In today’s era of climate transformation, leadership is no longer just about making decisions – it is about shaping the future. At Artha Consulting Network, we believe that real transformation begins at the top, with boards, supervisory boards, and executive teams who understand their pivotal role in guiding organizations through change.
Our CEO, Irena Pichola, President of the Responsible Business Forum and Chair of the Steering Committee of Chapter Zero Poland – a climate education initiative for boards in Poland – recently shared her insights on this topic across several inspiring events.
In the latest episode of the podcast “Wspólna Dzielnia” hosted by Łucja Paulińska, titled “It Starts at the Top – The Role of Boards in ESG”, Irena reflected on her over 20 years of experience advising management and supervisory boards. She discussed how leadership can effectively integrate ESG into strategic decision-making and company culture, emphasizing that sustainability is not just a matter of compliance or reporting, but a strategic priority.
The conversation explored key topics, including the essential ESG and climate competencies for boards, the strategic dialogue necessary to drive meaningful impact, and the readiness of Polish companies to bring sustainability expertise into top management roles.
Shortly thereafter, during Razem dla ESG’s “Wieczór z Inspiracją”, Irena joined Ewa Sowińska, Member of the Supervisory Board at Orlen, to discuss Leadership in the Era of Climate Transformation. Together, they explored the evolving role of boards and auditors, the changing expectations of stakeholders, and the competencies essential for modern leaders. Irena highlighted that understanding climate risks, interpreting non-financial data, asking the right strategic questions, and acting with ethics, integrity, and accountability are crucial for boards to become true catalysts of change. She stressed that climate transformation is not a cost but an investment in strategic resilience and long-term value creation.
Reflecting on the discussion, Ewa Sowińska shared:
“Inspirational meetings like today’s with Irena can truly shift the way we think. People working in sustainability bring such positive energy, and being around them is a privilege – you leave feeling rejuvenated, as if you’ve gained years of vitality.”
Another important platform where Irena contributed her perspective was the Chapter Zero Poland Conference, organized in collaboration with SGH Warsaw School of Economics, dedicated to presenting key findings from the report “Building Competitiveness through Climate-Competent Boards.”
The event gathered experts including Aneta Piatkowska, Ewa Sowińska, Piotr Glen, Mateusz Walewski and Karolina Adamska-Woźniak and focused on how climate competence at the board level strengthens organizational resilience and long-term competitiveness.
You can watch the full recording of the discussion here, and download the full report on the Chapter Zero Poland website.
These engagements underscore a key message: effective sustainability leadership starts with competence, conviction, and collaboration. Boards that embrace these principles can future-proof their organizations while building trust and sustainable growth.
At Artha Consulting Network, we support boards and leadership teams in this journey. Through dedicated educational sessions, advisory programs, and collaborative workshops, we help organizations build ESG and climate competencies, strengthen governance frameworks, and facilitate meaningful dialogue on ambition, accountability, and transition planning. Working with leading experts in Poland and internationally, we aim to empower leaders who navigate uncertainty with clarity and drive transformation with purpose.
We invite you to listen to the podcast here, watch the Chapter Zero conference video, and visit our LinkedIn for more insights and updates.
Photos: Piotr Kruszak / Forum Odpowiedzialnego Biznesu