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ESG, Leadership, and the Power of Learning from Failure 🌱

Writer's picture: Lucy  Boreham Lucy Boreham

Time flies. I can't believe it is three years ago this week that I was attending my first lecture for my Master’s in Strategic Leadership at Newcastle University. It only seems like yesterday. Fast forward two years, and thankfully I successfully graduated in December last year. Undertaking a masters provided such a great opportunity for me to grow as a person, meet some incredible people from many different walks of life who challenged my thinking and supported me along the way but importantly gave me a chance to reflect on who I am as a person.  It also meant another item ticked off the bucket list.


Why did I choose this MSc? Because for me, Leadership and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) are so deeply interconnected. I’m passionate about how leaders can drive positive change, and this program deepened that focus. One of the most critical lessons I learned? Recognising failure as a good thing.


Like many, I used to see failure as negative or discouraging. It’s something we’re often conditioned to avoid. Over my career, I have spent many sleepless nights worrying about why projects weren’t going to plan or thinking I would be sacked if something didn’t work out. But the truth is, failure brings valuable lessons and opportunities for growth that success alone can’t offer.


Incorporating ESG principles into business isn’t just about doing what’s right—it’s about bold leadership and embracing a growth mindset, even when things don’t go as planned.


True leadership means making difficult decisions, taking risks, and accepting that failure is part of the journey. Whether it’s piloting an environmental initiative to reduce waste that provided valuable insights for future improvement or striving for DEI goals with ongoing opportunities for growth—these are the moments where leaders gain the most valuable lessons.


Since my course, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how to transform ESG challenges into opportunities:


1. Acknowledge the Setbacks: No ESG journey is perfect. Being transparent in the face of challenges builds trust and reinforces integrity.


2. Learn and Adapt: Every challenge and failure is a stepping stone to improvement. Leaders who embrace these lessons can develop more innovative, resilient strategies that strengthen ESG commitments.


3. Foster a Culture of Learning: Encouraging our clients / teams to experiment and see setbacks not as roadblocks but as opportunities to refine and improve, getting closer to long-term impact.

 

In today’s world, sustainable leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about persistence, learning, and continuous growth. The best ESG transformations happen when leaders stay committed to the vision, even when failure temporarily clouds the path.


Shifting my mindset from failure to learning and growth has been one of my biggest takeaways. It’s still work in progress – as someone who is a perfectionist it’s difficult to shift that mindset but as Henry Ford once said:


“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”


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