Sasha Titchkosky is the co-founder and CEO of Koskela; Australia’s leading sustainability practitioner in the furniture and design industry. She has become an influential voice for circular business and social impact as she transforms Koskela towards total circularity by 2027 and absolute-zero emissions by 2035.
She also leads programs that use design skills to support Australia's Indigenous communities.
Sasha founded Koskela in 2000 with her partner Russel Koskela, both leaving behind lucrative jobs in the corporate sector in a bid to create a company with a courageous mindset and strong social conscience.
Today, they work with some of the world's leading corporations and educational institutions to create work and learning spaces of the future, from Airbnb to Pinterest, Apple, Google, and Australia's leading law firms and banks.
In 2017 Koskela became Australia’s first certified furniture B Corporation.
Sasha is committed to manufacturing Koskela’s range in Australia and is a fearless advocate for using design skills to affect social change.
Our interview covers Sasha’s career journey leading to why and how Koskela started 24 years ago.
Sasha shares the story of Koskela’s evolution from a business that started with the principles of designing furniture that was affordable and sourced and manufactured locally, to their commitment to achieve total circularity by 2027.
It’s a story of innovation and leadership and one that I’m certain will provide inspiration and insight to others who want to understand how business can solve some of society’s most challenging problems.
Interview Highlights:
❤️ Sasha introduces Koskela, highlighting their two impact pillars – reconciliation and environment
$ She shares her background journey from law and working at the ASX to how she and her partner started Koskela
❤️ The problem Koskela set out to tackle – the horrific level of waste in the way commercial tenancies worked
$ The evolving thinking of Koskela’s founders on certain climate certifications and why they decided to move beyond carbon neutrality
❤️ Sasha explains their move towards creating their own carbon budget and she highlights and recommends the tool they’ve adopted, through The SME Climate Hub
$ She shares their ambitious 2027 deadline to become fully circular
❤️ Sasha explains the scale of the problem they are tackling, highlighting both waste and health factors.
$ This provides the context for her to share how Koskela have designed their shift to circularity, including their ReHome second life program
❤️ Sasha shares the next exciting phase of Koskela, a subscription model award-winning concept that is currently in development
$ We discuss the importance of profitability for a purpose-driven business
❤️ Sasha outlines her vision of what Koskela could look like by 2030
Connect with Sasha and Koskela:
Sasha on Linkedin
Koskela website
Koskela's 2027 Circularity Action Plan
Ep 61 Paloma Rose Garcia: A Brush With Climate
Ep 60 Danielle Owen Whitford: Tackling Toxic Productivity
Ep 59 Desmond Campbell: Celebrating First Nations identity and cultural legacy
Ep 58 Aga Bajer: Belonging is a Verb
Ep 57 Georgia Windrum: Helping Australians build the future we all deserve
Ep 56 Neal Foard: The Power of Stories to Inspire The Best of Us
Ep 54 Lucy Piper on building a green collar workforce
Ep 53 Sally Irwin on creating a world of freedom
Ep 52 Carolyn Butler-Madden on balancing Purpose & Profit
Ep 51 Heidi Dening on cultivating resilience in difficult times
Ep 50 Branden Barber & Kristin Canning of Rainforest Rescue, On protecting rainforests forever
Ep 49 Nimmity Zappert, Founder All Of The Good Things & Chair Fair Trade Assoc ANZ on living the Good life
Ep 48 Thomas Mayo on the Voice to Parliament
Ep 47 Kirrily Graham, Founder Dovetail Social Enterprises on small business impact partnerships
Ep 46 Dena Vassallo of SOCIETY and Joanne Painter of ICON AGENCY on brands leading societal progress
Ep 45 Danielle Chiel, CEO of KOCO on giving women a voice
Ep 44 Paula Kensington, CEO of CFO Conversations on Flipping The Business Model
Ep 43 Nikki Beaumont, Founder & CEO Beaumont People on the Four Day Work Week
Ep 42 Kelly Beater, Head of Felix Mobile on the Power of a BHAG
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Commercial Edge: Unleash the Power of People
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Organic Marketing Simplified: Master podcast marketing, fuel podcast growth, and make money podcasting!
THE GO BIZ GUY
The Sigma Femme Podcast
The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway
Habits and Hustle