Two minutes of solar energy equals all the energy we use on the entire planet for two years, Marga Hoek

Two minutes of solar energy equals all the energy we use on the entire planet for two years, Marga Hoek

Interesting interview with

What is your background briefly?

I have had a CEO career, mainly in the construction and are development sector. Throughout that CEO career I demonstrated through concrete ‘business for good’ cases that business for good is good business. That gave me a high profile, subsequently I initiated and led the Dutch Sustainable Business and Science Association for a number of years. After I focussed on non-executive roles in London, the Netherlands and Canada predominantly in the financial sector. That way I have had a great impact. In the meantime I started writing and doing keynotes and that has developed into a global profile and value of a multi awarded author and speaker on sustainable business and capital.

Does it seem like a logical background to what you do now?

Absolutely and more importantly, people believe more in my message since I have been a business leader myself for many years.

1 min pitch for what you are doing now?

Demonstrating to the world how business for good can be good business, by engaging with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). My mission is that sustainable business and capital will be the norm, instead of the exception.

Why did you get involved with writing about the UN SDGs?

Because we finally have one moral and business compass, one language for all and thus: no longer confusion about definitions, objectives and targets. The SDGs need business as much as business needs the SDGS. So engaging with the SDGs makes total sense. But: the world needs to know, understand and act. That is where I come in.

Why do you think it is such a powerful idea / can we make the changes that we need in time?

The energy from the sun for two minutes equals all the energy we use on the entire planet for two years. We just have to shift our way of thinking.

We have the techniques, we have only one planet, and there is a business case regardless of which business or financial sector you are in. There is no reason not to do it. And thus we should.

We think it is a great idea, but have some concerns about companies using this as an exercise in greenwashing, how can they be kept honest in what they do?

Companies should wise up since greenwashing, as we all know by dramatic examples, is a huge risk for your reputation. Customers/clients, audience should educate themselves and ask themselves critical questions like: nice green case, but what percentage of their total turnover are we talking about? How is their investment scheme? There are just a few numbers needed to know if they are greenwashing. There is so much intel available by now;  we should use it well to inform consumers since they are the critical mass.

How can people find out more about you & your work?

Google me and you’ll find me! You can read about me on www.margahoek.com and I am easy to connect through that website. I always give you a reaction. They can also have a look on linked in and connect. And read my books The Trillion Dollar Shift and New Economy Business; that is me! [See our review of it here].

Anything else you’d like to add / we should have asked?

Do not spend your time on the ‘but’s’, spend your time on the ‘hows’. It will make you happier as well!

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