Sandra Taylor

Sandra Taylor, a pioneer in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles in business, has been instrumental in developing groundbreaking global strategies that brought major brands, including Starbucks and Eastman Kodak, into the realm of global sustainability. During her tenure as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Starbucks, she was pivotal in turning the company into a progressive corporation. She led the creation and launch of C.A.F.E. Practices, significantly influencing global standards for environmental sustainability and ethics throughout the coffee industry, with a major focus on equitable supply chains.

In addition to her corporate roles, Taylor is the Founder and CEO of Sustainable Business International, a consulting firm that assists businesses in integrating ESG into business planning and strategy. She is recognized for her deep expertise in balancing sustainability with prudent risk management and has been a motivational leader of diverse teams across cultural, geographic, and political barriers. Her initiatives have transformed organizations and enhanced competitive business climates globally. Taylor's work extends beyond coffee into the wine industry, influenced by her academic pursuits with a master’s degree in Business Administration from the Bordeaux School of Management, focusing on sustainable agricultural practices in the wine industry as detailed in her book "The Business of Sustainable Wine: How to Build Brand Equity in a 21st Century Wine Industry".

Taylor's contributions to sustainability and CSR have been acknowledged through her roles as an Expert-in-Residence at Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco, the First Mover Fellow in the Aspen Institute’s Business and Society Program, and the former Falk Professor of Socially Responsible Business at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA. She shares her experiences and insights on managing through crises, conducting effective philanthropy, adapting to globalization, and implementing strategies for achieving net-zero global greenhouse gas emissions. Taylor emphasizes the importance of transparent business practices, the role of corporate purpose in serving communities, and valuing employee perspectives in assessing business risks and opportunities.