In his article for ET Edge Insights, Amit Bajoria, Chief Financial Officer at Virtusa, emphasizes the imperative for finance leaders to integrate sustainability into the core of financial strategy. He argues that responsible growth has evolved from a differentiator to a fundamental expectation, requiring businesses to align profitability with environmental and social governance (ESG) principles.
Bajoria highlights that setting sustainability targets is merely the starting point; the real impact lies in embedding these goals into operational and financial decision-making processes. This involves incorporating ESG metrics into vendor assessments, project planning, and capital allocation, ensuring that sustainability considerations are as integral as cost and risk factors.
To move beyond intent, Bajoria identifies three critical elements: a reliable data infrastructure for continuous tracking of emissions and resource use; cross-functional alignment to integrate sustainability across all operations; and decision-making visibility, where ESG data informs key planning and execution points.
He also underscores the importance of extending sustainability efforts across the value chain, partnering with suppliers to assess and reduce Scope 3 emissions. Digital engineering capabilities are cited as instrumental in enhancing operational efficiency and meeting environmental objectives.
Bajoria concludes that finance leaders must transition from viewing sustainability as a compliance exercise to recognizing it as a core operational imperative. By embedding sustainability into the business framework, organizations can achieve smarter capital allocation, enhance resilience, and position themselves as future-ready leaders.