Convo: Esha Chhabra on Harnessing the Power of Regenerative Business to Heal the World
In this episode of Flanigan’s Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Esha Chhabra, Author of Working to Restore: Harnessing the Power of Regenerative Business to Heal the World.
Esha is an accomplished author who specializes in writing about sustainability, international development, and the emergence of mission-driven brands. In the last decade, she has made significant contributions to numerous national and international publications, such as The Guardian, New York Times, Wired UK, Washington Post, Atlantic, Fast Company, Forbes, Stanford Social Innovation Review, and more, establishing herself as a prominent voice in her field. Her writing offers insightful perspectives and nuanced, thought-provoking analyses of pressing issues. Her work has been supported by the UN Foundation, and has been awarded multiple fellowships from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting in Washington, D.C.
Esha and Ted discuss her background, Delhi-born, first-generation immigrant moving to California at the age of 6, and her interest in journalism from an early age. She moved to Washington D.C., received her undergraduate from Georgetown University, and then attended the London School of Economics and Politics Science for her graduate degree.
Her latest book is one of the first of its kind. It is a journalistic work with a series of case studies across industries that sheds light on the businesses which have restorative and regenerative practices at their core, going beyond the greenwashing to a shift in mindset that is helping heal the world. She describes her travels and the entrepreneurs and activists she met across the world, hitting every continent except Antarctica. She also unpacks the social and environmental innovations in relatable industries that people have everyday interactions with, such as coffee, shoemaking, healthcare, energy, and hospitality, highlighting companies that are genuinely doing the work and part of a global movement.