speaker-image
Business & Society headphone 28 minutes | October 21, 2024

#11 Corporate Sustainability

Rethinking Responsibility and Impact with Auden Schendler
Listen on

About The Speaker

Auden is the Senior Vice President of Sustainability at Aspen Skiing Company and has published widely, including in the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Financial Times, and The Atlantic. You may have read his book Getting Green Done: Hard Truths from the Front Lines of the Sustainability Revolution. His new book is coming in November from Harvard Business Review Press, titled Terrible Beauty: Reckoning With Climate Complicity and Rediscovering Our Soul.

Episode Description

Can global brands really lead the charge against climate change, or are they just playing a part in a much bigger distraction? Join us in a thought-provoking conversation with Auden Schendler, Senior Vice President of Sustainability at Aspen Skiing Company, as he pulls back the curtain on corporate sustainability efforts. With a bold critique, Auden challenges the traditional focus on individual carbon footprints, arguing it often distracts from the systemic changes necessary to dismantle the fossil fuel economy. Through his own journey from various humble jobs to a pioneering role in sustainability, Auden shares his experience in transforming a coal-powered utility into a clean energy success story, emphasizing the urgent need for businesses to prioritize sweeping systemic shifts over voluntary eco-friendly gestures.

The conversation doesn’t stop at environmental issues alone. We delve into the vital intersection of climate change, corporate responsibility, and social justice, exploring how businesses can transcend mere economic interests in favor of ethical imperatives. Auden makes a compelling case for merging climate and equity movements, envisioning a more inclusive path forward. Amidst global polarization, he remains optimistic about the future, underscoring that structural political challenges are surmountable. With insights from his upcoming book “Terrible Beauty,” Auden paints a hopeful picture of businesses adopting a values-driven approach, fostering lasting social and environmental impact beyond the bottom line.

Additional inspirations from Auden Schendler

All Episodes