The current business environment is fraught with contradictory news, making it increasingly difficult for companies to effectively embed sustainability into their organizations. The debate and backlash over environmental, social, and governance factors; pending legislation in the U.S. and E.U.; and the recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank have many in the C-suite on edge when it comes to managing financial, operational, and reputational impacts. A recent PwC survey indicated that CEOs recognize they need to reinvent their business model to survive.
So what does corporate survival actually entail in this age of juggling more responsibility, transparency, and accountability? We will explore this timely question with a series of discussions that center on sustainability as the foundation on which businesses can build their ethos and operations. Should companies, be they established or startup, assert a longer-term view of survival by incorporating a responsibility toward the environment and society alongside their stakeholders? Should an attitude of “We’re all in this together” become the norm that not only produces outstanding profits but also benefits communities and our planet? Should we look to entrepreneurs and innovators versus large corporations to lead the way with this new model of sustainable enterprise?
Politicization of the ESG concept has not stopped environmental, social, and governance from emerging as a critical framework to help stakeholders understand how businesses manage the nonfinancial risks and opportunities inherent in regular activities. It is becoming critical for companies — especially those that claim environmental and social sustainability virtues — to embed ESG into their DNA. Alongside this, many have also reframed Corporate Responsibility Officers as Chief Sustainability Officers.
Are these shifts evidence of a lasting movement toward a more sustainable business model? Do they indicate that business leaders will prioritize all stakeholders and include mechanisms to measure outcomes as well as outputs? And will new initiatives foster true change and tangible results with lasting impact on the urgent environmental and social issues challenging our world? Join us for a discussion with two global companies and a thought leader to hear their perspectives, visions, and hopes for sustainable initiatives.
RESOURCES / NEXT STEPSCenter for Sustainable Global EnterpriseSustainable Business Certificate
