Damla Ozluer

What if the secret to national wealth isn’t faster growth or smarter tech, but a fairer invitation to participate? We sit down with Dr Hermann Stern to unpack the Prosperity Gate—a striking pattern in World Bank data showing that most countries grind along a poverty “brick” until they expand political inclusion enough to trigger a steep rise in income per capita. Once through the gate, each step toward broader participation correlates with bigger gains, reframing prosperity as the outcome of social invention and open institutions rather than luck or resources. Together we trace the evidence: how universal schooling, healthcare access, labour standards and the right to start and scale a business create the conditions for innovation to spread. Hermann explains why outliers like oil states can mask the rule, and why countries without resource windfalls—think the Baltics—outperformed larger, richer neighbours by betting on inclusive rules instead of extractive control. And as if that wasn't enough... for sustainability and ESG, Herman offers a candid diagnosis. Expecting firms to act like saints collides with fiduciary duty; the real lever is the societal framework that aligns private incentives with public goals. The takeaway is clear and hopeful: inclusion is not charity, it’s a growth strategy. Countries can backslide when participation narrows, but they can also surge ahead when people feel secure enough to learn, spend and build. Have a listen! Follow GoodGeist for more episodes on sustainability, communications and how creativity can help make the world a better place. Link to the episode is in the Bio. @creativeconcern_ @myra_istanbul @headstretcher @trishlinka

Billionaire wealth is hitting historic highs while one in four people face hunger—so what exactly is growth doing for the rest of us? We sit down with Prof. Öner Günçavdı to unpack the mechanics behind inequality and global economics. Starting in Turkey and widening to global trends, we trace how housing, education, and healthcare drift out of reach when asset values dominate policy, and why a recent report from Oxfam’s on inequalities reads less like a headline and more like a diagnosis. The conversation pulls apart two big drivers: the rules we live by and the tech we build. When institutions prioritise asset protection, growth becomes a numbers game detached from human welfare. Add technology concentrated in a few hands—platforms, patents, and data—and you get profits without shared prosperity. We explore what a different path looks like: participatory budgeting that gives communities real control; fair taxation and windfall measures that link extraordinary gains to public good; and housing policies tied to incomes, not speculation. We don’t dodge geopolitics either, asking whether global forums and interventions protect people or just portfolios. Join us for a clear-eyed, practical journey from problem to possibility, and learn how democratic tools can turn growth into well-being instead of a scoreboard for the few. Follow GoodGeist for more episodes on sustainability, communications and how creativity can help make the world a better place. Link to the episode is in the Bio. @creativeconcern_ @myra_istanbul @headstretcher @trishlinka @onerguncavdi

Rimini'de yapılan @ecomondo_it sürdürülebilirlik dediğimizde nasıl da çok katmanlı bir meseleden ve ne kadar çok paydaşlı bir süreçten bahsettiğimizi bir kez daha gösterdi. 🌍 DoNotSmile Network'ü temsilen, İtalya'daki kardeş ajansımız @silverbackgtc ile birlikte katıldığım fuarda, yeni teknolojilerin yanı sıra alandaki önemli oyuncularla da bir araya gelme şansım oldu. 💫 FERPI - Federazione Relazioni Pubbliche Italiana'nın başkanı @filipponani ile sürdürülebilirlik iletişiminin geleceğini konuştuk. 📣 @mase_it tarafından düzenlenen 2025 Sorumlu İletişim Forumu'nda "Sürdürülebilirlik mi Rekabet Gücü mü?" gibi yanlış ikilemleri @marziachiesaofficial , @giovannimori.eu , Massimiliano Pontillo ve Chiara Bolognini ile birlikte masaya yatırdık. 💬 İki güne dünyaları sığdırdık desem yanlış olmaz. ✨ Çok değerli dostum Simonetta Lombardo ve Silverback'in paha biçilmez ekibinin emeğine sağlık. Filipo Nani ile yaptığımız podcast bömünü merak eden olursa 👉 @goodgeistpodcast --- @ecomondo_it 2025 at Rimini showed me once more what a multifaceted issue sustainability is, and the endless layers of stakeholders in green transition. 🌍 Representing the DoNotSmile Network, I participated to the event with our network agency @silverbackgtc . Besides observing the new technologies in the field, I also had a chance to meet important players in the field. 💫 We've talked with the President of FERPI - Federazione Relazioni Pubbliche Italiana @filipponani about the future of sustainable communications. 📣 At the Forum of Responsible Communications promoted by the @mase_it we've discussed false dilemmas such as "Sustainability VS Competitiveness" with @marziachiesaofficial , @giovannimori.eu , Massimiliano Pontillo and Chiara Bolognini. 💬 It's fair to say that these two days worth ages for me. Thanks to my dearest friend Simonetta Lombardo and the amazing team of Silverback. ✨ If you want to listen to The Italian Take on sustainable comms with Filipo Nanni 👉 @goodgeistpodcast

Direct (sort of) from the bustling floor of Ecomondo in Rimini we have a great conversation with Filippo Nani, president of FERPI in Italy and veteran strategist in public relations. Together with Filippo we explore how credible communications can unlock real progress on sustainability, from major strategic decisions to building stakeholder trust, with the stories that inspire action across industries. Filippo traces his path from journalism and government spokesperson to agency leadership, revealing how narrative craft and public accountability shape the green economy. We unpack the persistent “green vs growth” myth and examine why investors, banks, and customers increasingly reward companies that commit to measurable, transparent climate strategies. The theme is clarity over hype: no easy fixes, but real momentum where incentives, proof, and purpose align. We also dive into the changing craft of communications. How AI, used well, gives practitioners more time for strategy and better tools for research and analysis. Anchored by FERPI’s Venice Pledge, Filippo argues for ethical AI practices, disclosure to stakeholders, and keeping humans at the centre of every decision. Listen in to a great conversation about the future of communications - and sustainability - in Europe. Follow GoodGeist for more episodes on sustainability, communications and how creativity can help make the world a better place. Link to the episode is in the Bio. @creativeconcern_ @myra_istanbul @headstretcher @trishlinka @filipponani @ferpi.it

Ecomondo 2025'te konuşmacı olmak bu senenin en heyecanlı işlerinden biri! 🌍 İş dünyası ve sürdürülebilirliği masaya yatırdığımız etkinlik, dünyanın dört bir yanından politika belirleyicileri ve iş dünyasını bir araya getirerek iklim eylemini hızlandırmanın yollarını araştırıyor. Olur da 4-7 Kasım arası Rimini yakınlarındaysanız davetiye için bu bağlantıya tıklayabilirsiniz: https://lnkd.in/dhmtrW68 --- I’m excited to be a speaker at Ecomondo 2025! 🌍 This unique event brings together professionals in the green and circular economy to share knowledge, inspire connections and accelerate the path towards sustainability. Join me in Rimini, from November 4 to 7, and take part in the ecosystem of the ecological transition. Would you like to receive a free 2-day ticket? Register here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dhmtrW68

What if money could finally measure what we truly care about—care, safety, culture, and thriving ecosystems—not just cash in the bank? We sit down with evolutionary economist Makoto Nishibe, head of the Good Money Lab, to explore how economies and the money that powers them can evolve together. Starting with Japan’s “lost decades,” Makoto explains why top-down policies and a single-number view of value failed regional communities, and how plural, adaptive thinking opened the door to community currencies and digital experiments that restore trust and resilience. We unpack the idea of “good money” as a medium designed to serve the good life, not speculation. From QR payments and crypto to Japan’s 200+ digital community currencies, Makoto shows how technology lowers barriers for cities, banks, and citizens to co-create units that reward what matters: local exchange, volunteering, and ecological care. If you’ve ever felt that GDP and net worth don’t capture real prosperity, this conversation offers a practical, hopeful path forward—powered by digital tools, civic design, and a richer moral compass. Listen in! Follow GoodGeist for more episodes on sustainability, communications and how creativity can help make the world a better place. Link to the episode is in the Bio. @creativeconcern_ @myra_istanbul @headstretcher @trishlinka

In this episode we chat with broadcaster and property expert Kunle Barker to unpack a practical, hopeful blueprint for net zero in the real world. From the state of decarbonisation to the retrofit reality, Kunle explains why we won’t build our way to 2050 targets and how policy, funding, and design can unlock action at scale. We explore the power of “carbon budgets” for everyday life—clear, kilo-by-kilo guidance that helps people choose high-impact steps without the guilt spiral. Then we zoom out to neighbourhood scale with “zero-bill streets,” where fabric-first upgrades, rooftop solar, and shared systems bring costs down and comfort up when delivered across entire terraces. Then nature takes centre stage as infrastructure, not ornament. Kunle shares how nature-based solutions cool overheated streets, manage stormwater, improve mental health, and even lift property values. We talk biophilic design plus CyanLines—a bold plan to connect Manchester’s green and blue assets into a citywide network you can actually walk. If you care about sustainable cities, healthier homes, and practical climate action, this conversation will give you ideas you can use today—from personal carbon choices to street-by-street transformation. Follow GoodGeist for more episodes on sustainability, communications and how creativity can help make the world a better place. Link to the episode is in the Bio. @creativeconcern_ @myra_istanbul @headstretcher @trishlinka @kunlebarker

In this episode we're with Alessia Trabucco, Clean Mobility Coordinator at Generation Climate Europe, as she reveals how young voices are reshaping climate policy across the continent. Alessia explains how Generation Climate Europe brings together over 300 organisations across 46 countries to campaign for young peoples' perspectives to be recognised. Their successful campaign for a Commissioner on Intergenerational Fairness at the European Commission shows how strong and persistent advocacy can create lasting institutional change. Beyond policy work, Alessia highlights the emotional reality facing young Europeans—with 80% expressing worry about climate change and many experiencing eco-anxiety. She emphasises that clean mobility represents both environmental and social sustainability, affecting access to education, jobs, and overall life satisfaction. We also talk about her work on ASIFERO's Climate Philanthropy Programme, and Alessia reveals how foundations worldwide are being encouraged to integrate climate considerations regardless of their primary focus. Ready to join the climate conversation? Follow us for more discussions with sustainability leaders who are turning concern into action. Follow GoodGeist for more episodes on sustainability, communications and how creativity can help make the world a better place. Link to the episode is in the Bio. @creativeconcern_ @myra_istanbul @headstretcher @trishlinka @generationclimateeurope

In this episode we're talking to Sait Beyazyürek of NeedsMap, in a fascinating look at how to transform disaster relief through innovative digital solutions that connect those in need with those who can help. NeedsMap functions as a digital marketplace for social good. Rather than commercial transactions, the platform facilitates the exchange of essential items and services using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to pinpoint exact locations of needs. This revolutionary approach proved crucial during Turkey's devastating 2023 earthquakes and also helped with Spain's 2024 floods in Valencia, where WhatsApp chatbots and real-time mapping tools helped coordinate relief efforts with unprecedented efficiency. Beyond disaster response, NeedsMap addresses structural inequalities through data-driven decision-making, ensuring aid reaches marginalised communities including refugees and low-income families. Their work demonstrates how resilience and adaptability, forged through Turkey's experiences with multiple crises, can benefit humanitarian efforts worldwide. Listen in to discover how we might use our technological expertise to address the pressing humanitarian challenges of our time. Follow GoodGeist for more episodes on sustainability, communications and how creativity can help make the world a better place. Link to the episode is in the Bio.

In this exciting episode we talk to Dana Clouston, Head of Sustainable Finance at Barclays Business Bank, as she takes us on a journey from her roots in New Zealand agriculture to her current position at the forefront of sustainable finance innovation. Dana shares how Barclays is working toward becoming a net-zero bank by 2050 through three key strategies: supporting clients on their transition journey, providing financing for green initiatives, and scaling climate tech solutions. We cover small businesses—which make up 99% of UK businesses and contribute about half of the country's business emissions— and how they often struggle to prioritise sustainability amidst their day-to-day operational demands. We also talk about the Willow Review, co-chaired by Barclays, which offers a practical five-point plan for SMEs: switch to sustainable materials, reduce travel, minimise waste, adopt renewable energy, and partner with sustainable suppliers. And then finally we talk about nature and farming, and how regenerative farming represents a growing movement with profound implications for both business resilience and environmental recovery, one that's worth the investment. Listen in! Follow GoodGeist for more episodes on sustainability, communications and how creativity can help make the world a better place. Link to the episode is in the Bio.

In this episode Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General of Polis Network, takes us on a journey through the evolving landscape of sustainable urban mobility. With over 21 years of experience working with European cities on transport innovation, Karen shares powerful insights on how municipalities are navigating the transition to more sustainable, equitable mobility systems. En route she powerfully debunks the false dichotomy between economy and ecology, explaining how green growth is not just environmentally necessary but economically essential: "If we don't invest now, the bill will be much bigger later," she says. We also cover the importance of innovation in policy responses, as well as in technology, and our conversation touches on how cities can overcome polarisation and resistance to change. Karen shares practical strategies for winning hearts and minds, including the power of temporary interventions that let citizens experience car-free spaces before making permanent decisions. Listen in to hear how cities are reclaiming their streets, reshaping transport systems, and creating more liveable urban environments for all. Follow GoodGeist for more episodes on sustainability, communications and how creativity can help make the world a better place. Link to the episode is in the Bio.

How do we create cities where people and not cars take centre stage? Mobility expert Gerwin de Boer takes us on a journey through the compellingly logical world of sustainable transportation planning. De Boer approaches sustainable mobility not as an ideological crusade but as the only sensible solution for creating liveable urban spaces. Working with Goudappel, the Netherlands' premier mobility consultancy, he's helped transform Dutch cities through practical planning that prioritises people over vehicles, a blueprint for more functional, vibrant communities that Goudappel have exported across the world. Our conversation explores how increasing urbanisation actually creates the perfect conditions for sustainable transportation. When cities are compact and well-designed, the need for extensive travel diminishes naturally. We discover how cultural contexts shape mobility choices—from extreme temperatures affecting cycling adoption to varying levels of government regulation influencing implementation strategies. Ready to reimagine how we move through our cities? Listen now and join the conversation about creating urban spaces where sustainable mobility becomes the obvious choice. Follow GoodGeist for more episodes on sustainability, communications and how creativity can help make the world a better place Link to the episode is in the Bio. @creativeconcern_ @myra_istanbul @headstretcher @trishlinka