Tech-Driven ESG: Innovating For A Sustainable Future

Three words; Environmental, Social, and Governance; mostly referred to as simply as ESG. There have been major talks about ESG in the recent years but what is it that the world is aiming at in terms of ESG?

When you hear of the word ESG, there’s a lot of things that come to your mind but most people throw their mind at climate change, emissions, pollution, and other matters to do with technology. Well, they’re not technically wrong, but there’s more to ESG than just what we hear in marketing posts and climate events.

At the CIO100 Awards, a panel of ESG experts unpacked major topics around the subject but mostly how to use a tech-driven ESG strategy to innovate for a sustainable future. The panel comprised of Grace Vihenda, Head of Innovation & Sustainability at Kenya Airways, Divine Muragijimana, ESG Consultant, Joyce Kangongo, Senior Manager – Revenue Management, Business Intelligence & Reporting, James Ndegwa, Practice Lead at Westcon-Comstor; moderated by dx5’s Head of Content Africa, Carol Odero.

The panelists all defined ESG as basically how we can make sure that we are doing today is going to help us have a better future as well. This means that ESG goes beyond the climate action, there are a lot of things that can help us be guaranteed of a better future.

Grace Vihenda talked about the social aspect of ESG and the economic one as well giving examples of how in today’s world we need to do business for good. Business that helps create a better world and not just for the show or for public relations.

“We also know that ESG has been highly politicized lately giving it a lot of connotations, but we need to always remember that the core of it is the good we are doing. We need to develop and follow these ESG strategies because it is the best thing to do,” she said.

Grace Vihenda, Head of Innovation & Sustainability, Kenya Airways

On his part, James Ndegwa, agreed with Vihenda mentioning that the financial implication of any ESG strategy needs to be considered more. He further said that the importance of having an ESG strategy is that it helps a company predict risks and make good investments.

On her part, Divine Muragijimana, the ESG Consultant, insisted that companies need to take their ESG practices more seriously and not just do it for the show or to earn customers. Muragijimana is of the opinion that ESG needs to have its own department and team in any organization.

“A lot of people and companies are talking about ESG and how they have a strategy for it but it’s not really embedded in their overall strategies. A company can even go to the lengths of having a Chief Sustainable Officer with a team that ensures ESG is embedded into the company’s strategy and culture,” she remarked.