GeSI joins Kyndryl Executive Breakfast in Lisbon to discuss AI, Business Value, and Measurable Impact

On the 28th of April, GeSI was pleased to participate in an Executive Breakfast hosted by Kyndryl Portugal in Lisbon, featuring Faith Taylor, Senior Vice President, Global Sustainability and Social Impact Officer at Kyndryl. 

Representing GeSI, Rita Dias joined a selected group of business leaders for an open and practical discussion on how organisations can translate ambition into measurable business outcomes, leveraging technology and data. 

The session centred on insights from Kyndryl’s Global Sustainability Barometer, which highlights a critical shift: organisations that integrate sustainability into core business strategy are more likely to deliver measurable results. 

As Faith Taylor noted: 

“Companies that integrate technology into their business strategy see stronger return on investment than those that treat it as a separate programme.” 

The discussion explored how this value is being realised in practice. From operational efficiency to revenue generation, organisations are increasingly linking sustainability performance directly to business outcomes. 

“As you reduce energy, water, and waste, you reduce costs—but you also improve profitability. That’s real return on investment.” 

Beyond internal performance, external pressure is accelerating this shift. Customers, investors, and regulators are increasingly shaping how organisations act and compete. 

“We have billions—not millions—of dollars of contracts that require us to prove what we’re doing on environmental and social metrics.” 

The conversation also highlighted the importance of governance, cross-functional collaboration, and workforce readiness. As organisations navigate rapid technological change, success increasingly depends on integrating strategy, technology, and people. 

“Sustainability cannot sit on the side. It has to be part of how you run the business.” 

The discussion explored several key themes shaping the current landscape: 

• From commitment to execution: the gap between ambition and implementation remains significant, with leading organisations differentiating themselves through cross-functional collaboration and integration into business strategy  

• Technology as a value driver: AI and digital solutions are increasingly used to optimise energy, reduce waste, and improve operational efficiency—while also enabling new revenue streams  

• Measurable business impact: beyond cost reduction, organisations are seeing value through customer demand, RFP requirements, and investor expectations linked to performance and transparency  

• AI as both challenge and opportunity: while concerns around energy consumption and infrastructure demand are growing, AI also presents significant potential to reduce emissions and optimise systems at scale  

• Governance and trust: the need for frameworks, guardrails, and responsible AI deployment is becoming critical as technologies evolve rapidly  

• Workforce and societal implications: discussions also touched on AI literacy, workforce transformation, and the importance of maintaining human interaction and organisational culture in an increasingly digital environment  

The exchange reinforced the importance of moving beyond high-level narratives towards practical implementation, measurable outcomes, and business relevance. 

As a GeSI member, Kyndryl continues to play an important role in advancing the conversation on how digital technologies can support more efficient, resilient, and impactful business models. 

GeSI thanks Kyndryl and Faith Taylor for convening this timely and insightful discussion. 

 Know more about the 2025 Global Sustainability Barometer Study sponsored by Kyndryl and Microsoft