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Summary
As a designer turned sustainability champion, Chris Hammond has played a pivotal role in embedding sustainability into IBM’s product strategy. In this session, he’ll share how a thought leadership initiative led to company-wide awareness and adoption—culminating in CEO Arvind Krishna integrating sustainability into IBM’s business approach. Chris will walk us through the building blocks of this transformation, from executive sponsorship and grassroots momentum to the small wins that paved the way. Hear about the challenges and breakthroughs in shifting an enterprise towards sustainability, including the impact of generative AI and strategies for maintaining momentum amid competing priorities. Expect practical insights on integrating sustainability into design and development, navigating the ebbs and flows of corporate change, and driving meaningful action at scale.
Key Insights
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Sustainability initiatives require collaboration across different teams within an organization.
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Recognition in corporate reports serves as a testament to the impact of sustainability efforts.
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Grassroots movements can effectively foster change even in large corporations like IBM.
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It takes time and persistence to secure the necessary approvals for sustainability publications in large organizations.
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Design practices can incorporate sustainability without needing separate frameworks, integrating it into existing processes.
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Understanding regulatory and voluntary frameworks enhances sustainability practices.
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Community building among designers and sustainability advocates is crucial for implementing change.
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Feedback from clients is a key driver for developing sustainability practices in product design.
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The role of executive sponsorship is essential for successfully embedding sustainability into corporate culture.
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Fostering a sustainability consciousness requires continuous improvement and intentional actions.
Notable Quotes
"It's a journey that requires a village."
"The world needs to know that IBM's been on this journey for decades."
"We're serious about sustainability, and this needs to be embedded in everything we do."
"I hope in five years that we don't have chief sustainability officers, because it's just embedded in the way we do work."
"The fastest way to reduce your emissions is to reduce the energy requirements of the way you do business."
"We should celebrate and amplify what we're already doing that's sustainable."
"There will be social impacts from any sustainability decisions we make."
"Your job prospects are probably better outside the U.S. if you're passionate about sustainability."
"We can prototype our way through the challenges of sustainability."
"It's not about just doing design thinking, it's about embedding sustainability in every process."
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