Sustainability Won't Fade Away, Because It Makes Companies Less Risky

«Understand what's going on, be honest with people, and be consistent with your operational excellence,» that's the essence of leadership according to Francesco Starace, Enel CEO and General Manager, who met with Bocconi Rector Gianmario Verona in LinkedIn's Milan offices for a video of the Executive Chats series.

With €17.8bn in ordinary EBITDA and about 70,000 employees, Enel is the world's leading private network operator and the largest player in renewables. When asked what Enel is today, Mr. Starace said "It's all about electricity, with a global outreach. We add one or two countries to our portfolio every year." Worldwide electricity demand is growing at twice the pace of total energy demand, making it a great industry to be in.

In the energy sector, technological disruption has been a force for good. «It's making electricity more available, cheaper, more flexible to use, and decarbonized,» said Enel's CEO, stressing the relevance of sustainability. «It is not a fad, but someone still considers it a fad. Sustainability is value, about making your company more fit to what this planet and its dwellers want and, thus, less risky.»