Last week, I came across an article about a small town where women-led cooperatives are pioneering zero-waste manufacturing. It made me think, if women can transform industries at the grassroots level, what is stopping them from leading sustainability at the top?

Sustainability is not just about compliance or corporate responsibility anymore, it is an urgent necessity. But here is a question that often goes unasked: Who should lead this transformation? While sustainability is a collective responsibility, the role of women in this journey remains underestimated. 

Women are breaking barriers in every sector, from aerospace to artificial intelligence, why should sustainability in industrial companies be any different? We must take action to avoid empty promises and achieve lasting change.

The narrative of leadership has changed. Women are no longer confined to supporting roles, they are pilots, CEOs, policy-makers, and entrepreneurs. They are leading industries that were once considered male-dominated, proving that leadership is not about gender but about vision and execution. In the same way, they are driving environmental change, bringing in perspectives that make sustainability more than just a corporate obligation, it becomes a movement.

The world has witnessed an incredible rise of women in leadership, heads of state, Fortune 500 CEOs, startup founders, and policymakers shaping the future. Women have successfully driven industries ranging from technology to finance, from healthcare to defense. Figures like Gita Gopinath, the Deputy Managing Director of the IMF, and Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, prove that leadership is about breaking stereotypes and driving change. Their impact is not just economic; it is transformational.

Sustainability is not an isolated business strategy, it is about rethinking how industries operate. Inspiring legendary environmentalist Sarla Behn has led groundbreaking movements like Chipko, advocating for saving trees in Indian history. Globally, corporate leaders like Amanda Sourry, former President of Unilever United States, have played a crucial role in integrating sustainability into business practices. These women are proving that environmental responsibility is not just a department in a company, it is a philosophy that needs to be ingrained in every industrial process.

Sustainability is not the responsibility of a single department, government, or industry, it is a collective duty. However, women have already proven their ability to lead industries through resilience, adaptability, and innovation. Adding sustainability to their leadership portfolios will not only accelerate change but also redefine how industries function. Ladies, let us add another feather to our hats because the world needs us to step up, now more than ever.

Leadership without action is just rhetoric. If industrial companies are serious about sustainability, we must go beyond boardroom discussions and implement real, measurable strategies. Here is how women in leadership, particularly in industrial roles, can take actionable steps that make a difference.

Greenwashing is one of the biggest challenges we face today. It is easy to plant a few trees, publish a sustainability report, and claim environmental responsibility. But the question is, who are we fooling? Greenwashing is not just misleading; it is a disservice to humanity. Sustainability needs to be genuine, deeply embedded into industrial processes, and backed by transparency. So here’s what an action plan should look like:

India’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is strong, but industrial companies must align their policies accordingly. Whether it is reducing carbon footprints, implementing circular economies, or investing in renewable energy, businesses must move beyond traditional profit metrics and integrate environmental goals into their core strategies.

Sustainability is not just about boardroom decisions, it is about people. Employees carry their workplace values to their homes, communities, and networks. When a company fosters a culture of sustainability, the ripple effect is enormous. Industrial companies must engage their employees, making sustainability a shared mission rather than a corporate obligation.

Companies have a powerful asset in their customers. Transparent labelling, eco-friendly product alternatives, and sustainability campaigns should not just be a marketing gimmick, they should be a call to action. When customers understand how they can contribute, sustainability moves from being a corporate initiative to a societal movement.

Many companies use sustainability as a branding tool, and while visibility is important, intention matters more. If sustainability efforts are merely a checklist to meet regulations or attract investors, they will fail in the long run. The companies that succeed are those that genuinely care, those that plant trees not just for photoshoots, but because they believe in reforestation. Sustainability should come from the heart and resonate with people beyond corporate reports.

Industries do not operate in isolation. They impact communities, through employment, environmental footprint, and economic influence. The best sustainability initiatives are those that uplift communities, create green jobs, and empower local ecosystems. Industrial companies should move beyond compliance and look at sustainability as a partnership with society.

The intersection of women’s leadership and sustainability is not just an inspiring idea, it is a necessity. The world needs more women at the helm of industries, driving meaningful change beyond profit sheets. But sustainability cannot be a side project; it must be a core business strategy, driven by authenticity, collaboration, and long-term impact. It is time to move beyond token initiatives and see sustainability as a fundamental pillar of industrial growth. And as women continue to lead industries, let them lead the world towards a more sustainable future. The unfinished story of industrial transformation needs more chapters, who will write them.