Insights

The European Green Deal, COVID-19, the United Nations report from their Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and a renewed focus on social justice are putting corporate ESG commitments to the test. While boards naturally tried to reduce costs when lockdowns and commercial restrictions were in place, investors, customers, regulators and other critical stakeholders kept up the pressure to better serve employees, customers, suppliers and communities in which companies operate while advancing the greater good. Emphasising ESG in business plans has turned out to be sound strategy. Investment funds that focused on sustainability last year outperformed traditional funds[see footnote] in the first four months of the 2021.

When we talk about improving collaboration it usually means breaking out of departmental siloes and becoming more cross-functional. Learning from colleagues outside your own group and working more closely towards shared goals is vital, but I wonder if that definition of collaboration isn’t out-dated?