Delivering Global Impact Through a UN Career

In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, I am joined by Hiroko Muraki Gottlieb, an accomplished environmental lawyer whose career spans global business, nonprofits, intergovernmental organizations, and academia. Hiroko shares her journey from practicing corporate environmental law to becoming deeply involved in international policy making, including her critical role in shaping the High Seas Treaty. Together, we explore the role of legal professionals in sustainability, the challenges of aligning diverse interests, and her insights into building impactful careers in environmental law and policy. Whether you're a legal professional, policymaker, or sustainability enthusiast, this episode is packed with wisdom and inspiration.Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome to episode01:08 – Hiroko Introduction02:12 – Role of Lawyers in Policy03:48 – Challenges in Advocacy05:11 – Science and Policy Integration07:21 – High Seas Treaty Overview09:22 – Ratification Process11:30 – Country-Specific Dynamics13:19 – Balancing Speed and Consensus15:18 – Lessons from Negotiations18:23 – Passion and Professionalism20:24 – Personal Takeaways22:45 – Future Focus25:20 – Advice for Aspiring Environmental Lawyers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with Stacy Williams, Executive Director of ISER Caribe, about her journey as a marine biologist focused on coral reef conservation and adaptation.Based in Puerto Rico, Stacy discusses the challenges coral reefs face, from rising ocean temperatures to invasive algae and diseases, and she highlights innovative restoration techniques, such as introducing herbivorous species like sea urchins and crabs, and breeding resilient corals.Stacy also provides insight into the importance of adapting restoration practices, the role of partnerships and funding, and her advice for aspiring marine biologists.LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1eTyAfaKphSdyiSNZFcKSmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/dk/podcast/sustainable-ambassador-podcast/id1705344128Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sustainable-Ambassador-Podcast/dp/B0CGWXG2ZVacast: https://shows.acast.com/sustainable-ambassador-podcastiHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-sustainable-ambassador-pod-160211015/TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Introduction01:19 - Stacy’s Journey into Marine Biology02:43 - Early Career and Fieldwork04:03 - Challenges Facing Coral Reefs07:27 - The Importance of Coral Reefs08:23 - Adaptive Coral Restoration Techniques10:20 - Natural vs. Human Intervention in Coral Recovery12:22 - Holistic Restoration Approaches15:42 - Scientific Methodology and Experiments18:21 - Measuring Success in Restoration20:17 - Overcoming Challenges and Scaling Efforts26:35 - Passion and Perseverance28:07 - Advice for Aspiring Marine BiologistsAbout Stacey:Stacey M. Williams is a marine scientist and the co-founder of the Institute for Socio-Ecological Research (ISER Caribe), based in Puerto Rico. She received her PhD in Biological Oceanography at the Department of Marine Science at the University of Puerto Rico. Williams and her team at ISER focus on innovative ecological methods, such as outplanting coral fragments and reintroducing sea urchins and crabs to help manage coral-smothering algae. Her efforts are crucial in combating the devastating effects of climate change and disease on Caribbean coral reefs.In addition to her work with ISER Caribe, Williams is committed to advancing restorative aquaculture projects that integrate sustainability with community engagement. She has been instrumental in securing significant funding, including a $10.6 million NOAA grant, to expand reef restoration efforts across Puerto Rico. Her contributions have not only bolstered environmental conservation but also created job opportunities and supported young scientists in the region. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with Dr. Martin Frick, Director of the World Food Program in Berlin about his 25+ year U.N. career and impacting the lives of millions through global initiatives in food security and climate action. Through our discussion, Martin shares his perspective on the UN’s unique role in addressing some of the world’s most pressing issues, the importance of local action, the power of youth in shaping global agendas, and the challenges faced in uniting global stakeholders for meaningful impact. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with Isabel Felandro, Head of Programmes at Cool Earth, about their recent pilot program testing the potential of Universal Basic Income to prevent deforestation in the Amazon.Through our conversation, Isabel shares insights on the program’s design, the role of Indigenous communities in conservation, and how they approached trust and unconditional funding, and we speak to how they approached the unique challenges, risks, and philosophical shifts involved in empowering communities to manage resources independently,. Towards the end of the conversation Isabel also reflects on the professional lessons she has taken away from this program and offers some career advice for those interested in working in the environmental sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with Laurie Goering, the Extreme Heat Editor for Climate Resilience for All. about the challenges of reporting on extreme heat and the importance of telling human-centric stories.Through our conversation, Laurie speaks to the nuances of effective communication in climate journalism, the need to balance alarming facts with actionable solutions, and she wraps the conversation with valuable career advice to aspiring climate journalists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with photographer Chris Jordan about how photography has the ability to inspire a global environmental movement. Known for his striking images of environmental degradation, including the famous photographs of dead albatrosses filled with plastic, Jordan reflects on his journey from lawyer to photographer, the role of beauty and art in environmentalism, and his evolving perspective on how to inspire change. The conversation touches on Chris’s early influences, his approach to capturing profound environmental issues, and his recent transition from documenting dark imagery to focusing on the healing power of beauty. Through this transition, Chris emphasizes that connecting emotionally with subjects and facing internal challenges are key to creating meaningful and impactful art. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, host Rich Rigger speaks with Andrew Jack, the Global Education Editor at the Financial Times about the future of sustainability at business schools.Through our discussion, we explore the current state of sustainability within business education, how schools are evolving in this area, and the roles of students, faculty, and businesses in driving change, and Andrew shares insights on the challenges academic institutions face in embedding sustainability into core curriculums and the significant opportunities for interdisciplinary research. At the end of the episode, he speaks to how aspiring students can navigate and select institutions that align with their sustainability values. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, host Rich interviews award-winning science writer and Anthropocene researcher Gaia Vince about her latest book, Nomad Century. The conversation focuses on the increasingly pressing issue of climate-driven migration, the lack of global preparedness for the inevitable movement of millions of people, and the need to change the narrative around climate migrations as a key starting point. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, I speak with Jeana Wirtenberg from Rutgers Business School about the evolving role of business leadership and sustainability that she has seen over the last 20 years of engaging business leaders in areas of corporate social responsibility, innovation, and leadership, and the important role academic has to help leaders drive sustainability through their organizations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with with Ivonne Bojoh, CEO of Circle Economy, about the circular economy and her journey from a career in entrepreneurship and innovation to leading a global impact organization focused on the circular economy. It is a conversation that starts with a framing of circularity, its practical application, and the systemic challenges that must be overcome to achieve a truly circular economy before focusing in on her own career transition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.