Host: Adam Gorley, Marketing Manager, Corporate Solutions

Guest: Shilpi Singh, Director, Corporate Solutions

In this special episode of the Sustainalytics Podcast, Adam and Shilpi discuss important considerations for any organization starting an ESG program and how to set up your program for success. You’ll hear about gaining leadership buy-in, planning and resourcing your program, meeting reporting requirements, communicating your progress with stakeholders, and the role of third parties, plus potential obstacles you can avoid.

As with most projects, good planning and commitment are strong drivers of a successful ESG program. To make the most of their effort, companies starting an ESG program need to have a clear understanding of the ESG issues that affect them, what their impacts are, and how they relate to the business strategy. With this knowledge, a company can effectively address the issues that are most material to the business and confidently and transparently communicate its ESG activities with stakeholders.

Can a firm plan and implement an ESG program on its own — that is, without guidance from an external ESG specialist? Yes, says Shilpi, but it’s not for every company. No third party knows your business like you, your team, and your stakeholders, so there is a lot of valuable ESG information that companies can gather and analyze — if you have the resources. At the same time, ESG specialists have a lot to offer in terms of understanding what actions to prioritize, competitive insights, and credibility.