Empowering Sustainability: A New Era for Chief Sustainability Officers

Record-low water levels, mass coral bleaching, and extreme heat waves are no longer anomalies. They’re signs of a changing environment that’s already disrupting how companies operate, build supply chains, and plan for the future. And more organizations are responding by making climate resilience and sustainability a core part of how they do business.

Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) are leading that charge. But experts say the work is far from simple. It demands long-term thinking, practical solutions, and the ability to align people around a shared goal. “Sustainability isn’t just one thing. It’s everything,” says Andrew Lowe, Korn Ferry Senior Client Partner and Sustainability Practice Lead for EMEA. “Leaders need to see the whole system and still make progress day to day.”

To better understand how the CSO role is evolving, Korn Ferry spoke with sustainability leaders across industries and around the world. While their remits are broad, their focus is clear: environmental sustainability is front and center. It’s measurable, it matters, and momentum is building.

Based on our conversations, our new report, Empowering Sustainability: A Call to Action for Chief Sustainability Officers, captures what today’s leaders are prioritizing and how they’re making progress. We also offer useful guidance for CSOs looking to lead with clarity in the face of growing climate risk.

Building a Stronger Foundation for Sustainability

Business leaders are paying closer attention to the financial impact of climate change. A recent analysis found that 62% of executives plan to increase their sustainability budgets, with more investment in technologies like hydrogen, renewables, nuclear, and carbon capture.  “Sustainability is no longer just about risk or compliance,” says Cheryl D’Cruz-Young, Senior Client Partner in Korn Ferry’s Global Energy & Global Sustainability practice. “It’s seen as a driver of value.”

That shift, echoed throughout our interviews, is pushing CSOs to focus more on outcomes. When sustainability leads to new products, cost savings, or market growth, the conversation moves from purpose to performance. And that’s where momentum builds.

Sustainability, at its core, is about creating long-term value for shareholders, employees, customers, communities, and the planet. When built into business strategy, it can strengthen supply chains, boost brand reputation, and unlock smarter ways of working. Remote work, for example, doesn’t just cut costs—it reduces emissions too.

Still, progress isn’t linear. Change comes with both breakthroughs and setbacks. Leaders will need to plan for multiple futures, set ambitious goals, and stay flexible as conditions shift.  “Long-term transformation takes a strong culture, skilled people, and a shared commitment to change that lasts,” says Scott Atkinson, Senior Client Partner in Korn Ferry’s CEO & Board Services and Global Sustainability practices.

What CSOs Need to Lead Well

Today’s CSOs are doing more than advocating for sustainability. They’re stepping into broader leadership roles, helping organizations stay focused, align across silos, and lead through change without losing sight of the bigger picture.

Some CSOs come from policy or technical backgrounds. Others move into the role from strategy, operations, or even the C-suite. No matter their path, they’re being asked to lead across the enterprise—building influence, connecting priorities, and communicating clearly across teams.

In a world flooded with information, CSOs are expected to hold a wide view—everything from business strategy, market shifts, and stakeholder pressure to regulation and climate science. The most effective leaders, our experts say, make sense of all that complexity. “They connect the dots, turn insight into action, and balance long-term goals with short-term business needs,” says Kate Shattuck, Managing Partner in Korn Ferry’s Global Impact Investment practice.

Through our research and interviews, we identified three defining strengths needed to succeed in the role:

1. Connectors. CSOs bridge silos and link strategy to action. They align teams, peers, partners, and regulators around a shared direction.
2. Collaborators. They lead with clarity, balancing vision and execution. By building trust and managing tension, they keep teams focused during times of change.
3. Catalysts. They push progress. With curiosity and resilience, CSOs challenge norms, solve complex problems, and keep the organization ready for the future.

From Strategy to Action: A CSO Toolkit

Sustainability takes vision and action. Drawn from the insights of CSOs we interviewed, this toolkit outlines eight actions leaders are using today to turn strategy into execution:

1. Tailor the message. Shape sustainability messaging to fit your audience. Highlight risk reduction and value creation for investors, innovation for execs, and back it up with data.
2. Build cross-functional depth. Encourage rotations across functions like finance, operations, and tech to strengthen strategy and link sustainability to outcomes.
3. Plan for multiple futures. Use tools like scenario planning and backcasting to prepare for disruption and chart long-term pathways.
4. Nurture curiosity. Create a learning culture where teams ask questions, explore, and adapt. Leaders should model humility and openness.
5. Lead with humility and resilience. Strong CSOs listen, adapt, and help teams bounce back from challenges. Support this with training and cross-functional learning.
6. Embrace change as ongoing. Transformation takes time. Regularly assess readiness, align across teams, and adjust strategies as needed.
7. Channel collective energy. Align purpose-driven employees with business goals. Use structure and coordination to turn energy into impact.
8. Anchor with governance. Use KPIs, incentives, and accountability to embed sustainability across the organization and make measurable progress.

These practices can help CSOs move from strategy to execution—and from intent to lasting impact.

A Call to Action for CSOs and Senior Leaders

This is a defining moment for sustainability. It’s a chance for business leaders to step back, reimagine their role in the world, and commit to long-term value—for their organizations, their people, and the planet.

As the CSO role expands, the leaders we interviewed agree that it’s becoming one of the most strategic positions in the enterprise. “The CSOs who lead with influence, connection, and clarity are helping their companies move forward with purpose and impact,” says Timothy Smith, Principal in Korn Ferry’s Global Industrial Markets practice and Sustainability Practice Lead for APAC.

To succeed, CSOs will need to stay open, curious, and resilient. They will need to create space for innovation, tie bold ideas to business goals, and use tools like scenario planning and collective action to guide smart decisions.

Our research shows that while the work is challenging, the opportunity is clear. “With the right leadership, sustainability becomes a path to a stronger future for everyone,” says Lowe.

Click here to download Empowering Sustainability: A Call to Action for Chief Sustainability Officers and explore insights from the CSOs shaping the future of business.

Learn more about Korn Ferry’s ESG & Sustainability capabilities.