With International Women’s Day this week, we asked our founders to share their journey of forming and leading Williams Hall. Dianne Williams and Helen Hall created the company around the values of courage, curiosity and tenacity. Forming the business was an opportunity for them both to role model those values to their children, especially their teenage daughters. We recognise Dianne and Helen’s contributions to furthering the diversity discussion at home and work.

Sustainability is the next disruption facing corporate Australia. In contrast to disruptions that enabled efficiencies or new business models, like digital technology, sustainability begins with values and behaviours. This puts it squarely in the remit of Chief People Officers, who can help their executive understand how sustainability aligns with their corporate mission and define meaningful strategies that do good for the community, planet and shareholders. Some of Australia’s top CPOs shared their approaches at our recent round table, and we share their insights here.

The relationship between people, profit and the planet had never been easy. For a long time, people and the planet have been instruments for achieving profit. Shareholders have long benefitted from this approach, but is it right?

Finding that balance and committing to a purpose that helps create positive value is the agreed vision for corporate sustainability that Chief People Officers at the round table Williams Hall hosted last month. The CPOs in attendance represented a wide range of industries but almost all of them were in the early stages of defining their approach to sustainability.

The group agreed that some executives and directors could see sustainability strategies as a non-essential business outcome. But soon, reporting on carbon reduction efforts will be a legal requirement for all Australian businesses, meaning sustainability won’t be optional.

Creating a culture and values that supports sustainability is a unique opportunity for CPOs. Learn more about the discussion.

What is your leadership team doing to ensure both the physical and mental well-being of your workforce is being prioritised?

Do you know what your employees want, or do you just think you know?

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