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Join Us

This convening is by invitation only.

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Date and Time

Thursday October 20, 2022
4:00 pm-7:00 pm CEST

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Location

Paris

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Topics

#ESG

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Why ESG should be your absolute #1 priority. 

It’s time—now more than ever—for more sustainable business models to take global markets by storm. Events like COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine have demonstrated the vulnerability of our global system of supply and demand. Companies have experienced how major shocks to the system are not just bad for the bottom line, but can reinforce inequities and reverse years if not decades of progress made in areas like climate action and equity/inclusion—to our collective dismay. Consumers, investors, employees, and regulators are demanding, and creating, a more equitable playing field. And yet, the private sector arguably has the most at stake as it tries to maintain business continuity in the face of new shocks and increased scrutiny.

What does this mean for me as a young, high-growth, European tech company?

It means opportunity to double down on the values of your leaders and your employees by investing in ESG now, showing you are aware of global challenges and that your business model is resilient and prepared to withstand the turbulence for the long run. 

That makes sense. How do I get started?

Join us for an in-person facilitated discussion with high-growth company representatives from Swile, Navico, and AVEVA as we hear about their journeys to become more sustainable, and how embedding ESG has added resilience to their efforts. And stay for a candid discussion on how to fix the VC and investment ecosystem with friends from the academic, accelerators and VC space.

What’s going to be discussed?

• Taking a look back, what did Silicon Valley get right on ESG? And more importantly, what did they get wrong? What might be different for EU High-Growthers?
• What does creating an ESG practice for HGCs look like? How can you make ESG part of your value proposition? How do you even get started?
• How have other high-growth companies overcome challenges, from budget, to mindset, to transparency, to meeting financial targets?
• How can (and why should) I engage and encourage my stakeholders to care, notably, investors and VCs?
• Ultimately, what can we create together to make ESG central to EU high-growth?

The session will be followed by a cocktail hour, where you will be joined by high-growth peers and leaders from BSR—willing to brainstorm on site. This convening is by invitation only and part of a broader series of meetings among young, high-growth companies, to which you will be invited. Please reach out to Jonathan Morris, Associate Director, BSR at web@bsr.org to request an invitation.

Speakers

• Stephanie LeBlanc, Director of Sustainability, Swile

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• Tara Norton, Chief Sustainability Officer, Navico

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• Lisa Wee, Vice President of Sustainability, AVEVA

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• Johannes Lenhard, Chair, Co-Founder, Venture ESG

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• Raphael Leyendecker Fabbri, Managing Director, TechStars Paris

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• Myrto Lalacos, Venture Capitalist, VC Labs

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• Kelly Gallo, Associate Director, BSR

Kelly Gallo

Associate Director | San Francisco



Follow @kellyagallo

With a focus on climate change and women’s empowerment, Kelly helps information and communications technology companies achieve their sustainability goals, working to address their growing energy demands while also fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

Kelly supported programming and encouraged business climate commitments for the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit and is closely involved in renewable energy initiatives, such as the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance. She also helped launch and manage Business Action for Women, a working group that supports women’s empowerment efforts in the workplace and supply chain.

Prior to BSR, Kelly spent more than six years consulting on energy efficiency, sustainability, and renewable energy for California’s utilities and public-sector clients. She is also a member of the U.S. National Committee for UN Women, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter.

Kelly holds an M.A. in International Relations from San Francisco State University and a B.A. in Global Studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara.  

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• Jonathan Morris, Associate Director, BSR

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