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194 / Cookies, Carney & Clarity
Published 5 days ago • 6 min read
Hello friends 👋
The last few weeks have felt heavy. Even after nine years of writing this newsletter — and too many similar weeks — it still feels important to say that out loud.
One thing I read this week that’s helped is Emily Atkin’s latest HEATED essay (see today’s 5 Links) where she put into words so much of what I’ve been struggling to articulate — the tension between the horrors unfolding right now and the long, grinding work of sustainability and social impact. I appreciated her list of what’s keeping her motivated to keep fighting the good fight (especially #4 😉🤬).
There have been bright spots in the week too. One was our recent Change Hub Member Roundtable, where members shared their sustainable business outlooks for 2026. In a fraught sustainability landscape where it can feel genuinely risky to stick your neck out in public forums, I’m more grateful than ever that we’ve built a space where peers can come together in a trusted, intimate setting for real talk — and real solutions. Chatham House Rule FTW.
On February 19th, we’re latching onto the 2016 throwback social media trend by revisiting Tensie Whelan and Carly Fink’s seminal Harvard Business Review article on “The Comprehensive Business Case for Sustainability” (which, yes, is already 10 years old 😮) and interrogating what still holds and what doesn’t in 2026. You’re warmly invited to join us for this conversation and many more we’ll be having in the coming year.
Another bright spot I’m really excited about: we’re kicking off our first cohort of Freelance Foundations next week! This is a program we’ve designed for all the self-employed consultants, solopreneurs and fractional leaders in this community (and those thinking of taking the leap). We already have an incredible group signed on, and we’d love to welcome you in.
Sending steadiness to you wherever you’re reading this from. And — as recommended by Emily — cookies, more cookies!
Calling all impact consultants, fractional leaders and solopreneurs! Freelance Foundations, our new accelerator program for impact-focused independents, kicks off *next Wednesday* February 4th. We’ve got an incredible cohort coming together for this 10-week program, which is designed to help you get clear, get confident and get into a new way of working that supports the life you want to lead. (If the upfront investment feels tricky, reach out! We’re happy to talk payment plans 🤗)
That’s a wrap on our January cohort of The Sustainability Communications Reset! Nearly ‼️70‼️students have joined this masterclass series so far… and if we get enough waitlist interest, we might launch a third cohort later this spring. If you’re looking for a training to help you navigate the sustainability communications landscape and communicate with confidence in 2026, drop your name below 👇
Year-round vibes in the Change Hub Source: Dubsado
This month’s Hot Topic in the Change Hub was “Setting Up for Success” and oh did we. January’s highlights included a member roundtable on 2026 sustainable business outlooks, a workshop on setting your year-ahead roadmap and several new created and curated annual planning resources (like this one). If you’re looking for access to trainings, tools and a trusted network of peers to support you in the year ahead, we’re here for you (and now offer two pricing tiers to make it easier to join!).
It took a minute, but Minnesota’s biggest employers finally broke their silence this week with a joint letter published by the state Chamber of Commerce. The fact they spoke as a bloc says a lot about where we are: individual CEOs risk getting singled out if they speak out directly, so there’s strength in numbers. Even then, the language of the letter was cautious to the point of bland, with no direct condemnation and no real demands. But compared to 🎥Silicon Valley’s vibe🍿, it’s a step in the right direction? (6 minutes)
With geopolitics and AI dominating the Davos agenda, sustainability didn’t always take center stage — but it didn’t disappear either. In the latest edition of his must-read newsletter, BCG’s Tim Mohin highlighted five trends worth paying attention to, including how corporate leaders are reframing sustainability and the shift in focus from climate mitigation to adaptation. (4 minutes)
Also at Davos: THAT SPEECH. I appreciated this quick video breakdown from storytelling expert Rob D. Willis, which unpacked what exactly made it so dang effective. From choosing the perfect analogy, to following a three-act structure, to a whole bunch of rhetorical devices I’d never heard of (anaphora! epistephe!) — there’s a lot that sustainability leaders can learn when it comes to telling our own stories of change. (2 minutes)
In a moment when sustainability is under fire from all sides, this essay from Alison Taylor and Stephanie Hart argues that maaaaaaybe some of the criticism is deserved. An overreliance on jargon, metrics and elite frameworks has left too many people out, from small businesses to workers whose concerns don’t fit neatly into ESG decks. The authors call for a reset: “it’s time for more reflection, more plain language and a direct focus on fairness, basic dignity and respect.” (7 minutes)
Thank you Emily Atkin for putting words to a question so many of us have been sitting with: how do you keep showing up for your work on climate (and impact) when it feels like the world’s on fire? And for sharing a few solutions. 🍪 (5 minutes)
Freelance communicator? Interested in producing high-quality sustainability content for a small, expert-led agency? Bespoke ESG is looking for a contract Marketing and Content Strategist to help them scale The Sustainability Insider and beyond.
A few highlights from this week’s curation:
Aspen Institute — Chief of Staff, Energy and Environment Program (Washington, D.C.)
📣 *Partner Post. There are so many talented sustainability and social impact professionals looking for work right now. Reach thousands of them by booking a Sponsored Job Post.
📆 February 4 - April 15 — Freelance Foundations| 💻 Virtual | Group Program Starting next week, we’ll be showing up for Freelance Foundations, our new 10-week accelerator program for impact-focused independents, every other Wednesday.
📆 February 19 — Updating the 2016 Business Case for Sustainability for 2026| 💻 Virtual | For Change Hub Members In this hands-on working session, we’ll revisit Harvard Business Review’s foundational 2016 article on “The Comprehensive Business Case for Sustainability” and stress-test it with a 2026 lens.
📆 February 26 — Community Gathering: Brain Trust | 💻 Virtual | For Change Hub Members In this quarterly mastermind-style community gathering, Change Hub members come together to collectively brainstorm and support one another on challenges we’re facing.
🚨Most clicked from the last issue… Corporations on ICE in Minneapolis: The Ugly, the Bad, and the Good — Higher Ground. Corporate ethics expert Alison Taylor’s new Substack on how companies like Hilton and Target have responded to the recent ICE actions in Minneapolis was a must-read for you all.
📚 Browse 100+ of the best sustainability programs in Reconsidered’s Impact Upskilling Hub. This week's partner pick: Voiz Academy’sVoizAI Cohort (heads up, Change Hub members get 10% off 🎁).
👯 In the Reconsidered LinkedIn group, members are sharing ESG events, social change career podcasts and workshops for impact leaders. Join 21k+ of ushere.
Get fresh finds from the world of corporate responsibility, sustainability + social impact delivered straight to your inbox, every other week. Each issue includes 5 thought-provoking links, a curated list of impact job opportunities, interviews with global impact leaders and loads of exclusive tools + resources for sustainable business professionals.
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