I meet a huge number of people (specifically women) in sustainability and there are two things that keep coming up as the critical skills required in spades if you want to have impact and drive success: EMPATHY (or the ability and willingness to see things from the 'other' perspective) and DETERMINATION (or the drive to keep pushing against a sea of challenge). I was honoured to be asked by The Conduit to join their Green Jobs panel a couple of weeks ago and had a great discussion with Matt Farquharson and Alejandro Guarín about the future of food and the 'green' roles we can expect to come from the sector. What I hadn't expected to say, but which I stand by, is that sustainability is often required and allowed to happen as long as it does so outside of the commercial planning of the business. And that those people who are able to have greatest impact, create the greatest value for business and drive genuine improvement are those who have success (with empathy and determination) in bringing together climate, nature, sustainability and wider ESG planning with the commercial business they sit within. It's a critical factor in the businesses which are leading the field and will continue to do so as we encounter more regulation (for good and bad) and shifting customer expectations and the urgency around climate starts to step up dramatically.
❓ What does it take to ensure corporate sustainability? 🌏 For Xynteo's Eleanor Besley-Gould, it takes "sharp elbows" and a willingness to muscle in on commercial discussions to make sure that every part of your business commits to the green transition. 💡 Hear more about Ellie's work with the women leading change here: https://lnkd.in/eu-nsnZM #TheConduit #ConduitLive #GreenJobsRevolution
Really interesting parallel you made with HR... It reminded me of EDI, and how you also need empathy and negotiation skills to work with other departments/teams. The culture change has certainly begun... I wonder how long it will take for it to be naturally embedded in everything we do?