Joel Makower
Trellis Group
For more than 30 years, through his writing, speaking and leadership, Joel has helped companies align pressing environmental and social issues with business success.
A former nationally syndicated columnist, Joel is author or co-author of more than a dozen books, including The New Grand Strategy, about a business plan for America, born at the Pentagon, that embeds sustainability as a national strategic imperative. Previous books include Strategies for the Green Economy, Beyond the Bottom Line: Putting Social Responsibility to Work for Your Business and the World, The E-Factor: The Bottom-Line Approach to Environmentally Responsible Business, and The Green Consumer.
In 2012, he was awarded the Hutchens Medal by the American Society for Quality, which cited “his ability to tell compelling stories that both inform and inspire business leaders toward profitable action.” In 2014, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals.
Joel has spoken at hundreds of events and is a frequent keynote speaker at industry and company events around the world. His audiences and venues vary widely — including senior executives, corporate supply chains, customer groups, trade associations, marketing professionals, award ceremonies, and regional economic development bodies — from small roundtable discussions to large and diverse gatherings.
He is also a skilled moderator, called upon by companies and conferences around the world to conduct on-stage or on-camera one-on-one interviews, or to host lively and intelligent panel discussions with executives and thought leaders, for in-person, video, and online events, and has served as the emcee of dozens of events, including multi-day conferences, harnessing his talents as an engaging host, a nimble thinker, and a quick wit to ensure events rise above “conference as usual.”
The Associated Press has called him “The guru of green business practices.”
More about Joel here.
From Woodstock to sustainability — a journey
It's been 50 years since the iconic music festival, which took place on the cusp of the first Earth Day. What's the connection? Read More
A clear-cut case for business action on deforestation
Two new studies show that widespread corporate action on deforestation isn't yet taking root. And that's a risk for companies. Read More
What's your sustainability moonshot?
Despite all the mindboggling technological advances of the past half-century, there’s still no better term to describe extraordinary efforts to achieve audacious goals. Read More
10 takeaways from Circularity 19
A few sips from the firehose of insights that spewed from three days of North America's largest circular economy event. Read More
Around and around on circularity
If the level of enthusiasm around the world is matched by a concomitant level of action, our circular future will be bright. Read More
On the menu: Transforming global food systems
The main course of the future of food will be meeting the nutrition needs of a growing population. Read More
What's the (right) word on climate change?
The words we use most frequently to describe the climate problem may be the least impactful, according to new research. At least one big media company already is taking action. Read More
The rising tide of the blue economy
From bonds to ocean mining to plastics cleanup, more companies dipping their toes into the waters of ocean stewardship. Read More
The righteousness of the youth-led climate justice movement
A global movement being led by your company's future employees, neighbors and customers should be of considerable interest, and more than a little concern. Read More
Earth Day: Just another day at the office
From the momentous to the mundane, a peek into daily life at GreenBiz. Read More
