Benita Matofska

Benita Matofska is a world-leading speaker, changemaker and climate change consultant. She helps businesses and organisations navigate the economic, social and environmental challenges of our time to become sustainable companies, fit for the future.

Benita Matofska is a world-leading speaker, changemaker and climate change consultant  to some of the world’s most forward-thinking businesses. An award-winning social entrepreneur, she is renowned for her ability to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide with her knowledge, dynamism and insights on sustainability, social innovation, diversity and business transformation. Benita leads sustainability for business consultancy Futuretivity, who specialise in delivering climate innovation for the media industry. Benita is the author of Generation Share, a ground-breaking book, voted top isolation read for a positive future by Forbes, containing the world’s largest collection of  inspiring stories of the changemakers transforming society, the economy and protecting the planet. In 2024, Benita co-founded Climate Women, a network for women who are passionate about protecting the planet. She previously created Global Sharing Week, a campaign addressing resource inequality reaching over 100 million people worldwide.

Driven by a passion to create global change and transform business into a force for good, Benita Matofska delivers her unique insights to people and companies seeking to future-proof their businesses by helping them to become sustainable. In a world with challenges such as climate change, poverty and inequality, Benita ensures businesses stay relevant and secures their future by enabling them to create economic, social and environmental value. Based on a decade of research, Benita uses social innovation techniques and global intelligence to inspire transformation for businesses, people and planet.

Benita Matokska is a seasoned public speaker and has spoken to audiences worldwide including: VF Corp International Marketing Summit, IKEA Global Home Furnishings Forum, AMEX Leadership Academy, European Outdoor Group Summit, BBC Climate Creatives, BBC Worklife, Channel 4 News, M&S Festival of the Future, Virgin Innovation Sessions, Publicis Sustainability Awareness, European Cities Marketing Summit, CoreNet Global Summit, PMI Global Summit, Global Women’s Forum, RSA Sharing Economy Talks, Global Entrepreneurship Congress, FT European Sharing Economy Summit, European Parliament, TEDxFrankfurt, UNESCO, the House of Commons, House of Lords and Number 10 Downing Street.

Benita’s incredible 35-year career has also seen her receive multiple awards including: Ogunte Best Social Business Leader UK and World, Natwest Venus Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Inspirational Woman of the Year and the Cabinet Office/Nesta Innovation in Giving Award. She is also an RSA fellow, a blogger and social commentator and features regularly in the international media.

BENITA MATOFSKA SPEAKING TOPICS

​FUTURE FIT: CLIMATE CHANGE FOR BUSINESS IN 12 STEPS

With climate change now evidenced as being the biggest threat to business survival and 90% of company CEOs stating that sustainability is fundamental to success, it’s clear we need to operate differently. Inertia is not an option, as organisations who align with the UN Global Goals gain a 5-15 year advantage. Now, ESG and decarbonisation strategies are no longer nice to haves, they’re a necessity — what we do next will determine our place in the future. In this dynamic, insightful talk, sustainability for business expert, Benita Matofska delivers the 12 steps you need to take to become a sustainable business fit for future. . Using insights from her global research, Benita will offer practical tips on how to transform, avoid greenwashing and build commercially vibrant, resilient, impactful companies. Based on over a decade of research working with businesses and entrepreneurs from around the world, Benita will dispel the myths and provide tangible solutions to some of the biggest sustainability challenges delivering the insights, know-how and business essentials needed to thrive into the future.

WHAT EVERY BUSINESS NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY

With increasing pressure to operate sustainably, it’s easy to get lost in the maze. In this session, sustainability expert Benita Matofska offers a no-nonsense lowdown on everything you need to know about sustainability for your business or organization to survive. From guiding you through the three pillars of sustainability, economic, social and environmental, Benita will share the latest research and practical tips on how your business can operate sustainably. From how to access the $12 trillion sustainability market, to understanding behaviour shifts, she’ll go beyond the headlines and the greenwashing  to help you stay ahead. From tackling environmental sustainability and de-risking your business, to creating social value that attracts and retains staff; from avoiding greenwashing to communicating with your supply chain; from knowing your Scope 3 to setting your SBTi targets, this session will bring insights, clarity and practical tips to supercharge you (renewably) on your journey to sustainability and ensure you are in the know.

WHY DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION MATTERS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

The Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements are part of a wider societal shift and awareness of the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion. This couldn’t be truer in the workplace. With 72% of younger workers aged 18-34 saying they would turn down a job offer or leave a company if the leadership didn’t take diversity, equity and inclusion, (DE&I) seriously, employers now have a business responsibility to invest time, energy and money into building more diverse, equitable and inclusive workforces and operations. But what’s the difference between diversity? Equity? Inclusion? How can businesses  improve DE&I in the workplace and what are the benefits? In this insightful talk and based on over a decade of experience, expert Benita Matofska lifts the lid on diversity, equity and inclusion and offers businesses the insights they need for the future. From increasing productivity, to staff retention; from broadening business capability, to delivering innovation, new diverse, equitable and inclusive business models are demonstrating their worth and Benita will show you how you can demonstrate yours.

THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND HOW YOU CAN BE PART OF IT

80% of consumer goods waste is burned or landfilled due to poor design and lack of end-of-life collection options; 75% of municipal waste is made up of discarded consumer goods. In a circular economy, things are used rather than used up and waste is simply resource in the wrong place. But what does this mean for your business? In this talk, based on a decade of research and frontline entrepreneurship, global expert Benita guides you through the landscape of the circular economy. With practical tools, case studies and circular business models across a variety of sectors, she offers the building blocks you need to turn your business into a circular one without it costing the earth.

SOCIAL  INNOVATION AND THE POWER OF PURPOSE

Companies can no longer survive on creating commercial value alone; climate change and Covid have demonstrated that business is far from usual. With global health challenges, the climate crisis and social uncertainty, businesses  cannot ignore  social and environmental factors. This keynote explains how companies can mitigate these crises, by becoming future innovators,  channelling the power of purpose, positively impacting their financial sustainability and the planet and ensuring their future in the process.

THE SHARING ECONOMY

The Sharing Economy is causing the greatest societal shift since the Industrial Revolution and is the biggest business trend of all time. Any company or organisation can participate; they just need to know how. In an era where collaboration is all, global Sharing Economy expert Benita lifts the lid on the myths and secrets of this disruptive trend and demonstrates why having a Collaborative Advantage is essential for every business.

GENERATION SHARE: BECOME A  CHANGEMAKER

Benita’s ground-breaking book Generation Share, voted ‘top isolation read for a positive future’ by Forbes, is the world’s first collection of stories from around the globe of the social innovators transforming the way we think, live and do business. Based on five years of research, this compilation of extraordinary, inspiring case studies showcases the changemakers behind new, impactful business models and initiatives that are changing lives, the economy and the planet. In this fascinating talk, you’ll meet the disruptors who are transforming industries from food to fashion, you’ll benefit from the latest research and tools, and you’ll gain insights and learn key lessons to help you become a changemaker company  of the future.