Professor of Social Entrepreneurship and Coca-Cola Foundation Chair in Sustainable Development Sophie Bacq and Professor of Business Transformation Julia Binder have been recognized among the 2026 Top 30 Sustainable Shapers by Sustainable Switzerland.
The annual award, presented by Sustainable Switzerland, recognizes individuals who make an outstanding ecological or social contribution to sustainable development.
The recognition reflects Bacq’’s pioneering work in social entrepreneurship and systems change. As a globally recognized thought leader in the field, she investigates and theorizes about entrepreneurial action to solve intractable social and environmental problems at the individual, organizational, and civic levels of analysis.
Since January 2026, she has served as IMD’s Co-Managing Director of the Enterprise for Society Center (E4S). She also is the Co-Director of IMD’s Center for Social Innovation, which develops and shares cutting-edge research and pedagogical content that help leaders in business, government, and civil society navigate the challenges of redesigning markets, building inclusion, and creating lasting value.
“There is no ecological transition without a social one. Yet in sustainability debates, the social dimension too often remains an afterthought. This recognition affirms my work to change that: strengthening communities, civic action, and the commons as the foundations of impact, and making them a strategic priority for leaders in business, government, and civil society. The next generation of leaders won’t be defined by how well they managed risk, but by how boldly they created opportunity — not for communities, but with them,” said Bacq.
A renowned expert in business transformation, strategic innovation, and sustainability, Binder was recognized for helping senior executives translate signals of change into strategy, innovation, and leadership action.
“Being named among the top sustainability shapers is a meaningful recognition as it reinforces the focus of my work: turning sustainability from an abstract concept into practical action and demonstrating that it can go hand in hand with business priorities. My aim is to inspire leaders to act by equipping them with concrete tools and frameworks they can apply daily in their decision-making and strategic planning,” said Binder.
As the Director of IMD’s Center for Sustainable and Inclusive Business, Binder brings IMD’s diverse expertise to help companies turn global challenges into strategic opportunities. She is also the Program Director of Creating Value in the Circular Economy, which supports leaders in future-proofing their business for a more efficient, resilient, and profitable business model.
Bacq and Binder will be celebrated at the Sustainable Switzerland Forum on 21 October in Dübendorf, Switzerland.
Read more about Bacq and Binder.
