Ravi Sunnak - Executive Vice President

I’m feeling hopeful, energized, and inspired after attending this year’s United Nations General Assembly (#unga), which took place at the same time as Climate Week NYC (#cwnyc). And I’ve been reflecting on the power of genuine collaboration across sectors. Having attended UNGA almost every year for over a decade, one theme set this year apart: the unified call by leaders and executives for cross-sector partnerships to tackle the most pressing challenges facing us today. 

In supporting #clients like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America with their Commitment to Action at the Clinton Global Initiative, Comic Relief US at their roundtable on empowering a new generation at Goals House, Operation Smile for their fireside chat on sustainable access to surgical care at Concordia, as well as Panasonic moderating a discussion around transforming climate financing at the Techonomy Climate Summit, one thing became clear: no sector can do it alone.

 Increasingly, we’ve heard that “purpose” is a thing of the past. However, it was apparent from the events I attended and the conversations that I had with leaders, in fact it is only the framing that has changed, as themes like “purpose as a performance multiplier” and “smarter collaboration emerged.” Throughout the week, global decision-makers were making a business case for impact. 

 Whether it was at the Leaders & Luminaries Social Innovation Summit dinner or the Techonomy Climate Summit, the message was consistent—government, private sector, and non-profit leaders must not only work together, but also remember to give next-gen agency by equipping them with the tools they need to be part of the solution. The critical challenges we face - from tackling the climate crisis through new and innovative ways of funding to addressing health equity through working with a multitude of stakeholders - demand a united front. It’s time to bring everyone into the conversation to have a real chance of solving some of our biggest challenges.  

This is easier said than done. Progress demands leadership – but a different kind of leadership.  The leaders who inspired me at UNGA and Climate Week were authentic. These are the type of leaders who speak with passion, and infuse their professional aims and objectives with their personal commitment to progress in meaningful ways. These are the kinds of leaders who listen not just to one audience, but to multiple stakeholders - from board members and shareholders to employees and activists. This is what we call real executive influence, not just visibility.

For those who know me well, this is one of the busiest times of the year for me. It’s a time where I’m a trusted advisor and a sounding board to the C-Suite, to non-profit leaders and to UN agencies seeking to frame their message and drive an agenda. With UNGA and Climate Week NYC now done, we’re now very much on the road to WEF/Davos, with COP on the way – moments that will set the agenda for 2025. It’s time to get to work, cementing new collaborations and operationalizing for impact. 

Finally, as a leader in this space myself, I have my own lesson in leadership: Always keep your ear to the ground. In doing this work with clients it’s so important to stay connected to the organizations working on the frontlines, who are giving out grants and inspiring community action. This reminds us again that no sector can do it alone – we’re all in this together.