Danielle Leoni
James Beard Award-winning chef and sustainability activist
Nationally recognized culinary creator, James Beard Award-nominated chef, chief sustainability officer of Big Marble Organics and internationally acclaimed leader in green restaurant innovation—Danielle Leoni wears a lot of hats. And through her inimitable talents, she’s managed to emerge as a sustainability champion both in and outside of the kitchen.
What does it mean to you to be an eco trendsetter? Being an “eco-leader” means making choices that support the trifecta—the health of our minds, bodies and planet. It means choosing to take as many daily actions as possible that have a gentle footprint and support a healthy ecosystem.
Best advice for how to be more sustainable in our day-to-day lives? System change is not a sudden, revolutionary tilt or turn, but a sum of all small initiatives; all initiatives that take place in our individual world. Being better at living is a life-long practice. Try your best to make decisions that won’t hurt yourself, others or the planet. Sounds logical, but sometimes it feels like a lot to do and a lot of responsibility—because it is. Nonetheless, being sustainable, being an activist and creating change is done one action at a time. Share your pursuit of a more sustainable life to inspire others and encourage us all to keep on keeping. Together, we are the change we want to see in this world.
Why is it so important to be more eco-minded in our work? When we are at work, we have a big opportunity to make a bigger positive impact on our lives because we are taking action on a bigger scale. Speaking up for the decisions you know are truly sustainable can make that business more resilient, shape a corporate culture to mirror the needs of our times and, in turn, could shape an industry.
What impact do you most hope to leave on your community and the world? Simply the feeling that each of us are truly important. We are indeed the change we want to see in the world. Together, we are a symphony of voices that cannot be ignored. Together, we are the key to letting those who can help make the changes we need actually happen.