The Case for Upskilling Today’s Leaders With Sustainability
More Americans are worried about climate change than ever before, and they’re right to be concerned. The latest reports say the window for curbing emissions is closing fast, and that it’s never been more critical for businesses to pioneer new ways of working that are good for business and the planet. But when 70% of company transformations fail, how can leaders get it right?
The good news: companies are paying attention. In the past five years, the number of green jobs across all skill sets grew 8% globally. Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) strategies are increasingly viewed as major drivers of revenue, reputation, and talent retention. In a recent survey, CEOs reported that environmental and social changes are now a top three priority for investors, and 79% of consumers are changing purchase preferences based on social impact. It’s clear that sustainability strategies are good for business.
The caveat to this is that rapid growth is outpacing the current availability of sustainable skill sets in the job market: shockingly, just 17% of businesses that set sustainability targets are tracking to meet them. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
We have the intention, the climate pledges, and the business case — we now need to empower our people. With ESG tactics rapidly transforming how organizations operate, leaders must take steps now to upskill their teams in sustainable business practices to future-proof their businesses.
The sustainability skills gap
In years past, college courses rarely drew the connection between sustainability and business. For those interested in learning more about ESG, students might pursue courses ad hoc, but they were not part of the expected curriculum. Today, universities have around 3,000 programs labeled “sustainability” — a massive increase from just 13 courses in 2008, and great progress. But there’s a long way to go, and this all speaks to the divide between what businesses historically prioritized and the massively-changing conditions companies face.
Today, for business leaders, sustainability skill needs are emerging across all areas. Technical and operational teams need new knowledge to build sustainable products, systems, and supply-chains. Finance, regulatory, and compliance functions need training in new ESG reporting. Marketing, communications, and sales teams need fluency in discussing new solutions. And across the board, all leaders need education to turn sustainability commitments into action plans that succeed.
Upskilling is the answer
It’s perhaps no surprise that two-thirds of sustainability hires are hired from within — needs are accelerating, the talent market is tight, and internal teams know your business. But the best leaders know it’s imperative to give new leaders the tools and training to succeed.
Sustainability upskilling is the critical bridge. By providing structured learning in ever-changing areas, employees gain access to new ways of thinking, the latest research, and guidance that informs their day-to-day. They connect with peers and colleagues facing similar challenges, sparking innovation. And they learn new skills in areas that drive motivation, engagement, and long-term talent retention.
Looking ahead, business focus on ESG will only grow. Taking the steps now to future-proof business practices is a business imperative — and it’s not too late to learn how to implement such plans. As future generations rightly focus more time, energy and money on sustainability, business leaders have a unique opportunity to learn and enact strategies that will pave the way for lasting innovation.
