Beyond Greenwashing: How to Build Truly Sustainable Businesses

In this episode of The Connectors Podcast, we sit down with B. Lorraine Smith, a visionary speaker, coach, and writer who has spent over two decades in corporate sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). Lorraine challenges the conventional narratives around sustainable business, pushing beyond corporate buzzwords to explore what it truly means to build an economy that serves life.

She shares her journey from advising major global corporations to stepping away from traditional ESG consulting to take a more honest, systems-wide approach to change. This conversation is not just about the problems—it’s about what’s possible and how individuals, leaders, and businesses can take meaningful action.

Key Takeaways:

• Rethinking ESG & Sustainability – Why traditional corporate sustainability efforts often fail to create real impact, and how we can move beyond surface-level commitments.

• Following the Money – Lorraine’s deep dive into corporate disclosures and why many sustainability initiatives are structured to maintain the status quo rather than drive change.

• The Power of Language & Framing – How the words we use (like "wildfire" and "net-zero") shape public perception and prevent us from addressing the root of environmental issues.

• What Consumers Can Actually Do – Instead of feeling powerless, how individuals can take action in their everyday lives that truly make a difference.

• The Future of Business & Leadership – Why the next wave of corporate leadership must prioritize industrial healing over extractive practices, and how businesses can align profit with true sustainability.

About Lorraine Smith:B. Lorraine Smith is a speaker, coach, and advisor dedicated to transforming the global economy into one that enables society and the biosphere to thrive. After two decades in corporate ESG consulting, she now boldly challenges conventional sustainability frameworks, guiding leaders to create meaningful, life-affirming change. Through powerful storytelling, strategic advising, and groundbreaking research, Lorraine envisions a world where business success is inseparable from environmental and social well-being.

Connect with Lorraine Smith:

🌍 Website: www.bearinesmith.com

📩 LinkedIn: Lorraine Smith on LinkedIn

📺 YouTube: Lorraine’s YouTube Channel

📅 Join Her Monday Practice Change Calls: Details on Her Website

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/blorrainesmith/

🎧 Tune in for this powerful and thought-provoking discussion that challenges what we think we know about sustainable business.

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"The Connectors" podcast is hosted and produced  by Jolyn and Quinten. Marketing, sound and technical work thanks to the Design Coop and our theme tune thanks to the amazing The Hypnotyst @hypnotyst  

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