CEOs Benchmarking Sustainability

Is sustainability still a top priority for CEOs?

Our latest research with top executives found that sustainability and ESG had dropped from first to fourth place on the priority ladder. Improved business performance came top of the list, closely followed by new technology such as AI and machine learning.??

So does this mean leaders are no longer focused on sustainability? Has it been superseded by more pressing issues such as economic pressure or geopolitical uncertainty? At our most recent CEO Retreat, focused on leading transformation sustainably, senior executives and Board members reassured us that sustainability is still very much on the agenda.?

What’s clear from conversations amongst Criticaleye Members is that sustainability is a central tenet to all other areas of their organisations. Indeed, it’s a key consideration when it comes to transformation and reinvention, with topics at the Retreat covering sustainability-orientated innovation, technology, building more resilient organisations and social responsibility. In other words, it’s not that sustainability has become less important or less of a priority, but that it often overlays all areas of the business and cannot be considered in isolation.?

That said, polls taken at the CEO Retreat paint an interesting picture of where senior leaders are when it comes to leading sustainability. For example, only 20 percent felt fully confident they had the right leadership team in place to execute on strategy, a concerning statistic in light of executives’ vital role in aligning and delivering on the strategy, as well as championing new sustainability initiatives.??

Similarly, 66 percent told us they were not aware of the impact of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. The Retreat provided the ideal opportunity to hear from experts and peers on this directive and how other executives are addressing it in their own organisations.??

Finally, 69 percent told us that sustainability does drive innovation in their organisations, reinforcing the idea that leaders see it as intrinsically linked with new ideas and growth. At the Retreat we were fortunate to hear from leaders on sustainability-orientated innovation where our leaders spoke about complex transformation and how this extends into supply chains.?

With so much complex change when it comes to sustainability, its vital leaders are making time to share ideas, ask questions and benchmark approaches. Our poll about the impact of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive highlights that now more than ever, CEOs need to look outside their businesses for the input they need.??

Make sure you also read this recently released blog, where we delve into the key takeaways from our recent Virtual Roundtable, held with the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID), on 'Extracting Real Value and Impact from ESG.'

Here at Criticaleye, we support CEOs across a range of issues, from managing complex stakeholder relationships to the creation, validation and execution of strategy. With leaders are under pressure, and facing more challenges than ever, executives need quick and accessible reference points to make the right decisions.??

Criticaleye’s global leadership Community provides a confidential and trusted space, offering diverse views which leaders can draw from when making decisions for themselves and their organisations. Get in touch to speak to one of our team about how we support individuals operating at the highest level of organisations.?