Beyond Sustainability: How Leaders are Shaping a Greener Future

Rachel Scheel, SVP Global Talent, Development and Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Criteo

Rachel Scheel, SVP Global Talent, Development and Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Criteo

Originally from Australia, Rachel Scheel began her HR education at Queensland University of Technology. She started her career in HR leadership in the insurance and finance sectors before relocating to the UK in 2008 with GE Capital, where she expanded her expertise in HR, organisational change, talent, culture and DEI roles.

Before her current role, Rachel was the Global Executive for Culture, Inclusion, Diversity, and Engagement at GE Healthcare. In her current role at Criteo as SVP of Talent, Development and DEI, she leads the global strategy to enhance organisational culture, align people and development initiatives and oversee the global CSR and DEI priorities to contribute to creating an environment where diversity thrives.

Sustainability in Leadership is a Key to Growth and Impact

Sustainability is no longer a ‘nice to have’ for leaders—it’s a leadership responsibility. Today’s forward-thinking leader needs to move away from simply aiming to be ‘sustainable’ to embedding actual green practices into their business strategy. Leaders are moving beyond regulatory compliance and brand reputation to align business operations with the growing global demand for environmental responsibility. As businesses recognise that the transition to net-zero could generate $12 trillion annually, integrating sustainable practices is increasingly seen as essential for long-term growth and resilience.

Adding to this, a critical reality that many businesses need to consider is the talent impact. In 2024, employees aren't just looking for a paycheck—they're looking for purpose. If a company isn’t taking sustainability seriously, it will fall behind. Accountability for environmental impact isn’t just good for the planet; it’s a talent magnet and an engagement booster.

When leaders take proper accountability for sustainability, the advantages become contagious through and beyond their teams. They attract eco-conscious talent, boost employee engagement and foster a more innovative, purpose-driven company culture. This alignment with sustainability improves retention, enhances the company’s reputation and strengthens employer branding. In addition to this, sustainable practices often create healthier work environments, benefiting employee well-being. Overall, sustainability-focused leadership positively impacts HR by building a more engaged, motivated and loyal workforce.

Leaders can show real commitment to sustainability by working with specialist teams and ensuring green initiatives are embraced company-wide and not just by one central department. These efforts should be owned across all functions, as protecting our planet is everyone’s responsibility.

The cumulative effect of leaders implementing sustainability practices could lead to a transformative shift in how a company operates and its ability to significantly reduce carbon emissions. This also presents opportunities for companies to meet their global environmental targets, promoting resilience against climate change and resource scarcity.

Eco Goals as Strategic Priorities: When sustainability aligns with the business strategy, it becomes part of the culture. The sustainability team provides support, but it is the leaders of teams who are responsible for driving green efforts and meeting environmental commitments within their teams.

"Sustainability is no longer a ‘nice to have’ for leaders—it’s a leadership responsibility."

Role Modelling Eco Leadership Habits. Leaders can prioritise sustainability in their daily actions by reducing energy use, making smart travel decisions, minimizing waste and supporting eco-friendly practices across the workplace, showing that sustainability is part of everyday leadership.

Growing Eco Expertise: One major issue is that sustainability is seen as a specialised skillset, and there is a need to develop broader knowledge and expertise to support green strategies operationally.  Leaders who invest in training, building awareness and supporting the growth of skills necessary to support sustainable operations are most likely to see more reliable traction towards achieving their environmental improvement goals.

Engage Employees to be Eco-Friendly: Leaders can engage teams in sustainability projects, form green committees, appoint champions and encourage ideas to reduce carbon emissions. These actions boost accountability and awareness and ultimately improve the company’s environmental impact.

Eco Measurement and Goals: In setting clear, achievable sustainability targets and tracking progress regularly, as well as communicating progress to ensure that actions are held to account across the business. In doing so, leaders have the upper hand as they can actively demonstrate the return on investment regarding the work being done behind the scenes.

Reward Eco Behaviours: Recognising and rewarding green efforts inspires sustainability champions, bringing sustainability efforts into real practice for every employee and it shows that the company values each person's impact, encouraging others to follow suit.

These six real-world “Eco-focused” actions support sustainability as a key to leadership practice. They reinforce the commitment that modern leaders must apply and sustain if they want to promote a more positive experience for the company and the employees who follow them.

Genuinely successful leaders today must focus on a combination of operational and strategic topics and broader societal and ecological priorities beyond their day-to-day management responsibilities.  By aligning business strategy with the greater good, they acknowledge their commitment to employees, customers, shareholders and the environment. This holistic approach positions them as stewards of positive change, driving sustainable growth that benefits both people and the planet.

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