“There is value in being able to articulate the qualitative value of sustainability…And yes, obviously revenues can be attached to that, but obviously just the opportunity to open up new markets more broadly and innovate…There’s the risk and compliance component, which tend to be more easy to actually quantify. And then there’s the brand reputation…So you can make the case qualitatively in any of those three areas…There’s this movement from morality to materiality now that CFOs are involved…We actually take that all the way to the financial statements, to the balance sheet, to the profit and loss statement, and identify those specific line items where there could be savings or synergies or increases.”

Maura Hodge on Electric Ladies Podcast

Companies have to focus on long-term value and returns, and a recent report by KPMG found that 88% of them say sustainability creates both. They also see it as a competitive advantage. Why?

Listen to Maura Hodge, Chief Sustainability Officer of global management consulting and accounting firm KPMG in this enlightening conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson.

You’ll hear about:

● How companies see sustainability as a competitive advantage.

● How sustainability and ESG initiatives drive return on investment and long-term value.

● Why CFO’s are on board with ESG, as both a risk mitigation and revenue driver.

● What companies can do to make progress themselves.

● Plus, career advice, such as:

“My experience has been looking for those opportunities of new area Growth, Innovation. Of course, there’s risk. There’s going to be risk when you move into those areas…I actually pivoted and started working with venture capital backed life sciences companies…then I got to come back to sustainability after that. …I think keeping your eyes open, keeping your ears open, developing your network, and being willing to make those changes and taking those pivots in your career will pay off….(And) the way that you get ahead is actually sometimes by taking two steps back. And so, it’s more of a step up, plateau, then maybe take a step down and then start moving up again. And that’s how you kind of break into the next level.”

Maura Hodge on Electric Ladies Podcast

Read Joan’s Forbes article on Maura’s panel at the Workiva conference here, and her Joan’s other Forbes articles here.

You’ll also like:

· Business Leaders Bridging the Climate Gap – Joan’s panel at The Earth Day Women’s Summit 2025 with four top business leaders.

· Sustainable Business Is Good Business – Tensie Whelan, Founding Director, NYU Stern School of Sustainable Business.

· Leveraging AI for Sustainability – Mandi McReynolds, VP of External Affairs & Chief Sustainability Office at Workiva

· The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus

· 6 Ways Sustainability Can Help Businesses Navigate Tough Times and Drive Growth – From Workiva, KPMG and NYU

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special Coaching offers.

Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review!

Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

Most Recent Episodes

June 3, 2026

How Stories Can Shift Culture – Melissa Jun Rowley, Author of "Beyond The Mic Drop: How Stories Can Shift Culture, Power & Policy"

"What are the stories that people can participate in and see themselves in? I think that's one of the keys that we can unlock when it comes to the whole climate narrative is telling stories that...

Listen · 1:20:08

May 27, 2026

An Air Force Veteran on Bipartisan Climate And Energy Policy – U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)

"While the word 'climate' may be politically charged for some, the need for affordable, reliable, and secure energy is something we can all agree on. Americans are calling for action, and as Members...

Listen · 46:10

May 20, 2026

Impact Investing In New Hands In New Ways– Jolyne Caruso, Financial Executive, Investor, Wealth Advisor

"When you look at where families invest across the spectrum of sustainable and impact Investing, climate is really at the forefront. They think about that because, look at our environment, look at...

Listen · 1:00:56

Load More Episodes

Joan Michelson Electric Ladies Podcast - Innovation, Energy, Climate, Careers

Joan Michelson, MBA is a highly accomplished business leader and award-winning strategic social impact and ESG – environment, social, governance – leader, who drove breakthrough results at Chrysler (in EVs), American Express and Deloitte, small businesses, and government agencies. She is an instructor on ESG issues to professionals, leaders and board members across industries. Her specialties include leveraging ESG solutions and partnerships strategically for maximum benefit, helping organizations recruit innovative, diverse women, and helping these women thrive in their careers. She is based in the Washington D.C. area.

Joan is also an accomplished journalist who has worked with top media organizations and hosts and produces the acclaimed Electric Ladies podcast (formerly known as Green Connections Radio), about innovation and leadership in energy-, climate- and sustainability-related issues across industries, featuring women experts.

She writes regularly for Forbes on these issues and has also been in the Harvard Business Review, HuffPost, TheAtlantic.com, Greenbiz, The New Economy magazine (distributed at the World Economic Forum), New Thinking magazine, regional business journals; and various other media. She coproduced segments with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” ABC News, and “The Crusaders,” and television specials on NBC.

Joan has spent her career working in energy-sustainability-climate-ESG issues and in marketing communications, including as head of communications and co-leader of the sales and marketing team of Chrysler’s Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), driving “best year ever” growth and significantly accelerated the adoption of electric vehicles. Prior to GEM, she led marketing communications efforts to high-net-worth and high-visibility clients in management consulting-financial services companies Deloitte and American Express. She's a native of NYC and has a BA from UCLA, an MBA from Baruch College at City University of NY, and post-graduate studies at Harvard Business School, The New School and The Aspen Institute, among others. She has a Sustainability and ESG certification from Competent Boards.