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Sandra Taylor    

CEO of Sustainable Business International; ESG/Sustainability Expert & Author

Sandra Taylor, a pioneer in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles in business, has been instrumental in developing groundbreaking global strategies that brought major brands, including Starbucks and Eastman Kodak, into the realm of global sustainability. During her tenure as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Starbucks, she was pivotal in turning the company into a progressive corporation. She led the creation and launch of C.A.F.E. Practices, significantly influencing global standards for environmental sustainability and ethics throughout the coffee industry, with a major focus on equitable supply chains.

In addition to her corporate roles, Taylor is the Founder and CEO of Sustainable Business International, a consulting firm that assists businesses in integrating ESG into business planning and strategy. She is recognized for her deep expertise in balancing sustainability with prudent risk management and has been a motivational leader of diverse teams across cultural, geographic, and political barriers. Her initiatives have transformed organizations and enhanced competitive business climates globally. Taylor's work extends beyond coffee into the wine industry, influenced by her academic pursuits with a master’s degree in Business Administration from the Bordeaux School of Management, focusing on sustainable agricultural practices in the wine industry as detailed in her book "The Business of Sustainable Wine: How to Build Brand Equity in a 21st Century Wine Industry".

Taylor's contributions to sustainability and CSR have been acknowledged through her roles as an Expert-in-Residence at Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco, the First Mover Fellow in the Aspen Institute’s Business and Society Program, and the former Falk Professor of Socially Responsible Business at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA. She shares her experiences and insights on managing through crises, conducting effective philanthropy, adapting to globalization, and implementing strategies for achieving net-zero global greenhouse gas emissions. Taylor emphasizes the importance of transparent business practices, the role of corporate purpose in serving communities, and valuing employee perspectives in assessing business risks and opportunities.

Speech Topics

Philanthropy: Corporate Giving and Community Engagement.

In this presentation, Sandra Taylor explains how organizations can focus their giving in a way that makes a difference, creating a more inclusive society. Rather than writing checks to various philanthropic groups, Taylor teaches audiences how an organization can make a larger commitment and a greater impact. Taylor stresses the importance of community engagement to develop a mutually beneficial relationship within the organization’s community – of customers, employees, neighbors, officials, and community leaders. Job creation that fosters engaged, prosperous communities helps break the cycle of poverty and underpins business success. Community investments by business can contribute to the fight against poverty, benefitting both society and business. She explains the reasoning behind understanding the community’s opinions of the organization and helps brand the giving in a way that helps them understand the mission. She also encourages regular dialogues with stakeholders to maintain healthy communication and commitment to the purpose.

Making the Business Case for CSR.

Whether your organization is trying to break into Corporate Responsibility (CR) or already has experience with it, you will benefit from Sandra Taylor’s rich background. The former SVP of CSR for Starbucks outlines the key steps to putting into place a thorough model for integrating sustainability into your business strategy. She educates audiences on how to position the organization as a leader in environmental practices, beyond simply abiding by environmental regulations and putting in place a plan to reduce the company’s environmental footprint – whether that relates to climate change and less greenhouse gas emissions, reduction of energy use, or waste reduction and recycling. She emphasizes the importance of corporate philanthropy exceeding monetary donations and how to proactively build goodwill in communities. She explains the fundamentals of sustainability and examines the intricacies of the group’s supply chain to better understand all practices and how they can be incorporated into a successful CSR model. Finally, Taylor teaches how an organization can take steps to attract and retain employees as part of their overall CSR model.

Sustainability and Wine.

The wine industry has lagged behind others when it comes to sustainability. With an MBA in wine management from the prestigious Bordeaux School of Management and currently researching a book on sustainability in the wine supply chain, Taylor applies lessons learned from the coffee industry to show why sustainability matters and how it makes good business sense. She shares insights on:

  • Why the food industry is so far ahead and what wine producers can do to catch up
  • Lessons from the coffee industry in organics, sustainable agriculture, ethics and consumer education
  • Early signs of progress – examples of best practice sustainability initiatives in key wine growing regions
  • Social and corporate responsibility – the confluence of sustainability and ethics – and why both matter
  • Who’s calling the sustainability shots in the wine industry supply chain – potential for partnership or conflict between producers and retailers

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