For over 100 years, the 8th of March has been globally recognised as International Women’s Day. The day celebrates the women’s rights movement and brings attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. In this article, we showcase the remarkable accomplishments and inspiring International Women’s Day quotes of those leading the charge for sustainability.
Women continue to play a vital role in making the sustainable business field what it is today. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, Sustainable Future News is honoured to highlight some extraordinary women in sustainability who we have worked with and are currently making a difference in this space.
We’re thrilled to share their accomplishments and distinctive perspectives, including powerful International Women’s Day quotes, as we celebrate the remarkable women paving the way for sustainability.
Marisa Drew, CSO at Standard Chartered
Marisa was appointed as the chief sustainability officer (CSO) for Standard Chartered Bank in July 2022. Managing the company’s sustainability strategy, Drew focuses on sustainable finance and net zero delivery teams under one umbrella for the bank. Previously, Drew was the CSO and global head of the sustainability strategy, advisory & finance group at Switzerland-based Credit Suisse.
In 2021, Drew was recognised as one of 100 Global Visionary Leaders by Meaningful Business and EY. She has also been recognised by the BBC as one of the Most Powerful Women in Britain and by Fortune Magazine as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in International Business.
International Women’s Day quote:
To all the committed and fabulous female ‘sustainability warriors’ out there, please keep on applying your considerable intellect and passion to the big world challenges we face. With the incredible female talent we have invested across the sustainability sector, we are and will continue to deliver the change the world so critically needs.
Gina Rudkin, head of sustainability & zero waste at Axil integrated Services
Gina has spent the past 25 years working in the waste management field and has a proven track record of driving change and implementing sustainability and zero-waste strategies within organisations. In 2021, she was appointed as a Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM) Fellow, becoming the 36th female Fellow since the organisation’s inception in 1898. Such awards are offered to leading professionals in resources and waste management as a formal acknowledgement of their outstanding achievements in the sector.
In her role as head of sustainability, Rudkin is responsible for leading the company’s efforts to reduce its own environmental impact and drive sustainability initiatives across all aspects of its operations, as well as supporting Axil’s clients with their initiatives.
International Women’s Day quote:
I’ve had the privilege of working alongside so many amazing women during my career, both as colleagues and in the wider sector. I have been inspired by their willingness to share knowledge, experience and networks to help each other develop. Sustainability is a consideration for all businesses across all sectors, and therefore presents interesting career opportunities for women, which is why it is so valuable to provide each other with support and mentorship.
Dottie Schindlinger – executive director at the Diligent Institute
Dottie Schindlinger is the executive director of the Diligent Institute, the think tank and global governance research arm of Diligent Corporation. In her role, Schindlinger provides thought leadership on governance, cybersecurity, and technology topics through presentations to boards and executives dozens of times each year at events around the globe. Her work has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and multiple governance and technology publications.
Schindlinger has over twenty years of experience in governance-related roles, including serving as a director, officer, committee chair, senior executive, governance consultant and trainer for private, public, and non-profit boards. She is the vice chair of the Board of the Alice Paul Institute, and she is a Fellow of the Salzburg Global Seminar on Corporate Governance.
International Women’s Day quote:
I have been an advocate for women’s equality and a volunteer in this space for more than two decades – working with organisations like the Alice Paul Institute to help promote gender equality under US law, and educate young women and girls on the history of women’s fight for equality and their place in the movement. There is so much work to be done, but each step forward inspires me to keep going.
Sarah Schaefer – VP sustainability Europe at Electrolux Group
Sarah Schaefer is a sustainability and public policy expert with specific and wide-ranging experience in building corporate reputation and business strategy. She also has a background in Government, on both UK, and EU levels and for international organisations such as the United Nations. Schaefer has worked as a special adviser and in a global corporate role and specialises in dealing with ambiguity, strategic agility, working collaboratively and driving for results.
International Women’s Day quote:
For sustainability more broadly, I remember a senior leader saying to me, I know I HAVE to do this (agenda), make me WANT to do this. As a woman senior leader; be yourself and trust your experience and instincts.
Emma Keller – head of sustainability at Nestlé UK&I
Emma Keller is a sustainability professional with over 10 years of experience across the industry. Keller has a proven track record of leadership and driving change, bringing a breadth of knowledge, strategic insight and a pragmatic can-do attitude to engage and collaborate with stakeholders in both policy and corporate spheres. Focused on action and delivery to drive breakthroughs in food system sustainability.
Keller’s background has been in environment and specifically food, having served at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Keller also attained a PhD in sustainable supply chains whilst in the sustainability team at Unilever, prior to joining Nestlé.
Meredith Sumpter – CEO for the Council for Inclusive Capitalism
Meredith Sumpter is the CEO of the Council for Inclusive Capitalism, where she leads the work of the council along with private, public, and civic stakeholders to drive reform initiatives that make capitalism inclusive and its benefits more widely and equitably shared.
Formerly, Sumpter was head of research & strategy at Eurasia Group, a global political risk advisory firm, overseeing the firm’s research platform and provided analysis on global politics. She previously led strategic advisory for Fortune 500 firms across East, Southeast and South Asia, worked in the US Senate, and served as a US diplomat in Beijing, where she advised two US ambassadors and analysed politics, economics, and security issues for the policy community.
