Mike Hower is a sustainability communications expert and founder of Hower Impact, a boutique consultancy specializing in transforming complex sustainability initiatives into resonant narratives. Based in Oakland, CA, he has collaborated with global brands including Mars, The North Face, Snapchat, HP and Berry Global. He has written for prominent sustainability publications such as GreenBiz, Sustainable Brands and Triple Pundit. He hosts The Sustainability Communicator podcast where he explores the nuanced art of sustainability storytelling.
""Sustainability communications isn't just storytelling-it's telling stories about something real. Real action. Real impact. Mike Hower's Four C's framework helps practitioners bridge that gap: making the message compelling, yes, but also credible, compliant, and grounded in context. If you want your sustainability story to actually land, this is an excellent place to start."" * Andrew Winston, Sustainability strategist and bestselling author of Green to Gold and Net Positive * ""In an era of greenwashing scandals and greenhushing silence, what is a sustainability practitioner to do? Mike Hower answers that question with precision. At the core of Sustainability Storytelling is the Four C's framework that transforms critical information into stories with exceptional meaning, impact, and inspiration. This indispensable guide shows exactly how to make sustainability storytelling beat with a human pulse."" * Carol Cone, Founder and CEO, Carol Cone ON PURPOSE * ""Whether you're new to sustainability communications or have spent decades navigating shifting regulations and political headwinds, this book is an exceptional guide for anyone looking to use thoughtful persuasion, compliant framing, and compelling narrative in their work-which should be all of us."" * Kati Kallins, Head of Sustainability, Adobe * ""Meaningful progress starts with internal alignment, and storytelling is the catalyst that turns sustainability strategy into a shared mission. Mike Hower expertly bridges the gap between technical data and effective messaging, providing a roadmap to craft credible narratives that secure leadership buy-in and inspire action from the boardroom to every external stakeholder."" * Erik Hansen, Chief Sustainability Officer, Workday * ""A terrific resource for sustainability professionals working in communications, reporting, or strategy. This book helps practitioners craft more compelling and credible sustainability narratives through practical frameworks and tactics, while demonstrating why understanding the shifting regulatory and stakeholder landscape is critical to developing effective messaging."" * Laura Franceschini, Lead for Sustainability Reporting, Google * ""Storytelling is one of the most critical skills for a sustainability professional, yet it's the one people struggle with most. Sustainability Storytelling provides the concrete frameworks professionals need to confidently develop messaging that inspires, informs, and moves this work forward."" * Trish Kenlon, Founder, Sustainable Career Pathways * ""At a time when sustainability storytelling has never mattered more, or faced greater headwinds, Hower's book meets the moment. He makes a compelling case for sustainability communications as essential to business strategy, then lays out a clear roadmap for getting it right. An indispensable handbook for a discipline whose time has come."" * Freya Williams, Chief Strategy Officer, Revolt * ""Every sustainability challenge we face requires system change-and system change requires shifts in narratives and mindsets. These are the deepest levers for change, made possible by storytelling. This book is a timely and critical contribution to creating a better future for us all."" * Sally Uren, Executive Director, Forum for the Future * ""At a time when sustainability communication is under intense scrutiny, Sustainability Storytelling provides exactly what organizations need: clear frameworks, practical tools, and guardrails for communicating progress without overreach. It shows how credibility, context, compliance, and compelling storytelling can strengthen sustainability communication, not dilute it."" * Tim Siegenbeek van Heukelom, Chief Impact Officer, Socialsuite * ""Great communicators keep their organizations honest and understand how messaging will resonate with different audiences. Mike Hower's primer on sustainability communications is as much an ethics lesson as a tactical guide to storytelling for business."" * Dave Armon, Executive Vice Chairman, 3BL Media * ""Mike Hower is the voice of a new generation of sustainability leaders. Many sustainability professionals entered this field equipped with plenty of passion, some technical expertise, and far fewer communication skills. Mike Hower has spent his career closing that gap-and with this book puts that gift to work for all of us by offering guidance that is practical, credible, and long overdue."" * Kate Hanley, Director, Climate Strategy, Aramark * ""Mike Hower's Sustainability Storytelling is exactly what the sustainability world has been waiting for. He frames the real challenge we all face: how do you communicate authentically about sustainability without falling into the greenwashing (or greenhushing trap? His practical frameworks and real-world examples make this more than just theory - it's a playbook you can actually use. Whether you're in communications, sustainability, or the C-suite, if you're serious about building trust through your environmental storytelling, Mike's book is essential reading."" * Whitney Dailey, Managing Director, Purpose, Allison *