Sustainable Brands Madrid 23

Fresh back from Sustainable Brands Madrid 2023, that took place on the 23-24th of October. Another incredible edition about impact brands, regeneration, systemic change, economy of peace, sufficiency, storytelling and conscious citizenship of businesses… ✨

I had the pleasure to open the International Day of Climate Action on the 24th with a poetic experience entitled « ONE with the living » on regenerating the living and the links between humans and nature. Then I delivered a keynote on « Enchant the future as poetic sustainability leaders » on the power of dreams, the impact of words and the audacity to be your self to awaken your soul of leader and elevate the world. A wonderful moment where the audience was invited to write and share « poetic letters of the future » on their commitment to future generations (examples below) 🌏

Thanks to the one and only brilliant Sandra Pina for orchestrating year on year such an essential event and her lovely entire Quiero team José Illana, Fabio Sechi Vanessa Palomar Martínez, Julia Salsas Segura… Muchas GrAcIAs para esas imágenes maravillosas 💛 La poesía salvará al mundo y todos somos poetas.

The change will come from the arts to the hearts. As Chesterton said, “the world will never starve for want of wonders, but only for want of wonder.” Let’s reenchant the world ! The future is our next exit, let’s make it epic and poetic, as a force of common good. The video of the poetic experience and the keynote will be coming soon 📜

Part 1: Poetic Narrative Experience

“ONE with the living”

Queridos líderes poéticos,
Aquí es un poco de poesía y de harmonía,
Para realizar nuestra humanidad.
De su alma profunda, conectada a la naturaleza
Hasta las melodías que escriben nuestra sinfonía,
Que se llama: « A la vida… equilibrada en la Tierra »

Dear poetic leaders,
Sustainability is our shared responsibility
With a duty to reach a balanced and lasting prosperity
Respectful of the planetary boundaries,
As what we do in life, echoes in all the living species as a symphony.

Today we all rise, us, not the temperature,
But us, as mature creatures, to resolve the climate disorder
Caused by our human adventures, resulting in terrible disasters.

Climate warming was just a warning,
And now we’re facing “climate boiling”.
How about we replace this climate soiling of the world
By more climate loving of the soil?
Not that worst nightmare oiling of the fuel or that private owning of us all,
But more wise men soaring to their souls.
The climate loving of the soil, may it blossom and unfold.

Millions, Billions, Trillions… until we reach Centillions
When will we learn that money cannot be eaten
And that what matters is our children?

Our regenerative journey must end this nature abuse
As what we need is to find new ways and not an excuse.
I mean, what is the price of life?
It’s time to do, not what’s easy, but what’s right.

All together, here united, we are the RE-Generation.
Elevation is our revolution to end the “story of separation”
Of humans and nature for a new declaration
Of interdependence and reconciliation.

As Einstein said “Everything is vibration”
From the call of the wild to the vibe of the ocean,
Let’s amplify the reforestation inside all of the nations
And embody a sufficient economy of moderation.

Let’s scale the rhythm of our corporations
To paste the same cycles of nature’s seasons
In the shape of alliances and cooperation
To feel the true meaning of regeneration.

Dear activists of our future, we need Ambition.
What will be your contribution to lower emissions,
Organize a fair transition and design an enchanted horizon
For future generations?

As leaders, let’s become our most beautiful version
And be part of the pact of impactful solutions
Apart from the parc of these harmful pollutions.

From business as usual to business with a soul,
Let’s think global but regenerate local.
And let’s fight for what’s vital not what’s viral,
Radical in the name of our survival.

Be a disruptor, a trendsetter, a pathfinder, a soulful leader,
Even an influencer, yes, an influencer…
Not on Instagram but in your impact brands.

We need to switch up the narrative
To an innovative inclusive and positive regen’narrative
And lift the story from “more” to “better” to sore higher, all together.

By all means and all dreams, what will our verse be this evening?
As we’re all responsible for the same thing and that is for the living.

Please, take a moment to reflect and project yourself:
“Why do I rise? Why do I thrive? Why do I fight?
What makes me feel alive in this flight? “
How about just for our children and their children to simply have a life?
In the word “Poetry” there are the letters “TRY”.
Why don’t we at least try for the sake of our human tribe?

Be a poetic leader,
One hand in the skies and the other on your heart as a peacemaker.
A poetic leader… to enchant the world
And master the art of the Dictionary
The light of the Imaginary, the grace of the Humanitary
The soul of the Visionary , the pact of the Missionary
The heart of the Revolutionary and the eye of the Planetary
There are always 7 sides to the same story of harmony in our human common destiny.

Using your pioneering spirit,
Please make sure your global profits, take into account your carbon footprints.
The future will be magic or tragic, depending on how we act in it to save it.

And you know, in the end, let’s not forget, it’s true,
We are humans and only humans,
With our sins, our weaknesses and our shortcomings
But we are also humans
With our gifts, our geniuses and our (own) love stories
And all that can be found
In all of our dreams that we’re broadcasting in our businesses and entities.

Lead by example and demonstrate that “Good + Growth = Great “
For the sake of this planet’s sacred fate.
The peaceful way of life of our entire civilization is at stake.

Talking about the current news and conflicts around the globe,
In the end, it’s not about being the best, to win the war.
It’s about doing our best, to heal the world.
We more than ever need human kindness, less guns and more hugs.
Whomever your God bless, it’s always the same love, all around the world.

Even if you’ve proven in the past and present that you or your brand can be THE very best,
Maybe It’s now time to prove to the future that we did OUR very best, to create a better place.
So that in 15-20 years from now, in 2040 we can all turn around and say:
We did the best we could, as a force of good, as a force of Greater Good,
As a force of Common Good.

May we find the courage when needed to say “No!”
As true net zero global climate heroes
To change the status quo for a more livable tomorrow,
And go from capitalism to humanism onto protecting all living organisms,

At last, just be you and be useful, be great and be grateful,
That’s the new beautiful…
And let’s make this journey meaningful
As we’ll only be successful if our planet remains wonderful.

From purpose to impact, or from storytelling to storydoing,
Let’s find a new meaning to life far away from the theory of Darwin
And call it the “poetry of win win” in a society where we all win.
All in, all dream, all lead, all live, all win!

May this be our new Humanity beginning,
From ego to eco, for a world of harmony in the making,
Where we can all have a toast to just being “ONE with the LIVING”
As a world wise win win of balance amongst all of the earthlings.

Cheers to be one with living. May this be our planet BE
As a rebirth of this Heaven On Mother Earth. H O M E.

I don’t know if the rest is history but the best is harmony.
Have a wonderful journey and let’s make sustainability
Rhyme with the beauty of our deepest humanity.
Peace Poetry & Prosperity for a sustainable brand new model of society.

Para terminar, la harmonía no es una utopía, es la posibilidad de mañana.
Sabes lo que se esconde dentro de la palabra “Gracias”?
Las 4 letras de G A I A.
GrAcIAs a vos y a Gaia, nuestra planeta B como Belleza.

Planet B for Beauty, because beauty, like poetry, will save the world and we’re all poets…

Author : Vincent Avanzi
Chief Poetic Officer – The Ink of the Future

(c) All rights reserved

Part 2 : Keynote

« Enchant the future as Poetic Leaders »

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How could you put your singularity in service of our Humanity ?

In the keynote on the power of dreams, the impact of words and the audacity to be yourself to awaken the soul of your poetic leadership, you will discover the wonderful Poetic Letters to the Future written and shared during the conference by participants in the room (some on the video, some below in photos). Congratulations to all of them for their beautiful works of art !

Poetry will save the world and we’re all poets is more than a mantra.

Author : VINCENT AVANZI is a Chief Poetic Officer, world artist, sustainability activist, leadership coach and speech writer. Residential artist at the Institute for Desirable Futures, he founded The Ink of the Future and is the author of ten books including « Poetic Leaders : Poetry will save the world and we’re all poets » (Human Odyssey) and “Trouver son Point Génial” («Finding your Genius Spot » Editions Hachette). Former Microsoft manager and passionate for poetry, he developed the concept of “Corporate Poetry” after having gone on two world tours to bridge the gap between business and wisdom, poetry and prospective, innovative and narrative, leadership and harmony. He now accompanies leaders, brands and organizations on the enchantment of their storytelling, the elevation of their leadership and their transition towards regeneration. He furthermore delivers inspiring poetic speeches in international conventions and keynotes on the art of speech to enchant the future as poetic leaders.