In a thought-provoking Global CEO Magazine Leadership Dialogue, Dr Samantha Ratnayake (SR) of the Postgraduate Institute of Management engages in a conversation with Mr Artha Salgadu (AS), Principal of Seedling Sustainability Consultants.
Together, they explore the evolving relationship between leadership and sustainability, emphasising governance, accountability, and long-term value creation for resilient organisations.
SR: Welcome to Global CEO Magazine’s Leadership Dialogue. Today, we are joined by a Sri Lankan professional who operates across Sri Lanka, Australia, and several other regions. His expertise lies in strategic sustainability business. It is my pleasure to welcome Mr Artha Salgadu, Principal of Seedling Sustainability Consultants. Mr Artha, could you begin by telling us about your work and area of focus?
AS: Thank you, Dr Ratnayake . My background is primarily in environment, health, and safety, and risk management. Though I am a mechanical engineer by qualification, my career evolved towards sustainability. Over the last decade, I have worked globally on environmental sustainability, and earlier this year, I founded my own boutique consulting firm based in Australia, now operating in Sri Lanka and Thailand. Our mission is to help small and medium enterprises integrate sustainability into their business strategies, embedding governance, accountability, and risk mitigation to enhance resilience and competitiveness.
SR: That is an excellent overview. Leaders today face multiple challenges. From your perspective, why should they prioritise sustainability as part of their core business strategy?
AS: Leadership today cannot be separated from sustainability. Whether it is climate change, water scarcity, or social responsibility, these are no longer peripheral issues. Embedding sustainability ensures resilience, drives innovation, strengthens stakeholder trust, and enhances investor value. It is not an optional extra; it is a strategic imperative that defines successful organisations.
SR: You have worked across several international markets. What approaches have you seen global leaders adopt to integrate sustainability effectively into their operations?
AS: Internationally, successful leaders balance financial performance with environmental, social, and governance priorities. They take a systems approach, embedding sustainability into business processes such as risk management, crisis planning, and long-range strategy. Accountability is key, right from the board to the shop floor, ensuring that governance structures are robust and aligned with global standards to prevent issues such as greenwashing.
SR: Could you share an example of how these principles are applied in practice?
AS: Certainly. Many international reporting frameworks, such as IFRS, GRI, and CDP, now require companies to demonstrate accountability. They ask who on the board is responsible for sustainability, how management performance is tied to sustainability goals, and how remuneration is linked to achieving these outcomes. This alignment ensures that sustainability is integrated, measurable, and meaningful.
SR: That is a vital insight. Moving forward, how can organisations shift from viewing sustainability as a “people and planet” theme to a strategic business priority?
AS: The key is cultural transformation. Sustainability and safety must move beyond compliance checklists to become part of everyday decision-making. Leaders must model the behaviour they want to see, walking the talk. Real success comes when every employee feels they contribute to the bigger purpose, just as the NASA janitor once said, “I am helping put a man on the moon.”
SR: Beautifully said. Finally, what message would you share with CEOs and business leaders reading Global CEO Magazine?
AS: My message is simple: treat sustainability as a value creator, not a cost. Embedding it into business strategy strengthens innovation, risk management, reputation, and talent retention. It is what will distinguish resilient, future-ready organisations from those that fade. Sustainability is not CSR; it is the core of long-term business success.
SR: Thank you, Artha, for this engaging and insightful discussion. Your thoughts have shed light on the importance of sustainability as a leadership imperative. We look forward to continuing this dialogue in future editions of Global CEO Magazine.
