Breakthrough Stage

Opening greetings by hosts Tina Štrukelj and Lucija Sajevec

The 21st century requires a radical shift in the way we think. To thrive in this era of unimaginable change, we need to challenge traditional ideas and embrace a new way of looking at the world. In Dr Thomas Funke’s keynote speech, we will explore this shift. We will explore the essential competences for rethinking the future of work, leadership and life. We will look at the key skills and the mental and emotional attitudes that will enable individuals and organisations to succeed. To think differently, we need to be different.

Alice Schmidt will use examples from her work around the world to explain why it is important to look at the bigger picture before focusing on specific sustainability solutions. She will highlight the business case for ambitious investments in economic and social sustainability, to avoid the risks of greenwashing, and share new insights on how to manage the complexity of stakeholders in different value chains.

Ladeja Godina Košir will provide insights into the transformation process from traditional linear value chains to circular value systems. The role of “transition brokers” in managing complexity will be outlined, demonstrating the concrete value and impact of bringing stakeholders together for shared success. The presentation will be an introduction to the dialogue with Alice.

Alice and Ladeja will include concrete examples from practice that will shed light on the key breakthrough points that turned seemingly impossible ideas and visions into breakthrough business stories. The discussion will also focus on the strategic aspect of strengthening competitiveness and resilience while operating within planetary boundaries.

Sustainability reports compliant with mandatory standards allow us to be transparent and comparable. But reports are not an end in themselves, they are just a tool. This interactive discussion will explore how ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards) can go beyond regulatory requirements and become a strategic tool to improve business models. The discussion will highlight how sustainability reporting enables the identification of key opportunities, improves efficiency and creates added value for companies seeking to compete in the long term.

People are the key to moving towards sustainability. Our attitudes, our thinking, our (co-)actions. We have an impact on all of these. But the really big changes and shifts are usually only made possible by technology. In this dynamic panel, we will highlight which pioneering technologies, available today, can – if implemented in time – move us towards a more sustainable tomorrow.

GHG reduction measures will not be sufficient to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 (or even earlier). Technologies to remove emissions from the atmosphere will also need to be deployed. The CSRD already foresees that companies must also report on their activities in this area. But are these removals actually happening or possible and how can companies use them to achieve their decarbonisation targets? In this dynamic panel, we will shed light on an additional option on the path to sustainable business.