Working as a divemaster in Thailand, I saw two parts of the island’s economy pulling against each other. Diving depended on a healthy marine environment, while fishing activity was damaging it. That tension sparked a question: how could businesses succeed without undermining the resources they depended on?

I founded the business in 2006 under an earlier name, initially helping companies with sustainability reporting and strategy.

Over time, clients returned with a different ambition. They had ideas for sustainability-related products and services—and needed help bringing them to market. Our work evolved to support them.

Alongside that work, I founded the Connecticut Sustainable Business Council. Through Upside’s work with the council over the past decade, we’ve helped connect businesses learning about sustainability with those providing solutions.

These experiences brought the commercial challenges into sharper focus: finding the right buyers, understanding what matters to them and making a case they can act on.

Today, that is the focus of Upside ESG. It’s a more specialized direction, built on two decades of working with businesses on sustainability—and evolving how we help as their needs change.