The Soul of a Changing City: Kyle Stapleton on Climate, Intersections & Identity in Atlanta
A better way to make Atlanta 'one of one'
Kyle Stapleton is Head of Global Engagement for Sustainability at McKinsey & Company, helping passionate colleagues connect and contribute to McKinsey’s work as a catalyst for global climate action. Prior to McKinsey, Kyle led culture and employee experience efforts for WarnerMedia Studios.
A proud native ATLien, Kyle also advises and champions organizations working at the intersection of Atlanta’s cultural impact and civil rights legacy, which has included RE:IMAGINE, Atlanta Influences Everything, The A Pledge, and Future Foundation. As part of his advocacy for the power of collective action (i.e. small contributions adding up to big change), he helped crowdfund the first scholarship endowment for first-generation college students at his alma mater Georgia State University, a global leader in inclusive and equitable student success.
He is a music fanatic and vinyl collector who co-hosts TuneDig, a podcast about how music opens up our world. He and his wife Caralee, a visual artist and curator, are proud parents and avid travelers.
-
Episode overview & reflections:
You’ll love this episode if you’re interested in Atlanta’s unique, soulful culture and how it might evolve as climate change and migration patterns alter the city. We covered:
The "Ship of Theseus" concept and how it relates to Atlanta's evolution – how can a city maintain its soul while constantly changing?
Kyle's transition to working in sustainability and how he maintains wellbeing while thinking about climate challenges daily (not easy!)
Why helping the planet can actually be selfish and how that’s a promise of capitalism
What makes Atlanta special as a place where unique intersections and "one of one" individuals can thrive
The tension between preserving Atlanta's cultural institutions while embracing growth and change
How we might better welcome and "onboard" newcomers to Atlanta's culture and community
The importance of being a "good neighbor" and putting "we over me" in building the city's future
My reflection: What makes Atlanta compelling is that we have 'one of one' cultural institutions and compelling individuals like Kyle.
What keeps that momentum alive is that we celebrate each other and all that our city has to offer, especially what is unique and special.
Kyle's spirit is infectious and we'd all do well to appreciate our home city like he does.