Look for certain qualities to identify employees who will tackle a company’s sustainability challenges. We all know the traditional interview questions, such as “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” “Why do you want to work at our company?” But what do you ask if you’re looking for someone who can move the company toward better social and environmental performance? Research that colleagues and I have conducted provides some answers. In a series of studies, we have found that leaders who promote social and environmental issues are more likely to have: - environmental experience (whether personal or professional) - training in business rather than law, and - exposure to shifting trends in society. Looking for these qualities in managers’ backgrounds can help us identify leaders who will commit to sustainability agendas.

Judith Walls

1 Dec 2018