It is rare for me to react with shock but President Trump’s announcement that the US is withdrawing from the 2015 Paris climate agreement is simply wrong. Thankfully the world is a bigger place than an individual and where I spend my time in progressive organisations sustainability is at the heart of the agenda.
I have just launched a new leadership programme with Heathrow entitled Leading Sustainable Growth. It will enable leaders to explore what it means to be a sustainable leader, build capability to drive sustainable growth and be inspired to make the right trade-offs. The programme revolves around 4 key pillars central to Heathrow’s sustainability strategy – A Great Place to Work, A Great Place to Live, A Thriving Sustainable Economy, A World Worth Travelling. I am aware that the aviation industry is contentious, but the due diligence and level of responsibility Heathrow are taking about ensuring that we live in a better world is admirable.
Trump’s decision forces all of us to take another look and see how we are contributing to the creation of a better world through our work, life and relationships. In watching Mark Zuckerberg’s Commencement address at Harvard made a couple of weeks ago, I was struck by his call to purpose. “Today I want to talk about purpose. But I’m not here to give you the standard commencement about finding your purpose. We’re millennials. We’ll try to do that instinctively. Instead, I’m here to tell you finding your purpose isn’t enough. The challenge for our generation is creating a world where everyone has a sense of purpose.”
My biggest invitation to you is to go deeper into the discovery and unfoldment of your personal purpose. This will inspire you to lift up and truly make a difference at all levels of your work and life.