Impact Investing: What It Is and How It Works ft. Pierre-Laurent Macridis (Rally Assets)

Mireille "Dr. Mimi" Vega is a biochemist, dedicated Skin Scientist, and leader in skin microbiome. With a lifelong commitment to revolutionizing the skincare industry with science-backed truths that are better for the planet and people, Dr. Mimi believes in doing this important work at both the micro and macro levels.

Her background in chemistry, oncology, and the biotech, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries make her a wealth of knowledge on the topic of the skin microbiome. This background is also what led her to disrupt the skincare industry with a “one human skin approach” – her skincare brand, VGAM Biome. 

Follow along as we dive into understanding the world of microorganisms, what this means for our skin, the importance of a minimalistic approach (especially at a time where we are being told we need a 10-step beauty routine!), the difference between “no-no” and “oh yes” ingredients, her company’s compostable and recyclable packaging, and reducing waste through her “Misfits” offering.

3:03 Introduction to the microbiome
6:22 The difference between your gut and your skin microbiota
9:23 Simplifying our skincare routine: for our sanity and the environment
10:08 Removing "no no" ingredients, adding the "oh yes"
34:56 A focus on sustainable packaging, and a market for "Misfits"
38:49 The value of incubator communities for entrepreneurs
44:35 What it will take for businesses and leaders to be resilient going forward

While the topic of Impact Investing is gaining momentum across headlines, conferences and even social media, many of us don't feel fully equipped to talk about it, let alone engage in it! We have specifically put together this episode to help our Resilience Reporters better understanding the topic in an accessible, educated way with the delightful and insightful Pierre-Laurent Macridis, Senior Associate - Private Investment Research at Rally Assets, an impact investment management firm focused on helping investors generate positive social and environmental impact alongside a financial return

Pierre-Laurent lives and breaths all things impact investing. And, perhaps even more importantly, he knows how to break down the concepts into digestible, jargon-free chunks. In less than an hour, you are going to learn the difference between 3 layers of investing: responsible, ESG and then (the top tier) impact investing, how the industry has dramatically changed over the years, the way the education system is adapting to these changes, creating broader stakeholder buy-in when it comes to impact investing and more. 

In his role at Rally Assets, Pierre-Laurent conducts private investment research for client portfolios, including deal sourcing, due diligence and post-investment monitoring activities. In addition, he anchors Rally Asset’s presence in Québec, Canada. Prior to joining Rally in 2023, Pierre-Laurent served as Associate Principal at Fondaction where he invested in emerging impact fund managers, supported the creation of the firm’s large-scale impact asset management company and managed its underlying portfolio of six impact funds.

Pierre-Laurent holds a MSc in Renewable Resources and a BCom in Economics (both from McGill University). Outside of his day to day, he also serves as VP Outreach, Diversity & inclusion, and sustainable finance on Reséau Capital’s New Generation committee, and is a founding investment committee member at Montreal Propel Impact Fund.  

Meet the messaging mastermind behind Equifuit, the North American market leader for Fairtrade bananas: Kim Chackal. As Co-Owner and Director of Sales and Marketing at Equifruit, Kim has spent the last 9 years shaping the brand to its current bright, almost cheeky state.

Kim and the team have set their sights on Global Fairtrade Banana Domination, and are doing so while successfully balancing messaging between education (around the historically dark reality of traditional banana farming) and humor and light-heartedness - no easy task!

Kim's fearless and bold approach is making waves in the produce industry. In 2021, Kim was recognized as “Produce Person of the Year” by the Ontario Produce Marketing Association and in 2022 she appeared on The Packer 25 list which highlights leaders, innovators and agents of change across the fresh produce supply chain. Kim was recently named 2024 Outstanding Women in Produce honoree by Grocery Business Magazine and the CPMA. With 20 years of sales experience, she loves challenging people to rethink their consumption habits and consider Fairtrade as a sustainable solution in produce.

This is such a fun, educational episode and truly a marketing masterclass. Introducing a true Banana Badass: Kim Chackal!

If the name Nutshell Coolers sounds familiar to you, you might have seen their innovative coconut husk-insulated coolers being covered by Forbes, Fast Company or CNN. Or maybe you saw it on Kickstarter where they reached their funding goal in just 7 hours. Or maybe, like me, it stopped you mid scroll when you saw their gorgeous product on Instagram.

So who is Nutshell Coolers and how did they become one of the chicest, most environmentally and socially conscious coolers out there?

On this episode of The Resilience Report, we sit down with Tamara Mekler, co-founder and COO of Nutshell Coolers. Tamara studied at Stanford University, where she received a B.S. in Behavioral Biology and an M.S. in Sustainable Development. Previously, Tamara worked in community-based conservation and environmental education in the United States and in her home countries, Spain and Mexico.

Tamara and her team are such an inspiration, and it is incredible to learn details about the coconut husks that go into building their coolers, the income generated in local communities from purchasing those husks, and the CO2 emissions and the plastic foam that is avoided with each cooler. 

In a nutshell, this is one episode I know our Resilience Reporters are going to love!

The world of environmental impact is a delicate one, an area that requires an incredible amount of nuance when it comes to storytelling. So, who better to join us than two experts in the field of digital marketing and sales: Carman Pirie and Jeff White, co-founders of Kula Partners - an agency committed to helping leading B2B manufacturers craft digital experiences that transform how they engage buyers, serve customers, and outpace their competition online. Based out of Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada, Jeff and Carman also co-host The Kula Ring podcast, which features conversations about marketing, sales, and technology with top manufacturing executives from across North America.

This is such a fun episode of The Resilience Report – almost like you are a fly on the wall at a dinner party with myself and our next two guests chatting all things green claims, B2B messaging with a double-click into the manufacturing space, website accessibility and much more.

0:00 Intro
3:47 Founding Kula Partners
8:18 Green claims in B2B marketing
11:03 Addressing greenwashing in the manufacturing sector
14:52 Marketers: Chief Sustainability Storytellers
16:41 Navigating polarizing topics as marketers
23:28 250+ episodes in: creating a podcast for marketers in B2B manufacturing
32:35 Parallels between politics and marketing
36:11 Web usability and accessibility for increased inclusivity
48:05 What it will take for businesses and leaders to be resilient going forward

We are wrapping things up with an upcycled bow around here with a “Best of 2023” episode of The Resilience Report. For our regular listeners, you know that we like to end every episode with the same question, which is “What do you think it will take for businesses and leaders to be resilient going forward?” Not an easy question to tackle, but this did not stop our brilliant business leaders and ecopreneurs from sharing their actionable tips and tricks.

This is an audible thank you to all of our listeners and guests for being part of The Resilience Report in our inaugural year. Your support, feedback and desire for positive impact have been like nothing I have ever experienced before. We already have some amazing content lined up for 2024 based on your messages, and I cannot wait to share more with you over the coming weeks!

1:36 Aviation: Air Transat and Twelve
4:15 Energy / Renewables: ADAPTR Inc. and Brevian Energy
6:45 Real Estate / Construction / Major Projects: Knight Frank Investment Management and Yukon Government
10:36 Finance / Investing: Investors for Paris Compliance
12:20 Marketing / Communications: Digital advertising
14:40 Waste Reduction: Les Plastiques DC and TIPA
16:48 Food / Beverage: Lufa Farms
17:46 Fashion / Beauty: The Unscented Company and Asymmetric by Design
21:17 Corporate Culture / Strategy: Arche Innovation, leadership coach, and Transdev Canada

Tonya Dickenson is the Founder and Creative Director of Asymmetric by Design, a bold and sustainable jewelry company that empowers women to express their personal brand and values and connect with others. Tonya designs and creates one-of-a-kind asymmetric necklaces using exclusively natural, upcycled, and recycled materials, while supporting traditional artisans in the developing world. Her jewelry has been featured on major Canadian news outlets including Global News and CBC, and worn on the Red Carpet in LA and on Dragon's Den and reflects her passion for environmental and social justice.

Before launching Asymmetric by Design, Tonya had a successful career in pharmaceuticals, mental health, and mask awareness, production and distribution, where she focused on making a difference and helping protect lives. Tonya has an Executive MBA from Smith School of Business at Queen's University, and a BAH in Pure Mathematics and Economics from the same institution. Tonya believes that we have won the lottery of life, and that we should use our talents and resources to combat climate change and reduce inequalities, making the world a greener and better place for all.

Tonya share a number of gems (pun totally intended) on this episode that I know you are going to love!

0:00 From pharmaceuticals to entrepreneurship
5:20 Sustainable jewelry: environmental and social impact considerations
16:25 Lived in 11 countries, visited over 100 countries: what sustainability looks like around the world
20:31 The value of marketing and storytelling in sustainability
22:45 The journey from corporate to entrepreneurship
41:09 What it will take for businesses and leaders to be resilient going forward

A pioneering leader reshaping the future of sustainable business, Anie Rouleau and the company she founded (The Unscented Company) redefines the notion of clean with innovative, natural home and body care products. With a dedication to sustainability and social impact, Anie champions refillable packaging and waterless products, combating single-use plastics and protecting waterways. An advocate for the B Corp model, she promotes local sourcing, ethical leadership, and equal opportunity employment.

Anie's achievements include appearances on Dragons' Den Canada, Canada's Top Growing Company for four consecutive years, and recognition with the Young Phoenix Prize and the Trudeau Medal. An influential speaker at institutions and organizations such as BDC, C2 Montreal, UQAM, Concordia, McGill, ETS, and the University of Ottawa, she's committed to mentoring young female entrepreneurs. Anie leads a B Corp Certified and Women Owned business, a role she's held since 2011.

(0:00) Intro
(2:47) The making of an entrepreneur
(6:07) A unexpected market for fragrance free soap
(8:56) Reducing single use packaging through refillable solutions
(12:25) Selecting retail partners from yoga studios to Whole Foods
(15:02) The value of local suppliers and partners
(19:31) Fragrance free for skin sensitivity, asthma, pregnancy, and even hunting/fishing!
(23:49) What is B Corp and who should pursue this certification?
(31:10) The next frontier: reducing water footprint
(33:40) The making of an ecopreneur
(42:10) What it will take for businesses and leaders to be resilient going forward

On this solo episode, host Lauren Scott is going to answer a question that she gets quite often, which is "how to start a career in sustainability?"

As someone who mentors undergraduate business students, Lauren often gets asked for the best way to be able to add sustainability onto their resumes. Similarly, she gets this question from professionals who are mid-career, and are now trying to figure out how to become part of the solution.

This episode dives into two different approaches 1) building up your education and 2) building up your experience. Tune in for some fresh tips on how you can do so at no additional cost, and from day one on your new job!

When considering sustainable solutions, many of us are quick to think about the final good or service being sold. But as we start to understand the broader impact of supply chains, certain areas are really coming into focus. At the top of this list? Packaging.

Our next guest has spent the past decade disrupting this industry, and she and her company are impeccably positioned to lead the change as companies around the world turn to more sustainable packaging options.

Daphna Nissenbaum is the CEO and co-founder of TIPA®, a compostable packaging company in Tel Aviv focused on supplying the food and fashion industries with better, more resilient solutions. Daphna leads the TIPA team in the movement to revolutionize packaging systems and rid the world of plastic pollution with fully-compostable, flexible packaging that replaces conventional plastic, turning waste into resource, a crisis into an opportunity.

In this episode, Daphna shares her journey to entrepreneurship, raising capital, leveraging existing machinery around the world to be able to produce locally and at scale, advice to leaders everywhere, and so much more!

(0:00) Intro
(3:23) Daphna in her own words
(8:02) The difference between rigid and flexible plastic packaging
(10:39) Flexible packaging: problems and opportunities
(11:45) Leveraging existing and local machinery
(17:33) Collective action to revolutionize the packaging industry
(21:57) Securing capital and the right investors
(24:37) "Be the best, be professional, ignore all the rest."
(32:15) What it will take for businesses and leaders to be resilient going forward