How Corporate Sustainability & Environmental Compliance Shape the Future of Business

In this episode of Nexus at UCF, Natalie Broadhurst sits down with Michael Hewitt, former Director of Sustainability Programs at Publix and former Director of Environmental Affairs at La-Z-Boy, to explore corporate sustainability and environmental compliance and how it’s shaping the future of business. From navigating regulatory frameworks and corporate responsibility to leading large-scale sustainability initiatives at major organizations, this conversation dives deep into innovation, leadership, and the evolving role of environmental strategy in today’s corporate landscape.

With decades of experience in environmental affairs and service on boards such as Sustainable Florida and the Food Waste Reduction Alliance, Michael shares insights into how businesses can remain compliant while building long-term value through sustainability. Whether you're a business student, aspiring leader, or corporate professional, this episode offers a practical look at how environmental responsibility intersects with profitability and strategy.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Teaser

00:35 Welcome to Nexus + Meet Michael Hewitt

01:38 Michael's Start in Environmental Compliance

05:18 Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Compliance: Defined & Elaborated

07:27 The Damage Non-Compliance with Environmental Regulations can do

10:51 The Consequences Toward the Bottom Line (Regarding Non-Compliance)

13:25 How the Mindset Pertaining to Environmental Compliance has Shifted through time

16:16 How Chasing Sustainability can Help a Business

21:38 Consumers Want More than a Good Product

23:54 Detrimental Wasted Resources: Food and Water

27:59 Detrimental Wasted Resources: Water (Elaborated)

32:43 Success and Failure in Water Conservation

36:35 Beginning Stages of Implementing Rule about Sustainability

41:22 AI in the World of Environmental Compliance

44:42 Wrapping up: Doing Sustainability Right

46:02 Outro: Thank you for Listening!

🔗 Connect with Us
🌐 Website: https://nexusatucf.wixsite.com/nexus-at-ucf
💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nexusatucf
📱 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nexusatucf
🎵 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@nexusatucf
▶️ More episodes: https://youtube.com/@nexusatucf
🎧 Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.

🔗 Connect with UCF
🏛️ College of Business Website: https://business.ucf.edu/
📊 College of Business on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/ucf-college-of-business/posts/?feedView=all

🌐 UCF Website: https://www.ucf.edu/
💼 UCF on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida/posts/?feedView=all

📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay connected to the future of business.

We apologize for the audio quality in this episode and appreciate your understanding.

#NexusatUCF #BusinessInnovation #Sustainability #EnvironmentalCompliance #CorporateLeadership #UCFBusiness

Turning a college side hustle into a purpose-driven business isn’t easy—but Kayla Doering did exactly that. From teaching swim lessons as a freshman at the University of Central Florida to founding Kayla Swimming Sailors while building a full-time career in tech recruiting, her journey is anything but ordinary.

In this episode of Nexus at UCF, hosted by Natalie Broadhurst, Kayla opens up about what it really takes to start, grow, and sustain a business during your college years. She shares what it looked like to balance classes and clients, compete in pitching competitions, learn to ask for help, and how entrepreneurship shaped her confidence, leadership style, and career path. If you’ve ever thought about launching something of your own but felt unsure where to begin, this conversation is your sign to just start.

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Teaser
00:30 Welcome to Nexus + Meet Kayla Doering
01:50 How did Kayla’s Swimming Sailors begin?
04:20 How confident were you in building your own business?
05:20 Facing Setbacks + Overcoming criticism of peers
08:20 Words of wisdom for founders
10:18 How did UCF help when starting your business?
12:34 Utilizing community & mentorship when creating a business
13:45 How do you keep your morale high in stressful times?
15:08 How do you build a business brick by brick despite restraints?
17:01 What sacrifices must you make juggling a full time job and your business?
18:30 What was the shift from student founder to employed founder like?
20:10 How would you have started your business if you knew what you know now?
22:44 How do you combat a “grindset” mindset?
24:21 The mindset & skills of an entrepreneur + Improving your communication
26:58 Teaching kids: It’s harder than it looks!
27:52 Learning to ask for help: A crucial skill for a founder
28:20 What have you learned from founding your business + How do you continue to grow?
30:02 Concluding Thoughts
31:16 Outro: Thank you for Listening!

🔗 Connect with Us
🌐 Website: https://nexusatucf.wixsite.com/nexus-at-ucf
💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nexusatucf
📱 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nexusatucf
🎵 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@nexusatucf
▶️ More episodes: https://youtube.com/@nexusatucf
🎧 Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.

🔗 Connect with UCF
🏛️ College of Business Website: https://business.ucf.edu/
📊 College of Business on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/ucf-college-of-business/posts/?feedView=all

🌐 UCF Website: https://www.ucf.edu/
💼 UCF on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida/posts/?feedView=all

📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay connected to the future of business.

In this episode of Nexus at UCF, host Natalie Broadhurst sits down with Patricio Cuesta, a founder, executive mentor and keynote speaker to explore how neuroscience, emotional regulation, and AI intersect to shape the future of leadership and business. Drawing from decades of executive experience, this conversation breaks down how understanding the brain can unlock better decision-making, stronger teams, and long-term relevance in a rapidly evolving workplace.

From managing emotions under pressure to leveraging AI as a tool rather than a threat, this episode dives deep into innovation, self-awareness, and the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence. Listeners will gain actionable insights on future-proofing their careers, leading with intention, and becoming 1% better every week through neuroscience-backed habits.

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Teaser
0:28 – Welcome to Nexus + Meet Patricio Cuesta
1:54 – Interest in Neuroscience and AI
3:13 – Material on this topic
3:45 – Parts of the brain and how they work
5:12 – How neuroscience connects with business
5:50 – Nerodiversity changes leadership
7:15 – 7 neuroscience hacks to boost your career
8:52 – Danger of pseudoscience
9:09 – Neuroplacisity
10:06 – How to gain and maximize leadership and management skills
11:15 – Helping employees learn these skills
12:15 – Problems with AI in the workplace
13:29 – Staying relevant and fulfilled in an AI world
14:45 – AI helping humans become better
16:36 – Control what you can control
17:07 – Being in control of our emotions
18:40 – People are skeptical of his ideas
19:49 – Challenging moment in his career
22:00 – Achieving small goals
23:00 – Teaching things that can be done tomorrow
25:30 – Connecting neuroscience and AI to the workplace
27:05 – Experience as a mentor at UCF and Blackstone LaunchPad
28:03 – Fulfilling moments
29:00 – The importance of self-awareness
30:12 – Outro – Thank you for listening!

🔗 Connect with Us
🌐 Website: https://nexusatucf.wixsite.com/nexus-at-ucf
💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nexusatucf
📱 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nexusatucf
🎵 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@nexusatucf
▶️ More episodes: https://youtube.com/@nexusatucf
🎧 Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.

🔗 Connect with UCF
🏛️ College of Business Website: https://business.ucf.edu/
📊 College of Business on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/ucf-college-of-business/posts/?feedView=all

🌐 UCF Website: https://www.ucf.edu/
💼 UCF on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida/posts/?feedView=all

📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay connected to the future of business.

We apologize for the audio quality in this episode and appreciate your understanding.

#NexusatUCF #BusinessInnovation #Podcast #LeadershipDevelopment #AIinBusiness #Neuroscience #FutureOfWork #ProfessionalGrowth