One of the reasons I love my job is the interesting and inspiring people I get to meet. Sometimes this means sitting in someone's living room hearing them talk about sustainability and social responsibility. Sometimes its connecting with other business leaders in the sustainability space. I was asked to participate in Focalyst Executive Forum the week before last in NYC at Chelsea Piers. It's a popular annual event focused on marketing to Boomers put on by AARP and Millward Brown. On the second day of the presented some findings on sustainability and the 55+ consumer from Ci's SHIFT Report:what issues they care about, what motivates them to make sustainable and responsible choices, the Sustainability Passion Index (SPI) and more. 

On the first day of the conference, I introduced Senator Tim Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation, just before his keynote, and then I moderated a panel of leaders in sustainability + business. My goal was to facilitate honest - not just glossy- discussion that left the audience inspired, and with a tool kit of ideas and approaches they could use. Jeff Renaud, Director of Ecomagination shed insight on GE's initiatives around Ecomagination, some of its hits and misses, some challenges and how GE faced them. Bill Bass, founder of retailer Fair Indigo, talked eloquently about the importance of authenticity and a key sustainability issue in the social sustainability pillar: Fair Trade. And Senator Wirth shared his perspectives and personal experience from hit and misses, to challenges and opportunities, informed by his long time experience as a Congressman, Senator, Co-Chair of The Clinton/Gore Campaing, President of the United Nations Foundation and Betterworld Fund and more. It was a great experience all around. Check out the UN Foundation's very cool Nothing But Nets campaign where you can buy a bed net to help save people from death by Malaria.

The one key belief all the panelsts shared: Change the Rules. Change the Equation.