Tag Archive for: CEO

BCSDH ’Transform Talks’ 2024: ’Being human’ – Responsible leadership = integration of human values into systems

Rising inequalities are one of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges (alongside climate change and biodiversity loss). Oxfam’s latest Report states that globally, the richest 1% own 45.6% of global wealth, the poorest 50% just 0.75% in 2023. High levels and patterns of inequality have also become a systemic risk at global level, threatening entire nations and societies.

Inequality also directly affects the performance of companies: it limits productivity, consumption and growth, destabilises supply chains, and causes political and economic instability. The business case for tackling inequality is about mitigating these risks while contributing to the long-term sustainability of business. It is important to understand what business needs to do to drive systemic change and accelerate the process to reduce inequalities. The key to driving change is to ensure that people are seen as a value in companies’ value-creation processes.

This was the topic of this year’s BCSDH ‘Transform Talks’ CEO Roundtable discussion series, in which more than 40 company leaders participated and shared their thoughts on the topic, the events were led by Márta Irén, BCSDH’s managing director.

Corporate values and culture, openness, partnership, community building. Some key concepts that characterise companies that put people first. It was clear from the roundtable discussions that the participating companies have a strong commitment to their employees. Training and education, support for physical and mental health, and the creation of employment systems adapted to life situations are all priorities. Many company managers shared their positive experiences and good practices in these areas.

However, companies face significant challenges in attracting and retaining employees with the right skills and competences. Significant progress is also needed in improving staff mobility and health awareness. At the same time, it is clear that partnership and leadership by example are of paramount importance in this area. Companies are taking on increasing responsibilities in a number of areas, including the continuous training of their staff and increasing access to health services.

The concrete results of the ‘Transform Talks’ CEO Roundtable discussions will be presented at the BCSDH Business Lunch on 10th October, together with the company’s best practices.

Special thanks to the hosts of the events for providing the venue, the photo galleries can be viewed at the links below:

8 May – Host: Knorr-Bremse
9 May – Host: OTP
14 May – Host: MFB
22 May – Host: Zwack

Thanks to our Time to Transform 2023 sponsor!

28.05.2024

No business without people – social innovations for a future-proof labour market – Sonja van Lieshout at the BCSDH Business Breakfast

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A third of the world’s workforce earns less than is necessary for their living. Eliminating the living wage gap could positively impact $4.5 trillion of global GDP. “Reducing inequality requires coordinated action from all stakeholders, including companies. Initiating change requires the recognition of humans as assets in the value-creation processes of companies,” – emphasised Sonja van Lieshout, President of the World Employment Confederation Europe and Global Head of Public Affairs at Randstad, at the Business Breakfast and Professional Forum of the Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH) held on March 26, which focused on Human Value. The participants were welcomed by Holczinger Norbert, Head of the Sustainable Finance Division at the National Bank of Hungary, the host of the day.

In addition to climate change and biodiversity loss, growing inequalities are our world’s most urgent sustainability challenge. Growing inequalities have become systemic risks globally, threatening not only individual communities or companies but entire economies and societies.

“Inequalities are an obstacle to social and economic progress, which also affects the performance of companies. At the same time, inequalities are also a consequence of our systems, which we can change. However, this requires the highest level of commitment, immediate action, and systemic change. We believe that the business sector must play a leading role in achieving this desired rapid change,” – said Attila Chikán Jr., President of BCSDH, in his opening speech.

“Companies can do most to reduce inequalities through their employees. Social innovation is key to moving forward, which means the holistic implementation of new solutions for working, learning and social protection for the benefit of workers, employers and society in general. This will lead to future-proof labour markets that work for all,” — emphasised Sonja van Lieshout, who was invited to speak by Randstad Hungary’s professional support.

In a closed professional forum following the presentation, business leaders and corporate, academic and civil experts discussed the current state of play and challenges associated with Human Value, such as the risk to business created by polarisation and loss of trust, creating value by valuing human capital, and the links between physical and mental health and efficiency, and explored several business best practices and solutions. These three main topics were led by Attila Kelemen, CEO of ProSelf Zrt, Sándor Baja, Managing Director of Randstad Hungary and Gréta Nagy, Managing Director of Dandelion Kft.

The insights from the professional forum, including the challenges and enabling factors that were identified, will be further processed during executive roundtable discussions in May. Our goal is to provide recommendations for companies on the topic of human value, which will be presented at the BCSDH Business Lunch in October. It is important to encourage companies to act in this area and assist them in taking the most important steps.

We hereby thank our Time to Transform 2030 sponsor:

26.03.2024

MIT is also counting on companies to become carbon neutral – a unique CEO consultation on “Fit for 55”

News

Budapest, October 25, 2021: At the request of the Net Zero Advisory Board, established in January, the Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH), together with the British Embassy, held a unique ‘Fit for 55’ CEO consultation. Company leaders and business sector representatives were able to meet and consult with Dr. Barbara Botos, Deputy Minister of State of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology (MIT). Discussions touched on the plans of the Hungarian government and the position of the business sector in relation to achieving the EU’s ambitious climate goals in Hungary. 31% of leading companies already have a net zero commitment.

At the British Ambassador’s residence, the Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy, Richard Shackleton – representing the host country of the COP26 climate change conference that starts on November 1 in Glasgow – hosted BCSDH member company executives, members of the Net Zero Advisory Board, and Dr. Barbara Botos, Deputy Minister of State on behalf of MIT, for a CEO consultation..

“The UN Climate Summit will start in a few days. We are all in the same boat. For climate neutrality by 2050, it is essential that everyone acts – companies, governments and individuals. We cannot delay any longer,” Richard Shackleton pointed out.

In July this year, the European Commission adopted a package of proposals for helping make EU climate, energy, land use, transport, and taxation policies capable of contributing to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to the level of 1990. This more stringent target is necessary for achieving the EU’s 2050 net-zero-emission target. To this end, the European Commission has revised its climate and energy policies and transportation-related legislation to align with the 2030 target and the road that leads to it.

“Hungary wants to be a net climate-neutral country by 2050, and we have also committed to a 55 percent national reduction by 2030, but it is extremely important that all this is achieved with the support of society. In the recently adopted National Clean Development Strategy, the government is exploring potential ways to achieve climate neutrality, as enshrined in law” said Dr. Barbara Botos, ITM Deputy State Secretary.

“It is also important that we place the business sector at the forefront of our goals, so it is essential to know the position of companies: what are the challenges they see, and what are the opportunities they need to overcome to make the green transition economically viable” – she added.

Climate change is already happening. A drastic acceleration of ambition and action is essential for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. To do this, we need to make our economy carbon neutral by 2050. Companies play a key role in this process. But even for them, low-carbon emissions alone cannot be the goal: climate-neutral operations must be achieved as soon as possible. This requires new technological solutions at all levels and a rapid change in consumption patterns. A supportive legal and regulatory environment is also essential.

“The BCSDH aims to generate changes in models and business solutions in Hungary that have a real impact on climate change and can generate real responses to domestic challenges due to their take up by other companies. An important step has been the establishment of the Net Zero Advisory Board that has the aim of placing greater focus on economic, governmental, and social factors in the transition to a carbon-neutral economy” – said Márta Irén, Managing Director of BCSDH. “Such consultations are crucial for speeding up the process,” she added.

26.10.2021

More and more companies are already making climate commitments for a carbon neutral economy – BCSDH Climate Talks CEO Roundtable Series

News

The measures taken so far need to improve to achieve a climate-neutral economy, drastic steps and commitments are needed, which was agreed upon during the BCSDH Climate Talks, a series of three business roundtables where companies presented their existing climate commitments and discussed what steps are needed to accelerate the process.

The contribution of the business sector is essential to tackle climate change. They also have a lion’s share to play in times of the pandemic and in restarting the economy at a more sustainable level. Systemic change is needed in value chains, business models, technological innovation, cross-sectoral collaboration and in shaping mind-sets, “business as usual” is no longer acceptable.

The April and May CEO roundtables, organised by BCSDH with the participation of 42 of top executives, presented the results and findings of the Towards Net Zero survey, conducted for the first time in Hungary, on the carbon neutral activities of the domestic business sector. Participating companies shared their climate change mitigation and adaptation commitments, their outstanding business solutions and discussed which leverage measures can help accelerate progress towards carbon neutrality.

Business leaders agreed that carbon neutrality targets can be achieved through targeted action plans based on sound measurement, sharing of existing business solutions and innovation. Avoiding further emissions, minimising current emissions and offsetting were also mentioned as current directions, but increasing transparency, new financing options and working with regulators were also mentioned as further steps.

“Last year showed us the vulnerability of many systems and how interconnected our world is. How health, the environment and the economy are interconnected. We need a more broad, systematic approach to make our world healthier, more resilient and more sustainable. We are seeing sustainability being embedded in more and more companies’ strategies, but we need to focus on key priorities such as ending the climate crisis, halting further loss of natural diversity and tackling dramatically rising inequalities. We must accept that businesses have a key responsibility to lead and drive change to improve our society. Lead with action and collaboratively, in partnership with academia, policy makers, institutions and NGOs,” said Attila Chikán Jr., President of BCSDH, CEO of Alteo Group.

BCSDH aims to showcase what the business sector can do on climate change and adaptation, how companies can make a real impact, and present exemplary commitments and business solutions that can be easily adapted by other companies at its annual business lunch on 7 October and in a publication to mark the occasion.

18.05.2021

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