A force to lead: How Chief Sustainability Officers can claim their relevance

Four actions to move from purpose-driven advocate to performance-aligned business partner

As geopolitical shifts, economic headwinds and regulatory fluctuations converge, corporate sustainability is facing a pressure test.

Chief Sustainability Officers are feeling the heat — expected to deliver with less time, fewer resources and sharper scrutiny. The stakes are clear: Demonstrate value — or risk being sidelined.

While external signals continue to shift, forward-thinking companies are quietly sharpening their focus — preparing to emerge stronger and better positioned to lead.

This is a moment of transformation, not retreat. CSOs must rethink their approach and make sustainability inseparable from business strategy.

Quantis’ new guide offers a pragmatic roadmap for CSOs navigating turbulent times. It outlines four actions CSOs can take now to:

• Translate sustainability goals into measurable business value across departments
• Align with core operational and financial priorities
• Reposition sustainability as a driver of competitive advantage, innovation and resilience
• Use data to prove ROI and manage risk
• Build influence across functions — from finance to procurement to marketing.

Sustainability isn’t dead — it’s evolving.
The window for aspirational approaches is closing. Boards and executive teams are demanding measurable returns, not just commitments. To secure sustainability’s place on the agenda and drive resilience, CSOs must seize this moment to lead differently, with results that yield business value.