Leadership for a Sustainable Future: Reflections from the Horasis Global Meeting

In Vitória, Brazil, the Horasis Global Meeting brought together leaders from various sectors and continents to explore the integration of social impact, sustainability, and governance in modern business. Far from viewing sustainability as merely regulatory, this session, titled “Embedding ESG Throughout the Value Chain,” highlighted sustainability as a strategic asset—one that strengthens resilience, fosters innovation, and creates value in a changing global landscape.

Responsible Business for Long-Term Impact

The panellists underscored that sustainability, social impact, and governance are not isolated areas but are intricately connected to organisational goals and community values. Tackling these challenges requires a collective approach that spans sectors and generations. True leadership in this domain is grounded in a vision of responsible business that serves stakeholders, communities, and the planet. Each speaker presented insights and strategies that underscore what leadership grounded in social responsibility can achieve through intentional, inclusive collaboration.

Empowering the Next Generation

Dr Mamphela Ramphele, Honorary President of the Club of Rome, with a distinguished career in health, education, and sustainable development, emphasised the need for generational continuity in sustainability efforts. Her work with The B Team, a coalition advocating for responsible capitalism, has made her a prominent voice on the importance of actively involving the next generation in sustainability initiatives. Ramphele noted that effective social impact leadership doesn’t just engage with the present but is forward-thinking, preparing today’s youth to tackle tomorrow’s environmental and social challenges.

Insights from the “Planetary Health Check 2024” report reinforced the urgency Ramphele described. The report reveals that six of nine planetary boundaries, including climate change and biosphere integrity, have been breached, threatening Earth’s life-support functions. These findings highlight the need for upcoming generations to inherit a world that operates within a “Safe Operating Space,” prompting leaders to build a solid foundation upon which future generations can build. 

Advancing Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) 

Felipe Rigoni, Secretary of State for Environment and Water Resources in Espírito Santo, Brazil, illustrated the importance of Public-Private Partnerships in addressing large-scale environmental and social challenges. With his leadership in renewable energy initiatives and water conservation, Rigoni has long advocated for PPPs as a vehicle for transformative change. He explained that these partnerships enable a fusion of resources and expertise, making ambitious and actionable solutions possible.

For governments, PPPs bring the innovation and efficiency of the private sector, while for businesses, they offer the legitimacy and reach of public institutions. Rigoni’s work highlights that collaboration between these sectors is crucial, particularly when addressing issues as broad as climate resilience and infrastructure sustainability. In a world where social impact initiatives often require complex, multi-layered solutions, PPPs provide a framework for addressing challenges in a scalable and impactful way.

Leading Conservation Through Nature-Based Solutions

William Bohnett, Chairman of American Forests, presented an approach that taps into the resilience of natural ecosystems. Through reforestation and urban forestry initiatives, Bohnett has led American Forests in projects that restore biodiversity, mitigate climate risks, and enhance urban resilience. His work underscores that nature-based solutions are not only environmentally beneficial but economically sound, allowing businesses to address ecological challenges in ways that also support financial stability.

Bohnett’s leadership reflects the idea that conservation efforts, such as reforestation, can be integrated into business models as dual-purpose investments that safeguard natural resources while promoting sustainable development. For Bohnett, nature itself provides solutions that, when combined with thoughtful business strategy, become powerful assets in building climate resilience and supporting long-term profitability.

Fostering Global Collaboration

Charles Tang, Chairman of the Brazil-China Chamber of Commerce, illustrated the importance of international partnerships in driving sustainability. With extensive leadership across waste-to-energy projects, economic councils, and advisory roles with Chinese municipalities, Tang underscored that international cooperation is crucial for addressing global challenges. By fostering relationships that span borders and sectors, Tang’s work emphasises that sustainable impact relies on a diversity of perspectives, resources, and experiences.

Tang’s efforts highlight that issues like resource scarcity, pollution, and climate change are challenges shared by all nations. International partnerships provide a means for countries and companies to share knowledge, scale solutions, and build frameworks that are globally relevant and locally actionable. His work demonstrates that in a world connected by shared challenges, multinational cooperation amplifies the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives and accelerates their impact.

Building Cross-Sector Partnerships and Innovation

Nisaa Jetha, Founder of ImpactforSDGs, brought forward a comprehensive perspective on partnerships as the cornerstone of impactful social and sustainability initiatives. With a background in private equity, impact advisory, innovative legal structures, and purpose-based governance, Jetha has launched various energy governance campaigns within UK Parliament. She has collaborated with businesses, government bodies, and international organisations to drive lasting social impact.

Jetha emphasised that tackling today’s complex global issues requires a cross-pollination of ideas and resources across sectors. By fostering alliances between industries, she noted that partnerships help share innovations, leverage complementary strengths, and enable organisations to address social impact goals more effectively. Through her work with ImpactforSDGs, Jetha has seen first-hand how cross-sector partnerships can be a driving force in building sustainable value. She advocates that by uniting various sectors under a shared purpose, organisations can create initiatives that extend beyond traditional boundaries, meeting social needs while aligning with business objectives. 

Key Takeaways for Sustainability-Focused Leadership

The insights from this session highlighted sustainability leadership as forward-looking, collaborative, and deeply grounded in governance. To embed social impact and sustainability across the value chain, organisations must prioritise:

• Empowering Future Generations: Engaging youth in sustainability initiatives through mentorship and training programmes ensures continuity and injects fresh perspectives into sustainability efforts.

• Building Cross-Sector Partnerships: Collaborating with diverse partners enables organisations to pool resources and expertise, fostering scalable and impactful solutions.

• Embracing Public-Private Collaboration: Leveraging PPPs allows for innovative solutions to complex challenges, combining the best of both public accountability and private efficiency.

• Integrating Nature-Based Solutions: Conservation efforts like reforestation enhance biodiversity, mitigate climate risks, and offer economic benefits, making them essential to any long-term sustainability strategy.

• Promoting Multinational Cooperation: Engaging in international partnerships brings together global resources and local insights, creating a foundation for tackling shared challenges in sustainable ways.

Closing Vision: Collective Solutions for a Sustainable Future

The panel concluded with a unified message: the path to sustainable change is one that all sectors and communities must walk together. The panellists emphasised that impactful leadership requires embracing collaboration, inclusivity, and a shared sense of responsibility. When governments, businesses, and communities align on a shared purpose, the possibilities for progress are limitless. 

The Horasis panel demonstrated that social impact, when grounded in strong governance and a collective vision, becomes a transformative force, strengthening businesses, communities, and ecosystems alike.  The session set a path forward, calling on participants to combine their strengths, ideas, and commitment, working together to shape a future grounded in shared purpose.