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PODCAST

Modern Idealist

Valerie Leung and Meryn Willetts

Join us on a journey of discovery as we delve into the experiences of career-driven professionals striving to make an impact in today"s fast-paced professional world. Hosted by Valerie Leung and Meryn Zumbo Willetts, we share personal stories and explore topics such as impact in the workplace, trade-offs in doing good, life conundrums, work-life balance, entrepreneurship, and riding the larger social and climate impact movement. Hear from like-minded individuals who share a passion for creating

business careers

All Episodes

00:51:53

Nobel Peace Center Special: Humanity in the Digital...

Modern Idealist ·

2025/10/31

Recorded at the Nobel Peace Center during Oslo Innovation Week for the Peace of Mind Podcast series, this Modern Idealist episode explores how humanity can survive and thrive in the digital age. Hosts Valerie Leung and Meryn Zumbo Willets speak with Pardis Shafafi, anthropologist practitioner and previously the Global Responsible Business Lead at Designit Oslo, whose rare profile combines humanitarian work, journalism, and ethical innovation. Together, they unpack the paradox of a world that is both

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01:09:50

S2 Ep3: Climate tech ventures, corporate...

Modern Idealist ·

2025/08/04

In this conversation, Sophie, co-founder and CEO of Morescope, shares her journey into the climate action space, discussing her background, the importance of technology in decarbonization, and the challenges posed by EU regulations. The discussion highlights the intersection of individual actions and corporate responsibility, emphasizing the need for a shift in mindset towards sustainability. Sophie also addresses the opportunities and challenges in the sustainability landscape, advocating for a

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01:06:39

S2 Ep2: Decolonizing minds and unpacking cultural...

Modern Idealist ·

2025/07/16

In this conversation, we're joined by our guest, Sahibzada Mayed (they/them), where they discuss their journey as a first-generation immigrant and the complexities of navigating identity, land, and decolonization. They reflect on the importance of reconnecting with ancestry, unlearning sanitized histories, and the role of research in reclamation. The dialogue explores the nuances of cultural appropriation versus appreciation, the violence of colonization, and the need for resistance. Mayed

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00:57:40

S2 EP1: From mid-life crisis to mid-life clarity and...

Modern Idealist ·

2025/07/01

In this episode of the Modern Idealist Podcast, hosts Valerie and Meryn reconnect after a hiatus, sharing personal updates and reflections on motherhood, travel, and the complexities of modern life. Valerie discusses her journey into motherhood and the challenges of the fourth trimester, while Meryn shares her travel experiences and insights on cultural immersion. The conversation delves into the importance of political awareness, personal agency, and the need for inclusivity in discussions about

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00:42:33

EP 35: The importance of unifying social innovation...

Modern Idealist ·

2024/08/09

Join us as Samira Khan, a seasoned expert from Salesforce and Microsoft, delves into the essential fusion of social innovation and responsible AI. Samira shares her journey from witnessing social injustices to becoming a leader in sustainability, emphasizing the need for holistic, interdisciplinary approaches. She discusses the impact of parenthood on her views, the importance of up-skilling for the AI era, and her hopes for global innovation. Discover how unified strategies in tech and ethics can

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00:19:11

Ep 34: Disparity of the Rich and the Commons

Modern Idealist ·

2024/07/24

As of 2021, the top 1% of households in the United States held 32.3% of the country's wealth, while the bottom 50% held just 2.6%. Additionally, the top 20% of the wealthiest Americans possessed 80% of all financial assets. Meryn and Valerie dive into the macro and micro perspectives on wealth and privilege. Whether you are in the top 1% or the top 20%, there is no escaping the harsh question: on whose shoulders do we stand to gain the wealth and enjoy the privileges that we have?

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00:31:34

Ep 33: Shared spaces, shared problems: the tragedy of...

Modern Idealist ·

2024/07/18

Valerie and Meryn's take on the tragedy of the commons. In a world of free markets (with good intentions), we've gotten so competitive that we've forgotten we all live in the same world sharing resources (beyond land and natural resources) and that we ultimately face the same problems. We question if we've been over gamified in today's societal standards that hurt the economy and ultimately hurt ourselves. Will we be able to break our of it as a group and what can we do as

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00:45:14

EP 32: Sustainability Reporting: The Wins and...

Modern Idealist ·

2024/07/15

Petter Reistad CEO and co-founder of Celsia, a sustainability management and reporting software company aiming to make regulatory sustainability reporting simpler, talks to Valerie about how Celsia has been navigating this emerging field. What the wins have been, and what hidden hurdles remain to be overcome. Since the recording of this episode, Celsia has been acquired by ISS Corporate. Petter elaborates on the importance of better quantifying sustainability, how the market is developing, and why

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00:53:45

EP 31: Embracing Otherness to effect change with...

Modern Idealist ·

2023/09/07

In this captivating installment, we sat down for a chat with Dennis Yao Yu, a true champion for diversity and a fervent advocate for highlighting minorities, with a particular focus on the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) community. Dennis shares a wealth of insights drawn from his experiences in the heart of big tech and corporate life in Silicon Valley and the West Coast.Dennis delves into the critical importance of cultivating robust professional networks, especially for Asian American and

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00:45:30

EP 30: Data-driven Social Impact and Realities of...

Modern Idealist ·

2023/08/17

Welcome back to another episode of Modern Idealist, a podcast for career driven professionals striving to make an impact in today’s fast paced society. I’m Valerie Leung. And we’ve brought on a very smart and data-driven friend of Modern Idealist today, Tony Senanayake, is a Chief Strategy Officer at Fortify Health, a non-profit that provides micronutrient-rich wheat flour to combat iron-deficiency anemia. He's passionate about development economics, public policy, and using data and evidence to

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00:50:43

EP 29: Crossing Borders: Work, Relationships, and...

Modern Idealist ·

2023/07/20

Suggested: Listen on 1.2x! Welcome back to another exciting episode, where we delve into the raw and honest experiences of individuals living and working abroad. In this episode, we'll explore the international life in Norway, focusing on navigating relationships, work, and dating, and providing personal tips and insights on how to thrive abroad, particularly in Norway and the Nordic region. Join us as we uncover the joys and challenges of building a life as foreigners. --- Send in a voice

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00:41:09

EP 28: ESG to GSE for Greater Impact

Modern Idealist ·

2023/07/05

Rethinking Sustainable Finance with Rodolphe Bocquet In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Rodolphe Bocquet, a distinguished sustainable investment and policy expert, to delve into the world of sustainable finance. Rodolphe brings a vast array of knowledge and experience in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and sustainable investments, making this conversation a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of finance and sustainability. Our discussion begins by

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00:47:12

EP 27: Unveiling Industrial Sustainability and...

Modern Idealist ·

2023/06/13

Valerie meets up with Bjørn Kjetil Mauritzen, Head of Sustainability from Hydro, a Norwegian aluminum and renewable energy company. It is also one of the world’s largest aluminum company. We discuss the hot topics of industrial sustainability, holistic value chain approaches and innovations applied in the heavy industries towards sustainability. Aluminum production is deeply complex as it has heavy carbon emissions, it is extractive of raw material, and could create toxic chemicals in production

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00:43:02

EP 26: Calling Out Our Own Hypocrisy

Modern Idealist ·

2023/05/24

Meryn and Valerie reunite on air after a brief hiatus caused by Meryn's loss of voice due to illness. While Valerie has been traversing the states, from New York to North Carolina, Meryn has been holding it down in Oslo, Norway. Join us as we catch up on our respective journeys and dive deep into discussions surrounding work-life setups and the complexities of privilege and materialism. We contemplate the privileges we enjoy and the material setups they possess, including the finer things in life,

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00:59:16

EP 25: Corporate Activism, Climate Anxiety and the...

Modern Idealist ·

2023/05/05

In this episode of the Modern Idealist Podcast, we sit down with Verel Rodrigues, a climate activist, engineer and environmental campaigner to hear his perspectives on corporate activism. We discuss the need for social momentum vs technology because, as Verel rightly says, while the technology is already available, we're still missing the political will to affect change. Verel discusses how can climate-conscious companies build momentum and that we needn't look further than the oil and

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00:52:36

EP 24: Interlinkages of Sustainability, Linkedin...

Modern Idealist ·

2023/04/20

Back with some life updates and sustainability and social responsibility rants. Valerie talks about the complexity and interlinkages of sustainability and social challenges and pushes companies to do more. Both are fed up with Linkedin Posers, and ideaprenuers. Warning to our male audience, we go straight into the dilemmas of a single woman in her 30's, and Meryn challenges the existing social construct. *SUBSCRIBE TO US!* ✅ @Modern Idealist on Spotify / Apple Podcast / Google Podcast ✅

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00:48:24

EP 23: Influencing Workplace Diversity with Data and...

Modern Idealist ·

2023/04/04

In this episode, we focus on content for DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) specialists and professionals, and our guest Vikram walks us through a 5-day outreach sprint that he has come up with. Vikram has an impressive background working with major international organization bodies for responsible (sustainability and social) businesses, including the UN PRI, Textile Exchange, Finance UNEP Initiative, Access to Nutrition Index, SustainAbility and many others. He shares his insights on why

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00:54:31

EP 22: Can Companies Really Care? How Corporates Can...

Modern Idealist ·

2023/03/10

Laura Smith is an American based in Helsinki and is an organizational researcher and founder of VALIDEI, a research agency specializing in the assessments of organizational inclusion, equity, and social responsibility. The incoming DEI Leader at Wolt and the former Head of DEI at Bolt, Laura specializes in developing strategies and evolving organizational practices, policies, and supports to be responsible to and impactful for stakeholders across global organizations. Laura values being practical

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00:56:51

Ep 21: The Untold Story of Sustainability Consulting...

Modern Idealist ·

2023/02/22

We had the pleasure of hosting our dynamic guest speaker, Georgia Elliott-Smith, Element Four's Managing Director. In this episode, we explore the hidden narrative of sustainability consulting and the importance of disruptive practices that enact meaningful and systemic change. Georgia shares how she got into this space and sheds light on the lucrative salaries and perks offered by big business to sustainability consultants. She touches on the critical role of corporate activism in holding

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00:53:03

EP 20: Modern Idealists Take on LinkedIn’s Bold...

Modern Idealist ·

2023/02/02

This episode is part 2 of our last episode. In the second part, we're going macro, we’re also going to give our thoughts and reflections on some of the big bold predictions for 2023. Specifically, we will be referring to a list that Linkedin published at the end of 2022 called, Big Ideas 2023, 23 bold predictions of the year ahead. This was recorded in January 2023, and there are 20 predictions on there, and we’ll take the first 5 in today’s episode. Linkedin Article:

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