Integrating ESG factors into business strategies is an investment in long-term success and a chance to forge stronger links with all stakeholders. During today’s conference ‘Leadership and strategies for leading social-impact companies, organized by Esade and the SERES Foundation, senior managers of Canal de Isabell II, the Association of Registrars and the Indukern Group analyzed the challenges and opportunities of incorporating ESG factors into corporate strategy and culture, and how this affects competitiveness.

The managing director of the SERES Foundation, Ana Sainz, highlighted that “if we are to consolidate a new way of doing business and build a future that bridges the gap between economic and social progress, we must situate ESG factors and people at the heart of our business strategies.” “Leaders have a crucial role in transforming corporate social responsibility into opportunities inside companies. Whilst it’s true that regulatory frameworks have encouraged companies to implement ESG considerations as one of their most strategic assets, the big difference lies in how they are integrated with and linked to the business. This is the only way we can rise to the challenges we face and make our companies more competitive and profitable,” she commented.

Ignasi Carreras, professor and director of NGO-NPO management training programs at the Esade Institute for Social Innovation, said that “the advancement of ESG criteria in recent years has situated them increasingly at the heart of companies. In this strategic evolution, responsible leadership plays an important part in business purpose and its ability to make a social impact. Incorporating ESG considerations into the innovation of these processes is a crucial part of companies’ outlooks, and multi-sector collaboration is a key tool for making a bigger impact on society."

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