Montreal welcomed for the first time more than 2,000 young leaders as part of One Young World, the largest youth summit in the world, from September 18 to 21. These young people, who have an unwavering desire to transform their living and working environments, discussed for four days the path to follow to create a more sustainable world.
But once the summit is over, where will these young people and so many others who share the same ambition for transformation go? For the vast majority, they will return to the organizations where they are employed, with their heads full of ideas that have the potential to have a profound positive impact on our business models and practices.
These “impact intrapreneurs” are a still little-known asset. To change organizations from the inside and ensure the retention of these young professionals, we absolutely must stimulate their commitment to change, highlight them and give space to their contribution.
For what ? Because the code of business success is changing. It now includes the environmental and social impacts of businesses. The climate crisis and growing inequalities require us to accelerate the movement of positive transformation to make the economy fairer, more inclusive and greener. Young professionals have the desire and ability to help us get there, by generating a positive impact both inside and outside the organizations where they work.
Change the world, without changing jobs
Impact intrapreneurship has become a promising avenue for business succession, which is increasingly influenced by its desire to play a decisive role. Thus, supporting impact intrapreneurship means supporting the creativity and energy of young professionals towards concrete solutions to make the economy more sustainable.
The varied projects, which can range from training on sustainable development to the implementation of eco-responsible or inclusive practices, bring benefits not only for our practices, our processes, our teams and our business models, but for society. in full.
The next generation demands much more in terms of sustainability. Let’s support her in her ambitions: let’s detect impactful intrapreneurs in our teams, give them time for their ambitious projects, offer them resources to act and allow them to innovate by changing our practices. Let’s invest in a fabulous engine of change, which will make our organizations more efficient and our economy able to better respond to the needs of people, while respecting the limits of the planet.
*Co-signed this letter: Karel Mayrand, President and CEO, Foundation of Greater Montreal; Jean-François Chalifoux, President and CEO of Beneva; Stéphanie Trudeau, executive vice-president, Quebec, Énergir; Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO of BDC; Mylène Drouin, regional director of public health for the Montreal region; Laurence Vincent, president of Prével; Stéphane Paquet, president and CEO of Montréal International; Hélène V. Gagnon, Head of Human Capital and Sustainable Development at CAE; Mirabel Paquette, partner, The NATIONAL Public Relations Firm; Mapi Mobwano, President and CEO of ArcelorMittal Mining Canada; Geneviève Fortier, CEO, Promutuel Assurance; Grégoire Baillargeon, President, BMO Québec and Vice-Chairman of the BMO Capital Markets Board; Yves Beauchamp, President and CEO of ADM, Aéroports de Montréal; Marine Thomas, editor-in-chief, Lesaffaires; Olivier Joyal, Executive Vice President, Client Program and ESG Leader, WSP Canada Inc. ; Luciano Barin Cruz, director and co-founder of the IDEOS cluster, HEC Montréal; Louis-Félix Binette, Director General, Quebec Innovation Accelerator Movement; Vincent Fortin, President and CEO, Républik.