It’s time for EHS professionals to rebrand and expand
Use your executive presence to raise the profile of EHS
Environmental health and safety (EHS) departments are actively contributing to sustainable growth and operational excellence. By showcasing their value and learning from the successes of other teams, EHS professionals can elevate their role and gain recognition as strategic advisers to C-suite executives and board members.
In today's rapidly changing business environment, the role of EHS is undergoing a significant transformation. Traditionally seen as compliance enforcers, EHS professionals are now being called upon to play a more strategic role in driving long-term growth and operational excellence. As the role of EHS continues to expand, EHS leaders can continue establishing their executive presence and broadening the impact of their work in the following ways:
- Bolstering leadership with elevated input: As CEOs face ongoing challenges around regulatory changes, economic uncertainty, and workforce engagement, EHS can “influence up” to help illuminate blind spots and address these challenges in support of the company's strategic goals.
- Helping to widen the risk lens: EHS professionals can bring new perspectives to corporate governance, assisting CEOs and boards to think differently about EHS performance and widening the risk lens through more insightful and probing discussions.
- Taking cues from other departments: EHS can look to the examples of cybersecurity and sustainability leaders as a potential model for rebranding and expanding their role into the c-suite.
Showcasing your executive presence and value
EHS departments have moved from facilitating compliance to actively helping companies grow sustainably. By helping to mitigate risks, preserve company reputation, and manage critical data, EHS professionals are well-positioned as a strategic adviser to the business—but leadership doesn’t always recognize that. Today’s era of technological advancements; environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting requirements; heightened activist investor activity; and black swan events, presents an opportunity for EHS professionals to showcase their value and gain executive regard.
In turn, EHS roles are overdue for a rebrand—one that better portrays their role in driving performance as a strategic advisor to C-suite executives and board members.
How other departments won the rebrand
Cybersecurity and Sustainability teams have transformed their roles from being functional leaders to becoming strategic advisors in the company. Following these examples, EHS may also consider ways to move beyond a single-function focus and take a seat at the table alongside executive leadership.
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Sustainability |
Information Security |
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Once focused only on niche environmental concerns, the role of sustainability professionals has grown. Leading organizations commonly have chief sustainability officers (CSOs) on staff to lead the company toward more strategic and resource-saving processes. |
Once seen as only gatekeepers, cyber teams are now responsible for leading digital transformation and proactively preventing cyber threats. Cyber teams have integrated into other areas of business and routinely work with other teams to enhance efficiency and drive goals. |
Scaling EHS value across the organization
Deloitte has extensive experience in workplace safety, environmental matters, and sustainability. Additionally, our Executive Accelerators programs bring together transformative experiences and rich insights to help senior leaders and their teams disrupt ordinary thinking, break barriers, and build a legacy. Through this combination of subject matter and leadership development capabilities, our team is well-positioned to help you broaden the impact of your work and elevate your role as an enabler of long-term growth and enterprise sustainability.
Learn more by downloading the PDF or contacting one of our leaders.
