Sustainability is more than a buzzword in today's business world; it's a key principle that guides organizations toward a future where they can thrive while safeguarding the planet and supporting people. Christina Herden, Senior Director of Sustainability at HCLTech, offers a comprehensive view of what it means to build a sustainable and responsible business. In an interview during Sustainability Live in Dubai, Herden shared her perspective on sustainability practices, the journey of HCLTech and how the company fosters an environment of innovation while maintaining social and environmental accountability.
The core of sustainable business: People, planet and profit
When asked about sustainable and responsible business practices, Herden emphasized the importance of balancing long-term goals that benefit the environment, society and economic success. She explained that sustainability involves creating value while considering not only immediate financial returns but also long-term social and environmental impacts. "Ultimately, for me, it's really about creating value in a way that respects the planet, people and profit," she said.
According to Herden, a sustainable business works to minimize its ecological footprint through waste reduction, resource conservation and renewable energy usage. A responsible business goes further by ensuring ethical practices, fostering inclusion and making a meaningful contribution to the communities in which it operates. "The idea is really to build businesses that are both adaptable and resilient, ones that contribute positively to the world while still being competitive and, of course, financially successful," she stated. She also emphasized that "economic, social and environmental health are all interconnected," highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to sustainability.
HCLTech’s sustainability journey
Herden shared insights into how HCLTech began its sustainability journey, which is rooted in the company’s philanthropic values. "HCLTech has at its foundation and as its core principle a philanthropic manner of giving back. Our founder, Shiv Nadar, has always done that and has implemented that into the way we run our business," she said.
Central to the HCLTech's sustainability approach are the principles of Act, Pact and Impact. "Our sustainability strategy is really built on ensuring the actions we take every day have a meaningful impact. We create pacts with our employees, clients and partners to accelerate the positive changes we want to achieve," explained Herden. This approach ensures that sustainability is not just an internal focus but a shared mission with external stakeholders, ensuring that their collective impact is greater and measurable.
A sustainable philosophy needs to be at the core of their operations, emphasized Herden. "It's really that important that when you work for a company like HCLTech, do they have that sustainable philosophy at its core? It really is embedded into our DNA," she said, highlighting how these principles guide the company's daily operations.
Tracking and measuring impact: Ensuring accountability
Measuring and tracking sustainability progress is critical for ensuring accountability. Herden outlined how HCLTech employs a rigorous process to measure its sustainability efforts, aligning them with global reporting standards. "We measure everything that we do, from our greenhouse gas emissions to our social aspects. We measure everything according to global reporting standards," she explained. She mentioned that HCLTech also works with third-party agencies such as EcoVadis and S&P to validate its performance.
This accountability ensures that HCLTech's sustainability claims are backed by solid data and external validation, reinforcing the company’s commitment to transparency. "We are able to validate everything that we say and everything that we do," said Herden, underscoring the importance of being transparent not only to internal teams but also to clients and investors.
Proud achievements: Empowering employees and driving innovation
She highlighted two key sustainability initiatives at HCLTech that she is particularly proud of. First is the creation of an internal sustainability school designed to educate employees about climate change and sustainability. "We implemented our own internal sustainability school, a learning curriculum for our own employees." This interactive, hands-on approach has led to positive feedback, with some employees even sharing the training with their families. "The feedback we got from those who took the training was so positive to the point that they said, 'I'm doing the training again and I'm doing it with my family,'" recalled Herden.
Second, she emphasized HCLTech’s focus on leveraging its technology to drive sustainability. "We're an innovative company. We have an idea and focus that is still alive and present to this day from day one when HCLTech started," she said. HCLTech combines its technological capabilities with sustainability goals to deliver solutions that help clients achieve their own sustainability targets.
She reflected on how the company’s innovative spirit is pivotal in developing market-leading solutions: "That ability to drive and create solutions that are innovative ahead of the market and solve solutions for our clients that they're not even aware of is probably our second most important sustainability moment that I'm proud of."
Building relationships with clients and partners
For any sustainability strategy to succeed, collaboration with clients and partners is essential. Herden explained how HCLTech goes beyond just contractual relationships, fostering deeper connections based on shared goals. "Many years ago, one of HCLTech's philosophies was employees first, customer second," she said, emphasizing the importance of strong, long-lasting relationships.
In terms of sustainability, HCLTech works closely with clients to accelerate their sustainability journeys. Herden shared that the company engages with clients through workshops and joint innovation labs where they collaborate on future solutions. "We have innovation labs where we literally get our hands dirty, quote-unquote and innovate in the labs directly on future solutions that would benefit not only that client but other clients as well," she explained. These collaborations ensure that sustainability becomes a shared responsibility and a central focus in the company’s relationships with clients and partners.
Sustainability as an innovation driver
Christina also highlighted that sustainability isn’t just about reducing negative impacts — it's also about driving innovation. HCLTech embraces sustainability as a platform for innovation, developing solutions that not only address current challenges but also anticipate future needs. This mindset encourages HCLTech to use sustainability as an opportunity to create forward-thinking solutions that meet both client and global sustainability needs.
Looking ahead: The future of sustainable business
Looking to the future, Herden stated she was optimistic about the acceleration of sustainable business practices, particularly in response to evolving regulatory requirements. "Change will accelerate innovation. We see change happening in terms of regulatory requirements," she explained, envisioning a future where sustainability is guided by standardized global regulations, making it easier for organizations to measure and implement sustainable practices. "In five years' time, I hope in my ideal world, I would want to see regulation becoming standardized — one global reporting standard that would benefit all," she expressed.
This standardization would simplify compliance for businesses and allow them to focus on driving impactful sustainability initiatives. "It’s about ensuring that the clients you work with are also understanding the impact that any kind of regulatory change can have on them," said Herden, emphasizing the importance of educating clients about the potential effects of regulatory changes.
Ultimately, Herden's insights into sustainable and responsible business underscore the importance of a holistic approach that balances environmental stewardship, social responsibility and financial success. By embedding sustainability at the core of business practices, HCLTech is not only contributing to a better world but is also setting a standard for how businesses can thrive while making a positive impact on society and the planet. The journey of sustainability is long, but with commitment, innovation and collaboration, businesses can drive meaningful change.
