Sustainability Storytelling
LIVE
Virtual | New York City | Washington, D.C. | San Francisco
May 2026
Corporate Sustainability needs better stories.
Companies face mounting pressure to demonstrate sustainability progress, not just make promises—while greenwashing lawsuits multiply and stakeholders demand transparency. Fear of political blowback is also causing many companies to resort to greenhushing when their voices could count the most. But silence carries risk—as does getting it wrong.
Sustainability Storytelling LIVE brings sustainability storytelling both online and on the road, convening sustainability, communications, legal, and government affairs professionals to advance new ideas while building community. The tour includes a free virtual event and three ticketed in-person events in New York City, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. Sponsorship opportunities are available (see below).
At the core of the discussion is the Four C’s of Effective Sustainability Storytelling, a new framework for sustainability communication Mike Hower introduces in his new book Sustainability Storytelling: Communicate Trust, Brand Value and Better Business (Kogan Page, May 2026). All attendees of the in-person events will receive signed copies of the book and have all of their questions answered directly from the author.
This isn’t a run-of-the mill networking event or a workshop—it brings the best of both to create a “netlearning” experience where attendees can connect, engage, and improve their approach to communication sustainability during this pivotal time.
If you’re ready to tell better sustainability stories, please join us. Choose your event below and register via Luma.
The Four C’s of Effective Sustainability Storytelling is a new framework for telling compelling, credible, and compliant sustainability stories grounded in context. Source: Sustainability Storytelling (Kogan Page, 2026)
Sustainability Storytelling LIVE events
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The State of Sustainability Storytelling (Virtual)
Join us for the virtual kickoff event for Sustainability Storytelling LIVE—featuring conversations with sustainability leaders.
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New York
Join us in New York for an evening of connection with sustainability and communications professionals.
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Washington, D.C.
Join us in the nation's capital for an evening of connecting with sustainability and communications professionals.
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San Francisco
Join us in San Francisco for an evening of connection with West Coast sustainability and communications professionals.
Speakers
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Joel Makower
CHAIRMAN AND CO-FOUNDER
TRELLIS GROUP
Speaking at: Virtual
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Susan Jackson
HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS & SUSTAINABILITY
BASF
Speaking at: Virtual
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Alison Taylor
CLINICAL ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
NYU STERN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Speaking at: New York
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Aman Singh
DIRECTOR, GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMUNICATIONS
KENVUE
Speaking at: Virtual
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Josh Wiener
VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE LEAD
METLIFE
Speaking at: Virtual, New York
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Dan Strechay
SENIOR DIRECTOR, PEP+ COMMUNICATIONS
PEPSICO
Speaking at: Washington, D.C.
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Nate Pepper
VICE PRESIDENT , COMMUNICATIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY
VEOLIA NORTH AMERICA
Speaking at: Virtual
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Ellen Jackowski
CSO AND EVP
MASTERCARD
Speaking at: San Francisco
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Dave Stangis
SR. ADVISOR, PARTNER, APOLLO’S 1ST CSO
APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT
Speaking at: Virtual
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Patrick Flynn
FOUNDER
SWITCHBOARD
Speaking at: San Francisco
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Erik Hansen
CSO
WORKDAY
Speaking at: San Francisco
About Mike Hower
Mike Hower is a sustainability communications consultant, author, and podcast host who helps companies tell sustainability stories that build trust and business value.
As founder of Hower Impact, he works with Fortune 500 companies to translate sustainability strategy into compelling, credible communication. Mike brings nearly two decades of experience as both journalist and strategist—he spent years covering corporate sustainability for GreenBiz before moving into advisory roles at Edelman and founding Hower Impact in 2023.
He is the author of Sustainability Storytelling: Communicate Trust, Brand Value, and Better Business (Kogan Page, May 2026) and hosts The Sustainability Communicator podcast. Mike holds an M.A. in Strategic Communication from The George Washington University.
About Sustainability Storytelling
Sustainability Storytelling is a practical guide for communication, marketing, and sustainability leaders who need to turn complex sustainability strategies into messages that build trust, manage risk, and drive business value.
As regulatory pressure increases, scrutiny around greenwashing intensifies, and expectations from investors, employees, and consumers continue to rise, this book offers clear principles and proven frameworks for creating sustainability communications that are compelling, credible, compliant, and commercially effective.
The book combines strategic insight with real-world application, drawing on examples from Mars, PepsiCo, Salesforce, SAP, Veolia, and Apollo Global Management. Readers learn how to connect sustainability performance to business priorities, avoid reputational pitfalls, and communicate impact with confidence—without oversimplifying or overclaiming.
This book is ideal for professionals responsible for shaping how sustainability shows up in the world.
Who should attend
Communications marketing and PR professionals
Communicators who want to improve how they translate sustainability strategy into into narratives that build trust, engage stakeholders, and drive business value—while managing greenwashing risk.
Sustainability and ESG practitioners and consultants
CSOs and sustainability VPs, directors, managers and analysts who want to sharpen their communication skills to accelerate sustainability goals, align cross-functional teams, and drive action across stakeholders.
Legal professionals
Chief Compliance Officers, Chief Legal Officers, in-house or outside counsel responsible for helping shape sustainability communication.
Government affairs professionals
VPs, directors, and managers responsible for aligning your company’s sustainability strategy with government affairs priorities.
Partners
Title Sponsor
Contributing Sponsor
Sponsor Sustainability Storytelling LIVE
Connect with 450+ corporate sustainability and communications decision-makers across four events this May.
Sponsorship opportunities include logo placement on tour materials, complimentary tickets and books, access to attendee lists, speaking opportunities, and recognition across events and promotional channels.
Three sponsorship levels available: Title Sponsor, Presenting Sponsor, and Supporting Sponsor.
Questions about sponsorship? Contact us here.
Frequently Asked Questions
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In-person events (NYC, DC, SF): Evening networking event with food and drinks, plus a signed copy of Sustainability Storytelling
Virtual event: Free one-hour online event featuring a conversation with Joel Makower and a panel discussion with sustainability leaders
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In-person events: Casual networking with brief remarks from Mike on building trust through better storytelling
Virtual event: Structured programming with keynote conversation and panel discussion
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Yes, registered attendees will receive a recording link after the event.
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Absolutely. Each event is a standalone experience, but you're welcome to register for as many as you'd like.
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In-person event tickets are non-refundable. The virtual event is free, so no cancellation needed—just don't attend if plans change.
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Contact us via this form.