Sustainable Leadership Forum: Inspiring Ethical and Responsible Leaders for the Future

Written by Hsu, Chin-Han(Hannah)

The Sustainable Leadership Forum recently welcomed Dr. Elaine Q. Borazon from the International Graduate Program of Education and Human Development (IGPEHD), who shared her insights in a session titled “Sustainable Leadership: Ensuring the Well-being of Future Generations.”

At the beginning of the session, Dr. Borazon invited students to reflect on the question, “Why do sustainability and leadership matter to you?” Students from different countries, including India, Vietnam, Brazil, and Germany, enthusiastically shared their thoughts on how leadership and sustainability shape the future of people and the planet. Their diverse perspectives created an engaging atmosphere that set the tone for the rest of the session.

Dr. Borazon then guided students to explore the close connection between sustainability and leadership. She introduced key ideas from the Triple Bottom Line (People, Planet, Profit), the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) model. She also discussed four leadership models related to sustainability: transformational, ethical, responsible, and servant leadership. When introducing ethical leadership, she highlighted eight key traits including integrity, trustworthiness, empathy, and social responsibility, noting that these qualities reflect the principles of ethical and responsible leadership.

In the second half of the session, students worked in small groups to discuss sustainability challenges such as plastic waste, renewable energy, food security, and labor rights. Each group analyzed its chosen issue from ethical, environmental, and social perspectives and proposed practical leadership strategies. Teams were encouraged to present their ideas creatively through slides, role plays, or short skits, which made the discussion more engaging and allowed students to demonstrate leadership in action.

The activity encouraged students to think deeply about their roles as future leaders and how their actions can make a positive impact. The session concluded with a shared reflection on how ethical and inclusive leadership can help build a sustainable and equitable world for future generations.