Farid Baddache is CEO and co-founder of Ksapa.org, a social purpose organisation developing open-source solutions accelerating climate transition in more inclusive societies. He works with a global network of experts to combine expertise and broaden their impact. For him, satisfying a much broader ecosystem of stakeholders, including the butterflies on the other part of the planet, is necessary for business success – and much more important than simply “serving shareholders”. For him, this is where corporate, environmental and social sustainability opportunities intertwin.
In this fascinating conversation with this veteran of corporate sustainability, Farid explains how the duty to act has grown from the commitment of a handful of enthusiasts like himself to regulatory obligations and societal priorities.
He recommends keeping an open and positive attitude on the actions of some and past mistakes, away from judgements and the search for absolute perfection. This is key to involve as many parties as possible, including the companies of the most polluting or controversial sectors. For him, it is mainly through the education of political and economic leaders that genuinely sustainable and fair dynamics for humans and the planet can thrive. The critical question is, “Do you want to be part of the solution or be part of the problem?”
Farid has worked with major corporations, charities, universities and consultancies in multiple locations across the world. He has been instrumental in shaping several critical developments to strengthen coordination between public and private actors around environmental and social issues. For example, Farid helped align the business at COP21 around climate positions. He has also launched leading global initiatives, such as B4IG, which enables OECD governments and multinational companies to join forces for more inclusive growth.
Farid speaks French, English, Spanish, German and Portuguese. He holds an M.B.A. from ESSEC, an M.B.A. from the National University of Singapore in Clean Technology, and a PhD in Organizational Sociology from EHESS, the École des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris.
Find Farid on Twitter: @Fbaddache and LinkedIn.
