The challenge of integrating sustainability into talent and organization strategies: investing in the knowledge, skills and attitudes to achieve high performance

Purpose This paper aims to address the importance of a framework for developing employees' sustainability knowledge, skills, and behaviors. Design/methodology/approach The paper draws on in‐depth interviews with executives from five Fortune 1000 companies that are viewed as market leaders in addressing sustainability. Findings This paper provides a series of initiatives to equip their employees' talent – from top executives to employees throughout the organization – with the much needed, but often sorely lacking knowledge, skills and attitudes to spearhead efforts to attend to sustainability both today and tomorrow. Practical implications The usefulness of demonstrating a company's suite of ongoing initiatives to address sustainability to potential employees during the recruiting process is highlighted by each company. Originality/value The framework covered by this paper can help companies enhance their talent management skills.