Ronald O' Hanley, chairman and CEO, State Street

At a time when many corporate leaders are turning away from progressive environmental and social policies, does this mean that the drive for corporate sustainability has crashed and burned? Helle Bank Jorgensen, who advises corporate boards around the world on how to deal with turbulent times, says the answer is a resounding No. Corporations still face urgent demands from regulators, politicians, customers, and other stakeholders to clean up their environmental behaviour and treat people fairly. This gives board members the complicated task of steering organizations that are facing conflicting demands from many quarters. This book, with insights from some of the world's top executives and board leaders, shows how boards should operate to deal with these unprecedented challenges, and how they can work better.