ESG and the Next Generation of Leaders

ESG – Environmental, Social and Governance. It is an assessment of an organization’s commitment to transparent, sustainable business practices. Be it carbon footprint, waste disposal, employee safety, labour policies, Board composition or supply chain management, the next generation of great leaders are integrating strong ESG policy into their core business strategies.

These are no longer ‘feel good’ issues, rather they are drivers of competitive advantage and momentum is being gained by smart leaders who are responding to customer and shareholder demands to harness ESG practices and flip them into core value drivers for their organization, thereby delivering increased customer engagement/ loyalty/ satisfaction, improving the organization’s commercial impact and delivering on shareholder return. These are not token projects or ad hoc philanthropic efforts; rather these are core strategies for competitive advantage.

Leaders understand through strong ESG practices and policies they can deliver a better bottom line, attract investors and most importantly attract and retain great talent. Robust ESG represents pride, engagement, meaning and purpose for employees, all critical factors to win the competition for great talent and drive momentum into the organization.