The world today is in a state of flux - geopolitical tensions, economic volatility, trade wars and environmental crises are converging into an unrelenting storm. In such a landscape, running an enterprise is no longer about operational excellence alone, it’s about human resilience. The role of a leader has fundamentally changed. From being a figurehead or coordinator, the modern leader is now omnipresent, emotionally available, environmentally aware and prepared to manage failure at multiple levels. Drawing on his rich experience, at a recent IMA India CHRO Forum in Delhi NCR, Suresh Narayan, Chairman and MD, Nestle reflected on how leadership must evolve to meet the moment. His message was clear: crises will come, but how an organisation and its leaders respond can define legacies.

Sustainability and ethics are no longer optional 'nice to haves’ but an essential element of long-term business success. Today’s organisations must go beyond minimising their environmental impact and actively integrate ethical practices and sustainability into their core operations. Avery Dennison, a global leader in materials science and digital identification solutions, is at the forefront of this transformation. By optimising labour and supply chain efficiency, reducing waste and driving sustainability, circularity and transparency, Avery Dennison is redefining how brands connect with consumers while making a lasting positive impact on the planet. At a recent ISF session, Saurabh Agarwal, Vice President and General Manager, Materials Group, South Asia, Avery Dennison provided valuable insights into building a responsible, future-ready organisation by embedding sustainability into operations, fostering ethical business practices and creating sustainable products.

The pressure of delivering strong results quarter after quarter can tempt even the best companies to be myopic on ethics and fair business practices. Sometimes, this gives rise to the sort of scandals that can destroy the very foundations of a business. While some may view 'fair practices' as resource-draining and growth-impeding, companies that adopt a values-based approach to ethics and compliance gain a long-term competitive edge in the marketplace. At recent combined sessions of the India CEO, CFO and CHRO Forums across India, Sabina Sudan, a corporate lawyer and active speaker on ethical and legal issues, discussed effective strategies for melding profitable growth with ethical practices, and how organisations can embed ethics into the corporate culture, including in their code of conduct, CSR initiatives and whistle-blower policies.