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Corporate Sustainability at the Top:How the New Green EconomyCan Propel Your Executive Job Search
Victoria Zelin, Senior Vice PresidentHudson Gain Corporation
March 2009
Five Penn Plaza, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10001 Phone 212.835.1601 www.hudsongain.comCopyright ©2009 Hudson Gain Corporation
Agenda
Introduction to Hudson Gain Hopes for Today Context: Definitions of Sustainability Sustainability Continuum Who are the Leaders of Sustainability? Hudson Gain’s Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO)
Study Positioning Yourself and Interviewing What will You Do?
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Founded in 2002, Hudson GainCorporation believes that the work ofcorporate leaders is to make theirorganizations sustainable from theperspective of the triple bottom line:People, Profit, Planet.
Hudson Gain focuses on the People partof the equation: helping management“build or buy” their leadership talent. Asa leadership solutions firm, we serve thetalent acquisition, talent development andchange management needs of clientcompanies of all sizes and industries.
Among Hudson Gain’s leadershipsolutions are helping companies hire orappoint Chief Sustainability Officers andbuilding employee engagement forSustainability.
Copyright ©2009 Hudson Gain Corporation
Hopes
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The Context: Definitions of Sustainability
“Meeting the needs ofthe present withoutcompromising the abilityof future generations tomeet their own needs.”
Brundtland Commission(1987)
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Planetsustainable resources
and operating environment
Profitssustainable business
increased present value
Peoplesustainable employee
and customer base
Sustainability Continuum
Reactive ActivistIndividual Level
Denial Leading EdgeOrganizational Level
How will you positionyour job search in the current market?
Copyright ©2009 Hudson Gain Corporation
Who are the Leaders of Sustainability?
Can oversee Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR),Community, Environmental
Some CEOs are CSOs for their organizations Sustainability roles should grow
Employees and Customers want Green American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009 “Cap and trade”/tighter legislation
Roles can develop organically inside/or requireskills/hires from outside
Contents of the Hudson Gain CSO Study
Going Green? Don't Hire a Sustainability ChiefUntil You Read This Study!http://echem.goiwx.com/downloads/HudsonGain_ChiefSustainabilityOfficerStudy08.pdf
“Universal” CSO requirements Key CSO responsibilities and challenges Filling the role internally or externally Examples of Top People/Companies Sustainability 1.0 vs. 2.0 Quotes
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Where Do Sustainability Leaders ComeFrom? Senior and middle management, or high-level
technical roles Almost all functions, depending on many factors Previous experience in another function (not
sustainability) Typically internal, supplemented by technical
consultants Some are external hires Builders vs. Managers, creators vs. maintainers
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Our Study Found CSOs from ….
Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Supply Chain Finance and Audit Human Resources Law Compliance Operations Public Relations and Communications Engineering Research and Development
Required for Sustainability Role
Communication Technology Financial/ROI Measurement Innovation Ethics Supply Chain Operations/Structure Culture
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Clear Vision
Passion
OrganizationalRespect
Persistence
Tenacity
EmotionalIntelligence
Leadership
Copyright ©2009 Hudson Gain Corporation
Sustainability Leaders Need…
Credibility in strategic issues Functional or technical Political/decision-making Negotiating internally, with suppliers Decision-making and execution Organization culture/style Alignment across silos/vendors Influence/change management skills Industry expertise?
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Positioning re: Sustainability
Position yourself above the next candidate Past accomplishments in Supply Chain parallel
sustainability work Cost/Benefit Analysis and Cost Reduction initiatives Shifting to a Six Sigma or Process mindset Adding another business lens to decision-making Mobilizing workforce for added discretionary effort
Sustainability functions adjacent to yours? Leverage past experience into a new career Should you hook your star to Sustainability?
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Where are you on the continuum?
Reactive ActivistIndividual Level
Where do you fit on the Sustainability Continuum?
Copyright ©2009 Hudson Gain Corporation
Transferable Skills
Past Experience/Skills Reposition for Sustainability
Cost Savings
Process Improvement
Change Management
Cross-FunctionalCollaboration
Prepare for Interviews
Research the company’s stand and the media(green-washing)
Confirm with insiders before believing either press Do they match with your expectations? Plan how to position yourself based on their stand After testing the water, share your position
How did you get interested in Sustainability? Where have you been involved in projects? What impact on the triple bottom line have you made?
If You Are on the Reactive End…
Reactive ActivistIndividual Level
Think of Sustainability in terms of creatinga long-lasting organization vs. the “Green Thing”
Copyright ©2009 Hudson Gain Corporation
Reflection: What will you do?
What can you do today that will help you positionyourself as: An active learner or early adopter in your own function A collaborator or change agent across functions Able to oversee/include Sustainability areas A Sustainability leader
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Call us when you need us!
Victoria ZelinSenior Vice President908 306 [email protected]
Hudson Gain Corporation Five Penn Plaza, 23rd floorNew York, NY 10001www.hudsongain.com
19Copyright ©2009 Hudson Gain Corporation
