00:00Good day everyone. First of all I would like to sincerely thank the Icons of
00:04Change Board for this recognition. It's a great honor to receive this award and I
00:11feel humbled to stand alongside so many people who dedicate their time, their
00:16talents and their passion to make our world a better place. So let's speak
00:21about sustainability this award is all about. Immediately one thought comes to
00:28mind. Sustainability is not a duty. Sustainability is a mindset. Too often we
00:35think about sustainability or ESG as a report to be filled out, boxes to be
00:42ticked or regulations to comply with. But sustainability is not only something we
00:49do because we have to. Then we will always find excuses. We wait for governments, we
00:56wait for companies, we wait for our boss, we wait for someone else to take the
01:00first step. A mindset is different. If sustainability is a mindset there is no
01:08excuses. It starts with each of us in our daily decisions, in our private lives and
01:17work. I learned this long, long before I entered international business, working
01:25in an NGO supporting people with learning disabilities. And it taught me that true
01:31impact is not measured by how much money is spent or donated, but wherever it
01:38genuinely improves people's lives. Because the right mindset leads to the right
01:45projects. Even today, the mindset does not stop when I leave the office. Through
01:52organizations such as Roundtable International and the Lighthouse Club
01:57Manila, I continue to support community projects because sustainability does not
02:03stop when I leave the office. It's not my job, it's my mindset. Today, through my work at
02:11the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, I have the privilege of
02:15promoting German innovation and sustainable technologies in the Philippines, be it water
02:23treatment, renewable energy, healthcare technology or other modern infrastructure
02:29projects. Why is this important? Everything we do costs resources. From the food we eat to
02:37the electricity we use. From taking a shower to organizing an event. The question is not
02:46whenever we leave a footprint. We all do leave a footprint. The question is whenever we
02:54constantly strive to find better solutions, smarter technologies, stronger
03:00partnerships that improve lives and leave the right footprint. That's why I believe
03:07sustainability is about the environment, the people, the opportunities and the
03:12society. Creating the right partnerships, sharing knowledge and leaving
03:19communities stronger than we found them. ESG truly means caring for the environment, for
03:26people and for the society. We all build together. And in the end of our lives, our
03:33pockets may be empty. But I hope the people around us have the opportunities to live up to
03:41their full potential because of the choices we collectively have made. Thank you once again
03:48for this recognition. I hope this award reminds us all that no matter our
03:54profession, our country, our role, we each have the opportunity to make a
04:01difference. Because sustainability is not a duty. It's a mindset. So thank you very much
04:09and let's raise the standards for this world for all of us.
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