Three Decades of Sustainability Leadership: Insights from Ambreen Waheed

By Nina Benoit in conversation with Ambreen Waheed

Ambreen Waheed, a respected figure in sustainability, has significantly contributed to the global community via her contributions to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), the United Nations, the University of Cambridge, Prince of Wales Environment Program, Wharton School of Business, and as a delegate to the Conference of the Parties (COP), among many other roles.

Her outstanding journey and insights offer valuable lessons in sustainability and corporate responsibility, demonstrating the value of pursuing a passion with empathy and perseverance towards making meaningful change.

Starting the Journey

Waheed, born in Pakistan, embarked on her educational journey in  computer science: “In the early eighties, I decided to pursue a degree in computer science, a field that was virtually unknown in Pakistan at the time.”

She later on continued her studies in AI (Artificial Intelligence) in the United States, and finally focusing on ethical practices in supply chains at the University of Cambridge in 1998.

Her sustainability career took off with the creation of a pioneering stakeholder engagement process:

“My first significant project, in the mid-90s, was with CIDA (the Canadian Development Agency), where I was tasked with developing a Management Information System (MIS) for monitoring a national program across all provinces and regions in Pakistan. […] I challenged and advocated for a more holistic approach named Learning Information System (LIS) developing a stakeholder engagement process and creating most relevant qualitative indicators and cost effective data collection processes with Stakeholders involvement for social & environment Impact analysis and continuous improvement. This work led to a turning point in my career.”

Pioneering change

Ambreen has seen sustainability grow over 3 decades. She reflects, "I've been lucky to work with the most interesting initiatives, which are now making waves." Her work with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) and the Global Compact highlights her commitment to transparent, authentic sustainable practices in businesses.

“I helped develop the GRI standards in the late 90s as an expert on the team invited from all over the world. At that time, 90% of the world was only focused on community work and greenwashing, but we were looking at how to bring actual change from the inside. GRI had very extensive coverage; and it was the first framework to look at the qualitative indicators. […] The concept behind GRI was very good; it was about improving processes, changing things, recognizing and not punishing. It was about understanding things.”

Ambreen also founded/co-founded and led multiple initiatives like the Responsible Business Initiative (RBI), Responsible Behaviour Institute (RBI), the South Asia Forum on Responsible Business, Global Responsible Leadership Foundation (GRLI) and advised many global organizations and corporations like AccountAbility, Nike, UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization), UN Global Compact and more.

Facing Challenges

Along her journey, Ambreen encountered many challenges, especially from those focusing on short-term business gains. She highlights, "The challenge was with people who were trying to capitalize on the greenwashing of business."

“I've had to fight against this mindset. For example, I worked with a company and my team to make them realize the benefits of transparency and disclosure for their own good. […] This was particularly challenging in Pakistan but also internationally of course.”

Ambreen also faced significant resistance from individuals who were not willing to challenge the status quo and did not understand her vision:

“Despite resistance and being labeled as unrealistic by some, I worked to bring about real long term improvements. I also focused on engaging with the youth, who were yet to be influenced by prevailing practices, by volunteering my time to educate them on the importance of attention to real issues and causes by going beyond buzzwords for creative solutions and continuous improvement.”

Ambreen in fact taught and was invited as a guest speaker at multiple renown business schools including Wharton Business School, ESSEC Business School, INSEAD, and Berkley.

Mentorship and Leadership

As a mentor, Ambreen stresses the importance of being genuine and understanding. "Be true to yourself and true to other people," she advises, emphasizing the need for constructive dialogue and ethical behavior in leadership to enable change.

“Currently, my focus is primarily on the Responsible Behavior Institute. I believe that attitude and behavior, underscored by humility and humanity, are crucial. Loving humanity is essential, a quality often missing in sustainability efforts. Without passion, care, or positivity, achieving lasting impact is impossible. It's about being passionate and positive despite challenges.”

For those looking to make a difference, Ambreen offers the following advice: "You have to be convinced about the desired impact and clear about the future changing environment. Once you've done that, then obviously, you should convey your thoughts with confidence and clarity, and provide convincing and logical reasons for your plan." She encourages a persistence and positive approach to addressing challenges.

“You have to learn how to have constructive conversations. Empathy is definitely the highlight, of course, and ethics comes with it. You have to back your convincing with experimentation and continuous improvement of path. Empathy helps you understand the impact of your action on other people and ethics guides you towards a responsible path. These two things are my guiding principles in life.”

Final thoughts

Ambreen’s story, experiences, and reflections provide invaluable guidance on pursuing sustainability with integrity, empathy, and strategic thinking. Her journey underscores the impact of dedicated individuals on driving sustainable practices in the corporate world.

Her path teaches us that being bold and resilient is key to changing the status quo for a better, more ethical and sustainable future.

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