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The Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) role has undergone a radical evolution. Once focused primarily on voluntary reporting, policy formation and goal-setting, today’s CSO are strategists, futurists and value creators, that drive commercial impact while shaping business culture and long-term performance.

In this episode, Liz Brown, Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer at Inchcape, and Andrew Lowe, Senior Client Partner, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability, EMEA at Korn Ferry International, explore how the CSO role has evolved into one of the most strategic positions in global business. They unpack the traits, capabilities and organizational expectations needed to thrive and why the CSO role is now a stepping stone to broader executive leadership roles.

Key learnings from this episode:

• Understand how the CSO role has shifted from reporting-focused tasks to a strategically critical position that shapes business direction, culture and long-term value creation.
• Explore why sustainability teams are increasingly prioritizing strategy and transformation, while functions like finance, legal and risk teams take the lead on compliance and reporting.
• Uncover how growing board involvement is redefining expectations for CSOs, shaping the skills, mindsets and experiences organizations now seek.
• Learn what differentiates top CSOs today, including the ability to translate sustainability into commercial value, navigate emerging risks and build enterprise-wide influence.

Host:

• David Metcalfe, CEO Verdantix

Guests:

• Liz Brown - Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer at Inchcape plc
• Andrew Lowe - Senior Client Partner, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability, EMEA at Korn Ferry International

Enjoyed the episode? Make sure you hit follow so you don't miss the next one and check out our website for related content on this topic Verdantix.com

Practitioners get complimentary access to our library of research content at Verdantix Vantage - Register now.

Climate change is not about 2050 – it’s a present-day business reality. From heatwaves changing travel patterns, floods shutting down hotels and transport hubs, and wildfires disrupting operations, climate events are affecting revenue, insurance costs, workforce safety, critical infrastructure and asset value. Organizations that succeed in the next decade will be those that adopt adaptive, climate resilience strategies built to evolve with changing risks.

In this episode, Danielle D’Silva, Director of Sustainability at Booking.com and Dan Zarrilli Chief Climate & Sustainability Officer at Columbia University and former NYC Resilience leader, explore how climate resilience strategy and adaption planning is evolving across industries, what we can learn from global tourism and city governments and how business leaders can shift from long-term theory to resilient, practical action.

Key learnings from this episode:

• Understand the financial and operational impact of climate events and why a resilience plan is essential for both business continuity and public services.
• Learn how sustainability teams can reframe climate adaptation from “compliance cost” to “business advantage”.
• Discover why real-world narratives drive more action and how to use this storytelling as a lever for change.
• Actionable strategies for effectively communicating climate risks to supply chain partners, investors, policmakers and stakeholders over the next five years

Host:

• David Metcalfe, CEO Verdantix

Guests:

• Danielle D’Silva - Director of Sustainability at Booking.com
• Dan Zarrilli - Chief Climate & Sustainability Officer at Columbina University and former NYC Resilience leader

Enjoyed the episode? Make sure you hit follow so you don't miss the next one and check out our website for related content on this topic Verdantix.com

Practitioners get complimentary access to our library of research content at Verdantix Vantage - Register now.

In today's market, sustainability has become an essential attribute for many brands and products. But as companies grow increasingly complex, and with many companies making similar claims, how can you authentically express your commitment in a unique voice, and what steps do you need to take to make sure you fulfil your promise to the consumer?

In this episode Al Iannuzzi, Vice President Sustainability at Esteé Lauder Companies and Preeti Srivastav, Group Head of Sustainability at Asahi Group Holdings share how these leading, multi-brand companies are embedding sustainability into their business DNA, balancing corporate commitments with consumer relevance and regulatory pressures, to build trust and long-term value.

Key learnings from this episode:

• Understand how to integrate sustainability into the DNA of a company while preserving the unique voice of each brand.
• Discover how to move beyond data and reports to tell compelling stories that build trust.
• Learn how to manage the risks and opportunities of sustainability marketing through “offensive” and “defensive” strategies.
• Discover how to align sustainability objectives with brand strategy to build resilience, trust and long-term value.

Host:

• David Metcalfe, CEO Verdantix

Guests:

• Al Iannuzzi - Vice President Sustainability at Esteé Lauder Companies
• Preeti Srivastav - Group Head of Sustainability at Asahi Group Holdings

Enjoyed the episode? Make sure you hit follow so you don't miss the next one and check out our website for related content on this topic Verdantix.com

Practitioners get complimentary access to our library of research content at Verdantix Vantage - Register now.