20. How to Make the RIGHT Ethical Decision (When Everyone Else Disagrees)

When Everyone Else Says No: How Do You Stand Firm on Decisions That Count for a Sustainable Future?

What does it take to stand firm on your values when the boardroom says otherwise? In this powerful episode of Decisions That Count, Dr. Darian McBain—UN SDG Pioneer, former Chief Sustainability Officer, and global advisor—joins Dr. Shawn Watson and Michelle to unpack the mental resilience, ethical conviction, and high-stakes decisions behind corporate sustainability.

From navigating greenwashing and governance failure to reshaping global supply chains and championing human rights, Darian shares candid insights from decades of experience at the intersection of sustainability, ethics, and decision-making.

🔍 You’ll learn:

• How neuroscience supports conviction in difficult ethical decisions

• What greenwashing really looks like inside big corporations

• The mental toll of integrity-driven leadership

• Why your supermarket choices matter more than you think

• What startups can do now to embed sustainability from day one

• How certifications like B Corp and MSC help consumers cut through the noise

• The human cost of fast fashion and poor procurement practices

• How to build sustainable supply chains—without the luxury of a big budget

Whether you’re a CEO, policymaker, student, or conscious consumer, this episode will challenge you to rethink your role in shaping a more sustainable future—one decision at a time.

👉 Hit play if you’ve ever asked:

• Can one person really make a difference in a broken system?

• How do I make ethical choices when the cost feels too high? • What can I do today to drive real, measurable change?

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

02:49 Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Decision-Making

06:03 Corporate Sustainability: Genuine Efforts or Greenwashing?

09:04 The Role of Individuals in Sustainability

12:02 Human Factors in Sustainability

14:58 Decision-Making in the Boardroom

17:52 The Weight of Ethical Decisions

20:56 The Future of Sustainability: Optimism or Pessimism?

28:34 Understanding Greenwashing and Corporate Sustainability

31:53 The Journey Towards Sustainable Fisheries

39:01 Consumer Choices and Collective Impact

48:51 Sustainable Startups and Business Models

55:43 Navigating Supply Chains and Ethical Procurement

🔗 Meet Our Guest: Dr. Darian McBain

Dr. Darian McBain is a globally recognized expert in sustainability, ethical leadership, and responsible supply chains. She is the CEO and Founder of Outsourced Chief Sustainability Officer (OCSO) and has held leadership roles across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors—including with Thai Union, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, WWF, and the NHS. Darian holds a PhD in Social and Environmental Indicators and was named a UN SDG Pioneer, one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, and one of Asia’s Top Sustainability Superwomen.

📍 Connect with Darian:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darianmcbain

Website: https://outsourcedcso.com

Grantham Research Profile: LSE – Darian McBain

Podcast: My Green Future (with Teymoor Nabili)🧠 Hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Shawn Watson and marketer-mum-marathoner Michelle, Decisions That Count explores how science-backed insights can help you overcome decision fatigue and unlock peak performance.

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💡 If you found this episode helpful, like, comment, and subscribe. Share it with someone who could use a reset on how they make decisions. Let’s build better brains together—one choice at a time. Your decisions shape your life. Make every decision count.#DecisionFatigue #EthicalLeadership #Sustainability #Greenwashing #Neuroscience #PeakPerformance #CognitiveOverload #DrDarianMcBain #Bcorp #SupplyChains #MindfulLiving