Give Back

Sustainable business practices have inspired Kay’s work since the 1990’s. She loves to engage in work that enriches society, the environment and people whilst making the numbers work.

Kay has strategic experience with the sustainable enterprise initiative since the 1990s. After leaving work as a mergers & acquisitions, investment banker with JP Morgan to undertake more philanthropic work, Kay joined a start up, not-for-profit equity syndicator (a.k.a. basically investment finance). The business competed against for-profit banks and utility companies for multi-million US$ investments. Not taking exorbitant salaries and reinvesting profits into the communities they built meant the business could offer a competitive advantage (a socially responsible advantage) over competitors. Some competitor banks and utility companies closed their competing departments and chose to invest their equity in our investment funds. This was in the 1990s and early 2000s when the idea of sustainability or corporate social responsibility was not well known nor defined and certainly not widely embraced.

As Executive Vice President, Kay managed a third of a billion US$ in equity investments, spearheaded new national best practices for investing, raised revenues 720% and, importantly, helped economically disadvantaged buy their first homes among other special community initiatives. She was invited to help inform the sustainability revolution in business schools by serving on Kenan Flagler Business School’s Sustainable Enterprise Initiative in the 1990s and Base of the Pyramid Learning Lab. Kay went on to earn an MBA with Distinction at one of the few business schools at the time that had sustainability on the curriculum. She served as an associate tutor on the Leadership & Strategy Team at Ashridge’s MBA program, developing one of the first case studies considering sustainability in business. Sustainable business has been a part of Kay’s ethos for decades.

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The Telos acorn rewards program - legacy

For those who have participated historically, their rewards are honoured. They’ve included rewards for time spent participating in Telos services, incentives for healthier travel options, greener broadband/ISP and electricity suppliers. The rewards program is under review and will be updated.

Community

Telos also seeks to help others on their wellbeing journey, even if they are not Telos customers.

We have supported Milton Country Park, a part of Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust. They are a charity whose grounds and services provide invaluable space and opportunity for healthy living in the Cambridge area. They have been affected by covid19 lockdown and we want to keep this key asset in our community thriving. Especially as so many of us have appreciated the country park even more during covid19 lockdown.

Historically, 5% of annual profits go to The Road Not Taken, this is a charitable endeavour Kay aspires to bring to fruition. Her vision for The Road Not Taken began many years ago during her own road to rehabilitation and she has raised and set aside funds for it.

If you or someone you love has endured a health challenge, you may be familiar with how arts, crafts and nature often provide a healing outlet. The Road Not Taken would like to offer a local arts and crafts fair that is dedicated to celebrate the arts and crafts of those currently on a health challenge journey. Site location would preferably be climate controlled and within or near a natural woodland area that is accessible to all abilities. Let us know if you are interested in The Road Not Taken.

Kay has also volunteered her time as a speaker for health charities and medical conditions.

Eco-effectiveness

Telos strives towards an eco-effective business including its choice of partners and supplies. For example, Telos has chosen a leading sustainability printer and FSC certified paper for its business cards and GOTS Soil Association Certified linens for its clinic treatments. Researching eco-effective alternatives for our supplies/suppliers is often far more time intensive - the environment is worth it.

For those activities which Telos is unable to find an eco-effective alternative, or that are beyond resource restraints, Telos strives to find the an appropriate solution, encourages suppliers to consider eco-effective options and/or offsets impacts as part of a continuous learning process. For example, Telos business mileage is mostly done via hybrid electric vehicle. We have also shared leading publications and business case studies with suppliers who were interested in sustainability.

If you would like to learn more about sustainability, please contact us.