In this episode, Esther and Mengtian, one of our Power Move Society interns, sit down with Ellen Touchstone, the inaugural Associate Dean for Responsible and Sustainable Business Education at the International Business School Suzhou (XJTLU). We delve into Ellen's passion for sustainability, her journey from the United States to China to trace her grandparents' footsteps from a century ago, and her adaptability to new cultures and environments.
Ellen is a recognized thought leader in inclusive banking, with her research on the linguistic servicescape and multilingual advertising published in the Journal of Business Research and the Journal of Consumer Research. She initiated the carbon reduction project, "Fifteen Ways in Fifteen Weeks," with the Sustainable Future Talents student group, winning the AMBA BGA Best CSR Sustainability Initiative in 2022. In March 2022, she was honored as a “China Super Woman” by Shanghai-based Green Initiatives for her contributions to environmental and gender equity in the Yangtze River Delta.
Ellen shares the factors that led to her life-changing decision to move to China in the early 2010s and reflects on the remarkable growth China has experienced over the past decades. She also discusses her sustainable initiatives and offers insights on how corporations can play a more responsible role in the industry.
Additionally, Ellen provides her interpretation of gender equity and discusses how China’s favorable national policies support women's advancement in academia.
We wrap up the discussion with a deep dive into Ellen’s personal growth and her approach to managing mental health. We also touch on various documentaries and TED Talks featuring Ellen Touchstone. If you are curious about sustainability in academia and Ellen’s inspiring journey, tune in now!
Links to Ellen’s TED Talk and Documentary:
#BusinessSchool #Academia #SustainableBusiness #SelfCare #GenderEquity #Innovation #PurposeDriven #Empowerment
