Chief Sustainability Officers are certainly used to working in a state of constant flux and no more so has this been true than this year.
With organisational priorities constantly shifting, mixed in with new legislation and concerns around ‘greenwashing’, there is no such thing as a dull day in this role! CSOs have been repeatedly forced to adapt, learn new skills, quickly grasp new issues and steer businesses in new directions.
Being involved in such a pivotal position also requires quite a unique set of skills.
Recent conversations with CSOs have seen patterns emerging, in terms of the challenges they face and the expectations of their role.
Here are what we view as the most sought-after skills and attributes in a CSO.
Prioritising and balancing resources effectively
CSOs typically have tough decisions to make when it comes to strategically identifying the next big priority – and an even tougher one to convince the rest of the C-Suite to invest what may be significant resources in those CSR efforts. With investors, regulators and consumers keenly watching, CSOs will need to be able to effectively assess the viability of their projects by balancing cost, risk and strategic purpose, to ensure the most impactful results.
Being educators and influencers
CSOs must ensure that sustainability is fully integrated into every team and business unit. This will require leaders to have a collaborative mindset and be agile, working closely with various stakeholders across the business. They must demonstrate excellent communication and relationship management skills and think laterally where needed, in order to identify opportunities. This is particularly crucial for convincing those teams or individuals who are yet to fully appreciate the relevance of ESG in their role.
Whilst on broader sustainability issues the education piece may seem clear-cut, the wave of regulation in the EU and North America means CSOs are now having to communicate on regulatory issues as well as ethical ones. Prioritising compliance initially, before attempting to sell broader business goals. Changing sustainability goals can be easy, but the journey is seldom easy, especially when this is in a new, regulated compliance sphere.
Solid Chief Finance Officer (CFO) partnership
Establishing a positive relationship between the CSO and CFO (and in turn wider financial sector) is absolutely critical in ensuring alignment on the interplay between an organisation’s financial, natural and social values. As such, forging this partnership must be a priority for any successful CSO.
Commitment and passion
This may seem an obvious one, since the vast majority of ESG and sustainability professionals we speak to are deeply passionate about what they do. But commitment continues to be a prized quality when leading sustainability efforts. Hiring companies always look for someone who is motivated for all the right reasons. Commercial acumen is undoubtedly important, but if a drive to transform our planet isn’t there, then it’s very hard to make a success of any sustainability-focused role.
Willingness to evolve and adapt
An effective CSO in today’s market has no choice but to accept the constantly changing scope of their role: always learning and adapting; bending to the dynamism of the sustainability landscape, and taking charge on evolving their wider team to fit with any change in strategic direction. It’s fair to say that for CSOs, the only certainty they know…is change!
If you're looking to hire in sustainability, ESG or human rights - or if you are seeking your next career opportunity - please contact Adam Bond for a friendly discussion: adam@leonid-group.com