AND is the Future
Ilham Kadri
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"AND is the Future" brings together great minds to address the opportunities and challenges of making businesses both sustainable AND profitable. Hosted by Ilham Kadri, CEO of Solvay.
Available episodes
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Mar 6, 2023
Sustainable Development AND Economic Prosperity with Jorge Laguna-Celis
Did you know that sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12) can bring a lot of growth and economic benefits? Ilham sits down with Jorge Laguna-Celis who leads the One Planet Network, part of the UN Environment Programme, to talk about the importance of SDG 12; the One Planet Network’s global strategy for sustainable consumption and production; how businesses can grow and thrive by achieving SDG 12, and much more!
Timestamps
1:22 - Upbringing and passion for sustainable development
2:36 - Focus on SDG 12 and the 10 year framework of programs on sustainable consumption and production
5:14 - What has been achieved and still left to achieve since Rio 20?
8:43 - Release of One Planet Network’s Global Strategy for Sustainable Consumption and Production
13:51 - Circularity and business mindshifts, and reducing inequality
20:25 - Harmonizing frameworks
15:46 - What was achieved at COP 27?
29:59 - What about COP 15 on biodiversity?
33:12 - Love of music and playing the guitar
Jorge Laguna-Celis is a diplomat, an author and internationally renowned expert on global sustainable development policies. Jorge leads the One Planet Network, part of the UN Environment Programme. In this role, he's responsible for driving exciting new actions for achieving SDG 12 to enable sustainable consumption and production.
He is the author of numerous columns and publications on issues related to international affairs and sustainable development. His latest book entitled "From Rio+20 to a New Development Agenda: Building a Bridge to a Sustainable Future", was published in 2014 by Routledge.
For additional details about the podcast, show notes, and access to resources mentioned during the show, please visit https://www.solvay.com/podcast
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Feb 6, 2023
Space AND Humanity’s Progress with Doug Hurley
Did you watch the Netflix documentary Return to Space? Then you will remember one of the stars of the show, former NASA astronaut Doug Hurley! Ilham sits down with Doug to discuss his amazing flight in the SpaceX Dragon rocket, what sparked his passion for flight, the launch of Artemis I, when we’ll see humans on Mars, and, most importantly, what businesses can learn from space exploration.
While at NASA Doug went to space three times: In 2009, Doug piloted the NASA Space Shuttle Endeavour, and in 2011 he piloted the Space Shuttle Atlantis, which was the final flight of NASA’s Space Shuttle program. But that wasn’t Doug’s final flight: in 2020, he returned to space aboard the SpaceX Dragon rocket. After clocking more than 92 days in space, Doug retired from NASA and now works for Northrop Grumman, which built the two towering motors that powered NASA’s Artemis rocket to the moon. In January 2023, Doug was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor by Vice President Kamala Harris for his significant contributions to American space programs.
Time stamps
1: 46 - Spark for passion for flight
3:24 - Experience going to space
4: 59 - The SpaceX Dragon mission
9: 32 - Focus on safety
12:50 - Friendship with fellow astronaut Bob Behnken
16:38 - SpaceX ascent and re-entry/splash down
19:46 - Bringing hope during covid-19
23:05 - Launch of Artemis I
27:32 - When will we put humans on Mars?
31:26 - Work at Northrop Grumman
36:27 - Diversity, equity and inclusion in space exploration
39:25 - What can businesses learn from space exploration?
41:56 - Devotion to family
For additional details about the podcast, show notes, and access to resources mentioned during the show, please visit https://www.solvay.com/podcast
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Jan 11, 2023
Entrepreneurship AND Reinventing Education with Michelle Brown
When Michelle Brown started her first teaching job at a low income school in Mississippi, she was confronted by the deep inequities in the system and decided to do something about it. Michelle went on to found CommonLit, a non-profit technology company with a mission to close the opportunity gap in education through literacy.
Ilham sits down with Michelle to discuss her journey from teacher to tech entrepreneur, and the impact of CommonLit, which is doing so much to improve literacy for students, especially those in low income schools.
Time stamps
1:32 - Upbringing and inspiration to pursue education
3: 32 - First teaching job
5:53 - From teacher to tech entrepreneur
10:10 - What is CommonLit?
14:03 - Impact of CommonLit
20:00 - Growth of the program
23:33 - Diversity, equity and inclusion
25:48 - What’s next?
27:08 - Advice for young entrepreneurs
28:13 - Hobbies
*About Michelle Brown*
Michelle Brown is the founder and CEO of CommonLit, an innovative and free online educational program that reinvents the way students learn to read. Under Michelle’s leadership, CommonLit has grown to over 20 million users and it's having a profound impact on improving literacy across the United States, particularly in low income schools. She is an experienced classroom teacher who has taught in urban and rural environments, and at the university level as a professor of Spanish.
For additional details about the podcast, show notes, and access to resources mentioned during the show, please visit https://www.solvay.com/podcast
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Nov 28, 2022
Around the World AND Emissions Free with Bertrand Piccard
Famed explorer Bertrand Piccard reminds us that if everyone tells you that something is possible, that means your dreams are not big enough! Bertrand made history by flying around the world, first non-stop in a balloon, and more recently in a solar-powered airplane without burning a single drop of fuel.
In this podcast, Ilham sits down with Bertrand to discuss his upbringing and what sparked his passion for exploring the unknown, his flight around the world in a solar powered plane, the future of emissions free flight, solutions that are sustainable AND profitable, his advice for you young explorers and entrepreneurs, and most importantly, how to make the impossible possible!
Time stamps:
1:26 - Rapid fire questions
5:24 - Upbringing and passion for exploring
8:10 - Inspiration from his grandfather Auguste Piccard
11:16 - Flight in a solar plane around the world
17:39 - The future of flight
21:32 - Next adventures
23:13 - Solar Impulse solutions that are sustainable AND profitable
26:11 - Bertrand’s latest book: logical AND ecological
29:02 - Pret a voter: making legislation and regulation work for sustainable and profitable solutions
32:43 - Experience as a psychologist
34:04 - Advice for young explorers and entrepreneurs
36:28 - Love of kitesurfing
For additional details about the podcast, show notes, and access to resources mentioned during the show, please visit https://www.solvay.com/podcast
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Oct 24, 2022
Net Positive AND Thriving with Paul Polman
Is the world better off because your business is in it? Paul Polman, one of the top leaders advocating for sustainable businesses, speaks with Ilham about what it takes to build a Net Positive company; how leaders can unlock a company’s soul; why empathetic leadership is the key to success; the power of partnerships; the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion, and so much more.
Timestamps
1:22 - Background and passion for sustainable business
5:10 - How to be a Net Positive company
8:42 - Purpose: unlocking a company’s soul
13:36 - Power of partnerships
19:07 - Empathetic leadership
25:30 - Leaving a better world for the next generation
27:32 - What can business learn from the arts?
Paul Polman is the former CEO of Unilever and one of the foremost leaders in the effort to create sustainable and profitable businesses. While at Unilever he increased his shareholders' returns by 300% while ensuring the company ranked #1 in the world for sustainability for eleven years running. He now runs an organization called Imagine, which advocates for businesses becoming a true force for good. Paul is also the author of Net Positive How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take.
For additional details about the podcast, show notes, and access to resources mentioned during the show, please visit https://www.solvay.com/podcast
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Sep 27, 2022
Chemistry AND Reinventing Progress with Professor Katalin Karikó
Professor Katalin Karikó’s research led to the creation of the messenger RNA Covid-19 vaccine, which has saved so many lives and helped curb the impact of the pandemic. She has quite literally changed the world! Ilham sits down with Professor Karikó to talk about her invaluable research; her passion for science; her upbringing in Hungary; women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers; her advice for young scientists, and much more
1:42 - Upbringing in Hungary
5:26 - Move to the United States
7:43 - Development of the Covid-19 vaccine
11:23 - mRNA technology as a potential solution for other diseases
13:49 - Receiving the covid-19 vaccine - the results of her work
15:19 - Story of resilience and determination amid challenges
21:15 - Adjusting to almost overnight fame
22:50 - Educating the public
24:06 - Championing women scientists
24:44 - Role models
28:28 - Advice to young scientists
Professor Katalin Karikó is an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania, where she worked for 24 years before joining BioNTech SE in 2013 as a senior VP. She is also professor at University of Szeged, Hungary from where she received her PhD in biochemistry in 1982. For decades, her research has focused on RNA-mediated mechanisms with the ultimate goal of developing mRNA for protein therapy. She investigated RNA-mediated immune activation and together with Drew Weissman discovered that nucleoside modifications suppress the immunogenicity of RNA, which widened the therapeutic potentials of mRNA. Her patent, co-invented with Drew Weissman, was used to create the FDA-approved covid-19 mRNA vaccines by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna.
Her groundbreaking contribution was to use chemistry to modify the mRNA so that it wouldn't be rejected by the immune system. In the future, her research could be applied to many other diseases such as cancer, influenza, malaria, tuberculosis, and so much more.
Professor Karikó has won numerous awards for her incredible work, including the Solvay Prize.
For additional details about the podcast, show notes, and access to resources mentioned during the show, please visit https://www.solvay.com/podcast
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Aug 30, 2022
Doing Well in Business AND Doing Good with Feike Sijbesma
When Feike Sijbesma became the CEO of Royal DSM, he said that he wanted to run a successful company AND improve the state of the world - and he achieved both!
Ilham sat down with Feike to talk about his recipe for success in building a sustainable AND profitable company; his incredible work to reduce hunger and improve food security in Africa and Bangladesh; how to find a company’s purpose; his work on climate adaptation; his commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and more!
Feike Sijbesma is the former CEO of DSM. During his time as a CEO, Feike transformed DSM into a company focused on health, nutrition, and materials, and it has been considered a frontrunner in sustainability ever since. And he did all this while tripling DSM’s value. He also become a leader in fighting hunger. When he was CEO of DSM, he founded Africa Improved Foods, which is a public-private partnership that provides a scalable and sustainable solution to malnutrition via local production of highly nutritious foods. He was awarded the Humanitarian of the Year Award (United Nations) for this work.
For additional details about the podcast, show notes, and access to resources mentioned during the show, please visit https://www.solvay.com/podcast
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Jul 19, 2022
Reinvention, Resilience AND Regeneration in Business with Peter Bakker
What does reinvention, resilience and regeneration mean for business? Peter Bakker, the CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), explains! He and Ilham discuss how we can create a more inclusive, more sustainable capitalism; the WBCSD’s call to action on climate, equity and nature; the power of partnerships; how chemistry is the key to a more sustainable future; his passion for sustainable business, and much more. It’s time to transform!
*note: this podcast was recorded in December 2021 just after COP26
Peter Bakker is the President and CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, which is a global CEO-led community of the world's leading sustainable businesses. Peter's work has been recognized widely: he has been the recipient of the Clinton Global Citizen Award (2009), the Sustainability Leadership Award (2010), and has even received the Royal Order from the King of the Netherlands for his incredible commitment to helping businesses become more sustainable.
For additional details about the podcast, show notes, and access to resources mentioned during the show, please visit https://www.solvay.com/podcast
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Jun 28, 2022
Circular Economy: Good for People, Planet AND Profit with Ellen MacArthur
Ilham sits down with Dame Ellen MacArthur - one of the foremost leaders in the effort to enable the circular economy - to discuss her amazing life on the sea, what led her to turn her efforts to the circular economy, how we can change mindsets in corporations, the power of partnerships, and of course - how the circular economy and business growth go hand in hand.
At the age of 24, Ellen MacArthur became the youngest person to sail around the world solo, coming in second in the Vendée Globe race. And in 2005, she broke the world record for the fastest solo sailing around the world. For her incredible achievement, she was named a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. After breaking the world record, she retired from professional sailing to begin an even bigger race: she is now leading the charge to accelerate the transition to a circular economy through the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
For additional details about the podcast, show notes, and access to resources mentioned during the show, please visit https://www.solvay.com/podcast
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May 17, 2022
Business AND Biodiversity with Margaret O'Gorman
Ilham sits down with the president of the Wildlife Habitat Council Margaret O’Gorman to discuss how protecting biodiversity is good for the planet AND profitability. They talk about her passion for nature; how we can best build a culture of conservation; COP15 on biodiversity; the importance of partnerships and measuring progress; her favorite nature movies and much more!
Margaret O’Gorman is the president of the Wildlife Habitat Council. In that role, she works closely with multinational corporations to develop and implement conservation projects that are good for biodiversity AND business alike. She is the author of Strategic Corporate Conservation Planning: A Guide to Meaningful Engagement, which helps companies create a culture of conservation.
For additional details about the podcast, show notes, and access to resources mentioned during the show, please visit https://www.solvay.com/podcast
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Apr 26, 2022
Taking Flight AND Reducing Emissions with Stephen Fitzpatrick of Vertical Aerospace
In this episode, Ilham sits down with Stephen Fitzpatrick, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, to discuss some of the latest innovations in urban air mobility, how electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxis will revolutionize the way we travel, what future long-haul emissions-free flight could look like, his tips for great leadership and much more!
For additional details about the podcast, show notes, and access to resources mentioned during the show, please visit https://www.solvay.com/podcast
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Apr 21, 2022
Climate AND Corporate Responsibility with Jean-Pascal van Ypersele
In this episode, Ilham sits down with top climatologist Jean-Pascal van Ypersele to discuss the important role businesses can play in the fight against climate change, the latest IPCC science, how businesses can best adopt the SDG goals, the risk of greenwashing, his passion for science, and much more!
Jean-Pascal is a professor of Climate and Environmental Sciences, and Co-Director of the Specialized Master in Science and Management of the Environment at the Université Catholique de Louvain. He is also the former Vice-Chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
For additional details about the podcast, show notes, and access to resources mentioned during the show, please visit https://www.solvay.com/podcast
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Mar 27, 2022
Science AND the Service of Humanity with Professors Steven Chu and Ben Feringa
Ilham sits down with Nobel prize-winning scientists Professor Steven Chu and Professor Ben Feringa to discuss some of the most exciting innovations in energy, clean mobility, and healthcare; the importance of ensuring that scientific innovation is at the service of humanity; the winner of the 2022 Solvay prize; and how science and chemistry are key to enabling a more sustainable future.
Steven Chu is a professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology at Stanford University and the former US Secretary of Energy. In 1997, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for developing methods to cool and trap atoms with laser lights. Ben Feringa is a Professor at the University of Groningen, and the winner of the 2015 Solvay prize. In 2016, he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking research on the design and synthesis of molecular machines. They are both part of the jury that chose the winner for the 2022 Solvay prize, Katalin Karikó.
For additional details about the podcast,…
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Jan 24, 2022
AND is the Future - Trailer
"AND is the Future" brings together great minds to address the opportunities and challenges of making businesses both sustainable AND profitable. Hosted by Ilham Kadri, CEO of Solvay.
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