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52 SMT007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2025 business needs—and vice versa—is not an easy task. It requires patience, a deep willingness to learn, and the ability to speak the various languages of the business, including finance, operations, legal, supply chain, and more. But this is the only way to ensure that sustainability programs endure. When sustainability is embedded in a business's DNA, it becomes resilient, relevant, and impactful. Leadership plays a pivotal role in this journey. Values and culture set the direction, and when they align with a sustainable vision, they become pow- erful drivers of change. It's this combination—lead- ership, values, and culture—that enables success- ful sustainability programs to flourish. These are not just internal virtues; they are strategic assets. Yes, we are living through challenging times with global issues that are real, urgent, and complex. But within these challenges lie immense opportuni- ties. For the first time, we are seeing sustainability, efficiency, value creation, and resilience being dis- cussed in the same breath. This convergence pres- ents an opportunity to reassess the role of business in society and to reconfigure business models that are both responsible and profitable. To everyone working in sustainability, I offer this invitation: Awaken your hunger to learn. Don't limit yourself to what you already know or love—whether it's emissions, human rights, or labor practices. Expand your perspec- tive. Dive into finance. Understand legal frame- works. Explore supply chain dynamics. Study operational efficiency. These are not distractions, but the very tools that will make your sustainability program successful. Sustainability is not a trend. It's not a checkbox on a compliance form. It's a way of doing business that recognizes the interdependence between corporate success and the well-being of the world around us. It's a long-term commitment to innovation, collabora- tion, and shared value. Above all, it's an opportunity for companies to become agents of positive change. In conclusion, while the regulatory landscape may remain uncertain, companies have the power and the responsibility to lead with purpose. By embedding sustainability at the heart of strategy, we not only prepare for the future, we help shape it. Because at the end of the day, doing what's right is also doing what's smart. SMT007 Barjouth Aguilar is senior director of sustainability and foundation officer at Flex. " " When sustainability is embedded in a business's DNA, it becomes resilient, relevant, and impactful.