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Human sustainability: A holistic, synergistic approach to corporate responsibility
- Jun 18
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 26
How a Human-Centered Sustainability Strategy Is Transforming the Corporate Landscape—from Pandemic Recovery to Purpose-Driven Resilience - Thought Leadership by #SustXGlobal50 Awardee Hélène V. Gagnon, Canada
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Summary
In this thought leadership article, "Human sustainability: A holistic, synergistic approach to corporate responsibility" by Hélène V. Gagnon, Chief People & Sustainability Officer, CAE, Canada, and a recipient of The SustainabilityX® Magazine Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2024 explores the rise of human sustainability as a vital pillar of corporate responsibility—alongside social, environmental, and economic goals. Drawing from CAE’s real-world practices, including flexible wellness programs, carbon neutrality, and a newly unified Chief People and Sustainability Officer role, it showcases how purpose-driven leadership and data-informed strategies can future-proof organizations. The result? A thriving workforce and resilient business deeply rooted in well-being, equity, and impact.
Do you remember a time not too long ago when we navigated the tempest of a worldwide pandemic and imposed social distancing? We felt the weight of absence, the heavy blues of not being able to hug our near-and-dears or even bond over water cooler catch-ups.
Covid manifested an array of challenges and, though the stormy waters of that public health emergency may have subsided, we still feel the ripple effect in its wake; this includes work-related issues worsened by the massive use of, and reliance on, digital tools that impacted mental health, well-being, and work- life balance. The ”you’re-on-mute” era also triggered The Great Resignation – a rebalancing of expectations and power between the employer and the employee. As our very foundations were rocked, where did that leave the workforce and the sea of humanity teetering at the edge of retention and resignation?
Against the pervasive backdrop of uncertainty brought on by Covid, organizations were poised to adopt a mindset focused on opportunities rather than risks, while supporting a deep-rooted need for humanness, community and resilience. At CAE, employees seeking stability and meaning found their place in our commitment to safety, a mission that at once engaged and propelled them, all while feeling grounded in our broader purpose.
How does sustainability fit into the conversation?
The concept of sustainable development has evolved as part of the broader discourse that gained attention with the United Nations’ Brundtland Report in 1987. It emphasized the interconnectedness of economic, social, and environmental sustainability, reinforcing the notion that nothing exists as a separate sphere – everything is intrinsically connected. This holistic view is crucial in today's context, where organizations must integrate sustainability into their overall business model and strategic decision-making at the outset. By doing so, they may harness the interconnectedness of the four pillars of sustainability (human, social, economic, and environmental) to deliver greater outcomes for all.
Here’s where the transformative notion of human sustainability comes to the forefront. The corporate landscape has evolved from one that extracts value from individuals to one where individuals derive value from the organization.
While the term human sustainability may not yet be woven into the fabric of corporate mindsets, forward-thinking organizations like Deloitte have been advocates for the promotion of the concept as an essential component of corporate culture.
Employees look to their employers for benefits that enhance their well-being, skills, employability, career development, and sense of belonging, all of which reinforce their deeper sense of connection to the larger organization. This added value is no longer an afterthought, but rather a fundamental building block for a thriving workplace. Adopting this comprehensive approach is essential for organizations seeking to remain competitive by ensuring the long-term well-being and engagement of their workforce.
Advantages of investing in human sustainability
Promotes better resilience and adaptability to rapidly changing skill requirements/business conditions/environments. This includes providing training and development opportunities to help employees stay relevant in their roles.
Yields better business results, improved worker health and well-being, and increased consumer support for socially responsible practices.
Fosters a more inclusive and equitable work environment by supporting diversity and empowerment and ensuring all employees have equal opportunities for growth and development.
If we look at the bigger picture, we can draw parallels between human sustainability and overall sustainability, which both emphasize the importance of:
Creating value for all
Prioritizing well-being
Ensuring long-term success and resilience
Our journey at CAE
I’m a firm believer that true sustainability generates greater social and environmental outcomes for all, and that the private sector plays a pivotal role in creating better conditions for communities and individuals alike. We’re a multinational company with more than 13,000 employees in over 40 countries, and even small changes can have a significant chain reaction across the globe.
HAVE YOU READ?
During the pandemic, my CEO and I spearheaded the “Industry for vaccination” initiative: CAE assisted the provincial government in accelerating mass vaccination against COVID-19 through companies to alleviate some of the pressure on the healthcare system. Many private corporations followed suit, setting up vaccination centres at their own cost to support their employees, their families, and their surrounding communities. It was a shining example of how companies advocated for the well-being of their workforce – an effort celebrated by employees who in turn felt a heightened connection to their employer. This collective effort highlights the importance of human sustainability in creating resilient and thriving communities, which is essential for true sustainability.
Human sustainability is about a mindset that prioritizes people daily. Our CAE heartbeat initiative exemplifies this commitment, prioritizing employee feedback and engagement in shaping our wellness and development strategies. It’s a global transformation initiative where our finger’s on the pulse of our employees’ needs. This program enhances the experience and retention of our people through empowering career and development opportunities, rewards and recognition and work-life balance. For example, we provide tailored time-off options, including flexible vacation, parental leave, and extended sabbaticals for personal pursuits. This flexibility allows employees to recharge, reenergize, and fully engage in the moments that truly matter to them. Focus on your people, they will focus on the business!
Leadership, accountability and data leveraging
After nearly a decade at CAE, I'm proud to see that leveraging sustainability as a strategic pillar positioned us as pioneers on the matter within the aerospace and defence industry. Under my leadership and through an unwaveringly ambitious agenda, CAE was heralded as Canada's first carbon neutral aerospace company, serving as a driving force behind our sustainability initiatives. Offsetting carbon did serve as an efficient, built-in incentive to reduce emissions at the source across the organization, and it sensitized our leadership team to the cost of carbon. Four years later, this has catalyzed internal momentum and driven concrete action; for instance, we have established sustainability-linked partnerships with government bodies and academic institutions, and have invested in converting part of our training aircraft to an electric fleet. This approach paved the way for the submission and approval of our near-term science-based decarbonization targets.
All sustainability efforts must be driven by a strong tone at the top. CAE’s Board of Directors plays a crucial role in guiding and endorsing our sustainability initiatives. In 2023, the Board and the Executive Management Committee underwent training on climate change and decarbonization, which elevates their awareness and support in building environmental sustainability into everything we do. Human sustainability will warrant a similar paradigm shift, underpinned by robust leadership and building sustainability in our value proposition at the outset.
It is only fitting that we’ve unified our efforts with my recent appointment as Chief People and
Sustainability Officer. In this newly created role, I’m poised to champion a holistic human sustainability mindset that seamlessly integrates all our sustainability initiatives with our people and culture. By expanding accountability, I will drive a boundary-less HR approach, engaging managers, team leaders, and employees at every level in this transformative process. Just as with health and safety, human sustainability is a shared responsibility across the organization, fostered by our company culture, where everyone has a role to play.
To build a strong case for human sustainability within their roadmap, organizations should leverage data and analytics to monitor key indicators related to employee well-being, engagement, turnover, diversity, health and safety culture, training participation and related outcomes. As is the case for measuring carbon impact, this strategy helps identify areas for improvement, enhance retention and sense of belonging, promote inclusivity, ensure a safe work environment, and assess the effectiveness of talent development programs.
Moreover, companies like CAE that invest in R&D can develop their workforce, fostering a culture of continuous learning, agility and improvement. R&D drives innovation, leading to new products, services, and processes that can enhance competitiveness and economic growth. A focus on training and development ensures that employees are equipped with the necessary capabilities to adapt to new challenges and opportunities, promoting long-term career growth and job satisfaction.
Paving the way for a more equitable tomorrow
As Chief People and Sustainability Officer, I believe we should embrace a spirit where human
sustainability is entwined with our corporate goals as we sail forth on our journey towards an inherently sustainable future. By prioritizing the well-being of our people and our communities, organizations can further enhance employee wellness and fulfilment while driving lasting value for all. Together, we have the power to inspire meaningful change.
About The SustainabilityX® Magazine
The SustainabilityX® Magazine is an award-winning, digital, female-founded, and female-led non-profit initiative bringing the environment and economy together for a sustainable future through dialogue, and now transforming the environment and economy for a sustainable future through the power of women's leadership. Founded on May 8, 2016, and inspired by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by Canada's Top 30 Under 30 in Sustainability Leadership awardee, Supriya Verma, the digital media initiative focuses on approaching the world's most pressing challenges with a holistic, integrated, systems-based perspective as opposed to the traditional and ineffective siloed approach with a single lens on interdisciplinary topics like climate and energy. This initiative ultimately seeks to explore how to effectively bring the environment and economy together through intellectual, insightful dialogue and thought-provoking discussion amongst individuals across sectors taking an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to untangling the intricate web of sustainability while championing women's leadership in sustainability.
The SustainabilityX® Magazine is built upon the four foundational pillars of sustainability: Environmental Stewardship, which emphasizes the importance of improving environmental health; Economic Prosperity, which promotes sustainable economic growth that transcends traditional capitalist models; Social Inclusion, which focuses on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) for BIPOC, LGBTQ, and other marginalized or vulnerable communities; and Just Governance, which highlights responsible leadership, the equal application of the rule of law, and the creation of fair systems for all.
As we expand our mission to align with the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), we continue to explore the diverse and interconnected factors that influence sustainability. By recognizing how these elements interact across local, national, and international levels, we aim to accelerate progress toward sustainability goals. In essence, this aligns with The SustainabilityX® Magazine's vision of integrating environmental and economic progress for a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future through thoughtful dialogue.
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