Exceptional Women Leaders Discuss Sustainability and Social Impact at BNY Mellon Wealth Management “Game Changers” Panel

The wealth management business of BNY Mellon, a global investment management and investment services company, held the first of its 2017 “Game Changers” speaker series on April 5 at the Newport Beach Country Club. The interactive session featured two pioneering women in the sustainability space: Earth Friendly Products President & CEO Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, and BNY Mellon Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility & Social Investing Heidi DuBois. The speakers discussed their career paths and the importance of fostering socially responsible corporate practices.

The discussion was moderated by BNY Mellon Wealth Management President of US Markets Southwest Shannon Kennedy. Now in its second year, the “Game Changers” series explores women’s entrepreneurial and leadership successes through conversations with exceptional women who have forged their own paths and have insights to share.

“Our Game Changers panelists offered a peek into the fascinating work they’re leading in the growing fields of corporate social responsibility and social investing,” said Kennedy. “We were glad to recognize these outstanding female leaders and to bring their interesting perspectives to BNY Mellon Wealth Management clients, prospects and their advisers.”

During the hour-long moderated conversation, the pair discussed sustainability and its importance from both an individual and corporate perspective. They shared insights gleaned from their experience developing socially responsible manufacturing and investment strategies for global corporations. The leaders also discussed the impact social investment and sustainability can have on gender inequalities in the workplace and on a global scale.

“One of the key places to improve focus on sustainability issues is to show the facts.” shared DuBois, “We need to continue to demonstrate to companies, investors and individuals the value that these business practices have added, not just socially but economically.”

As president and CEO, Vlahakis-Hanks oversees four U.S. manufacturing facilities and the global sales team for Earth Friendly Products’ line of ECOS cleaning products. DuBois is responsible for sustaining and expanding BNY Mellon’s leading reputation in CSR by advancing a deep understanding of the quickly evolving field and strengthening firm performance.

“It was great to talk with BNY’s guests about how sustainability means making choices that will sustain you for the long term - for us, that means making products with plant-powered ingredients using renewable energy that are safer for people and the planet. It also means supporting our employees with a living wage and family-friendly benefits and ensuring gender equality. Sustainability has been the key to our success for 50 years, and we want to show that you can do the right thing for the environment and your employees and also be profitable,” said Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, President & CEO, Earth Friendly Products.