Starting in 2010, Ellen Weinreb created a column on GreenBiz called “Talent Show.” The goal of this column is to share industry trends and best practices in the collaboration between sustainability and HR. This article was originally posted on GreenBiz Talent Show.

GB Talent Show: Advice for breaking down sustainability silos in 2018

Dec 18, 2017 | GreenBiz Talent Show, What We Think

As I reflect on 2017, one of the positive changes I noticed was the breaking down of silos. As the walls between sustainability, corporate social responsibility and other corporate functions start to crumble, leaders are better able to extend their influence and catalyze the integration of sustainable business practices across their company.
As Charlene Lake, chief sustainability officer at AT&T, put it to me recently, this is a welcome change. “Businesses are recognizing that CSR programs, properly constructed, can help meet business objectives,” she said. “And the wise CSR professional is building a CSR initiative to meet that business objective without compromising social impact.” Lake noted that there’s a risk if CSR remains in an organizational silo. “CSR will be an afterthought,” she warned.
Read more here in the latest GreenBiz Talent Show post.