Sustainability Champions: Pragmatic Agency and Social Skill in Sustainability Practice Implementation

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

This paper explores the strategies of executives leading sustainability initiatives across multinational companies in multiple geographies and sectors. It draws on qualitative multiwave interviews with senior leaders and applies a network lens to the diffusion of sustainability initiatives within multinational enterprises. The findings show that change agents often draw on external networks to build resilient work identities and require social skills in managing stakeholders of sustainability initiatives. The paper thereby draws attention to the organizational paradoxes of sustainability leadership, where leaders need to have personal conviction but require pragmatic approaches in dealing with outside stakeholders.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 5 Sept 2024
EventBritish Academy of Management Annual Conference - Nottingham Business School, Nottingham, United Kingdom
Duration: 3 Sept 20246 Sept 2024

Conference

ConferenceBritish Academy of Management Annual Conference
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityNottingham
Period3/09/246/09/24

Keywords

  • Sustainable HRM
  • Social Skill
  • Social Networks
  • Multinational companies
  • Qualitative interviews

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