Managing Sustainability: First Steps to First Class

Managing Sustainability: First Steps to First Class provides a compelling case, real-world examples, and the tools to follow a proven strategy for aligning sustainability efforts with existing organizational priorities.

This strategy has taken companies from initial conception to the top of the sustainability rankings. Using examples from leading companies, readers will understand how to build-programs that drive results and enhance reputation.

Benefits include enabling companies to attract, hire, retain, and fully engage the best talent, seize the innovation high ground with new and premium products and services, provide access to socially responsible investment capital, implement "best practices," earn license to operate, reduce compliance and regulatory costs, and more.

Includes the latest trend to go beyond the organization's own "footprint" to integrate their values into their supply chains and build employee and customer loyalty by empowering these essential stakeholders to live their shared values.

Sustainability professionals or business strategists who are seeking to integrate effective programs that match corporate strategy with the purpose and values-driven initiatives that engage employees, build customer loyalty, and improve license to operate will benefit from the author's more than 30 years' experience in corporate communications, business, and corporate sustainability.

About the Author

With an international career spanning three decades, John Friedman is an award-winning communications professional and recognized sustainability expert who has helped some of the leading global companies to integrate their operational, financial, and cultural aspirations into sustainable and responsible business practices. He has been instrumental in helping three companies--Lafarge, Sodexo, and WGL Holdings--rise to the top of the sustainability rankings for their respective sectors: building materials, food service/facilities management, and energy. He has helped define long-range targets including science-based targets, developed and tracked annual goals in support of those targets, as well as managed programs relating to environmental stewardship, social progress, and sound governance practices.

Friedman is a founder and served on the board for the Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SBNOW), which was one of the first, and grew to be the largest, SBNs in the country. He is a respected voice for sustainability, often presenting at colleges and universities as well as meetings and conferences including Sustainable Brands, 3BLForum, Just Means, and Business for Social Responsibility (BSR). He has also authored more than 150 articles that have been published by Reuters, Huffington Post Business, Sustainable Brands, Triple Pundit, and others.

On digital media, @JohnFriedman is recognized as a thought leader; he is on Triple Pundit's List of the Top 30 Sustainability Bloggers on Twitter, #3 on GreenBiz list of most influential "twitterati," #14 on Guardian Business' 30 most influential sustainability voices in America, voted #4 of the "100 leading voices in CSR" by Global CEO Magazine readers, and has regularly been included among the top voices in CSR by Forbes' Brandfog.

Friedman has a communications degree from Albany State University and business certification from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.