Driving Sustainable Transformation and Innovation for Long-Term Success
Today's organizational leaders face the challenge of delivering short-term results while also investing and building for the long term—all while ensuring they maintain trust and legitimacy with a range of stakeholders. Achieving this delicate balance requires strategic leadership that integrates sustainability, resilience, and innovation.
On Feb 20, Michigan Ross Professor Chris Rider hosted a live panel discussion featuring sustainability experts and practitioners Tanuja Dehne, Stu Hart, and Kevin Self. Together, they explored the critical imperative of sustainable transformation and innovation in organizations.
Tanuja Dehne, an influential board member and former foundation leader, highlighted that sustainability means thriving collectively and enduring responsibly, urging organizations to consider sustainability for long-term strategic value and stakeholder engagement. Stu Hart, known for his pioneering work on sustainable business strategies, discussed the complexity and urgency of integrating sustainability into organizational strategy and capitalism at large, advocating for transformative innovation that transcends traditional business operations to tackle systemic challenges. Kevin Self, with extensive experience in sustainable strategy at Schneider Electric, emphasized the critical role of listening to customer needs and developing solutions that are driven by genuine market demands for sustainability and resilience.
The panelists collectively reinforced that sustainability must be more than a buzzword—it requires real commitment, systemic change, and a balance between incremental progress and bold innovation. They emphasized that embedding sustainability into business strategy not only fosters resilience but also enhances competitive advantage in today's rapidly evolving market.
