Leading with Impact

ESG Success Story with Fifty Shades Greener

Elevating Sustainability Leadership

Meet Jason Conlon, Assistant HR & Sustainability Manager at the Mespil Hotel in Dublin, Ireland. Driven by his passion for sustainability, Jason enrolled in Fifty Shades Greener’s ESG Leadership Programme. His goal? To create a comprehensive ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) report that would highlight the hotel’s sustainability progress for the Board of Directors. With a strong background in environmental practices, Jason sought to deepen his understanding of the social and governance aspects of ESG and inspire his team to incorporate sustainable practices into their decision-making processes.

Our Approach: Practical Tools for Real Impact

Jason chose the ESG Leadership Programme for its structured, accessible format. The course was designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to lead sustainable business practices within their organisations and create an impactful ESG report. Throughout the programme, Jason was able to...

Deepen his knowledge of social and governance topics

While Jason was well-versed in environmental sustainability, he gained new insights into the social and governance aspects of ESG, focusing on areas such as diversity, inclusion, pay gaps, and workforce demographics.

Link the hotel’s sustainability initiatives to the UN SDGs

Jason learned how to align the hotel’s sustainability efforts with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), making the hotel’s ESG strategy more comprehensive and globally relevant.

Receive ongoing support

Jason praised the interactive course elements, including breakout rooms and polls, which allowed him to connect with other learners and receive valuable feedback.

Impactful Results: Confidence to Lead with ESG

Jason’s completion of the ESG Leadership Programme has already led to tangible results:

Distinction on ESG Report

Jason received a distinction on his final ESG report, a testament to his commitment and understanding of ESG principles.

Implementation of ESG Initiatives

After completing the course, Jason immediately began applying his learnings. He submitted the ESG report to his hotel’s marketing team, who are now working on a public version to highlight their sustainability commitments.

ESG as a Decision-Making Framework

Jason now integrates environmental, social, and governance considerations into the hotel’s decision-making processes, ensuring that sustainability is a core value across all operations.

Jason’s Experience in His Own Words

Jason shared his enthusiasm for the course:
"I couldn’t be more satisfied with the experience. The course was well-structured, making complex topics easy to understand. The support from Ellen (the course facilitator) was fantastic—her real-world examples brought everything to life. I now feel confident in creating an ESG report and guiding our team toward a more sustainable future."

Lessons Learned: Key Insights for ESG Success

Jason’s journey offers several important takeaways for other ESG leaders:

Top-Down Leadership:

Jason’s belief in the top-down approach has been critical in driving ESG initiatives across the hotel. By leading from the top, he can inspire the entire team to adopt more sustainable business practices.

Social and Governance Focus:

Expanding his focus beyond environmental factors allowed Jason to take a more holistic approach to sustainability, incorporating metrics related to diversity, inclusion, and governance metrics into the hotel’s strategy.

Practical, Actionable Tools:

The programme provided specific, actionable tools, such as linking hotel operations to the UN SDGs, which allowed Jason to elevate the hotel’s ESG efforts.

Next Steps: Continuing the ESG Journey

Jason’s completion of the ESG Leadership Programme is only the beginning. Moving forward, he plans to continue implementing ESG strategies across the hotel, ensuring that sustainability remains a priority in all business operations. The public-facing ESG report will serve as a powerful tool to communicate the hotel’s commitments to sustainability to guests, partners, and stakeholders.

Ready to Lead in ESG?

Jason’s success demonstrates that with the right tools and support, anyone can become a leader in ESG. If you’re inspired by his journey and want to start your own path toward sustainability leadership, our ESG Leadership Programme is here to guide you. Whether you’re aiming to create an ESG report or simply enhance your knowledge, we’re ready to help you take the next step. Join us and start making a difference today!