In this final episode, Shargiil discusses the chapters centred on communication, transparency, partnerships, and collaboration within ESG strategies. He emphasises the significance of clear, concise, and concrete communication. The discussion highlights the value of sharing relatable stories about ESG metrics, such as converting tons of CO2 into understandable equivalents for stakeholders. The conversation stresses the importance of companies being transparent about their assump...

Shahjil Bashir, Chief Sustainability Officer of First Abu Dhabi Bank, discusses his newly published book 'From Vision to Impact,' which focuses on implementing sustainability in businesses. This episode establishes that senior leadership commitment is the fundamental cornerstone of any successful sustainability initiative within organisations. Bashir highlights the differences between ESG factors, which serve as a tool for assessing the environmental, social, governance, and broader sustainab...

The vital role of Stakeholders cannot be overstated. This includes employees, customers, suppliers, investors, regulators, and communities, all of whom play a crucial role in building trust, gaining insights, and ensuring alignment with sustainability goals. For customers, transparent communication about ethical sourcing, climate action, or social impact builds loyalty and trust. Modern consumers are increasingly conscious, often choosing brands that align with their values. Inv...

This episode examines the intricacies and significance of crafting a robust ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy that harmonises with both internal objectives and external expectations. Despite its perceived complexity, an ESG strategy is no different from any other business strategy. Setting a clear roadmap, prioritising short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals, and making these goals quantifiable is the key to success. L'Oreal and Unilever are mentioned to demonst...

In this episode, Shargiil discusses Chapters 7 and 8 of his book, focusing on measurement, reporting, and continuous improvement in sustainability. He begins by stressing the fundamental importance of measurement in assessing whether an organisation is succeeding or failing in its sustainability journey. Setting clear KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) is essential. They must be embedded within business objectives and broken down across departments to ensure collective progress. Bashir argue...

This episode emphasises that assessing a company's current environmental, social, and economic impact serves as the foundational step towards embracing sustainability. Without understanding the starting point, organisations risk navigating sustainability efforts completely blind, making it impossible to plan effectively for the future. Comprehensive data collection approaches across three key areas. Environmental impact assessment utilises frameworks such as the GRI (Global Reporting I...

This episode emphasises the importance of establishing clear, well-defined sustainability goals as the guiding force for organisations to ensure they are moving towards meaningful environmental and social change. Shargiil advocates for the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) to ensure goals are both effective and accountable. There is a distinction between short-term goals (achievable within 12 months) that provide quick wins and build momentum, mediu...

This episode explores the importance of integrating sustainability into a company's core operations and products, using digitalisation as an analogous example. Shargiil emphasises that sustainability is not just about words or a standalone concept; it needs to be fully integrated and embedded into every aspect of operation, similarly to how digitalisation has. They also talk about how businesses fell due to them not adapting to the market, with Blockbuster being a good example of this,...