In a time of rapid transformation, the most valuable asset any company has isn’t just its technology or its business model—it’s you. Joann Garbin, author of The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft, explores how we can connect the dots between three of the most urgent forces shaping the future of business: sustainability, AI disruption, and innovation. Understand how innovation thrives at the intersection of these forces to see your role in a new light—not as a siloed function, but as a catalyst for purpose-driven change in a world where sustainability, technology, and innovation are converging at record speed.

We’ve all heard about the intention-behavior gap: people say they want sustainable products—but don’t follow through. For years, the theory was simple: make sustainable options easier to identify. So we rolled out eco-labels, certifications, and environmental labeling—believing awareness would drive action.

It hasn’t moved the needle enough. Sustainable innovations have struggled to gain real traction.

This session will reveal the hard-earned lessons from L’Oréal Professionnel’s journey—what didn’t work, what did, and what changed when the brand stopped telling consumers what they should care about and started focusing on what they actually do care about. Hear about diverse strategies and messaging that drive real results when we market and scale sustainable innovations.

Explore how I’m green™ bio-based resins are helping shift industries away from fossil-based materials. Backed by life cycle assessment studies, this session examines the measurable carbon reductions achievable through bio-based solutions and what these findings mean for the future of sustainable product development. Gain a data-driven understanding of how substituting renewable inputs can help mitigate climate impact and accelerate innovation.

What skills will future CSOs need to lead the transformation as sustainability evolves from a function to an integral part of business strategy? The role of the Chief Sustainability Officer has never been more critical—or more complex—and the real game-changer is strong leadership. Procter & Gamble Chief Sustainability Officer Virginie Helias will share her experiences on how sustainability is integrated into the company’s business strategy – across its operations, supply chain, and brands. She will discuss how great sustainability leaders are not only change managers, they are the catalysts of transformation—internally and externally. This is why they must embrace a comprehensive range of qualities, particularly focusing on Creativity, Collaboration, Courage, and Compassion. By doing so, they will foster transformative innovation, drive radical collaboration, and cultivate a culture that rewards both bravery and empathy.