Businesses are central to the global sustainability transition. At the same time, the role, the contributions and impact of businesses in society are coming under growing scrutiny.

Despite attempts to extend the life of unsustainable business-as-usual products and services, current approaches often lack the necessary mindsets, tools and mechanisms to enable businesses to respond to intensifying systemic shocks and pressures. As a result, even ambitious organisations that seek to lead are unclear on how best to deliver effective, sustainable solutions across markets and supply chains.

There is an urgent need to address this challenge. Over the next decade, companies will need to align their purpose, governance, culture, leadership and strategy with long-term value creation for society to motivate their people and thrive commercially as sustainable businesses. To achieve this, they will have to adopt transformational practices and organisational innovations and implement ambitious strategies and programmes for change. As well as transforming internal practices and mindsets, businesses will also need to engage externally to create the enabling conditions that scale sustainable value propositions.

Activating leadership and action in influential organisations

In an era of disruptions, polarisation, complexity and increasingly intricate sustainability debates, the core business case for sustainability remains clear and enduring: business cannot thrive on a planet in peril.

Find out how CISL works with organisations, enabling them to transform themselves to achieve long term value creation and resilience.

What we do

Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) has played a key role in shaping the principles and practices businesses need to make this transformation. We will provide you with the knowledge, skills and tools to enable you to deliver transformational change and impact.

Business Transformation in Principle

Read our ‘Unleashing the sustainable business’ paper series to understand the foundational principles of a purpose-led
sustainable business that delivers long-term wellbeing of all
people and planet. These reports informed CISL’s contribution to
the first ever standard for a sustainable purpose-led organisation.

Business Transformation in Practice

Try our practical Business Transformation Framework to assess your organisation’s progress towards a sustainable purpose led organisation and inform your goals and transformation journey. This is informed by leading practice from across our business network and Leading with a sustainable purpose report.

Business Transformation in Action for Climate

Check out our Net Zero Strategic Framework if you are just
starting out to decarbonise your business operations and, for
those already on the journey, our Net Zero Business Transformation Framework to accelerate change in an era of turbulence and complexity.

Business Transformation in Action for Nature 

Use our nature strategy diagnostic tool to understand nature-based solutions and inform your decision-making to operate in a nature positive world. Our other resources and case studies highlight examples of actions and approaches to regenerate and restore nature.

Business Transformation in Action for People

Read our ‘Business, justice and the new global economy’ report to help your business incorporate considerations of justice into
decision-making. Many of our Fellows research topics that explore how businesses can benefit people.

Upskilling leaders to deliver business transformation

With a deep understanding of the changing global context and access to a wealth of world-leading research into sustainable business, our programmes draw upon leading academics, practitioners and innovators to help inform business strategy and inspire action.

Governance for a Sustainable
Future

For professionals seeking to unleash transformative change by leading with sustainability-aligned decision-making.

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Business and Social Justice

For business owners, individuals, and professionals wanting to deepen their understanding of the structural roots
of social injustice and how business can
lead the way to transformational change..

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Business and Climate Change

For professionals looking to combat climate change and build business models that are resilient to, and profitable in, the low
carbon, resource-efficient economy of the twenty-first century.

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Business Sustainability
Management

For professionals wanting to act as an
agent for positive change and lead sustainability across an organisation.

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How we work with businesses

Our work with businesses over the last 30 years indicates that in many instances, even when leadership teams are enthusiastic and energised about their role in delivering a sustainable future, it is unclear what they need to do, how they should prioritise tasks, and which stakeholders they need to engage in order to be most effective.

We help individual organisations to find specific answers, develop scalable solutions to common business challenges that push the boundaries of leading practice, and help companies measure and optimise their impact and value to society.

Diagnose where they are on their transition, where they need to get to and how they can accelerate change.
Support companies integrate sustainability in their strategies in order to align with a net zero carbon transition, address inequalities and social justice, and protect and restore nature.
Design and implement sustainable business transformation programmes to leverage strategy, people and technology towards becoming a sustainable business.
Develop and pilot innovative commercial approaches and solutions across value chains to address specific risks and opportunities.