When ESG Redefines Business Sustainability: A monthly webinar series by Board Stewardship
Continuing its commitment to insightful governance dialogues, Board Stewardship held the August edition of its ‘Stewardship in the Boardroom webinar’ on Friday, August 1, 2025. The webinar titled ‘When ESG Redefines Business Sustainability’ featured a distinguished panel of thought leaders who explored the changing role of Boards in an era where environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities are transforming business strategies.
The webinar began with a welcome address by Vikesh Wallia, Managing Director and Editor of Board Stewardship. Wallia shared, “Environment, Social, Governance and Sustainability are four quadrants of great Corporate Governance! As businesses face growing pressure to align profit with purpose, ESG becomes not just a reporting framework but a core strategic driver. This webinar focuses on how ESG is reshaping the way sustainability is viewed, measured, and led from the top.”
The welcome was followed by an insightful keynote address by Prabodha Acharya, Chief Sustainability Officer, JSW Group. He stated, “ESG is no longer just a risk lens—it’s becoming the foundation for long-term business resilience. From investor expectations to talent attraction and regulatory pressures, Boards must now ask: Is sustainability a checkbox, or is it a strategy? Sustainability objects should be an integral part of corporate strategy.”
Session 1: ESG in the Boardroom—Turning Commitment into Action
This session highlighted the need for Boards to move beyond statements and embed ESG into governance and decision-making. The panel was moderated by Nishtha Gupta, Group Head – Sustainability & ESG, Suzlon Group. And other speakers including Vishwanatha Gowd, Retd. MD & CEO, LIC Housing Finance Ltd., Board Member of India Cements Ltd., and Board Advisor to the ESG Research Foundation; and Rajesh Vaidya, CHRO & Head of Sustainability at Silox India Private Limited.
Gupta shared, “The Boards must evolve to become proactive guardians of organisational purpose beyond risk management to strengthen ESG performance and drive the organisation’s journey towards long-term sustainability.”
Elaborating on the role of ESG, Vaidya mentioned, “The age of responsible capitalism has arrived, and ESG provides a great framework to enable progress with purpose.”
Session 2: Making Sustainability Work
The second session was moderated by Shalini Singh, Independent Director and Sustainability Expert, focusing on operationalising ESG strategies, and featured Santosh Jayaram, Adjunct Professor of Practice, Amrita School for Sustainable Futures, and Jangoo Dalal, Co-founder & CEO, GovEVA. The panel discussed practical frameworks for ensuring sustainability as an integral part of governance.
Shalini shared, “We live in a time that calls for bold integrated responses to sustainability challenges, be it climate change, inequality, public health, or other looming issues. Organisations must move from symbolic ESG commitments to integrated strategic measurable actions to make a real difference.”
Jayaram noted, “Sustainability isn’t an add-on—it’s the foundation of responsible business. It’s about redefining them through moral clarity. Sustainability must dissolve into the DNA of professions, education, and governance—only then does business truly evolve.”
Commenting on the webinar, Shailesh Haribhakti, Non-Executive Chairman & Independent Director on multiple Boards, noted, “This ESG & Sustainability Masterclass was a revelation. In a rapidly fragmenting world, the keynotes and panels strike chords of clarity and courage. But the real magic? The audience—sharp, curious, relentless. Your questions light up the room. This isn’t just a webinar—it is a global pulse check. Thank you!”
With the support of Knowledge Partner BoardPAC and Corporate Partners JSW and JHS, this edition of Stewardship in the Boardroom explored how ESG is reshaping corporate sustainability. Experts emphasised the need for Boards to integrate ESG into strategy and governance, moving from intent to impactful action in a rapidly changing global landscape.
