What sustainability professionals can learn from Pixar’s storytelling. The work of sustainability professionals, whether it is driving decarbonisation, advocating for circular economies, or promoting social equity, is at its core about a story. Yet too often, we lead with data, not emotion. We talk about metrics, not meaning. We focus on systems, not the people they serve. The result? Our messages fall flat, failing to inspire the action we so desperately need. What if we approached...
2 months ago • 4 min read
Training the next generation of Scope 3 emissions managers. Managing Scope 3 emissions is one of the most challenging aspects of corporate sustainability. These indirect emissions, occurring across complex value chains, typically account for more than 70% of an organisation's carbon footprint. Yet many sustainability professionals struggle to effectively measure and reduce them. This article outlines a systematic approach to building Scope 3 management capabilities, and offers a training...
3 months ago • 5 min read
Redefining the role of the Chief Sustainability Officer. The future of corporate sustainability lies not in perfecting individual organisational performance but in orchestrating collective action for system-wide transformation. This would require a new generation of Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) and sustainability professionals to master the art of systems orchestration. They will have to move beyond traditional organisational boundaries to coordinate and influence vast networks of...
4 months ago • 3 min read
Sustainability impact happens at the intersection of passion and pragmatism. Passion provides the north star and the ultimate vision of a sustainable future. Pragmatism provides the navigational tools to chart a realistic course. Understand that: 1. Sustainability is fundamentally about complex and interconnected systems. Pure passion can sometimes oversimplify these intricate dynamics. Pragmatism demands a more holistic view and understanding that every intervention creates ripple effects...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Scaffolding sustainability to change employee behaviour. Most companies try to force sustainability through compliance policies and rules. But people don’t respond well to being told what to do. Instead, we need a smarter approach that makes sustainable choices feel easier and more appealing. This is where the concept of scaffolding serves as a helpful framework to change employee behaviour on sustainability. Imagine sustainability as a building project and your employees as the construction...
5 months ago • 3 min read
The power of personal agency in sustainability leadership. I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it. This is what Morpheus said to Neo in The Matrix. It perfectly captures a fundamental truth about corporate sustainability leadership. External guidance can illuminate the path, but true transformation requires personal commitment and agency. The paradox of knowledge without action Despite widespread access to knowledge, tools, and frameworks for sustainable...
6 months ago • 3 min read
The hidden champions of corporate sustainability. Companies are making bold environmental commitments, publishing elaborate sustainability reports, and hiring teams of experts. Their CEOs deliver compelling speeches about environmental stewardship at global forums. Their boards approve ambitious net-zero targets. And yet, meaningful progress remains elusive. The fundamental challenge is not a lack of commitment at the top or insufficient grassroots support. It is that we have misidentified...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Why speed is the ultimate competitive advantage in sustainability. The ultimate competitive advantage is not having the most ambitious targets or the biggest sustainability budget. It is speed. The ability to move fast, learn quickly, and adapt rapidly has become the defining characteristic of successful sustainability initiatives. The Speed Paradox Let me share a story about two competing retailers. Company A spent 2 years developing the perfect sustainable packaging strategy. They hired top...
6 months ago • 2 min read
The sustainability professional’s blindspot. Our obsession with problem-solving is actually hindering transformative change. The Key Takeaway Sustainability professionals are too focused on solving problems within existing systems rather than reimagining those systems entirely. Our professional bias toward incremental problem-solving, which we honed through years of navigating corporate constraints, has become our greatest liability in an era that demands fundamental transformation. Why This...
6 months ago • 2 min read