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To excel in today’s competitive business environment, a successful ESG Leader needs a balance of compliance, sustainability, and project management skills - backed by robust policy design expertise. In this episode, Kaitlyn Allen talks with Dr. Monique Cunningham, who has over 15 years of experience leading strategic ESG projects for multiple high-profile organizations, including St. Thomas University, the City of Tallahassee, and the Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America, Inc. (OICA). She is the rare professional with experience across the E, S AND G of ESG. In addition to her vast professional experience as a risk management and compliance professional, Dr. Cunningham holds a Doctorate in law and policy from Northeastern, an MBA from Nova Southeastern University, and a Bachelor’s in biology from Barry University.
Listen as Kaitlyn and Monique remind us that the ‘G’ in ESG is foundational – you cannot have the ‘E’ and the ‘S’ without Governance. The oversight and implementation of any ESG program or policy cannot occur in isolation; all ESG priorities must be interlaced throughout the organization. This is where governance becomes an elevated component of the process. The approach to governance must be in tandem with an organization’s mission and values while aligning with its approaches to compliance and risk mitigation matters.
Monique possesses a wealth of knowledge for all things ESG. In the ESG landscape, she sees the forest and the trees. She has experience across all pillars, and she understands the governance best practices that drive stakeholder value and mitigate risk. Better still, Monique explains concepts in a way that is easy to understand.
Take your time with this topic, and reference the resource boosts below:
Dr. Cunningham
(1)  Monique Cunningham, LP.D, MBA, CSM, CCEP | LinkedIn
(2)  Florida and the Clean Power Plan: a state, a federal regulation and a climate situation. (northeastern.edu) – Dissertation by Dr. Monique Cunningham
Compliance Professional Resources
(1)  CCEP | SCCE Official Site (corporatecompliance.org)
(2)  Certified Environmental and Safety Compliance Officer (CESCO) | NREP
Isle de Jean Charles Resources
(3)  HUD Action Plan for Isle de Jean Charles, LA
(4)  Isle De Jean Charles Resettlement Project | IsleDeJeanCharles.la.gov
King Tides Resources
(1)  King Tides and High Tides | City of Fort Lauderdale, FL
(2)  King Tides and Climate Change | US EPA
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