Uncomfortable Conversation: Why transparency is key to sustainability strategies
England
8:30am to 11:00am // 15 October 2025
Register now
Our Uncomfortable Conversation series creates comfortable spaces to have honest conversations, bringing together our powerful and influential network to share challenges in an open environment. This is where we spark provocative debate, encourage our speakers and guests to step outside their comfort zone and push boundaries. As an industry, we far too often just scratch the surface of problems, but in these events we aim to delve a little deeper into business challenges offering up alternative perspectives and fresh ideas to address them.
Venue
The Pregnant ManDate
15 October 2025Time
8.30am - 11.00amDress Code
Smart CasualJoin us for our next Uncomfortable Conversations event: You can’t spin authenticity - why transparency is key to your sustainability strategy.
At the start of the decade many businesses publicly committed to ambitious sustainability goals and strategies by 2030, that signalled real intent.
Now, as we approach the halfway mark, the picture is more complicated. Progress has slowed. Targets have slipped. And some of the loudest voices from a few years ago are suddenly much quieter.
In many cases, it’s not a lack of ambition holding companies back, but the reality of what it takes to deliver. Outdated infrastructure, shifting priorities, and the challenge of building internal alignment have all played a part. And with mounting commercial pressure, many organisations are facing difficult trade-offs between long-term sustainability goals and short-term business demands. As a result, some ambitions are being quietly softened, or sidelined altogether.
In a world where commercial pressures are growing and public trust is shrinking, businesses are walking a tightrope: stay profitable, stay compliant, and stay honest.
In an era of noise and scepticism, leadership means more than saying the right thing, it means being believed. That means moving beyond bold headlines to something more powerful: transparency, consistency, and tangible action that people can actually see.
So how do we balance these challenges with progress and how do you talk about falling short without losing credibility?
WHAT TO EXPECT
Over the course of a few inspiring hours, you’ll hear from expert speakers who will guide you through:
How to communicate progress (and setbacks) with honesty and impact
How to balance transparency with commercial realities in a high-pressure environment
What it takes to lead (and be believed) in an era of noise, doubt, and distraction
How to tell sustainability stories that cut through and actually connect with people’s everyday reality
In Partnership With
TICKETS & PRICES
BUSINESS TEAM MEMBERS
This event is included in your membership, please make sure you are logged in and then click on Book your ticket at the top of the page.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
Your ticket is included in your membership, please make sure you are logged in and then click on Book your ticket at the top of the page.
NOT YET A MEMBER?
Our events are predominantly for our members but please register your interest (via the button at the top of the page) and one of our team will be in touch to confirm if a place is available.
SUBSCRIBER/DIGITAL MEMBER
This event is not available for your tier of membership, consider upgrading by contacting [email protected]
CPD OBJECTIVES
Hours
1 hour
This session qualifies for 1 hour of self-declared CPD learning. Please check with your professional body if this activity qualifies under your scheme and retain this summary as confirmation for your CPD records.
CPD Objectives
By attending this event, participants will be able to:
1. Understand the evolving landscape of corporate sustainability – Analyse the factors causing progress to slow, including infrastructure, shifting priorities, and commercial pressures.
2. Develop strategies for authentic communication – Learn how to share both successes and setbacks in a way that maintains credibility and trust.
3. Balance transparency with business realities – Explore methods to remain open and accountable while meeting short-term commercial demands.
4. Strengthen leadership in a skeptical environment – Gain insights into leading with integrity and being believed amid noise, doubt, and distraction.
5. Create impactful sustainability narratives – Acquire techniques to craft stories that connect with audiences’ everyday experiences and drive engagement.
