"The Phoenix 50" recognizes organizations that successfully scale up environmental, social and economic solutions to create a more sustainable economy.

EMBARQ was recently named one of the top pioneers in developing innovative solutions to some of the world's biggest social and environmental problems, according to Volans, an influential London-based think tank and consultancy.

The recognition comes from a recent report published by Volans, "The Phoenix Economy: 50 Pioneers in the Business of Social Innovation," which highlights businesses, financial institutions and governments nominated by their peers for delivering a "triple bottom line" of social, economic and environmental benefits.

Collectively, these organizations are part of the "The Phoenix Economy," in reference to the mythical bird that rises from the ashes as a symbol of longevity, or, in this case, sustainability.

"A new economic order is rising from the ashes," the report says, "and a new generation of of innovators, entrepreneurs and investors is accelerating the changes essential for delivering scalable solutions to the world."

EMBARQ Director Dr. Nancy Kete, in particular, was chosen as a leader in the field of sustainable mobility, as profiled by Alejandro Litovsky of Volans' Pathways to Scale Program, which helps organizations scale up the impact of their initiatives.

Kete shared her perspectives on EMBARQ's successful transport partnerships in Istanbul and Mexico City during a presentation at the 2009 Skoll World Forum.

"The session, which attracted a capacity audience of well over 100 participants, explored Pathways to Scale for a range of sustainable mobility solutions," Litovsky writes. "Our panelists discussed their work, their ambitions, and key obstacles to achieving the scale of change to which they aspire."

Kete explained how EMBARQ’s investment of $16 million for transport projects, formed in collaboration between local governments and the private sector, leveraged an estimated $886 million in additional infrastructure investments, as well as strengthened the political will of city governments to support public transport reform.

Q&A with Nancy Kete

Nancy Kete of EMBARQ tells Volans about her ambitions to solve transport problems in cities

"In a conversation with Volans, Nancy Kete, Director of EMBARQ - the WRI Center for Sustainable Transport - brilliantly describes some of the lessons she has learned on tackling complex transport problems in the world’s largest cities and her ambitions for EMBARQ’s future."

Read the full interview here.

Dr. Nancy Kete

2009 Skoll World Forum "Pathways to Scale"

+For more information on The Phoenix Economy, click here.