5 Keys to Impactful Governance

Focus on impact governance with Assia Benhida. President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) Sustainable Development Commission, and member of the Club of Women Administrators, CFA, Morocco, Assia Benhida has also intervened in the “Certificate in Corporate Governance” programme, a personalised training programme for those assuming leadership roles in collaboration with the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University.

Bringing All Stakeholders On Board

Impactful governance disrupts traditional models. Rather than focusing solely on financial performance, it introduces a broader vision that embeds sustainability and ESG into the foundation of strategic decisions. This approach radically transforms the notion of accountability by requiring transparency to all stakeholders: shareholders, clients, suppliers and local communities. It calls for re-thinking of operational models, combining financial and extra-financial performance based on shared, responsible, and lasting values.

Use ESG Criteria to Drive Performance

Incorporating ESG criteria into strategy offers many advantages: it fosters investor and consumer trust, strengthens stakeholder engagement, and increases employer brand value - particularly for younger generations seeking meaning. It’s abundantly clear: financial and extra-financial performance are now cornerstones of the modern enterprise. Leaders must demonstrate societal impact without compromising economic objectives or falling into greenwashing.

Consider the Domino Effect of European Regulations

Evolving international regulatory frameworks are creating new links between Europe and Africa. Morocco provides an inspirational example. From the planned adoption of a green taxonomy aligned with international standards, to the recent amendment of the Moroccan law on public limited companies introducing a mandatory quota of 40% female representation on boards by 2027, as well as the recent focus on the social inclusion, the country is making great progress in many spheres. The co-organisation of the 2030 Football World Cup between Morocco, Spain and Portugal called for specific commitments to low-carbon economies, sustainable mobility and waste management, reinforcing this virtuous dynamic across the Moroccan economic ecosystem.

Stay Open to Your Environment

While a company can only transform under the impetus of its leaders, organisations must remain receptive to their environments to adapt to structural change. When remaining open to stakeholder inputs forms the backbone of ESG strategies, social sciences offer a crucial framework for continuously improving governance practices within organisations.

Turn Regulatory Requirements into Strategic Opportunities

Like seat belts, which were initially seen as a constraint before becoming as a life-saving reflex, sustainability continually fosters innovation and dialogue, turning regulatory constraints into drivers of competitiveness. The adoption of responsible governance practices becomes essential to building resilience and generating shared value.

« The future belongs to companies capable of aligning environmental impact, social value and economic performance. This requires not only responsible governance, but also meaningful representation of women in governance structures. »

Assia Benhida