Disable your ad blocker to enjoy the full interactive features of this document.
From influencers to orchestrators: The changing skillset of a sustainability leader
From influencers to orchestrators: The changing skillset of a sustainability leader
Our survey explored what key role the sustainability leader is playing now compared to the role they feel they should have. edie found that sustainability leaders are still trying to influence business decisions rather than orchestrating and executing systemic change.
Given that the previous segment of this report noted that 47% of sustainability professionals believe that their role has lost its meaning, it's unsurprising that there is a perceived gap between what leaders are currently doing internally and what they feel they should be doing.
There was a time when most sustainability professionals were struggling to get a foot in the door to make ESG a boardroom agenda, and fortunately, we’re now in a place where sustainability strategies are an integral part of business. That one-third of sustainability professionals report to the chief executive is also a welcome step forward.
“My job has enabled me to become a climate ambassador and work with schools to produce climate action plans which means the skills and knowledge I have acquired in this job has a much further reach than just internal to my business.”
So, what role do sustainability leaders have internally? We at edie have dissected the way in which sustainability is viewed – and therefore the role a leader will have - into the following ways:
· Executive: Implementing and delivering an ESG strategy
· Orchestrater: Embedding ESG across the business to deliver wider change
· Influencer: Informing stakeholders of key ESG developments and trying to gain buy-in
· Activist: Disrupting current business approaches to ensure a focus on the planet
· Accountant: Reporting and disclosing performance data and metrics
· Representative: Representing the company at events, building networks and partnerships
When asked to rank what role best matched the sustainability leader of 2025, “influencer” came out on top, selected as the best match by one-third of sustainability professionals. Next came “executive” (cited by 27%), again building the notion that we are in an implementation phase of corporate sustainability delivery.
Orchestrator came third, suggesting that many businesses are still getting used to how to embed ESG across different functions. Despite the big focus on reporting and disclosure, “Accountant” was only selected as the best match by 16%. Representative (7%) and Activist (5%) both scored lowly.
While this is a reflection of the current state of play of sustainability, sustainability practitioners do not necessarily think it's what they should be doing.
edie also asked respondents to rank those labels in terms of what a leader should be doing over the course of the next five years.
What should leaders be doing?
Influencer
Informing stakeholders of key ESG developments and trying to gain buy-in
Now
In five years' time
Executive
Implementing and delivering an ESG strategy
Now
In five years' time
Accountant
Reporting and disclosing performance data and metrics
Now
In five years' time
Orchestrater
Embedding ESG across the business to deliver wider change
Now
In five years' time
Activist
Disrupting current business approaches to ensure a focus on the planet
Now
In five years' time
What should leaders be doing?
Now
In five years' time
Influencer
Informing stakeholders of key ESG developments and trying to gain buy-in
Informing stakeholders of key ESG developments and trying to gain buy-in
Executive
Implementing and delivering an ESG strategy
Implementing and delivering an ESG strategy
Accountant
Reporting and disclosing performance data and metrics
Reporting and disclosing performance data and metrics
Orchestrater
Embedding ESG across the business to deliver wider change
Embedding ESG across the business to deliver wider change
Representative
Representing the company at events, building networks and partnerships
Representing the company at events, building networks and partnerships
Activist
Disrupting current business approaches to ensure a focus on the planet
Disrupting current business approaches to ensure a focus on the planet
The data suggests that the sustainability professions need to move reporting out of the department, either by embedding it into financial accounting, automating processes, or bringing in specialised reporting roles. Indeed, Accountant drops from the third-placed match to the bottom.
The “influencer” role, whereby CSOs try to inform stakeholders and gain buy-in, also drops down the list, likely because the audience hopes that businesses will be more committed and aware of sustainability opportunities and risks moving forward.
Overall, the survey charts an evolution of the sustainability leader from one that is informing key decision makers to day to one that becomes a key decision maker in the future, executing key implementation decisions and orchestrating change from within.
Resiliency and Resurgence
Sustainability professionals are delivering change. Even when the headlines show that sustainability might be slipping down the corporate agenda, edie’s survey shows that impact is being seen. A total of 48% of respondents have seen “a tangible” impact from their work within their organisation, with a further 40% stating there “is a suggestion” that their work makes a difference. This may play into a key survey finding, which is that job satisfaction within the sector sits at 7/10 on average.
As for the personnel within the sustainability workforce, one-third (32%) have been in their role for more than two years, with a further 26% having been in their current role for 24-48 months. Given the demand for high-skilled sustainability professionals and the growing number of green jobs on offer, longevity could well become a secret ingredient for companies looking to hit their long-term goals. Additionally, more than two-thirds (68%) currently feel that they are fairly compensated for the work they put in.
“I value the opportunity my role gives to translate environmental benefits into core business continuity/risk/financial benefits - ultimately I'm not concerned with the company's motivation to reduce the environmental impact as long as the reduction itself is taking place!
That’s not to say it’s a solely positive outlook from within the profession. The aforementioned pressure points regarding resources and finance, not to mention the ever-shrinking window to respond to the climate crisis, have caused some challenges.
Almost half (42%) of sustainability professionals have experienced burnout related to their role in the last two years. When it comes to reasons why a sustainability practitioner would consider leaving their role, a “lack of corporate ambition” was cited as the biggest consideration. Also high up the list was “a belief that ESG is not being taken seriously,” a “lack of top-down buy-in” and “work culture”. Despite evidence of financial constraints being shown throughout this report, a “lack of financial support” was only cited as a major consideration for leaving by 12%.
“Many in sustainability view businesses as main contributors to the climate crisis, which is a fair argument, but where the biggest impacts come from, the biggest improvements can be made - I see it as somewhat of a duty as an environmentalist to use my career to tackling the really difficult spaces for sustainability.”
© 2025 edie