July 23rd, 2026 | 4:00 PM CEST | 10:00 AM EDT | 7:00 AM PDT
Sustainability leaders are navigating more complexity than ever, and less support than a few years ago. Budgets are tighter, internal scepticism is louder, teams are smaller, and the external obligations from customers, regulators, and investors have not slowed down. The CSO in 2026 is being asked to do more with less, while the ground keeps shifting underneath them.
This panel session brings together senior sustainability professionals from different industries for an honest, practical conversation about what that actually looks like. What approaches are working to build internal influence and align the business around sustainability? How do the best sustainability leaders move from managing reports to shaping decisions? And how do you stay ahead of a dynamic environment when the rules, the budgets, and the expectations all keep changing at once?
The main topics covered in this session:
- Deregulation narrative vs. the actual regulatory calendar
- Budget pressure vs. requirements that are not going away
- Internal scepticism vs. external obligation
- Compliance pressure vs. strategic ambition
- Smaller teams, bigger scope
The discussion will also be shaped by your questions and concerns as a sustainability professional. Join and explore common challenges and best practices!
