Leadership and Sustainability

Sustainability
Economic Sustainability
Environmental
Sustainability
Social Sustainability

Leaders and their

followers raise one
another to higher
levels of morality and
motivation
- James McGregor
Burns

Transformational Leader

Creating an inspiring vision

of the future

Motivating people to buy

into and deliver the vision

Managing delivery of the

vision

Building ever-stronger, trustbased relationships with

people

The Role of Leadership in Sustainability

Key Activities

Embedding Sustainability

Change Management

Collaboration

Strategic Orientation

Sustainability is embedded when

every part of the business makes
decisions that intelligently weigh the
economic, environmental, and social
impacts on the long-term ability to
sustain the business

Economic Orientation

Results Delivery

Team Player ship

Sustainability practices as a
strategic differentiator

Importance of Sustainability for

Corporate Leadership

Corporate sustainability is not merely

regulatory compliance. Neither it should be
just a public relations campaign or a
corporate social responsibility activity
According to a McKinsey study, 43% of
global CEOs seek to align sustainability with
their overall business goals, mission and
values
Sustainability is becoming a more strategic
and integral part in a CEOs long term
agenda

Challenges in Embedding Sustainability

Non seriousness of top leadership

sustainability not viewed as business
relevant
Inability of leadership to draw a
connection
between
companies
financials and sustainability
Knowledge deficit on sustainability
within the workforce
Resistance
from
acceptance
of
methods to embed sustainability
from the workforce

Strategies for Addressing Challenges

Top-down approach

Demonstration of optimism, passion

from leadership

Change management
-Inform
-Inspire
-Implement
-Institutionalize

Linking
measurable
sustainability

Invite people to get involved in

bringing about sustainable changes

KRAs

to

Tesla Motors: A Business Built Around

Sustainability

An interviewer asked "What do you think

we need more than anything else?
"Sustainable energy," Musk replied.

Envisioned a car company that would

cater to affordability as well as
sustainable energy

In 2013, Musk masterminded Hyperlook

Open sourced his companys patents to

promote sustainable use of energy

Solar cell enabled car rooftops in the

offing

Tesla valuation is about 36.7 billion USD

as of May 2016

Tesla is ranked #1 innovative company

by Forbes magazine

Power plant emissions per EV mile is 97%

Conclusion

Embedded sustainability is the incorporation of social

, environmental, health value to the business without
compromising price or quality
Sustainability holds out as strategic differentiator
giving firm a competitive advantage over others
Top down leadership approach facilitates
incorporation of sustainable changes within the
workforce
Change management collaboration and results
delivery are essentials for effective implementation
of sustainable practices
Alignment of sustainable practices with vision,
mission and goals of the organisation is imperative
for sustainable growth

Thank You