Sustainable Development and Leading Meaningful Change: Insights from the 2023 WBCSD Leadership Program

The collective effort to build a more sustainable present for the future is vital and timely. This theme pervaded the first session of the 2023 World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Leadership Program in Lausanne, Switzerland. Designed for the next generation of leaders, the year-long program helps business leaders gain an in-depth understanding of sustainable development challenges while navigating complex, interdisciplinary topics that will determine the future. Ultimately, the program enables individuals and organizations to lead, transform, and succeed.

I am privileged to join this program with 46 of my peers from around the world. During the week, we learned from well-regarded experts, academic thought leaders, and, most importantly, each other. As we closed the session and shared our key takeaways, three main themes emerged for me:

• We all have a leadership role to play in sustainable development: We are all uniquely positioned to drive impact as leaders, specific to our business contexts. My peers who are leaders in consulting have different opportunities than my peers in energy. Although our technical backgrounds, geographies, and businesses vary, we are well-positioned to learn from each other in a complementary way.
• What got us here won't get us there: A century ago, the work to address environmental and social challenges was different, but even five years ago, it was different. As leaders in sustainable development, we need to embrace the dynamic nature of our work to be successful. The pace of change will only increase, so an enhanced collective agility needs to follow.
• Look to thought leaders for forward-thinking insights: During the past week, I learned so much from my peers and am fortunate to have such a diverse, professional, and intelligent group of thought leaders in this new global network. A common theme that emerged was the value of embracing external perspectives. The hopeful result is more comprehensive policies, better-balanced programs, and stronger leadership impact.

Many thanks to Prof. Dr. Rodney Irwin , Suzanne Bodmer-Feinmann , and David Bach for their thoughtful leadership, as well as the professors, experts, and team members who worked hard to bring together an impactful week. There is much to learn, much to look forward to, and much to do.