Green Gold: How Sustainability Creates Deal Value

Sustainability has shifted from corporate aspiration to financial reality, but how do companies actually measure its impact on value creation? In this episode, Alberto Lidji speaks with Michel Driessen about the evolving relationship between sustainability, ESG, corporate finance, and mergers and acquisitions. Drawing from the themes explored in Green Gold: How Sustainability Creates Deal Value, Michel explains how businesses and investors are increasingly translating sustainability into measurable financial outcomes. The conversation examines why sustainability has become more politically charged in recent years, while simultaneously becoming more embedded inside corporate operations, investment decisions, and supply chains. Michel argues that although the public conversation around ESG may have cooled, many companies continue advancing sustainability initiatives behind the scenes because the financial and operational implications are too significant to ignore. A major focus of the discussion is the role of CFOs and financial leaders. Michel explains how sustainability responsibilities are shifting away from standalone ESG teams and becoming central to finance, strategy, and investment committees. The episode explores how organizations can assess sustainability risks and opportunities at the business unit level, rather than relying solely on broad company-wide ESG ratings. Alberto and Michel also unpack: • How sustainability factors influence valuation, EBITDA, cash flow, and cost of capital • Why materiality and maturity assessments matter in transaction due diligence • The growing influence of investors, pension funds, banks, and regulators • The connection between reputational risk and financial risk • Why governance issues are often underestimated compared to environmental topics • The complexities and unintended consequences of ESG decision-making across industries and geographies • How new disclosure and reporting standards are reshaping corporate accountability • Why MBA students and future executives are increasingly focused on sustainability regulation and financial integration The discussion also touches on examples from global business, including Unilever’s sustainability leadership, investor expectations, supply chain resilience, and the practical realities of balancing profitability with long-term responsibility. Ultimately, this episode explores how sustainability is becoming integrated into mainstream financial decision-making, not simply as a reputational exercise, but as a core component of business performance and enterprise value. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 350+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.