About the Episode

Imagine you are on a beach to have a relaxing moment, but the trash there triggers a turning point in your life. Our guest today tells us how waste on a beach changed her life for the better.

We are humbled to have Denise Braun join us on this episode. Denise grew up in Brazil, and it’s incredible how her sustainability career started. She was having a good time at the beach when a flood came accompanied by so much trash that it raised the alarm for her. 

In 2001 she created a beach cleanup remote program and started a waste audit to understand what kind of trash it was. She involved the media, the government and everybody she could to bring to their attention what was happening and created a beach cleanup education. 

Her initiative landed her job with an engineering company. In this episode, she tells us how her career evolved, how she moved to the US, and all the beautiful things she is doing for the industry.

Key Talking Points 

1.   Denise’s career
2.   All about zero waste
3.   Denise’s routine/rituals
4.   What is in her bucket list?

Key Milestones of the Episode

[00:25]  Denise’s introduction

[01:09]  How Denise got into the sustainability industry

[05:45]  Who mentored Denise?

[08:02]  Proudest moments that Denise has had

[10:03]  Solid waste data collection and analysis in the US

[23:48]  What is Denise best at?

[24:56]  What rituals help Denise stay on point?

[27:08]  What is in Denise’s bucket list?

[29:57]  What does Denise read?

[37:08]  Words of wisdom from Denise.

Key Quotes from the Episode

1.   “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.”
2.   “Whatever situation I am in, I see it as a learning experience.”
3.   “In order to build in Brazil they have to build a LEED project.”
4.   “I am most interested in is how can we eliminate the idea of waste?”

Key Resources

1.   Miracle Morning- Hal Elrod
2.   The Natural Step- David Cook

Learn more about Denise Braun

Denise Braun is a LEED and WELL accredited professional, as well as a Fitwel Ambassador, an Envision Sustainability Professional, and a TRUE Advisor. She has over fifteen years of experience in the sustainability field, starting in Brazil and then moving to the United States. She has worked in various capacities on over 127 LEED certified projects, many of which have achieved the highest level of certification with no clarifications. Denise is currently working on several WELL projects. She recently worked on the first TRUE-certified zero waste high-rise commercial building in the world!

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