PurposeThis paper aims to address the importance of a framework for developing employees' sustainability knowledge, skills, and behaviors.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on in‐depth interviews with executives from five Fortune 1000 companies that are viewed as market leaders in addressing sustainability.FindingsThis 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 implicationsThe 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/valueThe framework covered by this paper can help companies enhance their talent management skills.

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Several factors are driving an increase in the supply of and demand for “green talent”, employees with the mindsets and skills to drive sustainability. But many business leaders do not fully understand the implications of this change in the workforce. John Glen, Chris Hilson and Eric Lowitt believe corporate chiefs need to learn – quickly.

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