The sustainability communication woes of CSOs, with Ellen Weinreb

The role of the CSO has changed significantly over the years, from a backroom marketing function to being key figures in their company’s business operation and growth. Roughly 183 public companies in the U.S. now employ a CSO, up from 29 in 2011, according to a recent report from recruiter Weinreb Group. Of those, more than three-quarters sit on the company’s leadership team while just over a third report directly to the CEO.With this elevated status comes increasing responsibility for CSOs to be the chief communicator of a company's social and environmental efforts — both internally and externally. Yet with many CSOs coming from technical backgrounds, they aren’t always prepared to be the person behind the podium. In this episode, Mike connects with Ellen Weinreb, one of the world’s leading sustainability recruiters who has worked with countless CSOs over the years, to better understand the ever-evolving role of the CSO and what this means for sustainability communication. Connect with Ellen Weinreb on LinkedIn.Follow Weinreb Group Sustainability Recruiting on LinkedIn.Read "Sustainability Chiefs Say Their Roles Have Become More Complex and Relevant" on The Wall Street Journal.Read the 2023 Weinreb Group Chief Sustainability Officer report. Order Sustainability Storytelling — Mike's book about communicating sustainability in businessFollow Mike on LinkedIn to stay updated on his regular insights on sustainability storytellingSubscribe to The Sustainability Story on Substack for more in-depth analysis of sustainability communication challenges and practical advice on how to overcome themGot a guest or topic idea? Reach out at howerimpact.com/contact