Sustainability Leaders

Hosted by BMO Financial Group

Business InvestingInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

248

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

About the show

Sustainability is a rapidly evolving field, driven by billions of dollars in global investment. Join BMO as we introduce you to the innovative minds and diverse perspectives that are pushing the boundaries in sustainability good practice. With topics ranging from climate change to sustainable finance and green bonds to human rights and responsible investing, we explore the world of corporate sustainability through interviews with corporate practitioners, investors, scholars and the NGO community.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 20, 202630 min

Beyond Net Zero: Workday on Carbon Markets, Methane and Innovation

Business leadership on climate is increasingly defined not only by emissions reductions, but also how companies address the emissions they cannot yet eliminate. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Melissa Fifield, Head of the BMO Climate Institute, speaks with Erik Hansen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Workday, about the company’s evolution from achieving net zero ahead of schedule to advancing new strategies around carbon removal, methane mitigation, and internal carbon pricing. Hansen discusses how Workday evaluates high-integrity climate investments, the growing role of customer and investor expectations, and why tackling super pollutants may offer outsized near-term climate benefits.

October 8, 202630 min

Fighting Fire with Finance: Investing for Climate Adaptation, Resilience and Growth

As climate risks intensify, the need to finance adaptation and resilience has become both a critical challenge and opportunity for the global economy. Recorded at this year’s Sibos conference in Miami, this episode brings together leaders from finance, development, and innovation to explore how capital can be mobilized to help communities, businesses, and infrastructure withstand a changing climate. Moderated by Gisela Sanchez of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, the discussion features John Uhren of BMO Capital Markets, Ellie Moriearty of MIT Solve, and Sven Schmidt of Commerzbank. Together, they examine the growing importance of adaptation finance, the barriers that limit investment in climate solutions, real-world examples from around the globe, and the vital role of blended finance in scaling resilience.

October 6, 202627 min

Data-Driven Decarbonization: Healthcare and Beyond

Healthcare’s responsibility includes not only treating patients today but also reducing the environmental impacts that affect future health outcomes. In this episode, Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer at BMO, speaks with Dr. Richard Webster, who leads sustainability initiatives at Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), about how one of Canada’s leading pediatric hospitals is pursuing a board-approved net-zero strategy while maintaining high standards of patient care. Drawing on CHEO's experience and BMO's recent $2 million donation to support CHEO’s sustainability initiatives, the discussion highlights how strategic and intentional partnerships can help healthcare organizations address complex sustainability challenges. They explore why healthcare’s environmental footprint is often overlooked, how CHEO built support for climate action across the organization, and what practical projects are delivering measurable results, from energy efficiency upgrades and smarter building operations to reducing surgical waste. The conversation also examines governance, organizational change, emissions measurement, and the business case for sustainability initiatives that improve both patient outcomes and operational performance.

September 22, 202623 min

Preparing for the Impact of a Super El Niño

A potentially historic El Niño could amplify climate and economic pressures across food systems, energy markets and critical infrastructure, making early preparation essential. Alma Cortés Selva, senior advisor at the BMO Climate Institute, speaks with climate scientist Daniel Swain and BMO senior economist Erik Johnson about why the emerging event may rank among the strongest observed. They examine how El Niño interacts with long-term warming, why some regions may face floods while others experience drought, and how agricultural disruption could affect commodity prices, food inflation and interest rates. The conversation also considers how better climate forecasting can give businesses, policymakers and communities valuable time to plan. Visit BMO for more thought leadership from Alma Cortés Selva: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/alma-cortes-selva/

September 15, 202621 min

How Sprouts Turns Sustainability into Competitive Advantage

Sustainability can create the most value in an organization when it is embedded in business strategy rather than treated as a separate initiative. Melissa Fifield, Head of the BMO Climate Institute, speaks with Brandon Lombardi, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer at Sprouts Farmers Market, about how sustainability has been integrated into the retailer’s growth story from the beginning. They explore the evolution of customer demand for attribute-driven products, the business case for sustainable agriculture, resilience in food supply chains, and how Sprouts approaches affordability, innovation, and long-term value creation. The conversation highlights why customer expectations, operational excellence, and climate resilience increasingly reinforce one another.  Visit BMO for more thought leadership from Melissa Fifield: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/melissa-fifield/

September 1, 202628 min

Driving Competitive Advantage Through Spatial Finance

Location matters more than ever when it comes to understanding climate risk, resilience, and long-term business performance. Based on a webinar co-hosted by Climate Proof and Earth Finance, host Louie Woodall is joined by Caleb White of Earth Finance, Alma Cortés Selva of the BMO Climate Institute, and Kevin Eckerle of Bayer Consumer Health to explore the growing field of spatial finance—the integration of geospatial intelligence with financial decision-making. The conversation examines how companies and financial institutions are using location-based data to assess physical and transition risks, identify investment opportunities, strengthen supply chain resilience, and improve capital allocation. From agriculture and commercial real estate to water stress, extreme weather, and adaptation investments, the discussion highlights how spatial finance can help organizations move from broad sustainability considerations to actionable business decisions. For the complete webinar, visit: https://www.climateproof.news/products/webinar-recording-driving-competitive-advantage-through-spatial-finance-july-16-2026 For more thought leadership from Alma Cortés Selva of the BMO Climate Institute, visit: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/alma-cortes-selva/

August 25, 202626 min

Indigenous Reconciliation Series | Peter Dinsdale from YMCA Canada on Institutions, Partnerships, and Opportunities

As reconciliation efforts continue in Canada, the question is no longer whether institutions should engage, but how they can do so meaningfully and effectively. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders Indigenous Reconciliation Series, BMO’s Kayla Jacobs sits down with Peter Dinsdale, President and CEO of YMCA Canada, to discuss the practical realities of advancing reconciliation across organizations and sectors. From grassroots programming and education to national frameworks, the discussion unpacks how reconciliation can take shape in practice. Dinsdale reflects on the barriers organizations face and outlines how partnerships, cultural awareness, and patience can help move progress forward. The episode also explores the growing scale of Indigenous economic opportunity and the role that capital providers, policy frameworks, and business leaders can play in supporting long-term, Indigenous-led development.

August 18, 202615 min

The Hidden Costs of Homeownership: Climate Risk, Insurance, and the Affordability Crunch

Rising HOA fees and insurance premiums are reshaping the true cost of owning a home, with climate risk increasingly at the center of it all. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Alma Cortés Selva, Senior Advisor at the BMO Climate Institute, sits down with Matt Schulz, Chief Consumer Finance Analyst at LendingTree, to unpack how these interconnected pressures are driving a new affordability reality across U.S. housing markets. They explore why homeowners, lenders, and investors can no longer view housing costs in isolation, how climate exposure is influencing buyer behavior and property values, and why insurance is quickly becoming a defining factor in market access.   Visit LendingTree to learn more about the research cited in this episode: https://www.lendingtree.com/home/mortgage/hoa-survey/?msockid=03ed45b570be6d8b0420534471b76c7d Go to BMO for more thought leadership from Alma Cortés Selva: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/alma-cortes-selva/

August 11, 202623 min

Employee Ownership: Aligning Profit, Purpose, and Long-Term Value

Employee ownership is gaining momentum as a powerful strategy to align business success with employee wellbeing and community resilience. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Michael Torrance, BMO’s Chief Sustainability Officer, sits down with Leah Turnbull, Managing Director and National ESOP Practice Lead at BMO, to explore how employee ownership structures—such as Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) in the U.S. and Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) in Canada—are transforming the way companies think about growth, succession, and sustainability.  They discuss why employee ownership is increasingly relevant amid a wave of retiring business owners, how it can help close the wealth gap by expanding access to equity, and why it offers a compelling alternative to traditional sale options.

July 21, 202629 min

Nature Is Critical Infrastructure for Businesses, Cities, and Communities

Nature is no longer being viewed as an environmental consideration alone—it is increasingly being recognized as critical infrastructure that supports economic growth, business resilience, and long‑term value creation. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, BMO’s Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Torrance speaks with Dom Kempson and Mike Morris from Stantec, a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting, about how nature-based solutions are helping organizations manage risk, strengthen operations, and improve outcomes for communities. Drawing on examples from water systems, data centers, coastal infrastructure, and ecosystem restoration projects around the world, the conversation explores how companies are integrating nature into planning and investment decisions. The guests discuss why leading organizations are embedding nature into business strategy rather than treating it as an add‑on, how financial institutions are increasingly viewing nature as a source of resilience and risk reduction, and why nature-based solutions are becoming an important part of future infrastructure investment. Visit BMO for more thought leadership from Michael Torrance: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/michael-torrance/

Is this your show?

Claim this listing to keep it up to date, reach guests who want to pitch you, and manage bookings with Guestify.

Claim this listing

More Business podcasts

The Bottom Line

Alexander Spencer

BusinessInterviews guests