By Real Leaders
In addition to contaminating the air we breathe with toxic pollutants, wildfires release large quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Prevention, early detection, and fast response are key to minimizing damage — and artificial intelligence is proving to be a powerful tool. The University of California San Diego’s ALERTCalifornia program partnered with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and DigitalPath to develop and train an AI tool that uses footage from over 1,000 cameras throughout the state, picking up early indicators of fire and alerting local authorities so they can respond sooner and with more information.
Imagine A World Without Wildfires
By Real Leaders
In addition to contaminating the air we breathe with toxic pollutants, wildfires release large quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Prevention, early detection, and fast response are key to minimizing damage — and artificial intelligence is proving to be a powerful tool. The University of California San Diego’s ALERTCalifornia program partnered with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and DigitalPath to develop and train an AI tool that uses footage from over 1,000 cameras throughout the state, picking up early indicators of fire and alerting local authorities so they can respond sooner and with more information.
5 Inspirational Quotes for Leaders
We asked our 2024 Real Leaders Top Keynote Speakers what message resonates most with their audience. Here are a handful of their responses. Do you want to be included in the next list? Apply to be a Real Leaders Top Keynote Speaker here.
By Real Leaders
“Sometimes the most positive thing you can do is turn fear into fuel, frustration into focus, and failure into finishing strong. Love casts out fear, and the more you focus on love, fear will dissipate. So love the moment, love the battle, love the competition, love competing, love the struggle, and love the process. When you love it, fear will have no power over you, and love will fuel your success.” —Jon Gordon
“Whatever is happening right now, this is it. This is your life. You can’t change the past, but in 5 seconds, you can change your future. There is only one you. And there will never be another one. That’s your power.” —Mel Robbins
“People tell me that they’re worried people won’t like the ‘me’ they really want to be. Some love you, and they’re scared that you’re going to get hurt. Some are jealous and see a reflection of their own stagnation. Some say, ‘You can’t do that. That’s too scary,’ when what they really mean is, ‘I can’t do that. I’m too scared.’ Stop letting your ambition be held back by someone else’s lack of imagination.” —Laura Gassner Otting
“When it comes to solving the climate crisis, people ask me if I have hope. I don’t have hope — I have determination.” —Henk Rogers
“My journey in becoming a speaker and a leader comes from a certainty that I’ve always had that everything we need, everything our ancestors needed, and what our children will need, exists on planet Earth—and nowhere else. My purpose, and it takes courage, is to do everything within my power to restore and protect the ecosystems and biodiversity that provide what we all need to survive.” —Cristina Mittermeier
Fall 2024 Gifts for Good
As fall approaches, social gatherings, cozy cravings, and fall sports ramp up. These fun gift ideas are all from companies that won 2024 Real Leaders Impact Awards, so you can feel good about supporting their meaningful missions.
By Real Leaders
Fired Up: Greater Grilling
Brandless offers kitchen, home, and nutrition items through its wellness platform, which supports enhanced health, responsible living, and respect for the planet. The company’s grilling essentials will have you ready to play grill master at that fall tailgate party. The stainless steel brushes, spatula, and tongs are durable and dishwasher-safe.
Pure and Powerful: Skin-Soothing Suds
After struggling with unexplained infertility, Ben and Sara Jensen partnered with industry experts to create Hugh & Grace. Powerful, pure, and natural products reduce exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals in your skin, health, and home routines. The Luxe Set includes a cleansing bar, face and night serums, and body oil to detoxify, hydrate, nourish, and smooth your skin.
Game Face: Toxic-Free Eye Black
MisMacK Clean Cosmetics’ makeup is vegan, ethically sourced and made, sustainably packaged, and free of cruelty, toxic ingredients, and parabens. Game Play Eye Black is an anti-glare sports stick that’s sweat- and waterproof. Whether for an athlete or a diehard fan, this is an eye black they can feel good about using to get game-ready. Bonus: It doubles as an eyeliner or base for eye shadow.
Keep it Simple: Smart Snacking
Just Ingredients’ nutrition and beauty items are created with health in mind. They focus on clean, quality, artificial-free elements. For the popcorn lover in your life, gift the Popcorn Salts Variety Pack, which comes with five flavors: garlic butter, parmesan cheese, movie theater butter, cheddar cheese, and caramel corn.
Better Beauty: Radiant Eyewear
Dome BEAUTY’s eye, lip, and face products and brushes are safe, eco-friendly, sustainable, and inclusive. The makeup company’s holistic approach to being clean carries over to its packaging, application, and ethics and helps to offset its carbon. The Eye Jewels 24-Hour Radiant Mousse Shadow is lightweight and quick to dry, providing a luminescent, moisturizing finish.
5 Inspirational Quotes for Leaders
We asked our 2024 Real Leaders Top Keynote Speakers what message resonates most with their audience. Here are a handful of their responses. Do you want to be included in the next list? Apply to be a Real Leaders Top Keynote Speaker here.
By Real Leaders
“Sometimes the most positive thing you can do is turn fear into fuel, frustration into focus, and failure into finishing strong. Love casts out fear, and the more you focus on love, fear will dissipate. So love the moment, love the battle, love the competition, love competing, love the struggle, and love the process. When you love it, fear will have no power over you, and love will fuel your success.” —Jon Gordon
“Whatever is happening right now, this is it. This is your life. You can’t change the past, but in 5 seconds, you can change your future. There is only one you. And there will never be another one. That’s your power.” —Mel Robbins
“People tell me that they’re worried people won’t like the ‘me’ they really want to be. Some love you, and they’re scared that you’re going to get hurt. Some are jealous and see a reflection of their own stagnation. Some say, ‘You can’t do that. That’s too scary,’ when what they really mean is, ‘I can’t do that. I’m too scared.’ Stop letting your ambition be held back by someone else’s lack of imagination.” —Laura Gassner Otting
“When it comes to solving the climate crisis, people ask me if I have hope. I don’t have hope — I have determination.” —Henk Rogers
“My journey in becoming a speaker and a leader comes from a certainty that I’ve always had that everything we need, everything our ancestors needed, and what our children will need, exists on planet Earth—and nowhere else. My purpose, and it takes courage, is to do everything within my power to restore and protect the ecosystems and biodiversity that provide what we all need to survive.” —Cristina Mittermeier
Fall 2024 Gifts for Good
As fall approaches, social gatherings, cozy cravings, and fall sports ramp up. These fun gift ideas are all from companies that won 2024 Real Leaders Impact Awards, so you can feel good about supporting their meaningful missions.
By Real Leaders
Fired Up: Greater Grilling
Brandless offers kitchen, home, and nutrition items through its wellness platform, which supports enhanced health, responsible living, and respect for the planet. The company’s grilling essentials will have you ready to play grill master at that fall tailgate party. The stainless steel brushes, spatula, and tongs are durable and dishwasher-safe.
Pure and Powerful: Skin-Soothing Suds
After struggling with unexplained infertility, Ben and Sara Jensen partnered with industry experts to create Hugh & Grace. Powerful, pure, and natural products reduce exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals in your skin, health, and home routines. The Luxe Set includes a cleansing bar, face and night serums, and body oil to detoxify, hydrate, nourish, and smooth your skin.
Game Face: Toxic-Free Eye Black
MisMacK Clean Cosmetics’ makeup is vegan, ethically sourced and made, sustainably packaged, and free of cruelty, toxic ingredients, and parabens. Game Play Eye Black is an anti-glare sports stick that’s sweat- and waterproof. Whether for an athlete or a diehard fan, this is an eye black they can feel good about using to get game-ready. Bonus: It doubles as an eyeliner or base for eye shadow.
Keep it Simple: Smart Snacking
Just Ingredients’ nutrition and beauty items are created with health in mind. They focus on clean, quality, artificial-free elements. For the popcorn lover in your life, gift the Popcorn Salts Variety Pack, which comes with five flavors: garlic butter, parmesan cheese, movie theater butter, cheddar cheese, and caramel corn.
Better Beauty: Radiant Eyewear
Dome BEAUTY’s eye, lip, and face products and brushes are safe, eco-friendly, sustainable, and inclusive. The makeup company’s holistic approach to being clean carries over to its packaging, application, and ethics and helps to offset its carbon. The Eye Jewels 24-Hour Radiant Mousse Shadow is lightweight and quick to dry, providing a luminescent, moisturizing finish.
Disrupting the Ag Landscape: Nano-Yield
Cutting-edge nanotechnology helps combat food insecurity by producing higher yields and healthier crops.
By Real Leaders
Nano-Yield is a pioneering force in the world of nanotechnology, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible at the nanoscale since 2014. Nano-Yield leverages research and nano solutions to bring its patented nanotechnology to growers worldwide in the agriculture and turf industries.
“Our goal is to improve fertilizer and other crop input delivery systems to produce more food and create faster and more yielding harvests while requiring less energy, saving water, and greatly reducing overall environmental impact,” CEO and co-founder Clark T. Bell says. “We’ll do this using innovative and patent-protected nanotechnology, which offers a more precise, efficient, and eco-friendly approach to feeding our crops. Best of all, nanoparticles don’t create harmful side effects in our soil.”
Nanoliquid technology is a cutting-edge technology that delivers nutrients or crop protection more efficiently into the plant either through root or foliar uptake. Nano-Yield has engineered different nanoparticles to optimize chemistry and nutrition to maximize delivery to the plant.
Family Roots
T.H. Bell planted the seeds for Nano-Yield in 1979 when he bought 40 acres of sagebrush in Utah County so his sons could turn it into a sod farm and earn money for college and church missions. Warren Bell gradually built the family farm into a successful business, studying agriculture, improving the farm’s infrastructure, and expanding its operations.
Eventually, Warren’s son, Clark, took an interest in the family’s sod business too. Clark heard that a friend was using nanotechnology to enhance his dry-cleaning business and wondered if nanoparticles could improve farm production. The trials Warren conducted saw significant improvement over industry standards.
Growing the Company
From there, Warren and Clark met Fraser and Mike Bullock, investors who are passionate about backing science-based companies. Together, they incorporated Aqua-Yield and formed an investor group, including sod growers from Australia, Canada, Norway, and South Africa. The company filed its first patent and discovered new liquid nano applications for agriculture.
Making key hires has been pivotal in the company’s growth. Landon Bunderson has steered research and development, making significant discoveries and helping the company file additional patents. Hiring industry experts in sales and operations has been another important factor.
Nano-Yield is now the leading nanoliquid company for agricultural production worldwide, located in 50 states and 22 countries covering 10.89 million acres, and holding eight U.S. patents.
How it Works
Nano-Yield nanoliquid technology works as a delivery system for crop inputs and is designed to deliver more of the crop inputs needed for maximum yield. While most nutrients enter the plant cell wall through diffusion or active transport, the nanoliquid particle loads the molecules and then bulk transports them through the wall by endocystosis. Nanoliquid products are highly compatible with fertilizers, biostimulants, and pesticide products. The increased product performance provided by nanoliquid products results in higher yields and healthier crops, engineered for driving nutrition into the plant. Once loaded, these technologies are ready to deliver your fertilizer to the plant via endocytosis.
Growers who add nanoliquid products with every application experience improvements in crop yield and quality, as well as improved control of weeds, diseases, and insect pests. They report an ROI starting at 3:1 and much higher in many cases. Proven through over 800 field trials and real worldwide farmer applications, this technology can cut fertilizer applications almost in half.
The Latest
Nano-Yield announced in April 2024 that to make its line of nanoparticle-based products more readily available to farmers nationwide, it partnered with WestLink Ag Group to distribute all company products through WestLink’s 42 retail outlets. The WestLink Ag partnership is the largest retail agreement for Nano-Yield in the continental United States.
In other news, Nano-Yield is entering into its first collaboration with a global fertilizer company. Nano-Yield will supply COMPO EXPERT Mexico with several patented nano-based crop nutrition products to increase the efficiency of COMPO EXPERT’s liquid and dry products, ultimately enhancing nutrient delivery to specialty crops and row crops in Latin America.
The company ranked No. 8 on the 2024 Real Leaders Top Impact Companies list.
DEI Initiatives: Getting it Right
Learn five common threads among companies successfully scaling up diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
By Real Leaders
In a global environment characterized by high volatility and rapid change, embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion in organizations and economies is increasingly important for sustainable growth, resilience, and fairer economic outcomes, the World Economic Forum says.
The forum’s DEI Lighthouse Program, hosted by the Center for the New Economy and Society, is an annual effort to identify proven, effective corporate DEI initiatives from companies across industries and geographies. At a time when DEI is generating a lot of attention, the aim of the program is to steer pragmatic, global, impact-oriented action to close existing economic gaps. By equipping leaders with best practices, DEI efforts can be focused on what works best and ultimately shape more resilient and inclusive economies.
Embracing DEI is not just a moral imperative, but also a strategic one that promotes sustainable growth and builds agile and flexible organizations capable of weathering global risks and challenges, WEF states. Extensive research underscores the long-term benefits of inclusive policy-making, business strategies, and sustained diversity programs in the private and public sectors.
The recently published report, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lighthouses 2024, shares key lessons learned with business and public sector leaders around the world. Seven corporate initiatives were selected as DEI Lighthouses for the impact they have achieved: Banco Pichincha, Heineken, HKEX (Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited), Ingka Group (IKEA), McKinsey & Company, PepsiCo, and Salesforce. Five common threads were identified among them.
Success Factors Across DEI Lighthouses’ Initiatives
1. Nuanced understanding of root causes. Understand the problem with a deep fact base, identify the root causes, get input from the target population initially and throughout the process, and prioritize and sequence problem areas.
2. Meaningful definition of success. Set clear and quantifiable aspirations (when and by when), and articulate a clear case for change that moves employees to action.
3. Accountable and invested business leaders. Set initiative as a core business priority; hold senior leaders accountable for outcomes, not just inputs or activities; model and lead desired change, starting with the CEO and senior leaders; and ensure resources for longevity are in the budget, expertise, and timeline.
4. Solution designed for context. Develop solutions that address the root causes with scalability in mind, integrate changes into key processes so impact is sustained, and equip and encourage employees to contribute.
5. Rigorous tracking and course correction. Define KPIs, implement a rigorous tracking process, and use data and feedback to course-correct as needed.
A Closer Look
Here’s a deeper dive into three of the 2024 DEI Lighthouse Companies.
More than a decade ago, the Ingka Group — owner of IKEA — committed to achieving gender parity across its entire business. Ingka Group developed tailored approaches for each business unit and country, created mentorship programs, and launched inclusive succession plans. It also introduced gender-neutral salaries and corrected the pay gap. DEI goals are tied to each team manager’s talent reviews, with a DEI leader in every region appointed to ensure KPIs are met. The organization achieved 50/50 gender and pay equity across all its operations.
At Ingka Group, 48% of country CEO positions and 50.2% of all manager positions are occupied by women. The company introduced a gender-neutral salary review facilitated by an external auditor. Gender parity targets have been adopted globally. The Ingka Group also implemented local initiatives adapted to specific regional contexts, including on-premises childcare services to support working mothers in several countries in Asia.
McKinsey & Company launched a reboarding program that ensures all colleagues (men and women) are supported in their return from leave greater than 12 weeks while reducing attrition gaps between them and the rest of the firm. The program was formally implemented across all its European offices in 2019, spanning 29 countries and 56 offices, and successfully scaled globally in 2022.
After analyzing its internal retention metrics, McKinsey & Company observed higher attrition rates among mothers returning from leave compared to the rest of the workforce. Drawing on its research and from the lived experiences of parents in leadership and consulting roles, the program has seen a 20% decline in attrition among EU consultant mothers returning from leave. McKinsey & Company suggests crafting a holistic program that touches on multiple aspects of the employee journey, designing a minimum offering that each local team can own, securing sufficient resources, and establishing clear success metrics that can be tracked.
As a market regulator for more than 2,600 companies listed in Hong Kong, HKEX (Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited) is leveraging its regulatory capabilities to promote good corporate governance and strong environmental, social, and governance management among all issuers by setting robust disclosure standards, rules, and regulations. By making it mandatory for listed issuers to have at least one female director on their board, the company is showcasing the important role that regulation can play in advancing gender parity in leadership positions.
As a result of these efforts, the percentage of female directors on boards of listed issuers increased from 14.6% in 2020 to 17.3%, while the percentage of listed issuers with no female directors decreased from 31.5% in 2020 to 21.4%. This policy will pave the way for some 550 female board positions in Hong Kong to be filled by the end of 2024.
Learn MoreRead the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lighthouses 2024 Insight Report by the World Economic Forum here.
Disrupting the Ag Landscape: Nano-Yield
Cutting-edge nanotechnology helps combat food insecurity by producing higher yields and healthier crops.
By Real Leaders
Nano-Yield is a pioneering force in the world of nanotechnology, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible at the nanoscale since 2014. Nano-Yield leverages research and nano solutions to bring its patented nanotechnology to growers worldwide in the agriculture and turf industries.
“Our goal is to improve fertilizer and other crop input delivery systems to produce more food and create faster and more yielding harvests while requiring less energy, saving water, and greatly reducing overall environmental impact,” CEO and co-founder Clark T. Bell says. “We’ll do this using innovative and patent-protected nanotechnology, which offers a more precise, efficient, and eco-friendly approach to feeding our crops. Best of all, nanoparticles don’t create harmful side effects in our soil.”
Nanoliquid technology is a cutting-edge technology that delivers nutrients or crop protection more efficiently into the plant either through root or foliar uptake. Nano-Yield has engineered different nanoparticles to optimize chemistry and nutrition to maximize delivery to the plant.
Family Roots
T.H. Bell planted the seeds for Nano-Yield in 1979 when he bought 40 acres of sagebrush in Utah County so his sons could turn it into a sod farm and earn money for college and church missions. Warren Bell gradually built the family farm into a successful business, studying agriculture, improving the farm’s infrastructure, and expanding its operations.
Eventually, Warren’s son, Clark, took an interest in the family’s sod business too. Clark heard that a friend was using nanotechnology to enhance his dry-cleaning business and wondered if nanoparticles could improve farm production. The trials Warren conducted saw significant improvement over industry standards.
Growing the Company
From there, Warren and Clark met Fraser and Mike Bullock, investors who are passionate about backing science-based companies. Together, they incorporated Aqua-Yield and formed an investor group, including sod growers from Australia, Canada, Norway, and South Africa. The company filed its first patent and discovered new liquid nano applications for agriculture.
Making key hires has been pivotal in the company’s growth. Landon Bunderson has steered research and development, making significant discoveries and helping the company file additional patents. Hiring industry experts in sales and operations has been another important factor.
Nano-Yield is now the leading nanoliquid company for agricultural production worldwide, located in 50 states and 22 countries covering 10.89 million acres, and holding eight U.S. patents.
How it Works
Nano-Yield nanoliquid technology works as a delivery system for crop inputs and is designed to deliver more of the crop inputs needed for maximum yield. While most nutrients enter the plant cell wall through diffusion or active transport, the nanoliquid particle loads the molecules and then bulk transports them through the wall by endocystosis. Nanoliquid products are highly compatible with fertilizers, biostimulants, and pesticide products. The increased product performance provided by nanoliquid products results in higher yields and healthier crops, engineered for driving nutrition into the plant. Once loaded, these technologies are ready to deliver your fertilizer to the plant via endocytosis.
Growers who add nanoliquid products with every application experience improvements in crop yield and quality, as well as improved control of weeds, diseases, and insect pests. They report an ROI starting at 3:1 and much higher in many cases. Proven through over 800 field trials and real worldwide farmer applications, this technology can cut fertilizer applications almost in half.
The Latest
Nano-Yield announced in April 2024 that to make its line of nanoparticle-based products more readily available to farmers nationwide, it partnered with WestLink Ag Group to distribute all company products through WestLink’s 42 retail outlets. The WestLink Ag partnership is the largest retail agreement for Nano-Yield in the continental United States.
In other news, Nano-Yield is entering into its first collaboration with a global fertilizer company. Nano-Yield will supply COMPO EXPERT Mexico with several patented nano-based crop nutrition products to increase the efficiency of COMPO EXPERT’s liquid and dry products, ultimately enhancing nutrient delivery to specialty crops and row crops in Latin America.
The company ranked No. 8 on the 2024 Real Leaders Top Impact Companies list.
7 Leaders’ Top Book Recommendations
C-level leaders from 2024 Real Leaders Top Impact Companies share what book has influenced them the most.
By Real Leaders
Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big (2016)
Veteran journalist Bo Burlingham takes readers inside 14 companies that rejected the pressure of endless growth to focus on more satisfying business goals. Burlingham shows how the leaders of these small giants recognized their full range of choices and how we can all benefit by questioning the usual definitions of business success.
—Recommended by Adam Ryznar, CEO, Intex Solutions
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life (2013)
Business owner, motivational coach, and speaker Jen Sincero’s self-development book uses humor, irreverence, and the occasional curse word to help others transform their mindsets and lives.
—Recommended by Sara Jensen, Co-CEO and co-founder, Hugh & Grace
Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action (2011)
Optimist Simon Sinek, a repeat Real Leaders Top 50 Keynote Speaker, shows that the leaders who have had the greatest influence in the world all think, act, and communicate in the same way — and it all starts with “why.”
—Recommended by Drew Payne, CEO, UpMetrics
The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level (2010)
Psychologist Gay Hendricks demonstrates how to go beyond your internal limits, release outdated fears, and learn a new set of skills and habits to take your life to the next level.
—Recommended by Natalie Nichols, co-founder, Concertina Team Services
Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman (2006)
Yvon Chouinard — climber, businessman, environmentalist, and founder of Patagonia — shares the persistence and courage that have gone into being head of one of the most respected and environmentally responsible companies on earth.
—Recommended by Michael Stausholm, CEO and founder, SproutWorld
The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization (2006)
MIT professor Peter M. Senge unpacks the art and practice of building learning organizations — corporations that overcome inherent obstacles to learning and develop dynamic ways to pinpoint the threats that face them and to recognize new opportunities.
—Recommended by Steve Bilt, CEO and co-founder, Smile Brands
Managing in Turbulent Times (1980)
Management consultant Peter Drucker dives into strategies to turn the threat of rapid change into productive, profitable action that contributes positively to society, the economy, and the individual.
—Recommended by Matt Armanino, CEO and managing partner, Armanino