LeadtheChangePushingpastroadblockstodrivesustainablebusinesstransformationinEuropeLeadthechange:PushingpastroadblockstodrivesustainablebusinesstransformationinEurope23Leadthechange:PushingpastroadblockstodrivesustainablebusinesstransformationinEuropeExecutivesummaryKeytakeawaysforleadersAboutthestudy01Decodingsustainability:amultidimensionalconcept02Navigatingsustainablebusinesstransformation:roadblocksandpainpoints2.1Roadblock#1:Fragmentedvision2.2Roadblock#2:Riskandcompliancemyopia2.3Roadblock#3:Executiondiscomfort2.4Roadblock#4:Small-scalethinking2.5Roadblock#5:Resourcemisalignment03Atwo-prongedapproachforsuccessfultransformations3.1Visionaryleadership3.2Opportunity-orientedstrategy3.3StrategicCFOengagement3.4Revisitedsuccessmetrics3.5Empoweredmiddlemanagement3.6Digitalleverage3.7Innovatingforsustainablebusinessmodels3.8Ecosystemplay04Lookingahead:acceleratingthepaceofchangeAcknowledgementsContentsFoundationaldrivers:buildingthebedrockforsustainablebusinesstransformationsTransformationalaccelerators:fast-trackingsustainablesuccess040610141830909434424652607076842022232628Leadthechange:PushingpastroadblockstodrivesustainablebusinesstransformationinEurope45Leadthechange:PushingpastroadblockstodrivesustainablebusinesstransformationinEuropeExecutivesummaryIntoday’srapidlychangingworld,theurgencytomaintainfocusonsustainabilityhasneverbeengreat-er.Whilethetripleplanetarycrisisofclimatechange,biodiversityloss,andpollutiondemandsimmediateaction,newchallengessuchasgeopoliticalconflicts,inflation,energysecurityconcerns,andtherapidriseofAItechnologiesthreatentodistractbusinesslead-ersfromtheirsustainabilitycommitments.Thestakesarehigh:ifwelosefocusnow,thelong-termconse-quenceswillnotonlyimpacttheenvironmentbutalsotheresilienceofbusinessesandeconomiesalike.YetlessthanhalfoftheEuropeancompanieswesurveyedareconfidenttheywillmeettheirnet-zerotargetsontime.Thisreflectsabroaderissue:businessesarestrugglingtotranslateambitionintomeaningfulaction.Thefivemajororganizationalroadblocksstandinginthewayarefragmentedvisions,anoveremphasisonriskandcompliance,misalignmentbetweenleadershipandmiddlemanagement,small-scalethinking,andamismatchbetweensustainabilitygoalsandresourceallocation.Thesechallengesunderminetheabilityofcompaniestofullyoperationalizesustainabilitystrategies,threateningtostallprogresswhendecisiveleadershipismostneeded.Toovercometheseroadblocks,companiesmustfirstmanagetheirsustainabilitytransformationbyfocusingonfoundationaldrivers.Theseincludevisionaryleadership,adoptinganopportunity-orientedstrategy,aligningfinancialstrategiesthroughstrategicCFOengagement,empoweringmid-levelmanagement,andupdatingsuccessmetricstoreflectsustainabilityadvancesalongsidefinancialperformance.Theinterrelatednatureofsustainabilitytransformationrequiresthattheseelementsworktogethercohesively.Thesefoundationaldriversprovidetheanchornecessarytokeepsustainabilityeffortsgroundedandconsistent,eveninthefaceofnewchallenges.However,managingsustainabilityalonewillnotsuffice.Wefindforward-thinkingcompaniesgobeyondthisbydrivingsustainabletransformationsthroughthreekeytransformationalaccelerators:innovation,digitalleverage,andecosystemplay.Theseacceleratorsenablebusinessestoturnsustainabilityfromareactiverisk-managementeffortintotheproactivedriverofacompetitiveedge.Sustainableinnovationsrelatetocircularandregene...
