories of UAE's Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurs” in collaboration with Advanced Media Trading.

Meet the inspiring woman entrepreneur Ruby Archambault Giroux who is the Founder and products development director of The Botanist, a UAE startup specialized in natural home cleaning and body care products.

In this episode, Ruby and Nadine discuss topics such as:

• Shifting from fashion background to sustainability
• From mvp to successful business
• The importance of transparency
• The effect of harsh chemicals we use in our daily lives
• The research process of the Botanist products

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Have you ever dreamed working in a company with a bigger mission than just profit? A company where each employee is treated with respect, valued for their unique contributions, and given the opportunity to make a real difference? Then this episode of Impact Talk is for you!

Lucy Muigai is CEO of B Lab. Now based in Nairobi, Kenya with a mission of transforming businesses to benefit all people, communities, and the planet.

In this conversation, Lucy delves into the core of the B Lab mission and provides insights into how they assess and certify companies as B Corps. She shares inspiring success stories of African companies that have achieved B Corp certification, and she discusses the challenges and opportunities in Africa.

Tune in to discover how B Lab Africa is driving economic systems change by harnessing the power of business for good. If you're passionate about the intersection of business and social impact, this episode is a must-listen.

Connect with Lucy and stay updated on B Lab Africa's transformative work:

It is HERE! Impact Talk is a podcast where we share stories of meaningful change. The goal is to amplify the voices of incredible people creating a positive impact globally. Join us to be part of this change!

In this powerful talk, Mamadou Kwidjim Toure explains how technology can help us reconnect with our true selves and empower communities. He also shares his thoughts on blockchain technology and its potential to create more equitable societies. This podcast is an important reminder that we are all connected, and that by using technology for good we can create positive change in the world.

We talked about:

• The Ubuntu philosophy “I am because we are”
• Conscious leadership and conscious capitalism
• Spirituality and humanity technology is bringing back to us
• The power of self-transformation

Mamadou Kwidjim Toure, the Founder, and CEO of Ubuntu Tribe. Mamadou is on a mission to democratize access to gold through technology, and by doing so disrupt traditional investments.

In this episode, my guest is Monica Fonseca, an American journalist who grew up in Colombia with an advanced degree in Education, Culture, and Politics. Recognized for Addressing social issues and contributing to the social good, Monica has directed projects in technology, science, and culture engaging in important conversations and simplifying them for the broader audience. She is a big advocate for gender equality, diversity, and the preservation of the natural environment.

With Monica, we talked about:

• Her mission and activism
• The importance of social entrepreneurship
• The interconnection between social entrepreneurship and the climate crisis
• How can you be involved in social entrepreneurship and make an impact?

This is the book Monica mentioned in the podcast: Manifesto for Moral Revolution, Jacqueline Novogratz.

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In this episode, my guest is Melissa Clissold, Communication Lead at ATÖLYE. ATÖLYE is a strategic design and innovation Consultancy. They help organisations tackle complex challenges to create lasting impact through a community approach. ATÖLYE became a B Corp in 2021 and operates in Istanbul and Dubai.

Melissa shares with us ATÖLYE’s B Corp journey:

• How they use the B Corp tools to manage and improve their impact;
• The work they did on JEDI (Justice Equity Diversity & Inclusion);
• How the certification impacted ATÖLYE’s culture;
• How to get started with the B Corp process.

To support the podcast, please subscribe, share, and like. To contact me:

On this new podcast episode, my guest is Riccardo Bellini, the President and CEO of Chloé. Riccardo has set an ambitious plan to reassert Chloé's brand identity and desirability while shifting the company towards a purpose-driven business model centered on women empowerment and environmental sustainability.

You will learn more about Chloé’s journey, from the founder story to redefining the purpose in 2020, measuring and managing the company’s impact, and the shift in the business model until reaching the B Corp certification.

A huge thank you to my guest Riccardo for accepting my invitation and joining me on my mission to inspire people and businesses to take action.

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We continue our B Corp series with now a luxury hotel Group based in the UK. Danny Pecorelli is the Managing Director of Exclusive Collection, a family-run independent group of 4 luxury hotels, 2 country house venues, two spas, a golf club, a cookery school, and award-winning restaurants.

Exclusive Collection is the first hotel group in the UK to become certified B Corp leading the way in sustainability for the hospitality industry. Exclusive is pushing hard to grow its own with 5.2 Hectares of vineyard planted, acres of orchards, and some hugely productive kitchen gardens.

In this episode, you will learn more about how the hospitality industry can embrace the B Corp philosophy, how it positively impacts the company culture and business thanks, and what Exclusive Collection learned throughout this journey.

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Gihan Hyde, Founder of CommUnique, is a passionate communicator and an ESG (Environmental Social Governance) expert. CommUnique consists of a team of specialists across the entire governance, communications, and ESG spectrum. 

In this episode, we learn about Gihan's decision to join the B Corp movement and tips to perform the B Impact Assessment. She also elaborates on how her unique business model make a social impact. 

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Samie Al-Achrafi, CEO of Marmalade Fish, leads a team of global learning and leadership experts bringing humanity to business. Marmalade Fish has been named Best Organisational Change Consultancy for three consecutive years, and is the first and only certified B Corporation in the Middle East.

In this episode, we learn about Samie's journey to becoming a B Corp, the impact is making with Marmalade Fish, and the importance of conscious leadership in achieving sustainable development.

To contact Samie:

• Website: https://www.marmaladefish.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/time4humanity/

To contact me:

In this first series, you will learn more about B Corporation or B Corp:

1. What's a B Corp and how does the movement harness business as a force for good.
2. The benefits of becoming a B Corp.
3. The requirements to become a B Corp.

Below are some links to further explore the matter: