Rethinking how you impact the world – Solitaire Townsend

Episode 1 July 20, 2026 00:44:37
Rethinking how you impact the world – Solitaire Townsend
Let's Talk
Rethinking how you impact the world – Solitaire Townsend

Jul 20 2026 | 00:44:37

/

Hosted By

Johan Van Praet Florine De Raet Anne Michiels Carolien Mantels Nathalie Bay

Show Notes

Some insights deserve a wider audience than just the room in which they were first shared. That is why VBO FEB is launching Let's Talk Keynotes: a series that makes inspiring keynote speeches by leading international thinkers, entrepreneurs and experts available in full to all Belgian businesses.

What if sustainability were no longer primarily a matter of reporting, compliance or risk management, but rather one of entrepreneurship, innovation and growth? And what if the companies that will make the difference tomorrow are precisely those that develop solutions to today’s societal and environmental challenges?

In this first episode of Let's Talk Keynotes, we are sharing the full keynote by Solitaire Townsend, internationally renowned sustainability expert, author and co-founder of Futerra. During the event Shaping the Next Phase in Sustainability Leadership in Belgium, she challenges a number of deeply rooted assumptions that continue to shape today’s sustainability debate. She advocates a fundamentally different perspective on sustainability: not as an obligation, but as an economic opportunity capable of creating new markets, products and business models.

With sharp analysis, surprising examples and her trademark British humour, Solitaire Townsend explains why some sustainable innovations succeed while others fail, why consumers are often unconvinced by traditional sustainability communications, and why businesses should dare to be ambitious again. Her message is as simple as it is challenging: the future belongs to organisations that succeed in turning societal challenges into scalable solutions.

An inspiring keynote for entrepreneurs, business leaders and anyone seeking to understand how sustainability, innovation and competitiveness can reinforce one another.

This keynote is presented in English.
Recording: Shaping the Next Phase of Sustainability in Belgium event

Discover more articles, podcasts and interviews on the VBO-FEB website. Subscribe to the VBO-FEB newsletter to stay informed about the latest news.

Other Episodes

Episode 9

December 10, 2025 00:29:59
Episode Cover

Let's Talk Specials (mis)match jongeren en werkgevers

Luister naar Let’s Talk Specials. In deze podcast geven toonaangevende stemmen hun visie over al even spraakmakende thema’s die vandaag hoog op de –...

Listen

Episode 14

May 06, 2026 00:34:11
Episode Cover

Let's Talk financiële concurrentiekracht

Op zoek naar antwoorden op de uitdagingen waarmee bedrijven worden geconfronteerd, gaat de VBO-podcast ‘Let’s Talk’ in gesprek met onze lidfederaties. Welke valkuilen of...

Listen

Episode 3

December 18, 2023 00:49:41
Episode Cover

Let's Talk Elections met Tom Ongena (Open Vld)

Listen