Tell us about yourself
My name is Ben McCabe, father of two young children and living in Dubai on and off for the last 13 years. Originally from the UK, mixed race English Pakistani. I am the Founder of a B Corp certified executive search and talent advisory firm. As a business we are designed to give, donating 5% of our revenue to support children’s charities around the world. We support conscious brands hire diverse talent to scale their ideas and operations to make a positive impact on a global level. I also support a number of ESG driven companies’ pro-bono with fundraising and talent advisory to help build businesses that are better for the planet.
What inspired you to embrace eco-friendly practices and make a shift towards sustainability?
I’d like to believe I have always had a deep sense of purpose and cared for the environment. Becoming a father really enforced that view as our actions today impact the world we leave for our future generations. It is no longer acceptable to burry your head in the sand (no pun intended) as there is so much information out there to help us make better choices in our every day lives. I’ve taken inspiration from so many amazing Founders I meet who are building businesses tackling issues such as ocean plastic waste, mangrove forestation and protectionism, circular fashion brands at the heart of material innovation, food waste and so many more its hard to list. In a nut shell, innovation is there for all to see and it is possible to buy and use eco-friendly products and services day to day, you just need to be considered in your approach.
What are the primary steps you take to integrate eco-friendly practices into your lifestyle?
The 3 R’s. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Degrowth is a mindset that is really hard to shift. Our economies are built around the notion of building and scaling – produce more and consume more. It’s wrong. We need to be intentional in our approach to everything we do. At home we try to limit waste as much as possible, we have great recycling facilities in our community, our home is powered by solar and I am fortunate enough to live in a smart city where my home, office and every day needs are within a 5-10minute walk which helps limit my carbon footprint. There is no silver bullet solution to live a totally sustainable life, I’m practical and comfortable with that notion for now. I am certainly not perfect but it’s being consistent with everyday factors that I can control is where I believe we can make an overall impact as a society.
Share some of the most effortless yet impactful eco-friendly changes you’ve made in your daily routine.
Choosing where you live really does set you up for success. I am fortunate to live in The Sustainable City, a smart city that has my every day needs within walking distance. My children’s school and office are within walking distance which really is a luxury in itself and means I am not having to spend hours of the day in a car. Not only does this reduce my carbon footprint, it means I can be more sustainable with my time to invest in creating impact in the work I do. Our community generates clean energy, and we have proper waste management systems in place therefore this makes our day to day living more impactful.
What difficulties have you encountered while striving to live in an environmentally conscious manner?
I love to travel, be that for work or for leisure. This is something that gives me climate guilt regularly. I still drive a petrol-based car so while I believe I live a conscious lifestyle, there is clearly so much more I can be doing. I am yet to make the EV switch largely due to infrastructure gaps in my community therefore until the infrastructure and friction is removed in this area, I am reluctant to go all in on an EV car switch.
Describe a rewarding moment on your sustainability journey
Achieving B Corp status for my company. It means we have been independently verified to state that our business meets the highest social and environmental standards and that we are a force for good business. Putting people and planet at the heart of everything that what we do. The “S” in ESG, social, is often overlooked as so many companies focus on environment (and rightly so). However, my mission is to ensure that no one gets left behind in the hiring process and are proud of the fact that 63% of our placements in 2023 were deemed as underserved individuals – female, people of colour and people of determination.
What are some misconceptions about being eco-friendly that you’d like to debunk?
Sustainability is elitist and not affordable to the masses. While some eco-friendly products may have a higher upfront cost, they often save money in the long run through energy efficiency, durability, and reduced consumption. Additionally, as demand for eco-friendly products increases, prices are likely to become more competitive due to economies of scale.
How do you plan on continuing your sustainability journey? What other aspects do you plan to change?
I’m a big advocate for circular economy adoption. On a personal level I want to ensure that as a family we are reusing, recycling and repurposing as much as we can. Through my work, I feel fortunate to be in a position to work with executives of global brands to advise them to work towards circular economies by equipping them with next generation leaders who can support in the transition, particularly if we look at redesigning products, materials and systems to create more efficiency while mitigating impact on people and planet.
Lastly, how do you think we can ensure that eco-friendly options and choices are available and attainable for a diverse range of individuals?
We need to work to reduce the cost barriers associated with eco-friendly options. This could involve offering subsidies, tax incentives, or rebates for purchasing eco-friendly products, as well as supporting the development of affordable eco-friendly alternatives.