Making Sustainability Human: Storytelling, Systems Change and Nature with Breitling CSO Aurelia Figueroa

Security is the word everyone is using right now, but the surprising truth is that it keeps pointing straight back to sustainability. Carl sits down with Aurelia, a chief sustainability officer and systems thinker, to map where sustainability stands in 2026 after the hype cycle and the hard reality check that followed. We talk about what’s actually progressing (the energy transition and renewables scaling faster than most headlines suggest) and what’s still dangerously behind (nature regeneration, valuing ecosystems, and the widening gap of wealth inequality).We get specific about why inequality can derail climate policy and why “just transition” can’t be a slogan. Aurelia shares a vivid on-the-ground lesson from the Yellow Vest movement era in France and explains why the success or failure of sustainability often comes down to trust, coalitions, and whether people feel they’re being asked to sacrifice without a believable payoff. That leads to a core idea: science-based evidence is essential, but leading with data alone won’t move society. Stories will. We dig into what a useful sustainability narrative sounds like, including real scenarios that show what life can look like on the other side of change.You’ll also hear an inside look at corporate sustainability in global luxury brands, from high-risk upstream supply chains to responsible sourcing shifts like artisanal small-scale gold and lab-grown diamonds. We cover why startups are a non-negotiable ingredient for circular economy progress, how communities like Imagine and Villars help leaders stay brave, and how reconnecting to nature can reshape the way we lead. If this conversation sharpens your thinking, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it.Contact UsThis is interactive content - send us your questions to the guests and we record another session just focusing on your questions!You have suggestions for new guests or want to sponsor the show?Contact Carl via LinkedInThanks for listening and keep podcasting!