How Multinationals Can Leapfrog to Sustainability Leadership, with Dani Matthews, Co-Founder at Abundium

How can the Australian subsidiaries of global multinationals become sustainability innovators, rather than waiting for head office to lead the way?In this episode, we sit down with Dani Matthews, Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer at Abundium, a leadership community for C-suite executives in foreign-owned companies operating across the ANZ and APAC region. Abundium works with over 100 of the world's leading multinationals to drive what Dani calls "good growth", leadership that balances profit with people and planet.We talk about leapfrogging (not the pilates kind): how Australian subsidiaries can use their distance from global headquarters as freedom to pilot, test, and innovate, then share those breakthroughs back to the global business. She shares how Unilever ANZ achieved B Corp certification before its parent company and piloted a four-day work week in New Zealand, and how DHL Supply Chain is using a global carbon insetting model to reduce supply chain emissions ahead of local infrastructure.We also explore what Dani calls the Trusted Triangle , the critical alignment between the CEO, CFO, and Chief People Officer, and why sustainability must sit at the heart of business strategy, not on the sidelines. With mandatory sustainability reporting now underway in Australia, Dani shares what she's hearing from CFOs navigating the transition and why frustration might actually be the gateway to flow.Whether you're in a multinational, an ASX-listed company, or a sustainability role looking for practical ways to keep this work on the leadership agenda, this conversation is full of actionable insights.RESOURCESGuest & OrganisationAbundium — https://abundium.comDani Matthews on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsdani/Books & AuthorsThe Case for Good Jobs by Zeynep Ton (MIT Sloan) — https://goodjobsinstitute.orgNet Positive by Paul Polman (former Unilever CEO)PodcastsChange Signal by Michael Bungay Stanier https://thechangesignal.comResearch & ReportsWEF & BCG Report: Already a Multi-Trillion-Dollar Market: CEO Guide to Growth in the Green Economy (December 2025) — https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/12/the-5t-green-economy-is-growing-here-s-how-ceos-can-turn-opportunity-into-long-term-growth/Connect with us! Support the showYour Hosts:Dan LeveringtonLoreto GutierrezLiked this episode? Subscribe to our podcast to get the latest Sustainability insights every two weeks. And follow us on Linkedin and Instagram.Email us your ideas, feedback and interviewee suggestions at [email protected]