Sustainability has become a central focus in today's dynamic business environment. B2B customers are increasingly prioritizing socio-political factors in their decision-making processes, driving the adoption of environmentally friendly and socially responsible practices.

While the concept of ‘sustainable development’ emerged in 1987, it has undergone a significant shift in recent years. Once a fringe topic, sustainability has moved to the forefront of business strategy, with ESG principles becoming essential.

Over the past 3 to 4 years there is a growing focus among investors and CEOs to consider global issues such as climate change and social inequality.

While Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) play a crucial role in driving organizational change, they face many challenges.

The role of the CSO varies across organisations, unlike other emerging executive roles, they often encounter ambiguity, fragmentation and overlap.

There is a rise in female representation to 58%, coming from a range of professional backgrounds, from law to strategic business roles, enhancing the characteristics and motivations of CSOs.

We evaluated the sustainability efforts of various Chief Sustainability Officers from the 2023 Weinreb Group list, classifying them according to their distinct traits, actions, backgrounds, and motivations.

Compared to other C-Suite executives reaching and engaging CSOs requires more credibility and a clear story and creativity.

Recognizing the pivotal role Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) play in buying committees and their influence on C-suite sustainability decisions is essential.

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