E14: IBM VP Kendra DeKeyrel on Sustainability and Carbon Accounting Software Trends

How is IBM assisting customers with their sustainability strategies, and where do partners fit into those efforts? For answers and perspectives, we spoke with Kendra DeKeyrel, vice president ESG & asset management product leader at IBM.

We explored key sustainability trends involving Global 2000 companies, multiple vertical markets, and key regions worldwide. We touched on the IBM Envizi ESG Suite -- which allows customers to capture, consolidate, manage, analyze and report their ESG data. And we moved onto key topics like Asset Lifecycle Management (ALM), geospatial and AI (artificial intelligence) technologies, and the types of partners that are assisting customers with sustainability.

The conversation covers:

• 0:00 - Introductions: DeKeyrel's role at IBM -- and her overall career journey at the technology company.
• 2:43 - ESG and sustainability: What do the customer conversations sound like?
• 3:40 - Are the conversations extending beyond Global 2000 companies into midmarket and small business clientele?
• 5:30 - Shifting the sustainability conversation from challenges to customer opportunities.
• 7:33 - Key priorities for IBM and customers for the rest of 2024: Asset Lifecycle Management (ALM) opportunities. Plus, where geospatial and AI technologies fit in.
• 9:17 - Are certain vertical markets leading the march toward sustainability?
• 11:05 - Where partners fit into the IBM sustainability strategy: Implementation, services and build partners that can assist customers.
• 12:10 - First moves for small businesses that need to embrace Scope 3 reporting to supply chain partners.
• 13:45 - Some initial stepping stones for a company's sustainability journey.
• 14:40 - For more information, visit IBM.com/sustainability.
• 15:14 - Conclusion

Notes: Our conversation, recorded in February 2024, occurred a few weeks before IBM named Christina Shim as its new chief sustainability officer. Also, we expect more sustainability updates during the IBM Think 2024 conference (May 20-23, Boston). Track our ongoing IBM sustainability news analysis here.