“We Need to Design Solutions that Address Not Only Immediate Objectives, but Also Systemic Needs” A seasoned transformation expert, Stephan Multhaupt has joined the CSCP with a bold vision: to connect digital innovation, cultural transformation, and sustainability, creating pathways for businesses and society to thrive within planetary boundaries. A transformation expert at the CSCP is a natural match. Can you elaborate more on your vision and what motivated you to join our team? My vision is to integrate digitalisation, mindset transformation, and sustainability to tackle today’s global and partly existential challenges. Digital tools enable better decision-making, but true transformation hinges on people embracing change. Sustainability then provides the guiding framework, ensuring that actions contribute to long-term value on a stable, socially just foundation and within planetary boundaries. The CSCP’s integrated, systemic approach mirrors my own philosophy. Joining the team was an opportunity to collaborate with experts who share my vision of making sustainability a central tenet of business and society. Together, we can create solutions that not only respond to immediate challenges but also drive lasting change. You mentioned digitalisation, sustainability, mindset shift – all buzzwords of our time. How can these topics connect in meaningful ways to enable real and positive change? These topics connect through their shared role in enabling transformation. Digitalisation isn’t just about technology—it’s about making data actionable and improving decision-making. Mindset shifts are about creating openness to change, ensuring that individuals and organisations can adapt to and leverage new possibilities. Sustainability, meanwhile, ensures that these efforts align with larger goals, such as resilience and equitable growth. The key is integration. By embedding these elements into organisational strategies, we can create practical pathways to real change. This means designing solutions that address not only immediate objectives but also systemic needs, like reducing resource dependence or improving social equity. Though change on an individual or organisational level is desired, we are past that point and need a rather systemic shift to counter current challenges. How is this doable? Systemic change requires coordination across sectors and levels of society. It starts with a shared understanding of sustainability—not just as an ideal, but as a necessity. Clear frameworks, like the context based Sustainable Development Performance Indicators (SDPI) and circular economy principles, help set understandable and actionable goals. Collaboration is key. By uniting governments, businesses, and civil society, we can address structural challenges more effectively. Mutual accountability and tracking progress make systemic shifts both attainable and impactful. Key to overall sustainability is also mainstreaming sustainable business. What’s holding us back there and how to move forward? A major barrier is the misconception that sustainability is costly or optional. In reality, sustainable practices enhance resilience, stimulate innovation, and offer long-term benefits. To move forward, we need to dispel myths by highlighting success stories where sustainability improves competitiveness. Educating businesses on the tangible advantages of sustainable practices is essential. Creating positive narratives and addressing disinformation will shift perceptions and encourage widespread adoption of sustainability as a strategic imperative. Lastly, beyond work, what’s your take on sustainability – any tips or hacks you would like to share? Absolutely. I believe sustainability begins with our daily choices. Personally, I’m transitioning towards a meat-free diet to reduce my environmental footprint and promote animal welfare. Supporting local initiatives is also important to me. I am actively involved with the focus group “Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship” at the digitalHUB Aachen, contributing to regional transformation through community-driven projects. I’m passionate about nurturing and challenging talents. By mentoring and engaging with individuals who are keen on making a difference, we can cultivate a new generation of sustainability leaders. These combined efforts not only enrich our communities but also drive the broader shift towards a more sustainable and socially responsible society. For further questions, please contact Stephan Multhaupt.