How can you position your executive background to lead the sustainability function in a corporation? See highlights of Hudson Gain's Study of the Role of the Chief Sustainability Officer in Corporations. What are the skills and capabilities of a CSO?
2. Agenda
Introduction to Hudson Gain
Hopes for Today
Context: Definitions of Sustainability
Sustainability Continuum
Who are the Leaders of Sustainability?
Hudson Gain’s Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO)
Study
Positioning Yourself and Interviewing
What will You Do?
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5. The Context: Definitions of Sustainability
“Meeting the needs of
the present without
compromising the ability
People Planet
of future generations to sustainable employee sustainable resources
and customer base and operating environment
meet their own needs.”
Brundtland Commission
(1987)
Profits
sustainable business
increased present value
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7. Who are the Leaders of Sustainability?
Can oversee Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR),
Community, Environmental
Some CEOs are CSOs for their organizations
Sustainability roles should grow
Employees and Customers want Green
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009
“Cap and trade”/tighter legislation
Roles can develop organically inside/or require
skills/hires from outside
8. Contents of the Hudson Gain CSO Study
Going Green? Don't Hire a Sustainability Chief
Until You Read This Study!
http://echem.goiwx.com/downloads/HudsonGain_ChiefSustainabilityOfficerStudy08.pdf
“Universal” CSO requirements
Key CSO responsibilities and challenges
Filling the role internally or externally
Examples of Top People/Companies
Sustainability 1.0 vs. 2.0
Quotes
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9. Where Do Sustainability Leaders Come
From?
Senior and middle management, or high-level
technical roles
Almost all functions, depending on many factors
Previous experience in another function (not
sustainability)
Typically internal, supplemented by technical
consultants
Some are external hires
Builders vs. Managers, creators vs. maintainers
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10. Our Study Found CSOs from ….
Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)
Supply Chain
Finance and Audit
Human Resources
Law Compliance
Operations
Public Relations and Communications
Engineering
Research and Development
12. Sustainability Leaders Need…
Credibility in strategic issues
Functional or technical
Political/decision-making
Negotiating internally, with suppliers
Decision-making and execution
Organization culture/style
Alignment across silos/vendors
Influence/change management skills
Industry expertise?
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13. Positioning re: Sustainability
Position yourself above the next candidate
Past accomplishments in Supply Chain parallel
sustainability work
Cost/Benefit Analysis and Cost Reduction initiatives
Shifting to a Six Sigma or Process mindset
Adding another business lens to decision-making
Mobilizing workforce for added discretionary effort
Sustainability functions adjacent to yours?
Leverage past experience into a new career
Should you hook your star to Sustainability?
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16. Prepare for Interviews
Research the company’s stand and the media
(green-washing)
Confirm with insiders before believing either press
Do they match with your expectations?
Plan how to position yourself based on their stand
After testing the water, share your position
How did you get interested in Sustainability?
Where have you been involved in projects?
What impact on the triple bottom line have you made?
18. Reflection: What will you do?
What can you do today that will help you position
yourself as:
An active learner or early adopter in your own function
A collaborator or change agent across functions
Able to oversee/include Sustainability areas
A Sustainability leader
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