IMD_SustainabilityReport_Digital

IMD Sustainability Report 2020

4

Foreword by the President

Under the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020was a year that disrupted and transformed our lives, perhaps permanently. Through this crisis, a greater level of awareness has emerged with more businesses recognizing the urgent necessity of, and value in, serving people, planet and performance concurrently.

society. Challenging what is and inspiring what could be, IMD helps shape high-performing organizations that are also more collaborative, responsible and transparent to deliver a more equitable and sustainable

Pandemics, climate change and growing inequalities point to grave outcomes for our communities and ecosystems if we do not act. A commitment to sustainability means meeting the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. IMD’s purpose as an institution is to develop leaders who transform organizations and contribute to

future. While there are currently still some trade- offs between profit, social and ecological impacts, we believe that evolving regulations, social attitudes and opportunities for innovation will increasingly lead to alignment between these objectives. In response to these challenges, IMD researches, designs and co-creates effective solutions around sustainability and business. This approach, together with a clear purpose, provides the tools and the confidence for executives, investors, policymakers and consumers to make choices and seek out opportunities that will leave a positive legacy. In 2020, we deepened our research into sustainability, social innovation and philanthropy, in part through our research centers and chairs such as the new Lundin Chair for Sustainability, the elea Center for Social Innovation and the IMD Global Family Business Center. We also collaborated with leading Swiss universities UNIL and EPFL through the Enterprise for Society joint initiative. To improve access to our programs, IMD invested in technology so we could deliver our award-winning programs to executives and organizations around the world, regardless of ability to travel - while also reducing the related carbon footprint. We put in place strict health and safety measures on campus to ensure a COVID-secure environment when we were able to provide face-to-face programs.

Image: IMD embraced technology to deliver programes such as OWP liVe.