Lead The Change

Boxed Water is Better: A Conversation with

Rob Koenen, Chief Revenue Officer, Boxed Water

Rob is a brand-building executive with twenty years experience driving revenue growth with product and marketing strategies in varied consumer product markets. Proven results in repositioning and modernizing brands. Experienced in strategic planning, product management and operational fundamentals driving demonstrable results. Entrepreneurial spirit, accomplished in rallying an organization around a compelling vision.

Boxed Water was founded in 2009 and was the first company to offer a sustainable alternative to plastic water bottles.  They offer the most renewable option in the water aisle and their water is sourced close to consumers to further reduce their carbon footprint.  They created a new category and changed the way water is shipped, sold and enjoyed.  They promote the use of tap water whenever possible but when you can’t use the tap, reach for their 92% plant-based, 100% recyclable, refillable and PBA box of water instead of the plastic. 

Boxed Water is a proud member of 1% For The Planet and a partner of the National Forest Foundation and Ocean Blue Project. With these partners they have planted over 1 million trees and cleaned beaches from Coast to Coast.

Bard MBA’s Adam Rozenberg speaks with Rob for this episode of the Impact Report. 

 

Re:Dish Today to Reshape Tomorrow                                                                                                     

Caroline Vanderlip, Founder & CEO of Re:Dish                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Re:Dish delivers and collects containers and cups, cleans and sanitizes them at their own industrial washing facility, then returns those same dishes back to their customers to be reused. They service corporate cafeterias and pantries, arenas, K-12 schools, production sets – anywhere food is served at scale.     

 

Caroline Vanderlip puts her passions and creativity into building businesses like Re:Dish, and is excited to be able to tell its huge environmental impact story. A successful entrepreneur, Caroline has launched businesses within parent companies (CNBC, AT&T Personal Online Services), as well as independent entities like the publishing technology company, SharedBook. Armed with a BA from Vassar and an MBA from NYU, Caroline is a life-long learner, now focused on sustainability and the huge impact that Re:Dish can have as it supports a shift from a linear to a circular economy.

Bard MBA’s Jessie Hook speaks with Caroline for this episode of the Impact Report. 

Revolutionary Capitalism
Don Golden, Founder of Just Capital Quotient

Don Golden is an Impact Investment Strategist and Fundraising Consultant specializing in the intersection of faith motivated philanthropy, impact investing and market-based solutions to social challenges. Don has 30 years experience helping others bring measurable impact to social challenges in more than 70 countries.

Just Capital Quotient believes that a revolutionary approach to capitalism is the best pathway to an economy, society and planet our grandchildren can live with. They are growing an agile, scalable consultancy that unites professionals with skills in business, finance, international development, brand development and communications, and who are committed to creating market-based solutions to the world’s greatest challenges.

Bard MBA’s Kiana Cardwell and PJ Connolly speak with Don for this episode of the Impact Report.

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Forging A New Way to Build Companies

A Conversation with Oliver Libby, Co-Founder & Managing Director of H/L Ventures

Oliver B. Libby is co-founding Managing Partner of  H/L Ventures.  Based in New York City and founded in 2009, H/L Ventures is dedicated to building high-growth businesses that add value to society by protecting and promoting people and the planet, with a strong preference for diverse founding teams. H/L Ventures’ proprietary Daily Active Engagement model blends the best of venture studio and investment firm on one platform to help grow companies from early stage to exit in a holistic approach to company building.

Bard MBA’s Hector Aguirre speaks with Oliver for this episode of the Impact Report. 

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Gear for Good: A Conversation with Annie Agle, Senior Director of Impact & Sustainability at Cotapaxi

Cotopaxi is a carbon-neutral outdoor gear brand founded to create sustainably designed products that fight extreme poverty, inspire adventure, and move people to do good. 

As a certified B Corporation, they believe in using the power of business as a force for social, environmental, and economic good. Their motto, Gear for Good, touches every aspect of their company. 

Cotopaxi is committed to making all of their gear using repurposed, recycled, or responsible materials by 2025. 

They allocate a minimum of 1% of annual revenue to the Cotopaxi Foundation which awards grants to outstanding nonprofit partners carefully selected for their track records at improving the human condition and alleviating poverty. In 2021, they aided over 1 million people in extreme poverty through targeted grants to outstanding organizations with proven methodologies. Cotopaxi is a Bcorp, 1% for the Planet member, The Climate Pledge signatory and certified Climate Neutral.

In her role as Senior Director of Sustainability and Impact, Annie steers Cotopaxi’s giving, corporate responsibility, and sustainability. She oversees Cotopaxi's reporting and certifications (GRI, B Corp, Climate Neutral) as well as its ESG strategy. Alongside her team of lion-hearted llamas, Annie aims to ensure that every aspect of Cotopaxi’s brand is leveraged to generate a positive benefit to society and the communities the company touches. She is a graduate of Columbia University and graduate student at Cambridge University. In her spare time, Annie spends as much time as possible outside and traveling. 

Katie Boyle, Bard MBA’s Director of Marketing and Enrollment, speaks with Annie for this episode of the Impact Report.

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Advancing Careers By Redefining Professionalism

A Conversation with Pabel Ramirez, Founder of Plurawl

As an Afro-Latino living & working in NYC, Pabel Martinez would often repress parts of his identity inside & outside of work in an effort to feel more included and less judged. 

Formerly a marketing and media executive, Pabel launched PLURAWL to begin creating an inclusive community that’s dedicated to changing the narrative and challenging the stereotypes in the Latinx Community.  

Bard MBA’s Hector Aguirre speaks with Pabel for this episode of the Impact Report.  

Bio-Design, Seaweed & Nature-Based Solutions:

A Conversation with Roger Bason – CEO and Founder of Atlantic Ocean Aquaculture (AOA)

The goal of Atlantic Ocean Aquaculture (AOA) is scaling production to reduce Ag sector GHGs in the US and abroad.  CEO, Roger Bason was trained in ocean science at Colgate University and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. This included a research cruise to the Galapagos Islands and early seabed measurements of the East Pacific Rise. He is a certified Energy Engineer with experience in ocean energy development in the US and internationally that deployed the first US tidal energy system in New York City’s East River and an innovative wave energy system in Bermuda in cooperation with the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Science.

Bason was part of an expert team that initiated coral reef recovery efforts in the Republic of the Marshall Islands using innovative BioRock technology in 2010. He developed and directed the US AmeriCorps program on the Island of Hawaii with a focus on sustainable development including projects in reforestation, aquaculture, solar energy and community food forests.

For the past five years Roger has focused on climate action, installing several offshore seaweed farms and wild seaweed harvests in New England. Present work focuses on the harvest of Asparagopsis in Europe, a red seaweed that reduces methane in cattle when used as a feed supplement.

Bard MBA’s Hung Tran speaks with Roger for this episode of the Impact Report.

 

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A NEW MODEL FOR HOME OWNERSHIP: Yifan Zhang, CEO & Co-Founder of Loftium

Yifan Zhang is the CEO & Cofounder of Loftium, a Norwest and Threshold-backed startup that creates affordable homeownership in expensive cities through management of an onsite Airbnb. Loftium and Yifan’s own experience hosting has been featured in The New York Times, and Yifan was named in Entrepreneur’s “50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs”. Yifan served on former Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s Innovation Advisory Council and currently serves on Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell's One Seattle Civic Partnership. She was previously named Forbes “30 under 30” as the founding CEO of top mobile fitness startup GymPact. She is a Techstars alum and current mentor. Yifan graduated magna cum laude in Economics from Harvard University.  

Loftium is re-defining home ownership by providing buyers a home with built-in savings for a down payment.  Loftium makes the American dream of homeownership possible for people that may have ordinarily been left out by buying dream homes. Host to Own clients paying Loftium 1% of their home price while generating income from hosting AirBNB guests in their homes.  Learn more here. 

For this episode of the Impact Report Series Producer, Katie Ellman, speaks with Yifan about how Loftium is creating next-generation affordable housing  in cities around the United States. 

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Sustainability Grows on the Vine: A Conversation with Steve Lohr of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines

J.  Lohr Vineyards & Wines is a winery headquartered in San Jose, California, with almost 4,000 acres of estate vineyards in Paso Robles, Monterey County and the Napa Valley. J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines was named the 2020 recipient of the Green Medal Leader Award. The annual California Green Medal Sustainable Winegrowing Awards provide recognition to vineyards and wineries who are standard-bearers in implementing the three “E’s” of sustainability: environment, economic, and social equity.

As the President and CEO of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Steve Lohr combines a big picture view of the wine industry with a hands-on work ethic. In this role, Steve is responsible for the overall management and strategic planning of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, with a particular focus on sales and finance.

For this episode of the Impact Report, Bard MBA's Rachel Terry speaks with Steve about how J. Lohr cultivates a culture of sustainability for its employees, processes and the land on which they grow their products.  

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Kind Careerism Over Toxic Professionalism

Lauren Goldberg — Career Strategist, Lauren Goldberg Coaching

Lauren Goldberg is Career Strategist for purpose-driven professionals, helping them gain tools for self-assurance, self-compassion, and self-advocacy. She is an entrepreneur with 7 years experience consulting and working in-house to improve organizational culture and employee experience. Rooted in organizational psychology, she's developed a body of work to help shift the way people see themselves and their career. This shift, called Kind Careerism, helps people combat the pressures of Toxic Professionalism they've been taught. She teaches people tools to balance being kind to themselves and others while challenging the unkind. 

As a woman with partially deafness and neurodivergence, she helps people overcome internalized ableism and recognize what makes them different as a strength. Coaching social impact and sustainability professionals to see themselves and do work differently is not only life-changing for individuals, but she believes is critical for transforming beyond the status quo to a healthier, more socially just world. 

Series Producer, Katie Ellman speaks with Lauren for this episode of the Impact Report.

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