We are proud to share that NZZ Sustainable Switzerland, has been named our founder, Nathalie Agosti, a Sustainable Shaper 2025.
This recognition is significant for us because it highlights a dimension of sustainability that many people often underestimated: the social. In many ESG conversations, the focus tends to gravitate toward environmental or governance metrics. Yet it is the social aspect of organizations, the way they support mental health, foster inclusion, uphold fair working conditions, and respect human rights across value chains that determines whether sustainability commitments take root in practice.
The winers: Walter Stahel, Nicolas Rochat, Aurélien Demaurex, Albin Kälin, Christian Zeyer, Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus, Julia Carpenter, Mathis Wackernagel, Oliver Brunschwiler, Philipp Furler, Pirmin Jung, Simone Nägeli, Ursula Biemann and Vincent Vida.
Why Social Sustainability Matters
From our work, we know that social sustainability is not an abstract category. It shows up in how leaders communicate, how teams work together, and how companies position themselves in society. When companies neglect these aspects, the gap between strategy and culture widens. However, when they address them meaningfully, organizations become more resilient, trusted, and future-ready.
Our Contribution
This perspective has shaped our campaigns in recent years, part of Switzerland Fit for the Future, in collaboration with Claire Garwacki:
- The Cost of Silence addressed mental health in the workplace by inviting Swiss CEOs to speak candidly about a subject still surrounded by stigma. The campaign demonstrated that silence has a cost — for individuals, for culture, and for business performance.
- In Her Chair shone a light on unconscious bias. By asking male CEOs the kinds of questions women leaders often face, we revealed — with humor and honesty — how ingrained patterns still influence careers and leadership opportunities.
Both initiatives grew out of real conversations and personal experiences. They confirmed our belief that sustainable change starts when people feel seen, heard, and understood.
About Sustainable Switzerland and NZZ
The award is part of the Sustainable Switzerland platform, an initiative by NZZ in collaboration with leading partners from business and science. Its network includes BCG, BMW, Die Mobiliar, Google, Swisscom and UBS as Main Partners, Lidl Schweiz as Focus Partner, as well as ETH Zürich and EPFL as Science Partners (sustainableswitzerland.ch).
Behind this stands NZZ, one of Switzerland’s largest private media companies. With its tradition of independent journalism and liberal perspective, NZZ provides orientation and inspiration to a broad readership every day (unternehmen.nzz.ch).
Looking Forward
For us at Outlive, this recognition is not a conclusion but a reminder. Social sustainability remains one of the most pressing and sometimes overlooked aspects of sustainable development. It requires leadership, communication, and a willingness to challenge what is often left unsaid.
We look forward to continuing this work: helping organizations put people at the center of their strategies and creating campaigns that spark reflection and dialogue.
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