Bridging Agriculture and Energy: Leadership, Coalition-Building, and the Future of Sustainability

In this episode of Deanna’s Dialogues: Navigating Carbon Sustainability, Deanna Reitman welcomes Sarah Beth Aubrey, founder of the Agvocacy Coalitions and CEO of the Envoy Group, to discuss the dynamic intersection of agriculture, energy, and climate sustainability. Sarah Beth shares her journey in building grassroots alliances that unite stakeholders from farming communities, nonprofits, and agricultural companies, with a focus on finding common ground and innovative solutions for energy production and land use. The conversation delves into the complexities and opportunities that arise as rural and urban agriculture meet the increasing demand for sustainable energy, and it highlights the importance of collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

Drawing on her experience founding initiatives such as the Indiana Ag Coalition for Renewable Energy (IN-ACRE) and the IN-CLIMATE network, Sarah Beth emphasizes the critical roles of consistency, sensitivity, and facilitation in coalition-building, while offering insights on leadership development for emerging women-leaders in the sustainability space. She discusses practical strategies from her “Stepping into Sustainability” program, designed to help companies integrate climate initiatives and communicate effectively across supply chains. The episode explores the evolving landscape of corporate sustainability — where policy, business values, and community impact intersect — and the need for adaptable, inclusive leadership.

Listeners will gain actionable takeaways on fostering dialogue, advancing diversity, and creating lasting progress in the face of economic and regulatory change. This episode is invaluable for professionals navigating the environmental, corporate, finance, and commodities sectors who are looking to drive meaningful impact in the future of sustainable business.