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5 Questions with Meki Nattero

Meet Meki Nattero, an advisor, facilitator and trainer who specializes in human rights, sustainability and stakeholder engagement, with a particular interest in the nexus between communities and the environment.

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Meki (Mercedes) Nattero is an advisor, facilitator and trainer who specializes in human rights, sustainability and stakeholder engagement, with a particular interest in the nexus between communities and the environment. She is a natural relationships builder and a people developer with an ability to build trust in networks, partnerships and teams.

Originally from Argentina and based in the UK for over two decades, Meki has been driving change in organizations such as Airbus, PepsiCo and WWF, to improve social impact, respect for human rights, and environmental outcomes since 2006.

Question 1: What are the three things people should know about you?

I found my passion for values-driven organizational change work 20 years ago, when I enrolled in a Masters program at the University of Bath, England, which was founded by the Body Shop’s Anita Roddick. It was ahead of its time and taught me that to engage with the world’s complex challenges we need a systems thinking approach, a practical, engaged method of inquiry, and most of all, we need to work out our own mindsets and assumptions.

I have been a facilitator all my life in one way or another, even before I knew what one was.  I bring my facilitation skills regularly into my work, supporting leaders and teams to navigate complex challenges and find a shared way forward. I am incredibly curious about people’s stories and how they have shaped who they are. Be prepared for me to ask you lots of questions! Empathy and connection are my superpowers.

I love languages and engaging with people from different cultures and backgrounds. I’ve been lucky to have worked across the globe for 20+ years with amazingly talented colleagues to develop solutions to environmental and social problems. I firmly believe that good answers lie in a diversity of perspectives and experiences!

Question 2: What fascinates you about your work?

I’m motivated and incredibly passionate when I engage with people whose realities are different from mine.  I’m conscious of my privilege and fully believe in people’s wisdom and ability to know what they need in their own lives, wherever they happen to be.  I am always looking to understand the connections between the natural world and how people interact with it, to develop solutions.  Working to amplify the voice of those with the least power in the system and communicating their realities into places where decisions are taken, drives my work.

Question 3: If there were no limitations, what would you recommend companies do to advance the rights of people in business?

I would preach what I try to practice: be curious and be brave, make the effort to engage with people in your business and in your supply chains and ask them about their experiences, and what they need to improve their lives and working conditions. Do this with the genuine intention to understand, and an openness to new insights and ideas. You will build trust and understanding, which are crucial for fostering stronger business relationships. and your interventions, programs or activities will be much more likely to make a difference and be sustainable in time.

Question 4: What is the most pressing question in your field of work right now, and how are you approaching it?

Human systems have become too complex, and it’s getting harder to make sense of how to drive real change. Many business managers are feeling overwhelmed, especially in the face of increasing political, macroeconomic, and regulatory uncertainty.

The question we need to address together is how to move beyond a mechanistic mindset – one that views the world as a machine made up of linear, predictable parts that can be controlled in isolation– and shift to viewing the world as a dynamic system of interconnected elements, relationships, and feedback loops.

In my work, I strive to build my clients’ capacity to see the world through a systems lens, so they can better understand patterns, root causes, and leverage points they need to work with to drive meaningful change. This shift requires collaboration and an openness to experiment, test assumptions, and iterate in real time, enabling us to adapt as we learn.

Question 5: What will the world of responsible business look like in 10 years?

In ten years’ time, responsibility will be embedded in business strategy – it will no longer be treated as an add-on. This will be driven by real-world pressures: escalating climate change impacts and deep societal challenges such as inequality and polarization will be hard to ignore.

The businesses that succeed will be those that, despite today’s confusion and uncertainty, understand that these are not distractions but rather, strategic priorities that must shape their future.

Get in touch with Meki Nattero via Linkedin or via email.

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