For decades, success in business has been measured primarily by numbers such as profit margins, market share, and quarterly growth. The past years have been fundamentally shifting the focus of leadership. Across industries and continents, there is a growing recognition that companies are not just economic engines, they are also communities, cultures, and catalysts for societal change.
In Madrid in May 2025, I was privileged to join as a keynote speaker at the panel discussion focusing on ‘Leadership and Social Responsibility in business culture’ of the III Edition of the Family Business Financial Forum on the beautiful campus of IESE Business School. The theme of this year’s edition focused on ‘ESG, Strategy and Culture in Family Businesses’ and was attended by CFOs and Family Business executives providing insights into the future of family businesses and the impact on economic and social sustainability were addressed.
The key message is being encapsulated into how to gain ‘ profit with purpose’.
The main takeaways of my presentation were the following:
- The ‘S’ in ESG is a strategic advantage: The ‘S’ is all about taking care of people (current and future employees, suppliers, investors, customers) within the companies and communities around us. Taking care of people drives business success.
- Everything starts with leadership, growth mindset, core skills and competencies, and the right people at the right jobs.
- Bold thinking matters: Have the courage to think differently, build bridges, and collaborate across borders
- ESG is not an add-on, it is the centerpiece of a future-proof business.
Achieving sustainable development goals requires a strong leadership framework and foundation rooted in a healthy and well-aligned business culture. The shared language was no longer only about performance metrics or efficiencies. It is about values, connection, and the responsibility leaders hold in shaping not only strong teams but better futures.
Purpose-led, human-centric leadership
My conviction for years of experience in multinational companies is that business as usual is no longer enough. We need purpose-led leadership, leadership that goes beyond profit to consider people, planet, and progress in a more holistic way.
At Takko Advisory, we focus on building bridges between strategy and culture, vision and execution, leaders and their teams. Our work is grounded in helping organisations turn values into action: transforming abstract mission statements into lived, everyday behaviours that inspire trust and drive engagement.
This isn’t just about doing good, it’s about ‘doing well by doing good’. Teams perform better when they feel connected to something meaningful. Innovation flourishes in environments where psychological safety and shared purpose exist. And businesses that put people at the heart of their strategy are the ones that adapt fastest, retain talent, and lead with resilience.
Innovation rooted in values
Purpose-led leadership is not the absence of ambition and numeric, measurable goals. On the contrary, it is a foundation for innovative solutions to today’s most complex challenges. When leaders are guided by values, they make braver decisions. When teams are aligned around a purpose, they collaborate more deeply and creatively. Purpose turns pressure into potential that can be measured with solutions it provides and the impacts it makes.
From profit to purpose is an evolution that is the cornerstone of future-proof business and the future of sustainable, human-centric leadership. Let’s lead with purpose. Let’s lead with impact. The future is made today.
