About this episode
In this episode of Capital for Good we speak with Martin Whittaker, the founding CEO of JUST Capital and a leader in the field of sustainable finance, impact investing, and responsible business. In this conversation, Whittaker describes how his own career in sustainable business and investing led him to JUST Capital, a nonprofit dedicated to aligning corporate behavior with the values of the American people. We discuss developments in the last several years, vastly accelerated by the COVID-19 health, economic, and racial crises, which have elevated the "S" in "ESG," shining a spotlight on social concerns — issues of worker health and well-being, diversity, equity, inclusion, racial justice — alongside calls for action on the "E" of environmental sustainability and climate change. Whittaker notes that companies have seen that "silence is not really an option" on a range of social and environmental issues. Accordingly, JUST Capital, which has historically relied on "data, measurement, metrics, rankings, etc." to influence corporate behavior, now finds these tools "necessary, but not sufficient" and is partnering more closely with companies — "playing an inside game" — to help them become more responsive to the needs and values of the American people. Thanks for listening!Subscribe to Capital for Good on Apple, Amazon, Google, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Drop us a line at socialenterprise@gsb.columbia.edu. Mentioned in this episode: The Coronavirus is a Test of Stakeholder Leadership: Here's Why, Martin Whittaker (Forbes, 2020) Is COVID-19 Killing Shareholder Primacy?, Martin Whittaker (Forbes, 2020) 2021 Rankings (JUST Capital) Corporate Racial Equity Tracker (JUST Capital) Worker Financial Wellness Initiative (JUST Capital) COVID-19 Corporate Response Tracker (JUST Capital) About Martin WhittakerMar
