As we look to the future, organizations including Microsoft have an opportunity and responsibility to drive growth while taking timely action in crucial areas to benefit society and the world. At Microsoft, we believe in doing good while doing well.
During last week’s episode of Microsoft Envision, presented with Accenture and Avanade, I described Microsoft’s work in four key areas – trust in technology, inclusive economic growth, the fundamental rights of people, and sustainability – that companies of all sizes should consider for sustainable business growth.
Now in its second season, Microsoft Envision is a digital series where business leaders from around the world come together to discuss their company’s most pressing challenges and gain insights that can help them grow as leaders.
Episode 2 focused on what it means to be a responsible organization. Microsoft Chief Environmental Officer Lucas Joppa expanded on Microsoft’s efforts to become a carbon negative, zero waste and water positive company by 2030; shared takeaways from COP26; and offered a road map for other businesses to meet their own sustainability objectives – including the role that technology can play.
Nellie Borrero, Managing Director of Global Inclusion & Diversity at Accenture, spoke with Kenji Yoshino, Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at the NYU School of Law, about how embedding diversity and inclusion practices throughout your organization can benefit employees and drive innovation.
We also heard from John Downes, Director of Engineering and Innovation at SSE Renewables, who talked with Avanade Global Advisory Lead Jillian Moore about how SSE is protecting puffin colonies on Scotland’s Isle of May by using AI and machine learning. In addition, Mohamed A. El-Erian, President of Queens’ College at Cambridge University, shared his perspective on the risks posed by economic inequality and what leaders should do to expand opportunity.
To end the broadcast, tennis legend Billie Jean King sat down with Accenture Senior Managing Director Christie Smith to talk about the ongoing battle for equality, how technology is being used to improve the game of tennis and why it’s so important to be your authentic self.
If you haven’t already, register for Microsoft Envision to watch these and other on-demand segments, and be sure to join us for Episode 3 on Feb. 8, when we’ll explore how agility can help your organization compete to win.