In today's polarized world, leaders must balance various factors for organizational and societal wellbeing. Many embrace ESG as a strategy for managing sustainability risks and setting ambitious goals to motivate and inspire action on climate change, EDI, and more. Conversely, some view the ESG framework as misleading, “woke,” or simply inadequate to generate meaningful impact. How do leaders manage the tension between ESG and the pursuit of profits? And what characteristics do leaders need to navigate these complexities?
The Leadership Challenge: Tackling tradeoffs and tensions for a sustainable future will bring together a panel of national experts to explore the challenges and opportunities leaders face while navigating the complexities, tradeoffs, and tensions of ESG. This complimentary virtual event will showcase the latest thought leadership for those seeking to go beyond polarization and create sustainable impact for a more prosperous world.
Meet the panelists
Oana Branzei, Professor, Strategy and Sustainability
Oana Branzei is the Paul MacPherson Chair in Strategic Leadership and Professor of Strategy and Sustainability at Ivey Business School. She founded the HBA Sustainability Certificate, the MSc Graduate Diploma in Sustainability, the PhD Sustainability Academy, and co-founded the Spring Institute. After a decade championing the UN’s Principles for Responsible Management Education at Ivey, she now leads ESG and SDG case curation and global dialogues for Ivey Publishing. Oana also heads the global Regeneration Lab, working with research teams on grand challenges across five continents.
Duncan Fulton, Chief Corporate Officer, Restaurant Brands International
Duncan Fulton has been Chief Corporate Officer of Restaurant Brands International (RBI) since June 2018, overseeing global communications, North American franchising, government relations, and ESG initiatives. He also chairs the Board of the Tim Hortons Foundation. Before joining RBI, Duncan held various roles at Canadian Tire Corporation and was Senior Partner and General Manager at Fleishman-Hilliard. Prior, Duncan served as a communications advisor and spokesman for several political leaders, including former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
JP Gladu, Principal, Mokwateh
JP Gladu is a prominent Indigenous business leader dedicated to creating innovative partnerships and equitable opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous business communities. He is a member of Sand Point First Nation located on the eastern shores of Lake Nipigon, Ontario. JP is on the board of Suncor, Broden Mining, and the First Nations Major Projects Coalition Advisory Centre, among others. He is Chair of Canada's Forest Trust and a member of BHP's International Forum for Corporate Responsibility committee. Previously, he was President and CEO of the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business.
Meet the moderator
Dusya Vera, Professor of Strategy and Executive Director of the Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership
Dusya Vera holds the Ian. O. Ihnatowycz Chair in Leadership. She is an award-winning professor, researcher, humanitarian, and a recognized expert in the field of leadership. She currently serves as a Professor of Strategy and the Executive Director of the Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership at Ivey – the School’s premiere institute focused on character leadership. A prolific scholar, her work appears in top academic and practitioner journals, and she contributes as an editor for several journals. Dusya is leading the implementation of the Western Leadership Certificate, powered by Ivey, which will engage Western students in the knowledge and practice of leadership.