EDITOR’S LETTER
EDITORIAL
Content editor Tim Banerjee Dhoul t.dhoul@amba-bga.com Head of editorial Colette Doyle c.doyle@amba-bga.com
THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME
Art editor Sam Price
As business schools ramp up their emphasis on sustainability, the world is set to see more leaders who truly understand their responsibility towards climate change and can grasp the strategic advantage involved
Sub-editor Heather Ford
B usinesses are alive to the need to incorporate sustainability and climate change into their thinking. The growing raft of regulations, such as the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, has certainly helped push the topic into the mainstream. However, there are also an increasing number of leaders who recognise the benefits of implementing effective sustainability strategies. In a 2024 PwC survey, for example, 56 per cent of 4,700 CEOs said their personal incentive compensation is now linked to sustainability metrics; suggesting that they believe such measures improve financial performance. The proportion of those who place high value on sustainability is sure to continue growing, as schools help shape the mindsets of tomorrow’s CEOs by placing issues relating to sustainability and climate change at the heart of their educational offerings and environment. “Learning is at the heart of all change: people don’t do new things until they’ve learned about them” says King’s Business School’s Catherine Tilley in our cover feature ( page 16 ). In the same feature, Matt Gitsham from Hult International Business School underlines that “the topics we put on the curriculum, the questions we ask and the skills we help develop all make a difference.” The article is the latest in our Perspectives series, rounding up the views of global
Insight, content & PR manager Ellen Buchan e.buchan@amba-bga.com CORPORATE Membership director Victor Hedenberg v.hedenberg@amba-bga.com Head of membership Debbie Kemp d.kemp@amba-bga.com
experts on key topics. In this instance, we learn of the importance attached to sustainability and climate change at BGA schools in five different countries, gaining insights into current approaches and initiatives. These are by no means limited to teaching alone: our commentators also reveal how schools are pursuing their own paths to net zero, collaborating with the public and private sectors on high-profile projects and supporting the development of solutions-oriented start-ups. The end result, as Gisma’s Phungmayo Horam surmises, is to “mould leaders who view sustainability not as a peripheral concern, but as a core driver of long-term business success”. In this light, it’s no surprise to see that sustainability and CSR are among topics topping the list of priority teaching areas in new AMBA & BGA research ( page 10 ). However, it is also noteworthy that while 23 per cent say their school is currently experiencing challenges relating to sustainability and climate change, only seven per cent rate these in the top three for issues currently affecting their institution. This suggests schools will need to ensure that more immediate concerns, mostly relating to finance and student recruitment, do not derail their efforts to meet the challenge of creating a better world.
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Tim Banerjee Dhoul Editor , Business Impact
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Copyright 2025 by The Association of MBAs and Business Graduates Association . All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. While we take care to ensure that editorial is independent, accurate, objective and relevant for our readers, BGA accepts no responsibility for reader dissatisfaction rising from the content of this publication. The opinions expressed and advice given are the views of individual commentators and do not necessarily represent the views of BGA. Whenever an article in this publication is placed with the financial support of an advertiser, partner or sponsor, it will be marked as such. BGA makes every opportunity to credit photographers but we cannot guarantee every published use of an image will have the contributor’s name. If you believe we have omitted a credit for your image, please email the editor.
Business Impact • ISSUE 4 • 2025 5
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