Fielded across 11 countries, the global report was designed to understand the state of sustainability within organizations today by surveying more than 9,500 people from three distinct groups: C-Suite executives, next-generation leaders and employees. The responses revealed how these groups are united or divided in how they view several key business issues, including the maturity of their organization’s sustainability strategy, and the progress company leaders are making against that roadmap.
“While discussion about sustainability has gone mainstream and many organizations are quick to promote their sustainability credentials, rhetoric does not always equal action,” said Clarke Murphy, CEO of Russell Reynolds Associates. “We set out to conduct a survey that is unprecedented in its scope and scale to uncover the divides and disparities that threaten global business in order to identify the opportunities to bridge the gap.”
Key findings from the global report include the overall disconnect between what C-suite executives say they are doing on sustainability versus what employees and next-gen leaders see on the ground, as well as perceptions on employee equality and how slow-changing company culture and organizational complexity can be impediments for businesses. The survey also pointed to the importance of developing and empowering next generation leaders as one of the clearest pathways to addressing these issues, by shifting mindset and culture.
“We are at a crossroads where businesses have an incredible opportunity to build, sustain, and benefit from a better future for all,” said Murphy. “In uncovering the divides that affect businesses globally, we are uniquely positioned to offer solutions that incite real change to generate cultural and business transformation for people, planet and profit," said Murphy.
Alan Jope, CEO of Unilever, said: “I congratulate Russell Reynolds Associates for leading this project, although I am left somewhat disappointed by the findings. They highlight that sustainability remains misunderstood by many. We know that the average time horizon for investors is 13 years—continuing on our current path, the world will be a terrible place in 13 years. We must act today. Business must seize the dual opportunity to improve performance by putting sustainability at the heart of business strategies and secure the future for our people and our planet.”
Ilham Kadri, CEO and Chair of the Executive Committee, Solvay, said: “As this research from Russell Reynolds Associates makes clear, organizations need to go beyond risk and reputational management and focus on harm reduction and value creation. To do that, leaders not only need to communicate a compelling vision with great ambition; they also need to embed sustainability and concrete actions into their strategy, operations and leadership culture to improve drastically on climate, nature and people.”
To access the global report and search for insights by geography visit: www.russellreynolds.com/divides-dividends
Methodology:
Russell Reynolds Associates fielded a survey in 11 growth and mature markets across three job levels. Responses were collected from 8,594 employees and next-generation leaders, and 907 C-Suite leaders.
The 9,501 business leaders surveyed were from medium to large size businesses and represent:
Russell Reynolds Associates is a global leadership advisory firm. Our 600+ consultants in 47 offices work with public, private, and nonprofit organizations across all industries and regions. We help our clients build teams of transformational leaders who can meet today’s challenges and anticipate the digital, economic, sustainability, and political trends that are reshaping the global business environment. From helping boards with their structure, culture, and effectiveness to identifying, assessing and defining the best leadership for organizations, our teams bring their decades of expertise to help clients address their most complex leadership issues. We exist to improve the way the world is led.