Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandy Stewart.
Hi Sandy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When my business lost 85% of its revenue two weeks after the lockdown hit, I was devastated and somewhat relieved. The loss was a shock, but I took advantage of the lockdown to make a change like many. I’ve always been a bit of an earth girl at heart, and when I started my own business over 20 years ago, sustainability was coming into the business vernacular and hadn’t hit my radar yet. I have co-founded three businesses in my life. The last one was with my now ex-husband. I tried making it my own after the divorce for years, but his ghost was in every corner of that business. The University of Cambridge had opened its Sustainable Leadership program online, and I was smitten with the idea. Fast forward to now, I have developed an online training platform (Think Big) designed to teach sustainability champions how to reduce company costs, attract top talent, and solidify their brand as sustainable. Think Big combines all the training I’m known for (business strategy, operational efficiency, brand clarification, and business value growth) with the Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) framework of People, Planet, and Profit. It’s the only online platform of its kind, and I couldn’t feel more lucky to be where I am today in this growing trend of sustainability for businesses.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth road? Ha! Not. Look, I’m early to the party here. The ‘party’ is sustainability in the US. We need to catch up to the rest of the world about sustainability. Without much regulation, compliance, or incentives to become sustainable, there’s very few small- or mid-size companies actively looking to do it. I talk to a relatively empty room. Some business owners want to see the benefit, but they also have an assumption that it will take a lot of money or a lot of time to get started.
What drives my passion is this fire in my belly to help 1 million small businesses to become thriving, sustainable brands. There are over 30 million small businesses (500 employees or less) in the US, and most sustainability endeavors have been the focus of large corporates, not small businesses. There are few of us talking to the small business owners in this country, so they don’t know how much it can benefit them, how they can save operating costs, or how they can attract the best for their future hires. It’s becoming common knowledge that most millennials and Gen-Z are choosing to work for companies that align with their values, and many are willing to take less pay if it’s a good values match. To add insult to injury, many who care about sustainability struggle with the ‘doom and gloom’ out there. Even if that what’s-the-use feeling comes and goes, it can sometimes feel heavy. However, some incredible innovations and solutions are happening worldwide right now. It is quite exciting. Within the next few months, I will share many inspiring innovators and inventions. Seeing them gives me tremendous hope; I must spread that to those who will listen. My strategy with my company, Think Big, has been to keep talking about it and educating about it, and as small businesses realize that it’s their smartest strategy, I’ll be ready for them. They’ll see my history, including the work I’ve been doing already for other small businesses, and I’ll be a top choice.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Think Big Impact?
Here’s the thing. Usually, the owners of small businesses decide they want to embark on sustainability as a business strategy. Still, they’re not always taking steps to make that happen. They’re deputizing an employee, a manager usually, that they trust to take this on. However, those chosen champions don’t have experience and don’t always know where to start. Many reputable universities offer 6-, 8- and 12-week programs, but those cost a lot and require 15-20 hours a week. Think Big meets small businesses where they are and gives them what they need to get started or to get more advanced with sustainability while also growing the business. With my background in teaching business owners how to run a better business, I’m now teaching that to these sustainability champions. So they’re not just starting a social good strategy or a climate-positive initiative; they’re also learning how to see the business from an owner’s perspective and are stepping up as a more strategic asset to the business. Plus, Think Big gives them a level of training and support that they’ll have throughout their careers.
One aspect of becoming a thriving, sustainable brand is the thriving’ part. If a business isn’t thriving, they’re doing a disservice to the climate or social good its heart wants. If a business makes less money than they spend, they have to let people go, which has a negative social impact. And I don’t know the carbon footprint to close a business that can’t survive, but it’s probably not pretty. So, with my three primary online courses: People, Planet, and Profit, the Profit course includes a big chapter on understanding all the non-financial aspects of a business that either increases or decreases company value. It’s not rocket science, but it can feel like some of the smartest moves a company can make when implemented.
What do you think about happiness?
I’m happiest outside, breathing the fresh air and feeling the sun on my face. The outside feeds my insides, whether it’s any of the hikes all over Austin or up in the mountains of southern Washington (which is where I am now). It gets me out of my head and reminds me what this life is truly about. I love it all, though, so no real favorites. I love the mountains and pine trees. I love the beach and salty ocean waves. I even love the wide open sky of West Texas, where I grew up. I appreciate the variety of all these places and can feel rejuvenated in just about any place.
Pricing:
- Starting with Sustainability can be cheap and take just a little time. Think Big has options ranging from $49-1,500, which depends on where someone wants to start and how quickly they want to progress. Think Big has set up a discount code for Voyages Magazine readers for the Sustainable Business Accelerator and also the individual courses. It will automatically take 20% off any offerings purchased. Use voyages20 at checkout (discount code may be used once per login account).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thinkbigimpact.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkbigprogram/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thinkbigsustainablebusinessnetwork
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandy-stewart-9534a/
