03 Nov 2023

The importance of sustainability leadership within private capital

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October 2023; Thursday 7:32 a.m. – It's a lovely autumn morning. I stop at the Széchenyi Chain Bridge while jogging through Budapest's streets. I pause in the middle of my run to think and identify three things for which I am thankful - a practice I started during the COVID-19 pandemic confinement, when I, like many others, had to adjust to the then-new normal of much reduced social lives. I am appreciative of the chance to take on a new challenge, one that I believe will have a significant impact.

I had started my new role as Head of ESG & Sustainability at PAI Partners just that week. Throughout my twenty-year career, I have worn several hats as a sustainability leader, but never before has the business case been as clear and well-understood by various stakeholder groups as it is now. A year into the role now, I am even more convinced that the potential impact of sustainability leadership in the private equity sector is considerable. By implementing sustainable strategies—such as lowering carbon emissions, enhancing supply chain transparency, encouraging social responsibility and through resource efficiency— value is created; private equity firms can instigate meaningful change within the companies in their portfolio.

My own experience as a human rights attorney turned investment banker, then sustainability financier and now supporting private equity investments, has shown me that sustainability leadership is not only an ethical imperative but also a business benefit. Private equity businesses can effect positive change, produce superior financial returns and help ensure a more sustainable future by adopting a sustainability-focused approach. My dream is that more investment professionals see the value of sustainability leadership and join the effort to create a more affluent and sustainable world.

 

 

Authored by Denise Odaro
Head of ESG & Sustainability, PAI Partners


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