By Mersiha Causevic Podzic – CEO, As You Know

Last year, I was fortunate to lead the development As You Know, a data offering that brings high-quality, comprehensive material risk data to investors and companies. Our data is developed with rigor, detail, and accountability, helping show the financial impact of human capital management, corporate worker rights, and social responsibility.

The journey to developing As You Know has offered invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of corporate responsibility, risk management, and long-term value creation–particularly during a year where debates and conversations around corporate responsibility, ESG, and DEI have heightened. Here’s what has stood out:

• The Data That Drives Impact: Investors and companies increasingly require data that bridges social responsibility, risk management, and profitability to unlock long-term value. Understanding the metrics that deliver this, and gathering that data, is a continuing challenge for investors and companies. Working with issue area experts can help identify the social and environmental metrics with financial impact and those that truly move the needle towards meaningful impact.

• Shifting Priorities in 2025: From ESG to DEI, changing regulations, and evolving shareholder demands, the landscape for corporate responsibility is anything but static. For example, according to As You Sow’s Proxy Preview 2024, proponents filed at least 527 shareholder resolutions on environmental, social, and related sustainable governance issues for the 2024 proxy season.

• Managing Change: As new priorities emerge and scrutiny intensifies, adaptability is essential—but amidst this, certain constants remain. Tools and resources that can help companies and investors most efficiently prioritize efforts continues to grow in importance.

So, what can we count on to remain constant in 2025 and beyond?

• The Need for High-Quality, Material Risk Data: High-quality data that focuses on material risks—worker rights, environmental justice, and social responsibility policies with real investor and regulatory implications—will remain critical. Actionable data doesn’t just track risks; it drives meaningful change, enhances risk management, and supports financial outperformance.

• The Proven Business Benefits of Corporate Responsibility: The value of better human capital management and reduced environmental impacts is undeniable. But in 2025, the ability to clearly demonstrate these benefits will matter even more. Organizations like As You Know play a key role by delivering data that reflects real-world impacts and meets stakeholder needs.

• Aligning Value with Values: Actionable, high-quality material risk data remains the key to bridging the gap between financial performance and ethical responsibility, ensuring that companies align their goals with their stakeholders’ values.

If you’re ready to lead with data that drives impact, visit As You Know or get in touch. We’d love to meet in person and hear your thoughts. My experience is that the best ideas often come from conversations that were never planned.