Erin Shaffer is a Green Champion who co-leads the sustainability and energy management service line at Kalypso, a consulting firm acquired by Rockwell Automation. Erin shares her passion for sustainability, which was rooted in her upbringing and her experiences with social impact initiatives throughout college. She highlights her journey from working with organizations like GiveBackHack and Star House to establishing a sustainable consulting practice within a large corporation. Erin discusses the challenges and triumphs of developing a shared passion for sustainability within her team and the importance of finding agency to pursue what you're passionate about. With a shared passion and a collaborative spirit, Erin and her colleagues transformed a casual conversation into a driving force for positive change, ultimately contributing to the growth of a sustainable practice within a Fortune 500 company.

Episode in a glance

- Erin's Social Impact Work at Ohio State
- Star House and Its Work Programs
- From Social Impact to Sustainability
- What Does Management Consulting Really Mean?
- The Moment Erin's Team Realized They Could Have a Larger Impact
- Erin's Approach to Execution
- How Erin's Upbringing Shaped Her Passions
- Advice for Finding Agency and Pursuing Your Passions

About Erin Shaffer

Erin Shaffer is a sustainability champion and management consultant at Kalypso, a Rockwell Automation business. With a background in finance and a passion for social impact, Erin has dedicated her career to integrating sustainability into both her personal and professional life. From her early work with Star House to her current role spearheading the development of a dedicated sustainability service line at Kalypso, Erin has consistently sought ways to blend her business acumen with a commitment to environmental responsibility. She believes in the power of collaborative action and is dedicated to helping businesses achieve their sustainability goals.

Connect with Erin Shaffer and her work at Kalypso

→ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-halleran-shaffer/

→ https://kalypso.com/

Send us a message!

What are the three types of social capital, and how can understanding them help you become a better advocate for sustainability?

Joe Campbell, senior lecturer at Ohio State University's School of Environment and Natural Resources and director of the Environmental Professionals Network, returns for a masterclass on social capital. He defines the concept, explaining how it refers to the value of relationships, and explores the three key types of social capital: bonding, bridging, and linking. He explains how nurturing strong family and friend networks, connecting with people from diverse backgrounds, and leveraging relationships with those in positions of power can all contribute to positive change.

He emphasizes the importance of recognizing and actively building upon all three types of social capital, providing practical tips and advice for nurturing relationships, fostering connections, and leveraging networks to create positive change.

Episode at a glance

01:52 Understanding Social Capital
03:15 Types of Social Capital: Bonding, Bridging, and Linking
07:38 Networking and Building Relationships
08:11 Not sure if this should be edited out
14:00 Linking Social Capital in Action
19:07 How to Connect with Joe Campbell

About Joe Campbell

Joe Campbell is a senior lecturer at Ohio State University's School of Environment and Natural Resources. He is passionate about fostering community and collaboration in the field of sustainability. Joe is dedicated to creating spaces where people feel heard and valued, recognizing the importance of listening and understanding diverse perspectives. His work includes assembling interdisciplinary teams for research projects, teaching courses on leadership and community development, and directing the Environmental Professionals Network at Ohio State.

Connect with Joe Campbell and his work

→ https://epn.osu.edu/

→ https://125benefit.com/

→ https://www.youtube.com/@environmentalprofessionals1141

Send us a message!

2Joe Campbell shares his journey from a study abroad program in Ghana to establishing his own consulting company, Development Consulting International. He then talks about how he came to teach the Ghana study abroad course and continue to work on community development projects in both Ghana and the US. He explains the importance of building a shared understanding of what community development means in practice, highlighting the need to consider both the physical environment and the social and cultural aspects of a place.

Joe talks about the challenges of transitioning the Environmental Professionals Network to a virtual format during the pandemic and how they successfully adapted to continue connecting people and supporting their work. He describes the network's mission and its impact on fostering collaboration among environmental professionals in Ohio.

He then introduces his new venture, one.two.five Benefit Corporation, which aims to incentivize farmers to adopt regenerative practices that increase soil carbon storage. He discusses the emergence of the soil carbon credit market, the challenges of measuring carbon storage, and the development of a regional conservation partnership program that is paying farmers for healthy soil.

Episode in a glance

- International Journey to Ghana and Network Building
- Defining Community Development
- The Environmental Professionals Network
- From Research Posters to Real-World Impact
- Paying Farmers for Healthy Soil

About Joe Campbell

Joe Campbell is a senior lecturer at Ohio State University's School of Environment and Natural Resources. He is passionate about fostering community and collaboration in the field of sustainability. Joe is dedicated to creating spaces where people feel heard and valued, recognizing the importance of listening and understanding diverse perspectives. His work includes assembling interdisciplinary teams for research projects, teaching courses on leadership and community development, and directing the Environmental Professionals Network at Ohio State.

Connect with Joe Campbell and his work with EPN and one.two.five Benefit Corporation

→ https://epn.osu.edu/

→ https://125benefit.com/

Send us a message!