Senior Lecturer in Responsible Leadership Co-director of Organisation Studies Research Group Member of the Department of Business and Society
Explore the complex role played by sustainability consultants in shaping corporate sustainability strategies. The latest #SBMInsights brief unpacks the varied influence sustainability consultants have, from engineering solutions to acting as soft regulators, and examines how they can both empower and potentially undermine sustainability efforts. By providing a comprehensive analysis of how sustainability consultants operate, this brief offers a strategic roadmap to help organisations collaborate effectively with these consultants to deliver meaningful change.
Tailored for business actors including top management professionals and in-house sustainability managers, this resource provides insight into the varied role played by sustainability consultants helping organisations leverage these consultants to achieve meaningful sustainability outcomes.
By gaining a deeper understanding of the diverse roles sustainability consultants play, in-house managers can more effectively collaborate on projects, set clear expectations, and leverage consultants' expertise, leading to smoother partnerships and better project outcomes. It is also relevant for policymakers and academics interested in corporate social responsibility and the evolving role of consultants in sustainability efforts.
Consultants contribute to empowering and legitimising but also potentially supplanting and undermining the activities of in-house sustainability managers. We hope that by shining a light on the multiple roles that sustainability consultants play, we can support better collaborations and more transformative outcomes.— Dr Szilvia Mosonyi
Dr Szilvia Mosonyi
Szilvia is the Co-Director of the Organisation Studies Research Group at the School of Business & Management, Queen Mary University of London. She completed her PhD at Bayes Business School, City, University of London. She holds an MRes from Bayes Business School, an MA in Corporate Social Responsibility from Nottingham University Business School and an MA in Sociology from the Eotvos Lorand University of Science in Hungary. Szilvia has expertise in corporate responsibility and sustainability, responsible leadership, management consulting and professionalisation with interests in responsible investment and ESG. Her research centres on sustainability in management and finance, where she explores contemporary professionalisation and professional practices.
This research insights brief has been co-authored with:
Are you an academic at the School of Business and Management and want to share your research insights in a brief? Email Dr Elena Doldor, Research Impact & Engagement Director, at e.r.doldor@qmul.ac.uk.