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Presenting

Czech Sustainability Leader Award

The Czech Sustainability Leader Award is dedicated to individuals who inspire others and bring positive change through their sustainability and ESG activities. The aim is to highlight those who set an example for others and to support the development of a sustainable approach to business in the Czech Republic.

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2. YEAR of presenting the award

After a successful first year, in which Zuzana Holá was awarded the historically first Czech Sustainability Leader Award, we continue to search for exceptional individuals who connect sustainability with business goals and inspire others with their responsible approach.

The process begins with nominations which are open until March 30, 2025. Subsequently, an expert panel consisting of representatives of the BLF, representatives of the private and academic sectors, and award partners will select 5 finalists.

The winner will then be determined by public voting in April and May, with the results announced at the Future-Proof Leadership 2025 conference.

Get involved and help us award leaders who are actively contributing to a more sustainable future!

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WHY this initiative?

The Business Leaders Forum (BLF) has been bringing together responsible business leaders for over 30 years. Responsibility and emphasis on the sustainable business practices have been among the most important aspects of our activities since the establishment of the BLF. We see many examples around us that are worth following, which is why we decided to award responsible business leaders deserving of recognition.

We value those who connect climate action and business value. We believe that progress for the planet shall come through engagement and leadership of the private sector.

Scientists have identified the problem and can assess our options; activists and non-profit organisations can strengthen and enable mutual debate; but it is companies who are often best equipped to implement solutions locally and at scale.

We don’t want to create new corporate rankings and ratings.

Víme, že celý rámec hodnocení udržitelných aktivit se teprve vyvíjí. Věříme ale v pozitivní motivaci. Podle nás zkrátka má smysl ocenit takové firemní lídry, osobnosti, které mohou být příkladem pro ostatní. Vyjádřit jim tím naší podporu a ukázat, že jejich práce má smysl.

We know that the entire framework for evaluating sustainable activities is still developing. Nevertheless, we believe in positive motivation. In our opinion, it simply makes sense to recognise company leaders and individuals who can lead by example and inspire others. Hence, we express our support and showcase that their work is meaningful.

But we can’t do it alone, and thus we want to involve the general public in the whole process. We believe that employees and colleagues of such leaders know them best and can let us know about individuals that the rest of us don’t know (yet).

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WHO are we searching for?

A responsible and sustainable corporate leader should be focused on long-term company success in line with the needs and expectations of all stakeholders – employees, customers, shareholders, community and the environment. At the same time, they should be able to interconnect sustainability with the company business goals and profitability increase.

TEN characteristics of a good leader

Do you recognize yourself, your colleague or your employer in the description? Let us know about someone exceptional who we haven’t heard of (yet).

  1. They are guided by ethical standards and are responsible for their decisions and actions. They respect the law, regulations and human rights. They are transparent towards their stakeholders.
  2. They understand the importance of sustainability and consider the environmental impacts of their decisions. They strive to minimise negative environmental impacts of their company. They support green innovations and practices.
  3. They understand how sustainability can be used to achieve business goals. They approach sustainability also as a business opportunity that can increase shareholder value, improve brand reputation, and create competitive advantages.
  4. They engage in their community and promote social integrity. They recognise that their company is a part of wider society and has a responsibility towards the society.
  5. They focus on the well-being and development of their employees. They promote fair working conditions, diversity and inclusion, and provide opportunities for education and growth.
  6. They have a clear vision for the future of their company and are able to plan strategically for long-term success. They are able to balance short-term gains with long-term goals and sustainability.
  7. They are open to innovation and ready to adapt to change. They look for new and better ways to achieve the company’s goals and encourage creativity and experimentation.
  8. They understand the importance of measuring and evaluating sustainability. They use sustainable KPIs and metrics to track and evaluate the company’s sustainability performance.
  9. They support collaboration and partnership with stakeholders. They actively communicate with internal and external stakeholders, include them in the decision-making process, and respect their opinions and interests.
  10. They create and maintain transparent and responsible supply chains. They ensure that the company’s suppliers adhere to the same principles of sustainability and ethical business practices, and they promote sustainable and responsible practices throughout the entire supply chain.

WINNERS of Czech Sustainability
Leader Award

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2024 Winner

Zuzana Holá

She is a graduate of the GRI Certified Training Course and the Business Sustainability Management Course at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. She is a founding member of the Association of Sustainability Managers (AMMUR).

In her previous role at Lidl, she established non-financial reporting and was involved in the first-ever integration of sustainable goals into the company’s business strategy. For the past four years, as Vodafone’s Director of Communications and Sustainability, she has been responsible for all ESG coordination and reporting, audits and education. Zuzana has played a major role in ensuring that Vodafone is a recognised leader in responsible and sustainable business, considerate of the environment, promoting equal opportunities and diversity, as well as partnership and transparency.

She is also the director of the Vodafone Foundation, which uses technology to contribute to improving the quality of life of people in the Czech Republic, supports individuals and communities for the public good, and tries to combat the imminent exclusion of vulnerable groups of people from the digital society. The Foundation is dedicated to digital education for seniors, are a partner of the Záchranka (Emergency) app, and are intensively involved in the fight against domestic violence.

Zuzana stojí za Akademií a Chartou proti domácímu násilí sdružující zaměstnavatele, kteří se zavazují pomáhat obětem domácího násilí mezi svými zaměstnankyněmi a zaměstnanci.

Zuzana is among promoters and signatories of the Academy and the Charter against Domestic Violence, which brings together employers who are committed to helping their employees who are victims of domestic violence.

 

Award Partners

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