After reading the recent Harvard Business Review article, Corporate Sustainability Is in Crisis. What Should Companies Do Now?, I found myself reflecting on both the challenges it outlines—and the resolve it reignites.

The article paints a stark but accurate picture: growing geopolitical tensions, economic pressures, and a rising backlash against ESG (environmental, social, and governance) initiatives are threatening to undo years of progress. Companies are pulling back, sustainability teams are shrinking, and public trust is wavering.

But rather than signaling the end of corporate sustainability, I see this moment as a critical inflection point—a chance for organizations to reaffirm their commitment to ESG and reshape the future with purpose and pragmatism.

ESG is not just a feel-good add-on. It’s a framework for resilience, a lens for long-term value creation, and a tool for navigating complexity. Climate risks, supply chain disruptions, social inequity—these aren’t abstract concepts. They’re business realities. ESG helps companies understand and respond to these issues in a meaningful, measurable way.

As the article rightly points out, companies that align sustainability goals with core business strategies and innovation will be best positioned to thrive. But I’d go further—those that walk away from ESG now risk losing trust, relevance, and competitive edge.

This is not a time to retreat. It’s a time to double down. That means embedding sustainability into operations, linking ESG to economic performance, and communicating transparently with all stakeholders. It also means advocating for smart regulation that levels the playing field and supports long-term investment in sustainable growth.

I believe this isn’t a crisis of corporate sustainability—it’s a test of leadership. A challenge to move past performative gestures and into a phase of practical, credible action.

Let’s not abandon ESG. Let’s evolve it. Let’s show that sustainability can drive innovation, reduce risk, and unlock new opportunities. Because companies that lead with purpose today are the ones that will be standing strong tomorrow.