In her talk, Melanie van de Velde reveals five key success factors as to why some impact strategies create better outcomes than others, based on her award winning research.

99% of CEOs believe sustainability will be important to the future success of their business. However, the majority of these business leaders say they do not feel they have the understanding to address our global issues effectively. Companies that do contribute effectively to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are expected to be at a competitive advantage.

There are a leading examples that successfully contribute to our SDGs, like Patagonia, Triodos Bank, Brigade, Ctaste and Ctalents. But most businesses struggle to do so. In her talk, Melanie reveals why some strategies are more effective than others, with colourful examples.

The insights Melanie will share are based on her PhD research, that has won the Adam Smith Prize for PhD Excellence, nominated by the Social Innovation Centre at Cambridge University.

About the speaker

15 Years ago, Melanie gave up a successful career in high tech multinationals and start-ups to run a fashion enterprise to empower young women in one of our world’s biggest slums, based in Nairobi. She learned first-hand about the powerful solution business can offer to some of our key global issues, but also how this tends to go hand in hand with immense challenges.

The experience sparked a fire in her to embark on a seven year research journey examining best practices from around the globe. Her book ‘Legacy’ reveals five key success factors for effective impact strategies, based on her PhD. Aside of her PhD Melanie holds an MBA with Distinction, and an MSc in Industrial Engineering. She is the Founder of Big Tree Global Ltd, an impact management consultancy, and B Journeys ltd, that aims to ‘use travel as a force for good’ and empower remote communities around the globe out of poverty.