Playing the Sustainability Lens Game – How Chapter 2 Helps You Win at Business and Make a Difference
- Tamara Stenn
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
It’s been a dream writing my new book, Sustainability for Success, for Vibrant Publishers this summer - as political and climate upheavals make sustainability more important than ever. Here are some insights on Chapter 2. The whole book will be out this spring 2026. Feel free to comment and share.
Have you ever wondered how to make your business not just profitable, but also regenerative, inclusive, and deeply connected to people and planet? Chapter 2 of Sustainability for Success invites you to see entrepreneurship as a game — a Sustainability Lens Game — where you score points by aligning your business with purpose, people, and planet.
Level 1: Suma Qamana – The Wisdom Power-UpYour first challenge is to unlock a powerful sustainability paradigm: Suma Qamana, an Indigenous Andean worldview meaning living well. Instead of “living better” through competition, you win by collaboration, achieving balance — with yourself, your community, and nature.
Suma Qamana gives you four game powers:
Yachay (Knowledge): reveals hidden patterns and builds resilience.
Munay (Love): boosts emotional connection and team loyalty.
Ruray (Doing): activates creativity, making ideas real.
Ushay (Power): empowers ethical decisions and collective leadership.
Want to level up? Play the “Chakrana” cross mini-game: balance all four powers to reveal new pathways to sustainability. These tools are built into the Sustainability Lens games.
Level 2: Customer Mapping Quest
In this level, you use tools like the Value Proposition Canvas (VPC) to connect deeply with your customers. Your mission? Understand what keeps them up at night — and how your product can relieve their pains and deliver gains. Match what you offer with what they truly need and desire.
Bonus tip: Real players don’t guess — they listen. Interview three or more real customers from each segment. It’s the only way to earn your “Empathy Badge.”
Level 3: Sustainable Lemonade Stand ChallengeNow it’s time to design your sustainability strategy in action. In the “Lemonade Stand” simulation, you map Customer Relationships, Customer Segments, and Channels using the four Suma Qamana values. You unlock new customer loyalty points by:
Offering love and kindness (Munay)
Co-creating with your community (Ruray)
Sharing knowledge and health benefits (Yachay)
Using ethical ingredients and refillable cups (Ushay)
Advanced play: Add in SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) for bonus synergy. Did your lemonade reduce inequalities or promote health? You’ve just leveled up in global impact! The Sustainability Lens games come with the lemonade stand gameplay instructions.
Level 4: The Grove Collaborative Boss Battle
You face your toughest test — convincing investors to believe in your sustainable business. Stuart Landesberg, founder of Grove Collaborative, did just that — after 173 investor rejections. He rebranded, built his own product line, and mapped his customer segments and investor needs using the very strategies in this chapter.
The lesson? Sustainability isn’t just feel-good fluff — it’s a winning business strategy. Especially when you know how to tell the right story to the right audience.
Game Takeaways
Sustainability isn’t an add-on — it’s a lens that changes how you see, build, and grow your business.
Customers are humans, not wallets. Design with empathy and intention.
Use tools like the VPC and BMC to map needs and create real, lasting Fit.
Suma Qamana teaches us that care, knowledge, action, and shared power are the true levers of change.
Aligning with the SDGs connects your micro-mission to a global game.
Your Turn
Ready to play the Sustainability Lens Game in your own venture? Start small — host a customer co-creation session, map your value proposition, or simply ask: “How does my business help others live well?” You can do this as a thought exercise, or grab a Sustainability Lens Game card deck or board set to help form and guide your work.
Remember: Every choice you make can be a win for people, planet, and profit.
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