Better Leadership, Better World: Women Leading for the Global Goals

The Business and Sustainable Development Commission (BSDC) ran from 2016 to 2018 with a mission to inspire and mobilise business leaders to align their companies with the SDGs.

This report aims to encourage more women and men to pursue a leadership approach aligned with the Global Goals and shows that women in leadership roles have a unique part to play in achieving the goals. The report also makes the case that companies choosing to develop diverse leadership teams will gain a growing competitive advantage as they build the world envisaged by the Global Goals.

Specifically, this report demonstrates why and how more women throughout business – from supply chain workers to managers, investors and CEOs – can lead in creating a prosperous and sustainable future. The report also highlights and celebrates the work women are doing to meet the 2030 deadline.

The report is intended to be inclusive, since all leaders will need to develop new competencies if we are to achieve a future that will benefit everyone. That said, we have chosen to highlight some interesting findings on women’s leadership, which also provides a platform for women to share their perspectives. We believe the evidence in this report makes an important addition to the conversation about women and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

We hope this report will encourage all leaders, women and men, to seize the unique opportunity we have to create a better world by doing business better. We also hope it supports the growing understanding that diverse leadership teams are the best way to achieve progress in pursuing the Global Goals and amplifying their impact.