This week’s guest is Dr. Melanie Van De Velde.
Melanie wholeheartedly believes that we can make this world a way better place. As Founder of Big Tree Global, Melanie and her team support business leaders and MBA students from around the world with insights and tools to help them create a positive impact on key global issues grounded in the SDGs while helping them boost business growth authentically. The insights Melanie applies in her IMPACT workshops, Masterclass, and inspiration trips are based on her research, for which she was awarded the Adam Smith Prize for Ph.D. Excellence, and nominated by Cambridge University.
Melanie is also the author of LEAD LIKE A GENIUS: 12 Ways to ace sustainability and transform our world (due Oct 23) and LOVE YOUR LEGACY: Five secrets of leading businesses that build a better world.
As a domain expert and difference maker, I am so excited to talk with Melanie and learn more about how she is helping businesses to empower people, deliver just payments, and create a positive impact on the planet as well as human health and well-being.
What we Discuss
00:00 Intro
02:00 Who is Melanie, the human being
05:45 What made her who she is
10:30 What Mel is working to impact before she dies
15:40 How Melanie’s eyes were opened to the role of business in creating an impact
20:30 The urgency to act on climate, poverty, and inequality
25:40 The Flaw in the machine of capitalism and the issue of injustice
30:00 Melanie describes her impact wheel
35:30 Melanie provides examples of businesses using Impact Wheel
40:00 Melanie discusses the progress being made by corporates and multinationals
43:00 The need for more justice
45:45 The need for legislation and increased public awareness
49:00 Melanie describes Tony’s Chocolony impact story
54:00 The role of education
55:30 The role of B Corps
56:20 Lighting as a service
59:40 Melanie describes her new book
1:01:00 Remaining resolute
1:08:00 Her hopes for 2030
1:09:15 What actions can businesses take
Social Links
Links in Show
