Hande Akdede Erbay of IBM - Sustainability, AI, ESG Data and More #009

James Taylor 0:00
Hi, I’m James Taylor. And I’m Alison Burns. And together we are The Ethical Futurists. Now, you’re listening to The Ethical Futurist podcast where we dive in to the world of sustainability, ethics, and why these ideas today are more important than ever, ever before. Now, join us as we engage with leading thinkers, with business leaders, with academics, with entrepreneurs with investors, and changemakers. To uncover the latest ideas shaping a more ethical and sustainable future. We’re going to be covering a lot of different things in this podcast as well.

Hande Akdede Erbay 0:41
Indeed, from sustainability, innovation to future trends and ESG. Our conversations

James Taylor 0:48
span a wide array of topics, including renewable energy, we’re going to be looking at Clean Tech, ethical investing,

Hande Akdede Erbay 0:56
food systems, and much more. Yep,

James Taylor 0:59
in each episode, we explore really crucial issues such as carbon emissions, the circular economy, we’re going to be talking about rewilding net zero carbon goals and the future of food and energy, something else and I are really passionate about.

Hande Akdede Erbay 1:16
So whether you’re interested in lab grown meat, alternative proteins, sustainable finance, or climate related risk, we’ve got you covered or you’re looking to secure a keynote speaker who’s well versed in sustainability ESG, or any of the engaging topics featured on the ethical futures podcast. Well, look no further connect with the experts at many speakers. To book your ideal speaker today. Just

James Taylor 1:46
go to MENA-speakers.com That’s MENA-speakers.com Alternatively, you can drop them an email at [email protected] to book the perfect speaker for your next event. Hande Akdede Erbay is the market leader for IBM sustainability software in the Middle East and Africa. With over 20 years of sales experience in the technology industry. She oversees strategy, sales revenue and client advocacy for IBM sustainability software division, a key priority with an IBM Global Strategy. Prior to this role, handy held leadership positions within IBM including TSS leader for mea, where she was responsible for executing the services strategy in the region. Handi is deeply passionate about technology and its potential to drive positive societal change. Her focus extends beyond mere business objectives. She is committed to harnessing technology to address sustainability challenges with a keen eye on fostering strong client partnerships to deliver solutions that make a tangible difference. She holds a degree in political science from Istanbul University she is a proud mother to one son and enjoys traveling and immersing herself in different cultures during her leisure time. Handy. Welcome to the ethical futurists. Welcome.

Hande Akdede Erbay 3:03
Thank you so much for the great introduction. It is really great pleasure to be here today together with you.

James Taylor 3:10
So share with us what is going on in your world just now what currently has your focus. So

Hande Akdede Erbay 3:14
what is going on in sustainability world is sustainability is one of the hot topic in everyone’s agenda. There are many discussion going on in this subject sustainability discussion has two different phases. One of them is the real threat. That’s the real threat for our generation, and more importantly for the next generation. So this is making this subject ethically top considered subject. The second phase of it is economy impact of it, impact of it. So we know that a sustainable organization can lower their cost, they can increase their brand value, they can attract the investment. So sustainability is an ambition from many different dimension. How to turn this ambition into action is the core discussion point today,

James Taylor 4:08
and that’s what we’re gonna be exploring today in this this compass. Yeah,

Hande Akdede Erbay 4:11
yeah. So um, with your role at IBM, or what would you say are your top three accomplishments?

Hande Akdede Erbay 4:17
Okay, so from my role and my company’s accomplishments, so I think embedding AI into technologies to accelerate the sustainability journey is one of the top accomplishment I can say that the second one I would like to mention here it is IBM sustainability accelerator. It’s a social impact program that applies IBM technologies to enhance and scale nonprofit and government organization initiatives, helping population each year the program select some projects and every year we have different topic. For example, in 2023 we supported water management project. And this year in 2024, we committed $45 million to support advanced city resiliency project. So this investment budget will be used for technology driven project to advance city resiliency. This is how we are helping the community, I can count that as an accomplishment. And the third one, I have a special interest on that IBM skill build platform. It offers free sustainability courses, which is designed by IBM expert on sustainability and or technology. So I can say these three things,

James Taylor 5:41
I think going further into this as well, when you’re working with clients, when companies are coming to you what are some of the, the main topics or pillars or organizations should consider when making this on this journey into sustainability? From

Hande Akdede Erbay 5:56
our angles sustainability journey starts by building a clear roadmap first. So every company every country, they need to put a clear roadmap and strategy, this is the number one the phase one and after that, to make it happen, you need to build a platform to major to understand where you are as of today. So everywhere every company, they need to put into place a system of record for their ESG data, then they can understand where they are today, where do it need to be, this is the second phase of the sustainability journey. When they build this platform, again, they need to check what is driving their carbon emission mostly, we summarize it in three dimension carbon emission is driven by company companies assets, or their data center or their supply chain. So in every industry, our approach is a bit different. It depends where this carbon emission is coming from mainly if it is coming from your assets, our approach is starting from this angle. But if it is coming from your data center, then we need to focus on green it and responsible computing. If it is coming from your ecosystem, your suppliers and subcontractors, then you need to build a transparent ecosystem and supply chain management. So this is how we approach in three phases to operate, operationalize sustainability,

James Taylor 7:35
so it’s really different depending on obviously the industry exactly that journey is gonna be different for US companies and involved in energy is gonna be different from an engineering company is gonna be different for a film company, a TV production companies are gonna have slightly different journeys. Absolutely.

Hande Akdede Erbay 7:49
Because all their data, all their asset, all their environment is different than each other. That is the reason their carbon footprint is coming from many different angles. First of all, we need to identify where the problem is mostly come

James Taylor 8:07
back to the database.

Hande Akdede Erbay 8:10
Data. You mentioned skills build, to better equipped equip people with the green skills and tech skills. So how does that work? And what kind of skills do people need for the future so that they can make a positive impact on the planet. So

Hande Akdede Erbay 8:27
skill build is a platform where we provide our free content courses, it could be about technology, AI, sustainability, some other subject for sustainability, we have a specific content there. So who is interested in developing their themselves about sustainability and the technology, I strongly recommend them to go and check this free platform, then they can understand the sustainability dynamics today, and what type of skills are needed, because this subject is a very big subject with so many different dimension, then they can focus on one or a couple of the dimension of these agenda. This is the platform to train themselves actually. And this is also a responsibility to the community to develop next sustainability talent people. Fantastic.

James Taylor 9:28
Yeah, I know that I remember when I first started getting interested in artificial intelligence. And some of the first courses I took were actually IBM courses because they were just a really good foundational kind of grounding in AI and and also the perspective on a ethical AI, which we talked about last night talked about a lot as well. A recent event, Alison, I was speaking about we were having this discussion between with there was a feeling a disconnect in the room with some of the diverse Chief Sustainability officers there. As a chief financial officers have a chief data officers, chief audit officers, so they all have slightly different functions. And they felt like there was a disconnect at that point between the chief sustainability officers who had a vision or maybe the CEO had a vision in terms of what they want to do around sustainability. And then the chief financial officers or the Chief Audit officers are data officer who has to say, well, we’ve got to measure this, how do we measure this Do we have the data for this we’re using something similar is that conversations that you often have, where you’re actually trying to figure out how you get your hands around this,

Hande Akdede Erbay 10:33
as you mentioned, it is very a multi dimension discussion, even in a simple company. So if you approach sustainability as a task, which needs to be done, it is quite difficult to manage it, it needs to be embedded into whole process and the approach in the company and whoever is making that we see a significant progression in their sustainability agenda. But if dimension by dimension, or department by department, if there is different approach, it is quite difficult to make it happen. So we need to focus on the ESG goals. But in the meantime, as we discussed at the beginning, it has a positive economic impact as well. So we need to see the business outcome of it. Sustainability starts as their ethical discussion, but it comes to economic discussion very quickly. I should say that,

Hande Akdede Erbay 11:33
yeah, people profit and planet in whichever order. Exactly. And when there is a sense of urgency that we need to turn this big ship around, you know, for the planet sick. So there is a planet to live on. What would you say is the hardest part of your job given that urgency?

Hande Akdede Erbay 11:56
Okay, so what is the hardest part of my job, the whole world agrees on wanting sustainability is a very complex subject, because every step we take every activity a company does to continue their life, it affects overall carbon emission, this means a very diverse unstructured a large amount of data. So since there is no plug and play one single solution, which makes the company or community sustainable in a sudden, it requires a very holistic approach from so many different angles. So this is the hardest part of this subject, however, be the holistic approach and be the right periodisation it is doable. This is the good part of the discussion, I think. So it is doable with the help of AI with the help of the analysis of data and the smart decision based on this analysis with the help of AI again, so without data and AI. Sustainability is not actionable. Not trackable, not achievable.

Hande Akdede Erbay 13:11
It’s got to be measured. Yes, yes. And also that assurance that sits behind it as well. Yeah. So in

Hande Akdede Erbay 13:18
that point, amount and the variety of data, it is not only the hardest part of my job, but also it is the only way to solve this problem.

James Taylor 13:29
Yeah. So that’s kind of I guess, from the IBM perspective as well. What about yourself your own sustainability journey that you’ve gone through? Was there an aha moment that you had to be working with with a with a client or something that you just kind of felt your deeper level? This is why this is important.

Hande Akdede Erbay 13:52
Yeah. In every use cases, what we are working together with our clients or alliances, I am surprised positively. So let me share a couple of example here. So for example, Mercer and IBM, we are developing large scale geospatial AI models to help us track and adopt climate change by analyzing NASA’s Earth science satellite data. In 2023. The economic losses due to natural disaster, it was almost about three and a $2 billion. So can you imagine that if we can predict this, if we can act on that knowing predicting and acting proactively may make a significant impact. So this is one of the aha moment for me. Another one. I’m impressed when I see the outcomes of in TfL Transport for London,

James Taylor 14:49
Heathrow as we know them very well.

Hande Akdede Erbay 14:53
Then you allow this story Transport for London is an agency they are responsible to Keep all transportation up and running and TfL has a target to hit net zero by 2040. Considering eat altered increases carbon footprint using AI embedded assets and facilities management makes a huge difference in carbon emission. And it is not limited with that the projected savings is 21 million pounds in 10 years, it can be redirected to decarbonisation activities very easily quickfire

James Taylor 15:33
round as we start to finish off here a couple of questions for you. Alison, did you want to? Yeah.

Hande Akdede Erbay 15:39
Is there a book on sustainability data or anything that you can just or other resource that you can recommend our listeners that you can point them towards?

Hande Akdede Erbay 15:49
I strongly recommend our listeners to follow IBM Institute for Business Value platform. We do regular search and survey and publish them. That platform had been recognized as the most influential Toad leadership producer among buyers of consulting services, they can find many data about sustainability AI or AI for sustainability in that platform, I strongly recommend them to follow it.

James Taylor 16:20
And what about podcasts? If I see it Hande walking down Kite beach or somewhere going out for a run in Dubai? What are you listening to, or you’re listening to is all about podcasts about sustainability ESG technology that

Hande Akdede Erbay 16:32
is not true. I am listening about many different things. But in my personal life, I really like to listening about personal development, breathing techniques, and all the other well being things I love to listen about them pewter,

James Taylor 16:52
beautiful, I’m gonna put all these show notes as well, all these links here on the on the show notes. If people go to the ethical futurist.com, we’ll have that just type in Hande. H A N D E, and you’ll be able to get those show notes as well. Yeah.

Hande Akdede Erbay 17:04
Just the final question from me. For you handy, what does an ethical and sustainable world look like? What kind of world do you see this important that we leave to future generations,

Hande Akdede Erbay 17:17
I am dreaming about a world which produce respectfully and consumes respectfully to the world and to the environment. And a just transition is also part of my dreams. So just transition means greening the economy in a way that is as fair and inclusive as possible, creating decent work opportunities and leaving no one behind. That’s one don’t

James Taylor 17:43
leave no one behind. What is the best way for people to learn more about the work you do at IBM? What is a good way for them to be able to connect if they want to discover more and continue this journey?

Hande Akdede Erbay 17:54
So ibm.com is the main platform, we provide lots of data. But for specificly. As I said, IBM skill build.org is the platform to train themselves about one of the subjects and to be connected, I strongly recommend to follow up to LinkedIn, we are all online and very reachable on LinkedIn platform, with the content about the subject and about so many other things. Well,

James Taylor 18:26
Hande Akdede Erbay of IBM, thank you so much for coming on the pleasure.

Hande Akdede Erbay 18:31
pleasures mine. Thank you so much. Thank you.

James Taylor 18:34
If you’re considering making sustainability or ESG, one of the themes for your next conference, your event, or perhaps a company retreat, then why not invite Allison and myself to be your keynote speakers or event MCs. We’ve delivered really inspiring keynote programs for some of the world’s largest organizations from all different kinds of industries. Now, the ethical futurist keynote will take your audience on a journey to discover how the world’s most ethical and sustainable companies are really innovating in their industries. So if you’d like to learn more about booking arsenite as the ethical futures for your next event, then simply head to the ethicalfuturists.com/speaking, that’s the ethicalfuturists.com/speaking To schedule a call to discuss with us your next event. We’re delighted that you listen to this podcast. And we’d really thank you if you could just take a moment now to subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Also, while you’re there, why don’t give us a five star rating and leave us a review. It would really mean a lot to Allison and I so for me, James Taylor and me, Alison burns. Thanks for listening to The Ethical Futurists podcast.