ESG LEADERSHIP
“AS COMPANIES PRIORITISE SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY , THEY MAY BECOME MORE ATTRACTIVE TO FEMALE TALENT , ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTING TO A MORE DIVERSE LEADERSHIP POOL ”
AMELIA DELUCA CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER , DELTA AIR LINES
“ I ’ ve been fortunate to have many female leader mentors throughout my career while trying to pay it forward to others ,” she says . “ Every leader should find opportunities to lift women and other underrepresented groups up , give them a voice when they are not in the room and find opportunities to bring them into the room all together .”
DeLuca agrees with Weinreb that there could be a natural path from CSO to CEO .
Sustainability as catalyst for change “ I do think that the CSO role is uniquely positioned because success doesn ’ t just lie with what my team does ,” she says .
“ It ’ s also how we communicate and partner with stakeholders , industry collaborators , investors , policymakers and more . It ’ s a complex web of players who all need to be engaged .”
The shift within the corporate world towards sustainability and social responsibility is serving as a catalyst for change in terms of female leadership and diversity . So says Heather Cykoski , Schneider Electric ’ s SVP of Industrial Automation US and Process Automation Canada .
There are several reasons why this shift in corporate values may contribute to more opportunities for women in leadership roles , foremost among them being a balanced alignment with values .
“ In my experience , many women gravitate towards organisations that align with their personal values , including those related to sustainability and social responsibility ,” says Cykoski , who has spent 25 years in energy and industrial engineering and worked all over the world . “ As companies prioritise these values , they may become more attractive to female talent , ultimately contributing to a more diverse leadership pool that is inherently more inclusive .
“ Additionally , a focus on sustainability often requires a shift in corporate culture towards long-term thinking and a broader view of success . Such changes can challenge traditional norms and open the door for different leadership styles , providing an opportunity for women to contribute in meaningful ways .
“ Companies that prioritise sustainability are usually more likely to embrace diverse leadership , as it aligns with the holistic approach needed for effective sustainability initiatives .”
For DeLuca , the role of a sustainability leader is to provide the energy and advocacy required to champion progress , even when it is difficult or inconvenient for an organisation to do so . It means providing the rational and unrelenting voice that does
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