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Sustainability is no longer an option, but an essential strategic pillar for companies.

This was confirmed by nearly a hundred Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) who met at the first CSO Day, organized by EADA Business School in Barcelona.

The event, chaired by Ainhoa ​​Grandes, Chair of the CSO Day, President of the MACBA Foundation, member of the Board of Trustees of the EADA Foundation and its Impact Committee, was attended by prominent leaders in the sector, who discussed the main challenges and opportunities that CSOs face today. Cristina Sánchez, executive director of the UN Global Compact in Spain, has highlighted that CSOs must lead their companies towards resilience, taking sustainability out of their departments and raising it to the level of CEOs, while transferring it to the entire organization. During the day, experts agreed that integrating sustainability into business strategy is key to competitiveness, resilience and long-term profitability.

An evolving role: from activism to business strategy

The role of the CSO is undergoing a transformation. Far from being just an impact manager, this profile has become a key figure within management committees. "A mature sustainability strategy cannot be understood without complicity in all business areas," said Cristina Sánchez. This cultural change is being driven by the growing demand for transparency and commitment from investors and consumers.

The data supports this: 84% of companies consider that sustainability offers competitive advantages, compared to 70% in 2022, according to the annual survey of the Global Compact. In addition, companies with high ESG standards achieve better financing conditions and higher EBITDA in the long term.

CSO skills: empathy, execution and influence

Beyond technical knowledge, sustainability leaders must have key skills such as empathy, execution capacity and influence. Marta Puyuelo, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director at PepsiCo Southwest, stressed the importance of empathy to interact with multiple actors inside and outside the organization. Ana Palencia, Director of Communication and Sustainability at Unilever, stressed the need to move from theory to action, while Sonia Quibus, General Manager of Banco Sabadell and Director of People and Sustainability, emphasized the relevance of influence to generate a real commitment throughout the company.

The challenges: coherence, digitalization and regulation

One of the major challenges highlighted during the day was the need to maintain coherence between what companies say and what they do. "Unfulfilled promises can have a negative impact in the long term," warned Ana Palencia. In this regard, Manuel Puig, Chairman of the ESG Committee of the PUIG Board of Directors, stressed that companies with a purpose generate more value and a positive impact on society.

Another key challenge is digitalisation, considered essential to move towards a more sustainable economy. Elena Valderrábano, Global CSO of Telefónica, highlighted that without digitalisation, the green transition is not viable. Likewise, the pressure to present quarterly results and the growing regulatory burden were pointed out as barriers that can slow innovation in sustainability.

Award to the CSO of the Year

One of the highlights of CSO Day 2025 was the presentation of the CSO Award. Jordi Díaz, Dean and Director General of EADA, highlighted that “there are many sustainability events, but very few recognise the responsible director”. In addition, he announced that there will be a CSO Day 2026.

The award was presented by Mario Rovirosa, CEO of Ferrer, who emphasised the key role of the CSO in the transformation of companies: “CEOs are distracted. CSOs must influence companies to be much more than just generating a return on investment for the shareholder.”

The award, carried out in collaboration with ReTree, symbolises a message of regeneration. The winner of the CSO Award was Silvia Agulló, Director of Sustainability and Reputation Risks at the DKV Seguros Group. Rovirosa highlighted that she is an “inspiring person, promoter of many impact initiatives, ethics, diversity, a good educator on the subject and a disseminator in multiple forums.”

In her acceptance speech, Agulló underlined the importance of sustainability as a transversal axis within organisations: “Sustainability is transversal, or it is not. We must understand the need to take care of dialogue and relationships, and create collaborative links that generate trust and facilitate innovation.” In addition, she highlighted the role of the CSO in building a unique identity within the company and in generating a sense of belonging. “At the end of the day, the CSO aims to achieve balance between all the parties involved,” she concluded.

Training and long-term vision

CSO Day 2025 has highlighted the importance of training in responsible leadership. Sonia Quibus highlighted the need to understand regulatory changes and technological evolution, while Marta Puyuelo advocated the creation of committed teams and constant communication on sustainability.

In this sense, EADA Business School reinforces its commitment to training leaders capable of facing the challenges of the future, offering specialized programs in sustainability and responsible leadership.

Conclusion: looking beyond the short term

As a conclusion to the event, Ainhoa ​​Grandes closed the day with an inspiring message: “You are activists and tightrope walkers. It has been a very inspiring day. The journey is endless.” He also highlighted the importance of the capacity for constant influence and the need to act with “head, heart and hands” on the path towards a sustainable future.

The experts agreed on the need to “activate the long beams”, that is, avoid short-termism and broaden the view towards a sustainable future. Sustainability should not be seen as a choice between business or social impact, but as an indispensable combination for business success.

With initiatives such as CSO Day, EADA Business School is consolidating its position as a benchmark in the training of business leaders committed to sustainable and profitable development.