Given our laser-focus on societal impact & competitiveness, we have the privilege of welcoming Marcelo Seraphim, PRI’s Head of Brazil along with Roberto Leuzinger, Partner at one of the largest independent Brazilian asset management firms – Vinci Partners – part of the ABVCAP unique network of Private Equity and Venture Capital firms. They are jointly addressing several societal challenges including the Brazilian youth unemployment rate of 29.8% for youth 18-24 years old. This is bold corporate action and impact focus – leveraging the ingenuity of firms to help drive tangible societal outcomes and address underlying systemic issues. Sectoral projects take that even one step further, by catapulting the impact trajectory and time-horizon to the benefit of society. ‘Impact’ will increasingly become the societal litmus test for business action and the new corporate sustainability frontier. (Net Zero, ESG & Purpose).

One of the new realities of corporate sustainability is the recognition that creating both shareholder value and societal value will come through recalibration of relationships with NFP’s and community groups. This means that corporations will take on a co-create model with NFP’s with joint efforts to find solutions that are efficient, effective and best for the communities they serve. The principles and frameworks for these new models have been tested in a unique relationship between BMO and the United Way of Greater Toronto – the largest Charity in Canada. We are thrilled to hear about how this works, why it works so well and what we can learn going forward. For reference and of worthy note, BMO was recently ranked one of the world’s most sustainable companies in the world on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices – one of only five companies in Canada (DJSI) and one of only two North American Banks.

Trust is the new currency for Corporations. As firms consider ESG & Corporate Purpose how does stakeholder trust fit into shareholder value creation? What did the Deloitte report on Trust unveil? Why do the findings matter for ESG & Corporate Purpose global adoption? What builds and sustains trust? How do you deconstruct the core elements to ensure widespread corporate adoption? The Deloitte Millennial surveys continue to point to significant societal shifts – what does this mean for CEO’s and Boards – and the building of stakeholder trust? What is the first step? What happens if we don’t take the leap?

Now that companies are used to setting environmental, social and governance goals, they face an even greater mission, Jeff Buckstein writes