Clarke Murphy - Board and CEO Leadership Advisor at Russell Reynolds Associates

Sustainable Nation

Clarke Murphy is a leadership expert who advises the world's top companies on leadership strategies that fuel profitable growth and value for all stakeholders. He has particular expertise helping boards include sustainable competencies and track record into multi-year CEO succession processes. As the former CEO of Russell Reynolds from 2011-2021, he spearheaded a purpose-driven approach to business and led the firm through its greatest period of growth. In his new book, "Sustainable Leadership: Lessons of vision, Courage, and Grit from the CEOs Who Dared to Build a Better World," Clarke tells the stories of dynamic business executives who are using their position to solve the most complex social and economic challenges of our time. Since 2021, Clarke has co-hosted the Redefiners podcast, interviewing courageous leaders who are redefining their organizations—and themselves—to deliver extraordinary results.

Clarke Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss:

• Commercial Leadership vs. Sustainable Leadership
• The mindset and four competencies of sustainable pioneers
• Insight on companies using sustainability to recruit/retain top talent
• How companies are preparing for potential SEC regulations
• Advice and recommendations for sustainability professionals

Clarke's Final Five Questions Responses:

What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers?

Start the action. Don't be a hundred percenter. Hundred percenters want all the answers. They wanna manage all the risk. They want to know all the answers. That doesn't work. Perfection slows down progress and sustainability. Just take the first step.

What are you most excited about right now in the world of sustainability?

I think the energy around several younger generations, not just the Gen Zs and millennials, but thousands and tens of thousands of young executives who want to be involved or are getting involved. That will accelerate the pace of change.

What is one book you would recommend sustainability professionals read?

Well, I hope they read mine! Sustainable Leadership by Clark Murphy. But there's another one that Henry Timms wrote called New Power. It talks about the dynamics of these generations and kind of the way companies are run. Henry Timm's New Power is a great book.

What are some of your favorite resources or tools that really help you in your work?

I read a lot of the research by BCG, McKinsey and the World Economic Forum, which I think are really at the moment around processes, marketing and data that's real information, not anecdotes or popularity. I like having real time data as it happens.

Where can our listeners go to learn more about you and your work and maybe find your book?

They could go to the website russellreynolds.com or they also could listen to our podcast Redefiners on wherever you get your podcasts.