Rachel Brown ONZM is SBN’s founder and CEO. She says: “The times we’re in demand a new level of leadership on sustainability. That is why it’s important to stay informed on the ever-evolving sustainability trends impacting business.
“Understanding today's context as much as what’s on the horizon empowers leaders to shape, not chase, the future of any organisation or sector. It’s about developing a rigorous positivity. We have to show people the truly transformational things we can do together. And we have to get as many people involved as possible.
“That takes a range of skills, sectors, roles and attributes. But above all it takes courage and determination. I see that emerging all over. We see leadership being taken on across age ranges and sectors, from intrapreneurs working within large organisations to entrepreneurs starting exciting new ventures. The right training is a big part of that.”
Andy Kenworthy is the Sustainable Business Network’s (SBN) senior communications advisor.
“I’ve worked directly with hundreds of businesses on sustainability in the last 20 years,” he says. “Some of them have been amazing leaders in the field. The key is to integrate sustainability into the core strategy and the business model. Then it’s about following that through to the shop floor. It doesn’t matter how flashy or award-winning an individual sustainability project is. It’s consistency that counts. It has to be embedded in day to day operations.
“That’s a bit more straightforward in organisations built to be purpose-driven. I'm thinking of the likes of Kōkako Organic Coffee Roasters and Karma Drinks. But it doesn’t exclude those incorporating sustainability later, like NZ Post.”
It’s with all that in mind that Rachel and Andy lead the organisation’s Leadership in Sustainable Business course. In the last few years they’ve trained hundreds of participants in creating dynamic sustainability projects of their own. The course has sparked new start-ups. It’s brought together exciting collaborations. It’s launched new careers in sustainability consulting and helped people step into sustainability leadership roles. It’s also created change in some of the country’s most recognisable organisations. That’s included construction giants, high street banks and primary producers.
All participants are encouraged to start a project that will be genuinely impactful, something they can be really proud of in years to come. The alumni stay connected as a community, mutually supporting their progress.
The course breaks the subject up into three key components:
Step One: Get inspired
Most of us in sustainability can trace the moment when that fire got lit. So, the first part is all about values and connections. You might also consider this discovering your “why”.
It’s about getting to grips with our rightful place in the natural world. It’s also about coming to terms with how far we’ve strayed and what we do about it. For those of us working in this country that means learning about the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, as well as the importance of Te ao Māori as a source of appropriate responses to these challenges.
This sets the foundations for all your work in sustainability. It can be tough. It’s a life long journey, not a sprint. That’s why you need your motivation sorted from the outset.
To support this, the SBN course has included direct input from global sustainability leaders like Sir Jonathon Porritt. It also features regular sessions with local experts like Professor Niki Harré, author of Psychology for a Better World: Working with People to Save the Planet and Amber Nicholson, Senior Lecturer, Management and International Business at the University of Auckland.
In addition, courses like this bring together exciting new networks of like-minded people. People make lifelong friends through this course. That in itself is inspiring, and will provide you with further peer support for the road ahead.
Step Two: Get the know-how
Leadership in any field rests on knowing your stuff. There’s quite a lot of technical knowledge involved in leading on sustainability. Like a lot of subjects, it has a language of its own. Frameworks. Certifications. Reporting methods. A whole world of ideas. It has its history, its various factions and fads. It’s good to have at least a working knowledge of them, if only to make informed choices on what to explore. Amongst other topics this covers circular economy, nature regeneration and climate action.
Then there are the attributes of leading people. What inspires you in great leaders? What can you learn from them? Most importantly, how can you get the people around you to work with you on sustainability? You'll need to understand your own leadership traits and weaknesses. And you'll need to understand those around you. How will you separate the innovators from the laggards?
Step Three: Get going
You can’t lead unless you do. So, put a plan together and make it happen. It can start small, but it needs to embody and integrate all the other aspects we’ve mentioned to grow. And if you get sustainability growing around you, you’re a leader. Building an excellent project or programme requires active listening to stakeholder needs, clear communication of your intentions and progress. Equally important is having a sharp eye for avoiding greenwashing. These things are all crucial for building trust and achieving success.
Participants in the SBN course develop their own views on what it’s all about, and leave inspired.
Paul Turner is project manager for Taranaki Catchment Committees. He says: “A positive life changing course. Who knew a course could be so empowering?”
Kim Smith is facilities manager, Douglas Pharmaceuticals. She says: “So impactful. It really brought home the fragility of our world and how critical it is that we take action in any way we can to help.”
Hanna Huhtonen is a corporate ESG procurement specialist with WSP New Zealand. She says: “My biggest takeaway was the connections that can now go into my work, being able to ask for help and guidance from people from other industries. That’s really helpful for my job but also for myself.”