Why General Mills’ Chief Sustainability Officer is trying to work herself out of a job

“We are a company that depends completely on the health and well-being of Mother Nature to be in business, she is our most important supplier. And if we don't act to help get this planet back on a trajectory of health, we will not be in business for another 155 years.”

Today on the show, Keesa sits down with Mary Jane Melendez, Chief Sustainability & Global Impact Officer at General Mills, a company operating in more than 100 countries around the world. Mary Jane shares why she hopes some day, companies don’t need a separate sustainability function as it’ll be integrated into every facet of every business. She also discusses General Mill’s current commitments to sustainability, some of their future goals and priorities, and why she sees regenerative agriculture as one of the most promising areas that can advance planetary health. 

Plus, she walks through how she engages with each stakeholder group on sustainability, including telling the story of taking a group of investors to a farm in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. 

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To view a transcript of this episode, visit https://www.keesaschreane.com/podcast. 

For show feedback, pitches and business enquiries, please email cmw@shrugcontent.com. 

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About Keesa

Keesa Schreane is a highly in-demand author, keynote speaker, and consultant, whose expertise includes sustainability data, risk analysis, sustainable finance, and corporate reporting. Her work has appeared in outlets including Black Enterprise, Bloomberg, CNBC, CBS, Essence, FinTech TV, and Latina, and she serves on numerous boards and committees, including Ceres President’s Council.

About Climate Money Work

Climate Money Work is veteran podcast host and author Keesa Schreane’s show that explores complex climate, workplace, governance and social issues. Throughout each episode, Keesa both hosts compelling conversations with experts and offers her own insights on how corporates, investors, and regulators might find solutions — and common ground.