A conversation with industry experts on embedding sustainability in leadership practices

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, organisations face mounting pressure to not only deliver financial results but also to operate sustainably and responsibly. Leadership models that integrate environmental consciousness with business acumen are no longer optional—they’re essential.

I recently collaborated with Darragh Kiely, Client Services Director Furthr, to map out how Furthr and Elephants in Main Street International could help leaders transform their organisations through sustainable leadership practices. 

Our conversation revealed a structured approach based on proven earlier experience to embedding these principles at every level of an organisation.

The Leadership Sustainability Challenge

“One of the biggest challenges we see,” Darragh explained, “is that many organisations approach sustainability as a separate initiative rather than integrating it into their core leadership model. This creates a disconnect between business goals and environmental responsibility.”

This observation resonated with me. Too often, sustainability becomes a checkbox exercise rather than a fundamental aspect of how leaders make decisions and guide their teams.

A Systematic Approach to Sustainable Leadership

During our conversation, we outlined the five-step process that Furthr and Elephants in Main Street International use to help organisations transform their leadership approaches:

Step 1: Conduct Leadership Assessments

“Before prescribing solutions, we need to understand where an organisation currently stands,” Darragh noted. “Our assessment process looks at leadership practices through multiple lenses—how decisions are made, how teams are motivated, and crucially, how sustainability factors into strategic thinking.”

These assessments reveal not just gaps, but also existing strengths that can be leveraged. They provide a baseline for measuring progress and identifying priority areas for development.

“We often find pockets of excellent sustainable leadership practices already existing within organisations,” Darragh shared. “The challenge is scaling these approaches across the entire leadership team.”

Step 2: Develop Customised Leadership Plans

With assessment insights in hand, Furthr and Elephants in Main Street International craft tailored leadership development plans that align with both organisational goals and sustainability objectives.

“No two organisations are alike,” Darragh emphasised. “A manufacturing company faces different sustainability challenges than a financial services firm. Their leadership development plans need to reflect these differences.”

These plans focus on building critical capabilities for sustainable leadership. Leaders develop strategic foresight to anticipate environmental impacts and opportunities in their industry and beyond. They learn decision-making frameworks that balance short-term results with long-term sustainability objectives, ensuring the organisation remains viable while reducing its environmental footprint. The plans emphasise communication skills to effectively engage stakeholders around sustainability initiatives, creating buy-in at all levels. Finally, leaders build resilience to navigate the complexities of organisational transformation, preparing them to overcome obstacles and sustain momentum through challenging periods.

Step 3: Provide Targeted Coaching and Training

“Knowledge without application has limited value,” Darragh pointed out. “That’s why our coaching and training programs emphasise practical implementation.”

This approach includes real-world scenarios where leaders practice making decisions that balance business and environmental considerations. Role-playing exercises help leaders prepare for difficult conversations about sustainability tradeoffs. Regular feedback sessions ensure continuous improvement.

“One CEO we worked with described this process as ‘learning to see business through a new lens,’” Darragh recalled. “Suddenly, emission reduction initiatives weren’t just environmental projects but strategic business decisions with multiple benefits.”

Step 4: Foster a Values-Driven Leadership Culture

Individual leadership development, while crucial, isn’t sufficient. Sustainable leadership must become embedded in organisational culture to create lasting change.

“We help leaders articulate and model sustainability values daily,” explained Darragh. “When team members see their leaders consistently making decisions with sustainability in mind, it creates a powerful ripple effect throughout the organisation.”

This cultural shift involves revising key processes and systems throughout the organisation. It begins with integrating sustainability metrics into performance evaluations, making environmental impact a measurable aspect of leadership success. Organisations also focus on recognising and rewarding leadership behaviours that advance sustainability goals, reinforcing the importance of these practices. Creating forums for sharing sustainable leadership practices across departments ensures cross-pollination of ideas and collaborative problem-solving. 

Finally, ensuring sustainability is addressed in regular business reviews embeds environmental considerations into the rhythm of organisational decision-making, making it impossible to overlook.

Step 5: Offer Long-Term Coaching and Support

“Sustainable leadership isn’t a destination—it’s a journey,” Darragh emphasised. “The most successful organisations commit to ongoing development and refinement of their leadership approaches.”

Furthr and Elephants provide long-term coaching relationships that help leaders navigate changing business conditions while maintaining their commitment to sustainability. Regular check-ins and progress assessments ensure accountability and continuous improvement.

Real-World Impact

Throughout our conversation, Darragh shared compelling examples of organisations that have transformed through sustainable leadership approaches:

1. A  leading manufacturing company in its industry, with 90% of its emissions profile sitting in Scope 3, set ambitious targets to become carbon neutral by 2040. They developed tools which not only helped them to reduce emissions, but also aimed to calculate and report suppliers’ emissions, set science-based targets, and develop carbon reduction plans for their biggest suppliers. This initiative demonstrates strong leadership in addressing Scope 3 emissions and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility throughout the supply chain. By proactively supporting suppliers in their decarbonisation efforts, the company not only advances its own sustainability goals but also sets a precedent for industry-wide collaboration on climate action.

2. A prominent telecommunications provider recognised the growing need among businesses to understand the carbon impact of the services they procure. To address this, the company developed a carbon footprint calculator designed to offer clients tailored estimations of emissions associated with its key business solutions. Prior to its public release, the calculator underwent rigorous evaluation by an independent sustainability expert to ensure its accuracy and alignment with international standards. By launching this certified tool, the telecommunications provider demonstrated leadership in promoting carbon transparency. 

This initiative not only builds trust in the company’s environmental claims but also empowers clients—especially small and medium-sized enterprises—to make informed, carbon-conscious decisions regarding their telecommunications services

3. A leading chemical manufacturer aimed to reduce its carbon footprint and meet increasing customer demand for lower CO₂e solutions. The company invested in renewable energy, biomass materials, and lower-carbon processes, and developed a dedicated carbon calculator to create chemical products with a smaller footprint. 

The company engaged a leading climate consultancy to verify the product carbon footprints. This verification process enabled the company to use a recognised label, confidently communicating that the verified products have a lower carbon footprint than the market average. By sharing its calculation methodology with the wider industry, the company is showing climate leadership and encourages more organisations to measure, communicate, and reduce the emissions associated with chemical products.

The Future of Leadership

As our conversation concluded, Darragh offered a compelling vision for the future: “The distinction between ‘business leadership’ and ‘sustainable leadership’ is disappearing. In the most successful organisations, they’re becoming one and the same.”

This integration represents the frontier of leadership development—where business acumen and environmental responsibility become inseparable aspects of effective leadership.

For organisations looking to begin this journey, the structured approach offered by Furthr and Elephants in Main Street International provides a clear roadmap for transforming leadership and creating lasting, positive impact for both business and the planet.

To learn more about the GO FURTHR WITH ELEPHANTS IN MAIN STREET INTERNATIONAL programme and more about embedding sustainable leadership in your organisation, contact Furthr and Elephants in Main Street International for a consultation.