Hi there 👋,
We’re kicking off a fresh chapter for the TSC News — new format, same mission. Instead of walking you through all the changes, we’ll just get right to it: updates, insights, and a peek into what’s happening across the TSC community. Let’s dive in.
Making the "S" in ESG a Value Driver
What it really takes to turn social sustainability into strategy — and why it matters more than ever.
As regulatory timelines shift and compliance pressure softens, sustainability leaders face a familiar dilemma with new urgency: 👉 If compliance can’t carry the momentum, value creation has to!
But with rising uncertainty and tighter budgets, it’s getting harder to make the case.
Especially on the social side of ESG.
Compared to environmental topics, social issues often feel fuzzier, more emotionally charged, and harder to measure. And without clear metrics, proving the real value of initiatives is often impossible.
That’s what makes Nicole's story so timely. When she was asked to lead a new People Sustainability function at a major bank, she started with a deceptively simple question:
“We’re investing millions across multiple countries, so why can’t we say what’s working?”
What followed was a 100-day deep dive across five countries — uncovering a mosaic of brilliant, redundant, and sometimes outdated initiatives.
The organization had invested heavily in DEI, philanthropy, well-being, employee safety — but the work was scattered across teams, budgets, and geographies.
What was missing wasn’t effort. It was structure.
Nicole held up a mirror to the entire system — and what she learned along the way speaks directly to the challenges many face right now.
🔎 Scattered efforts = limited impact
Nicole found a fragmented landscape. While many programs were meaningful locally, they weren’t aligned across the business. Without a unified framework, it was hard to know what was working, where money was being spent, or how decisions were being made.
“You’re flying blind. And you can’t steer what you can’t see.”
🗺️ You need a control tower — and a map
One of her first steps was to create a digital stakeholder map — not just showing formal reporting lines, but identifying decision-makers, influencers, and knowledge holders across the company.
“It humanized the system — and sped up the process along the way.”
🔄 You don’t need more programs — just a new lens
Much of the value was already being created. The real challenge was making it visible and strategic.
“The point wasn’t to add — it was to align.”
🤝 HR is often the gatekeeper — so align early
Because social sustainability touches HR systems, Nicole made the strategic decision to embed her team within the HR function. This gave access to infrastructure and added legitimacy internally. But it also meant navigating existing structures and priorities.
“Being part of HR made it easier to access systems — and it gave the work credibility.”
🧠 Political friction is guaranteed — plan for it
Nicole led restructuring efforts — reallocating budgets, cutting legacy programs, and streamlining duplicated initiatives.
“You’ve got to be ready that that doesn’t make you popular with everyone.”
💬 Seeing the whole picture means changing how you measure
Many companies treat ESG data as a compliance task. Nicole’s team turned it into a strategic asset. By creating an algorithm that combined perception data, internal metrics, and external statistics, they were able to drive better decisions, anticipate challenges, and keep the company competitive.
“We changed the lens and turned ESG data into a business intelligence tool.”
❓ How is the “S” driving value in your organization?
Hit reply and share it with us. Your perspective might be featured in an upcoming edition.
✨ We're launching something new (with Green Digest)
Sustainability leaders are expected to track every policy shift, tech breakthrough, and industry signal — and somehow turn it all into strategy. It’s overwhelming.
That’s why we’re launching News in Perspective — a new monthly live discussion series co-created with Green Digest to cut through the noise and offer real-time context from experienced practitioners.
👉 Join us for the first edition: Link to event
🗓️ Upcoming Community Events
11.06 — Leadership Mindset Session:“The Art of Influence — Storytelling & Presence in Leadership”
To shape the future, you need to know how to shape a room. This session blends neuroscience, narrative design, and presence techniques to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and impact.
👉 RSVP and learn more
18.06 — Roundtable: "From Cost Center to Value Driver: (Re)positioning Sustainability at the Core"
In many organizations, sustainability is still seen as a cost or compliance task. This roundtable is for leaders changing that story—positioning sustainability as innovation, strategy, and value creation.
👉 RSVP and learn more
— Max 💜
P.S. Thinking about becoming a member? Visit our website to learn more about membership and see if it’s the right fit for you. 👉 Learn more
