SoVonna Day-Goins, Former Global Head of Social Sustainability, Credit Suisse; Founder and CEO, Women X Meta, Catherine Howarth, CEO, ShareAction and Julie Moret, Global Head of Sustainable Investing and Stewardship, Northern Trust Asset Management discuss social sustainability with Bloomberg's John Fraher at the Bloomberg Equality Summit
Mindful investors are becoming increasingly concerned with creating impact in the areas of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. Interest has been growing exponentially for years, and at this pivotal time in human history, the ‘S’ or social component is proving particularly resonant.
As news outlets and political leaders regularly state, we’re living in an unprecedented time. The human experience of day-to-day life, which is arguably the endpoint of the ‘S,’ is under intense pressure from multiple factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the global ricocheting of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Investors are interested to learn how social investment criteria can be meaningfully identified and measured. Is it an opportunity or a liability? How can a business adjust its operations and performance to give the social aspect of ESG more focus? Does it require a rewrite of the business rulebook or just a reinterpretation? Is it possible to invest wisely and still make a difference? In essence, what does the ‘S’ really mean?