Andrew Winston and Paula Caballero, global sustainability leaders, presented their conclusions on nature as a lever of value for the private sector

• At the event titled “Nature: A Catalyst for Business Transformation,” more than 400 participants from the public and private sectors gathered to reflect on sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and their importance for business growth in Colombia and globally.
• The event featured experts such as Andrew Winston, recognized as the third most influential leader in the world according to the Thinkers 50 list, and Paula Caballero, Regional Executive Director for Latin America at The Nature Conservancy and arguably one of the most influential Colombians in the field of nature and sustainability worldwide.
• Held at Celsia’s facilities in Yumbo, the event also included the participation of the presidents of Grupo Empresarial Argos’ companies, who shared their perspectives on business management with a deep environmental awareness. They demonstrated that profitability and environmental care are not opposing goals but rather complementary objectives.

With the goal of continuing to build knowledge around nature as a lever of value and, therefore, as a development mechanism that drives economic and social growth, Grupo Empresarial Argos led an event within the framework of COP 16. Held at Celsia’s facilities, the event brought together renowned national and international experts to identify the role of businesses in ecosystem conservation in Colombia.

The event, hosted at Celsia’s facilities in the municipality of Yumbo, Valle del Cauca, began with a talk on sustainable business and biodiversity led by Paula Caballero, one of the most influential Colombians in the field of nature and sustainability and a pioneer of the Sustainable Development Goals. The talk also featured Andrew Winston, an American speaker and expert on megatrends and sustainable business, as well as the author of leading global books on these topics.

“We must continue seeking lasting solutions because that is what we need—how we align productivity and competitiveness with the need for protection and management of natural resources, especially in a country as dazzlingly rich as Colombia.”

Paula Caballero
Regional Executive Director for Latin America, The Nature Conservancy

“There is an interdependence between the economy and the optimal functioning of biodiversity. Ignoring this relationship is more costly than implementing proactive sustainability measures. Let’s adopt a ‘Net Positive’ business approach, where we pursue financial gains while solving social and environmental challenges.”

Andrew Winston
Ranked as the third most influential leader in the world by the Thinkers 50 list

Likewise, Ricardo Sierra, President of Celsia; Mauricio Ossa, President of Odinsa; and Tomás Restrepo, Vice President of Cementos Argos, led a discussion panel on the environmental conservation initiatives implemented by Grupo Empresarial Argos. Guided by a pillar of responsible operations, these initiatives have contributed to the protection of 250 species of fauna and flora across more than 20 departments in the country.