my name’s Jill Doucet thank you so much for having me here tonight it’s actually
for having me here tonight it’s actually
for having me here tonight it’s actually been on my bucket list to do a TEDx talk
been on my bucket list to do a TEDx talk
been on my bucket list to do a TEDx talk more specifically just to stand on this
more specifically just to stand on this
more specifically just to stand on this red carpet so anything after this is a
red carpet so anything after this is a
red carpet so anything after this is a bonus in my mind so my speech coach said
bonus in my mind so my speech coach said
bonus in my mind so my speech coach said if I get nervous just to start telling a
if I get nervous just to start telling a
if I get nervous just to start telling a story so my story starts on campus and
story so my story starts on campus and
story so my story starts on campus and it started living in a bit of a divide
it started living in a bit of a divide
it started living in a bit of a divide on the one hand I had a business and on
on the one hand I had a business and on
on the one hand I had a business and on the other hand I was taking
the other hand I was taking
the other hand I was taking environmental studies and this was quite
environmental studies and this was quite
environmental studies and this was quite awkward at that time I couldn’t afford
awkward at that time I couldn’t afford
awkward at that time I couldn’t afford University when I was 17 and I was too
University when I was 17 and I was too
University when I was 17 and I was too long young to get a student loan so I
long young to get a student loan so I
long young to get a student loan so I started the easiest company that there
started the easiest company that there
started the easiest company that there is to start at that age with not much
is to start at that age with not much
is to start at that age with not much skill which is a painting company and we
skill which is a painting company and we
skill which is a painting company and we had old trucks and ladders and we were
had old trucks and ladders and we were
had old trucks and ladders and we were pouring paint down downspouts because
pouring paint down downspouts because
pouring paint down downspouts because that was okay then and I was also in
that was okay then and I was also in
that was okay then and I was also in environmental science learning about how
environmental science learning about how
environmental science learning about how businesses are destroying the planet
businesses are destroying the planet
businesses are destroying the planet especially big trucks and carbon
especially big trucks and carbon
especially big trucks and carbon emissions and basically people liked me
emissions and basically people liked me
emissions and basically people liked me and I was thinking this sucks because I
and I was thinking this sucks because I
and I was thinking this sucks because I want to build something I want to I want
want to build something I want to I want
want to build something I want to I want to build my own career I want to be in
to build my own career I want to be in
to build my own career I want to be in business but I also want to make a
business but I also want to make a
business but I also want to make a difference in the world so I spent a
difference in the world so I spent a
difference in the world so I spent a couple years struggling in this divide
couple years struggling in this divide
couple years struggling in this divide and decided to sell all the equipment
and decided to sell all the equipment
and decided to sell all the equipment from the painting company closed it down
from the painting company closed it down
from the painting company closed it down I was getting burnt out anyways and I
I was getting burnt out anyways and I
I was getting burnt out anyways and I also dropped out of school because I was
also dropped out of school because I was
also dropped out of school because I was finding that it was making me really
finding that it was making me really
finding that it was making me really depress the rhetoric of corporations
depress the rhetoric of corporations
depress the rhetoric of corporations destroying the planet and yet my passion
destroying the planet and yet my passion
destroying the planet and yet my passion being in business so I decided to clear
being in business so I decided to clear
being in business so I decided to clear the slate and I started working at a
the slate and I started working at a
the slate and I started working at a coffee shop and volunteering for
coffee shop and volunteering for
coffee shop and volunteering for different nonprofits anything that
different nonprofits anything that
different nonprofits anything that piqued my interest anything that sparked
piqued my interest anything that sparked
piqued my interest anything that sparked passion and basically didn’t make me
passion and basically didn’t make me
passion and basically didn’t make me depressed and I ended up getting
depressed and I ended up getting
depressed and I ended up getting involved with a group on campus that was
involved with a group on campus that was
involved with a group on campus that was working to make the University of
working to make the University of
working to make the University of Victoria carbon neutral and this really
Victoria carbon neutral and this really
Victoria carbon neutral and this really fascinated me this concept of we can use
fascinated me this concept of we can use
fascinated me this concept of we can use organizations to create change and I
organizations to create change and I
organizations to create change and I thought could we apply this to business
thought could we apply this to business
thought could we apply this to business so I asked my boss at the coffee shop
so I asked my boss at the coffee shop
so I asked my boss at the coffee shop Dave if I could make his coffee shop
Dave if I could make his coffee shop
Dave if I could make his coffee shop carbon neutral and his response wasn’t
carbon neutral and his response wasn’t
carbon neutral and his response wasn’t entirely positive at first he said I’m
entirely positive at first he said I’m
entirely positive at first he said I’m gonna die in 40 years why do I care so
gonna die in 40 years why do I care so
gonna die in 40 years why do I care so that was a rough starting point and he
that was a rough starting point and he
that was a rough starting point and he challenged me to just tell him what the
challenged me to just tell him what the
challenged me to just tell him what the business
business
business was for him and this is in 2007-2008 so
was for him and this is in 2007-2008 so
was for him and this is in 2007-2008 so this is not really the right time to be
this is not really the right time to be
this is not really the right time to be adding a bunch of costs to a business
adding a bunch of costs to a business
adding a bunch of costs to a business they’re thinking no cut cut cut so it
they’re thinking no cut cut cut so it
they’re thinking no cut cut cut so it had to be I had to find some sort of
had to be I had to find some sort of
had to be I had to find some sort of common ground between business and
common ground between business and
common ground between business and sustainability so I pitched it again and
sustainability so I pitched it again and
sustainability so I pitched it again and said what if this is a differentiator
said what if this is a differentiator
said what if this is a differentiator what if we could make you the most
what if we could make you the most
what if we could make you the most popular coffee shop in town and that
popular coffee shop in town and that
popular coffee shop in town and that piqued his interest and he said okay
piqued his interest and he said okay
piqued his interest and he said okay maybe you have something here and he he
maybe you have something here and he he
maybe you have something here and he he was a smart guy he was very progressive
was a smart guy he was very progressive
was a smart guy he was very progressive so he saw the benefit so it was a
so he saw the benefit so it was a
so he saw the benefit so it was a year-long journey we made the coffee
year-long journey we made the coffee
year-long journey we made the coffee shop carbon neutral we reduced the
shop carbon neutral we reduced the
shop carbon neutral we reduced the energy and water costs we also had
energy and water costs we also had
energy and water costs we also had really great staff retention this was an
really great staff retention this was an
really great staff retention this was an unexpected benefit people were staying
unexpected benefit people were staying
unexpected benefit people were staying around twice as long and that’s a huge
around twice as long and that’s a huge
around twice as long and that’s a huge differentiator in the hospitality
differentiator in the hospitality
differentiator in the hospitality industry we were also able to slash the
industry we were also able to slash the
industry we were also able to slash the marketing budget because it was getting
marketing budget because it was getting
marketing budget because it was getting a ton of free press and customer loyalty
a ton of free press and customer loyalty
a ton of free press and customer loyalty was up so we found that in graining
was up so we found that in graining
was up so we found that in graining sustainability into an organization and
sustainability into an organization and
sustainability into an organization and doing it strategically can be better for
doing it strategically can be better for
doing it strategically can be better for business and this started to for me it
business and this started to for me it
business and this started to for me it started to break apart that false
started to break apart that false
started to break apart that false dichotomy between business and the
dichotomy between business and the
dichotomy between business and the environment so I had my case study and
environment so I had my case study and
environment so I had my case study and then the next business came in and said
then the next business came in and said
then the next business came in and said hey I have a large coffee roasting
hey I have a large coffee roasting
hey I have a large coffee roasting company can you help me make it carbon
company can you help me make it carbon
company can you help me make it carbon neutral and I said sure and we got
neutral and I said sure and we got
neutral and I said sure and we got started we started making reductions to
started we started making reductions to
started we started making reductions to their carbon footprint and I sent in my
their carbon footprint and I sent in my
their carbon footprint and I sent in my first invoice and I found it a couple
first invoice and I found it a couple
first invoice and I found it a couple months ago and it is it has Old English
months ago and it is it has Old English
months ago and it is it has Old English font it doesn’t even say invoice at the
font it doesn’t even say invoice at the
font it doesn’t even say invoice at the top it has clipart all around the sides
top it has clipart all around the sides
top it has clipart all around the sides like like I was trying to design it but
like like I was trying to design it but
like like I was trying to design it but clearly had no idea what I was doing it
clearly had no idea what I was doing it
clearly had no idea what I was doing it only had pages on my computer and then
only had pages on my computer and then
only had pages on my computer and then it just said at the bottom please make
it just said at the bottom please make
it just said at the bottom please make check to Jill and there they said we
check to Jill and there they said we
check to Jill and there they said we can’t just write a check to Jill like
can’t just write a check to Jill like
can’t just write a check to Jill like you got to start a business or something
you got to start a business or something
you got to start a business or something and that’s what launched synergy and I
and that’s what launched synergy and I
and that’s what launched synergy and I called it synergy because we’re bringing
called it synergy because we’re bringing
called it synergy because we’re bringing together motives from two different
together motives from two different
together motives from two different worlds business in the environment and
worlds business in the environment and
worlds business in the environment and having them work together and spent
having them work together and spent
having them work together and spent almost 10 years it’s been an incredible
almost 10 years it’s been an incredible
almost 10 years it’s been an incredible journey we’ve worked with businesses in
journey we’ve worked with businesses in
journey we’ve worked with businesses in the hospitality sector marinas hotels
the hospitality sector marinas hotels
the hospitality sector marinas hotels restaurants fashion companies all kinds
restaurants fashion companies all kinds
restaurants fashion companies all kinds of companies a lot of diversity and I
of companies a lot of diversity and I
of companies a lot of diversity and I feel so lucky to work with these
feel so lucky to work with these
feel so lucky to work with these entrepreneurs all the time and when I
entrepreneurs all the time and when I
entrepreneurs all the time and when I think back now to those projects that
think back now to those projects that
think back now to those projects that had the biggest impact they all started
had the biggest impact they all started
had the biggest impact they all started kind of an awkward conversation they all
kind of an awkward conversation they all
kind of an awkward conversation they all started from a place where
started from a place where
started from a place where we actually didn’t really share values
we actually didn’t really share values
we actually didn’t really share values similarly to my first conversations with
similarly to my first conversations with
similarly to my first conversations with Dave at the coffee shop I want to tell
Dave at the coffee shop I want to tell
Dave at the coffee shop I want to tell you a story about one particular
you a story about one particular
you a story about one particular business big whoa burger
business big whoa burger
business big whoa burger when I met Kalin McNeal was before big
when I met Kalin McNeal was before big
when I met Kalin McNeal was before big ol burger existed my friend Stacy
ol burger existed my friend Stacy
ol burger existed my friend Stacy introduced us and he said you got to
introduced us and he said you got to
introduced us and he said you got to meet this guy he wants to start a
meet this guy he wants to start a
meet this guy he wants to start a fast-food restaurants gonna be the next
fast-food restaurants gonna be the next
fast-food restaurants gonna be the next hot burger chain this is right after
hot burger chain this is right after
hot burger chain this is right after supersize me came out and all this stuff
supersize me came out and all this stuff
supersize me came out and all this stuff about fast food and I was thinking I
about fast food and I was thinking I
about fast food and I was thinking I don’t want to associate with that we
don’t want to associate with that we
don’t want to associate with that we probably have nothing in common and
probably have nothing in common and
probably have nothing in common and really fast food isn’t sustainable it’s
really fast food isn’t sustainable it’s
really fast food isn’t sustainable it’s so wasteful so I don’t even know if I
so wasteful so I don’t even know if I
so wasteful so I don’t even know if I want to go there but I took the meeting
want to go there but I took the meeting
want to go there but I took the meeting and you know Kailen is probably thinking
and you know Kailen is probably thinking
and you know Kailen is probably thinking the same thing like Stacy why are you
the same thing like Stacy why are you
the same thing like Stacy why are you trying to make me meet with this green
trying to make me meet with this green
trying to make me meet with this green girl she’s probably just gonna cost me a
girl she’s probably just gonna cost me a
girl she’s probably just gonna cost me a fortune she’s gonna talk about peace and
fortune she’s gonna talk about peace and
fortune she’s gonna talk about peace and love and I want to make money but he met
love and I want to make money but he met
love and I want to make money but he met with me anyways and I met with him
with me anyways and I met with him
with me anyways and I met with him anyways and we had a little tiny sliver
anyways and we had a little tiny sliver
anyways and we had a little tiny sliver of common ground not a lot but we had a
of common ground not a lot but we had a
of common ground not a lot but we had a little bit to work with and his idea was
little bit to work with and his idea was
little bit to work with and his idea was maybe this would be a good marketing
maybe this would be a good marketing
maybe this would be a good marketing angle I think people people want to see
angle I think people people want to see
angle I think people people want to see fast food is different so maybe we can
fast food is different so maybe we can
fast food is different so maybe we can reduce our waste and I was thinking the
reduce our waste and I was thinking the
reduce our waste and I was thinking the same thing I was also thinking we could
same thing I was also thinking we could
same thing I was also thinking we could change the world with this burger joint
change the world with this burger joint
change the world with this burger joint but I didn’t approach him with that
but I didn’t approach him with that
but I didn’t approach him with that first and he said he said okay let’s try
first and he said he said okay let’s try
first and he said he said okay let’s try this let’s just let’s try and find some
this let’s just let’s try and find some
this let’s just let’s try and find some compostable stuff and what will work
compostable stuff and what will work
compostable stuff and what will work from there today big will burger has
from there today big will burger has
from there today big will burger has three locations they’re all carbon
three locations they’re all carbon
three locations they’re all carbon neutral they produce less than 1% waste
neutral they produce less than 1% waste
neutral they produce less than 1% waste they are almost waste free except for
they are almost waste free except for
they are almost waste free except for the weird things that customers bring in
the weird things that customers bring in
the weird things that customers bring in sometimes everything on your tray is
sometimes everything on your tray is
sometimes everything on your tray is compostable so when you dump that tray
compostable so when you dump that tray
compostable so when you dump that tray it goes right into the compost that
it goes right into the compost that
it goes right into the compost that compost is used for community gardens
compost is used for community gardens
compost is used for community gardens which they have helped start and their
which they have helped start and their
which they have helped start and their fryer oil is used for biodiesel in their
fryer oil is used for biodiesel in their
fryer oil is used for biodiesel in their vans
vans
vans they’ve become an example for
they’ve become an example for
they’ve become an example for restaurants and other companies all over
restaurants and other companies all over
restaurants and other companies all over the world they get requests all the time
the world they get requests all the time
the world they get requests all the time to share their story and it’s been a
to share their story and it’s been a
to share their story and it’s been a huge marketing advantage they’ve reduced
huge marketing advantage they’ve reduced
huge marketing advantage they’ve reduced their energy and water use by 35% so
their energy and water use by 35% so
their energy and water use by 35% so that’s a huge cost advantage as well and
that’s a huge cost advantage as well and
that’s a huge cost advantage as well and we really dug into the business case on
we really dug into the business case on
we really dug into the business case on this one and Kalyn is now a champion for
this one and Kalyn is now a champion for
this one and Kalyn is now a champion for sustainability for triple bottom-line
sustainability for triple bottom-line
sustainability for triple bottom-line businesses and making a difference and
businesses and making a difference and
businesses and making a difference and that’s because entrepreneurs want to
that’s because entrepreneurs want to
that’s because entrepreneurs want to build things at the end of the day they
build things at the end of the day they
build things at the end of the day they want to create things and when you start
want to create things and when you start
want to create things and when you start a company you’re given one measure of
a company you’re given one measure of
a company you’re given one measure of success profit there you go go start
success profit there you go go start
success profit there you go go start your business so naturally that’s your
your business so naturally that’s your
your business so naturally that’s your measure of success and that’s what you
measure of success and that’s what you
measure of success and that’s what you use but once you start adding these new
use but once you start adding these new
use but once you start adding these new men
men
men the social metrics with your staff and
the social metrics with your staff and
the social metrics with your staff and their engagement happiness the
their engagement happiness the
their engagement happiness the environmental metrics with your carbon
environmental metrics with your carbon
environmental metrics with your carbon footprint and waste and energy you get
footprint and waste and energy you get
footprint and waste and energy you get and this is coming from Cailin he said I
and this is coming from Cailin he said I
and this is coming from Cailin he said I get the same buzz when I see those
get the same buzz when I see those
get the same buzz when I see those numbers as I do from having a really
numbers as I do from having a really
numbers as I do from having a really good income statement that says a nice
good income statement that says a nice
good income statement that says a nice big profit at the bottom it’s not to say
big profit at the bottom it’s not to say
big profit at the bottom it’s not to say he doesn’t care about profit anymore of
he doesn’t care about profit anymore of
he doesn’t care about profit anymore of course he does he’s a smart businessman
course he does he’s a smart businessman
course he does he’s a smart businessman but he also cares about making a
but he also cares about making a
but he also cares about making a difference and he saw that these two can
difference and he saw that these two can
difference and he saw that these two can work together so this is great we can
work together so this is great we can
work together so this is great we can harness capitalism to create change and
harness capitalism to create change and
harness capitalism to create change and that’s what we do alt all day every day
that’s what we do alt all day every day
that’s what we do alt all day every day but there is a big barrier in our way
but there is a big barrier in our way
but there is a big barrier in our way and it isn’t technology and it isn’t
and it isn’t technology and it isn’t
and it isn’t technology and it isn’t regulation it isn’t the ones we normally
regulation it isn’t the ones we normally
regulation it isn’t the ones we normally think about it’s actually a social one
think about it’s actually a social one
think about it’s actually a social one and it affects all of us and goes back
and it affects all of us and goes back
and it affects all of us and goes back to that first conversation I had with
to that first conversation I had with
to that first conversation I had with Dave and Kalyn and in both of those
Dave and Kalyn and in both of those
Dave and Kalyn and in both of those conversations I was hesitant to even
conversations I was hesitant to even
conversations I was hesitant to even start it I almost didn’t want to go and
start it I almost didn’t want to go and
start it I almost didn’t want to go and just a couple months ago I had the
just a couple months ago I had the
just a couple months ago I had the opportunity to to reach out to a
opportunity to to reach out to a
opportunity to to reach out to a business that was one of those big
business that was one of those big
business that was one of those big corporate brands the evil ones you know
corporate brands the evil ones you know
corporate brands the evil ones you know we’ve all got them in our head and I
we’ve all got them in our head and I
we’ve all got them in our head and I thought I’m not even gonna go there I
thought I’m not even gonna go there I
thought I’m not even gonna go there I don’t respect them they don’t they don’t
don’t respect them they don’t they don’t
don’t respect them they don’t they don’t share my values so forget it and then I
share my values so forget it and then I
share my values so forget it and then I thought back to those first
thought back to those first
thought back to those first conversations with Dave and Kalyn and we
conversations with Dave and Kalyn and we
conversations with Dave and Kalyn and we didn’t share values either Kalyn didn’t
didn’t share values either Kalyn didn’t
didn’t share values either Kalyn didn’t come in as a crusading environmentalist
come in as a crusading environmentalist
come in as a crusading environmentalist and say let’s change the world with
and say let’s change the world with
and say let’s change the world with burgers sort of happened after but
burgers sort of happened after but
burgers sort of happened after but that’s not how we started we started
that’s not how we started we started
that’s not how we started we started from a tiny sliver of common ground and
from a tiny sliver of common ground and
from a tiny sliver of common ground and what really concerns me right now is the
what really concerns me right now is the
what really concerns me right now is the way we filter our information and silo
way we filter our information and silo
way we filter our information and silo ourselves into groups that just share
ourselves into groups that just share
ourselves into groups that just share our values and I do this too I do it all
our values and I do this too I do it all
our values and I do this too I do it all the time and I’ve become much more aware
the time and I’ve become much more aware
the time and I’ve become much more aware of it I have to remind myself always to
of it I have to remind myself always to
of it I have to remind myself always to not judge to start those conversations
not judge to start those conversations
not judge to start those conversations and sit at the table because you never
and sit at the table because you never
and sit at the table because you never know where that’s gonna go so I’ve been
know where that’s gonna go so I’ve been
know where that’s gonna go so I’ve been looking for the silver bullet solution
looking for the silver bullet solution
looking for the silver bullet solution to climate change for about 15 years now
to climate change for about 15 years now
to climate change for about 15 years now and not just like on reddit on
and not just like on reddit on
and not just like on reddit on commercial breaks looking for solutions
commercial breaks looking for solutions
commercial breaks looking for solutions but like nine-to-five all the friggin
but like nine-to-five all the friggin
but like nine-to-five all the friggin time looking for how we can create
time looking for how we can create
time looking for how we can create change cuz I’m really passionate about
change cuz I’m really passionate about
change cuz I’m really passionate about solving climate change and there is no
solving climate change and there is no
solving climate change and there is no silver bullet there’s a myriad of
silver bullet there’s a myriad of
silver bullet there’s a myriad of amazing solutions but I do believe our
amazing solutions but I do believe our
amazing solutions but I do believe our biggest opportunity is to break down
biggest opportunity is to break down
biggest opportunity is to break down those silos that we exist
those silos that we exist
those silos that we exist and start having those uncomfortable
and start having those uncomfortable
and start having those uncomfortable conversations find that tiny sliver of
conversations find that tiny sliver of
conversations find that tiny sliver of common ground and see where that goes so
common ground and see where that goes so
common ground and see where that goes so I have to go back and make a meeting
I have to go back and make a meeting
I have to go back and make a meeting that I didn’t want to set in the first
that I didn’t want to set in the first
that I didn’t want to set in the first place and it’s gonna be uncomfortable
place and it’s gonna be uncomfortable
place and it’s gonna be uncomfortable but if we can start those conversations
but if we can start those conversations
but if we can start those conversations and create change I think we can really
and create change I think we can really
and create change I think we can really make a difference in our world and I
make a difference in our world and I
make a difference in our world and I want to leave you with the thought about
want to leave you with the thought about
want to leave you with the thought about just as a proof point how we filter
just as a proof point how we filter
just as a proof point how we filter ourselves on social media I’m sure all
ourselves on social media I’m sure all
ourselves on social media I’m sure all of you can relate to this idea of you
of you can relate to this idea of you
of you can relate to this idea of you see someone have a rant on Facebook or
see someone have a rant on Facebook or
see someone have a rant on Facebook or on Instagram or whatever medium and you
on Instagram or whatever medium and you
on Instagram or whatever medium and you go hide lock unfollow I don’t want to
go hide lock unfollow I don’t want to
go hide lock unfollow I don’t want to see it it gives me that icky feeling
see it it gives me that icky feeling
see it it gives me that icky feeling where it doesn’t radiate exactly with my
where it doesn’t radiate exactly with my
where it doesn’t radiate exactly with my thoughts my beliefs so I’m gonna filter
thoughts my beliefs so I’m gonna filter
thoughts my beliefs so I’m gonna filter you out and I do this too I do it often
you out and I do this too I do it often
you out and I do this too I do it often and I’ve realized that that is just
and I’ve realized that that is just
and I’ve realized that that is just another way that I’m pulling myself
another way that I’m pulling myself
another way that I’m pulling myself deeper into a silo only with people that
deeper into a silo only with people that
deeper into a silo only with people that believe what I believe so my challenge
believe what I believe so my challenge
believe what I believe so my challenge to you is to think about how you want to
to you is to think about how you want to
to you is to think about how you want to make a difference in the world and how
make a difference in the world and how
make a difference in the world and how you can collaborate with people who
you can collaborate with people who
you can collaborate with people who don’t share your values to make that
don’t share your values to make that
don’t share your values to make that happen
happen
happen thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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