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Who’s Who in ESG? Top 50 Influencers to Follow

by | Feb 21, 2023 | Influencer Lists,

If you polled corporate boards, financial services firms, and governments about ESG, you might come away with as many definitions as respondents. However, at a base level, the acronym “ESG” refers to the Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance risks and opportunities that are material to a company and its long-term value. Here, material means not only financially relevant but also relevant to the company’s ecosystem.

But, ESG has various interpretations as diverse and wide-ranging as the issues that fall under each pillar. Further, ESG is characterized by change because our world is constantly changing.

In the 2004 whitepaper, “Who Cares Wins”, the UN Global Compact and financial services firms distinguished between ESG and related ideas, like sustainability and purpose. Still, these ideas may only sometimes be distinct as overlaps exist, making these issues material, especially when considering stakeholders. For example, properly cultivating purpose can help attract and retain talent. It is material to your business if it matters to your stakeholders.

While some companies and investors focused on ESG issues under the umbrella of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) over the years, it wasn’t until 2019 that the term started gaining mainstream attention. A confluence of events, including COVID, remote work, social unrest, supply chain issues, quiet quitting, changing consumer preferences, and increasing extreme weather events, impacted companies and revealed our world’s complexity and fragility. While it is easy to say we should have long been focused on these issues, these ongoing crises afford us little time to plan proactively.

In this world of growing complexity and interconnected risks, ESG can help us consider the impacts of these crises on the company and its stakeholders. As cliché as it sounds, companies and investors need new skills to think critically through addressing these challenges, ranging from domain-specific specialties to broad perspectives. For example, a company may pivot from a high-emitting supplier to meet carbon disclosure goals but could inadvertently plunge the area into economic hardship as it leaves, creating geopolitical unrest.

We must examine core business issues through their complexities and interdependencies across systems to avoid causing more harm. If well understood, ESG can drive value out of risk mitigation, create new products and services, and lead to more informed decision-making.

This report aims to highlight the Top 50 experts holding these difficult discussions, serving as counsel to others, delivering ESG thought leadership, and shepherding us to a better future where opportunities exist to make the difference we want to see in the world.

Introduction provided by Matthew Sekol, WW Sustainability Industry Advocate at Microsoft

Who’s Who in ESG?

1Alison Taylor

Alison Taylor

Alison Taylor

Clinical Associate Professor
NYU Stern School of Business

Personas: Academic & Researcher, Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 24,561

Average Engagement: 240.8

 

Total Engagement: 292

Average Engagement: 9.7

 

2Kate Brandt

Kate Brandt

Kate Brandt

Chief Sustainability Officer
Google

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 11,728

Average Engagement: 434.4

 

Total Engagement: 31

Average Engagement: 10.3

 

3Helene Li

Helene Li

Helene Li

CEO
GoImpact Capital Partners

Personas: Event Speaker

Total Engagement: 8,023

Average Engagement: 77.1

 

Total Engagement: 934

Average Engagement: 35.9

 

4Laura Franceschini

Laura Franceschini

Laura Franceschini

Global Sustainability Strategy & Operations
Google

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 7,581

Average Engagement: 445.9

 

Total Engagement: 36

Average Engagement: 3

 

5Gihan Hyde

Gihan Hyde

Gihan Hyde

CEO & Founder
CommUnique

Personas: Content Creator, Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 5,654

Average Engagement: 43.8

 

Total Engagement: 295

Average Engagement: 3.1

 

6Susan McPherson

Susan McPherson

Susan McPherson

CEO & Founder
McPherson Strategies

Personas: Author, Event Speaker

Total Engagement: 5,133

Average Engagement: 146.7

 

Total Engagement: 8

Average Engagement: 1

 

7Ioannis Ioannou

Ioannis Ioannou

Ioannis Ioannou

Associate Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship
London Business School

Personas: Academic & Researcher, Event Speaker

Total Engagement: 3,638

Average Engagement: 259.9

 

Total Engagement: 596

Average Engagement: 3.9

 

8Dave Stangis

Dave Stangis

Dave Stangis

Partner, Chief Sustainability Officer
Apollo Global Management Inc.

Personas: Author, Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 4,317

Average Engagement: 45.9

 

Total Engagement: 22

Average Engagement: 1.2

 

9Sally Eaves

Sally Eaves

Sally Eaves

Digital Decentralization, Democracy & Security Advisor
CNAS

Personas: Author, Event Speaker, Social Amplifier

Total Engagement: 2,271

Average Engagement: 64.9

 

Total Engagement: 1,718

Average Engagement: 101.1

 

10Sasja Beslik

Sasja Beslik

Sasja Beslik

Chief Investment Strategy Officer
SDG Impact Japan

Personas: Author, Content Creator

Total Engagement: 3,805

Average Engagement: 79.3

 

Total Engagement: 42

Average Engagement: 3.2

 

11Helle Bank Jørgensen

Helle Bank Jørgensen

Helle Bank Jørgensen

CEO & Founder
Competent Boards

Personas: Author, Event Speaker, Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 3,559

Average Engagement: 98.9

 

Total Engagement: 23

Average Engagement: 1.8

 

12Ana Alvarez Grullón

Ana Alvarez Grullón

Ana Alvarez Grullón

ESG & Sustainability Officer
Keensight Capital

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 3,458

Average Engagement: 108.1

 

13Georges Dyer

Georges Dyer

Georges Dyer

Co-Founder & Executive Director
Intentional Endowments Network

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 3,497

Average Engagement: 15.2

 

Total Engagement: 25

Average Engagement: 0.8

 

14Mauro Bellini

Mauro Bellini

Mauro Bellini

Director
Digital360 Group

Personas: Event Speaker, Journalist & Contributor

Total Engagement: 3,326

Average Engagement: 24.6

 

Total Engagement: 3

Average Engagement: 0.1

 

15Tim Mohin

Tim Mohin

Tim Mohin

Partner & Director
Boston Consulting Group

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 3,030

Average Engagement: 56.1

 

Total Engagement: 9

Average Engagement: 0.7

 

16Matthew Sekol

Matthew Sekol

Matthew Sekol

WW Sustainability Industry Advocate
Microsoft

Personas: Content Creator, Event Speaker

Total Engagement: 2,500

Average Engagement: 30.9

 

Total Engagement: 446

Average Engagement: 41

 

17Vanessa Zimmerman

Vanessa Zimmerman

Vanessa Zimmerman

CEO
Pillar Two

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 2,559

Average Engagement: 26.1

 

Total Engagement: 16

Average Engagement: 1.2

 

18Theodora Lau

Theodora Lau

Theodora Lau

Founder
Unconventional Ventures

Personas: Author, Event Speaker, Social Amplifier

Total Engagement: 1,446

Average Engagement: 55.6

 

Total Engagement: 872

Average Engagement: 13.6

 

19Kevin Hagen

Kevin Hagen

Kevin Hagen

Vice President ESG
Iron Mountain

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 2,117

Average Engagement: 132.3

 

Total Engagement: 36

Average Engagement: 2.8

 

20Curtis S. Chin

Curtis S. Chin

Curtis S. Chin

Chair, Milken Institute Asia Center
Milken Institute

Personas: Event Speaker

Total Engagement: 1,685

Average Engagement: 80.2

 

Total Engagement: 521

Average Engagement: 20

 

21Fiona Reynolds

Fiona Reynolds

Fiona Reynolds

Advisory Committee Member
UNSW Australian Human Rights Institute

Personas: Event Speaker

Total Engagement: 2,248

Average Engagement: 70.3

 

Total Engagement: 12

Average Engagement: 1.7

 

22Dr. Daniel Klier

Dr. Daniel Klier

Dr. Daniel Klier

CEO
ESG Book

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 1,821

Average Engagement: 75.9

 

23Kristen Sullivan

Kristen Sullivan

Kristen Sullivan

Partner
Deloitte & Touche LLP

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 1,775

Average Engagement: 93.4

 

24Richard Brooks

Richard Brooks

Richard Brooks

Climate Finance Director
Stand.earth

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 56

Average Engagement: 8

 

Total Engagement: 1,633

Average Engagement: 33.3

 

25Prerana Tirodkar

Prerana Tirodkar

Prerana Tirodkar

Sr Sustainability Analyst
WatchWire

Personas: Analyst

Total Engagement: 1,476

Average Engagement: 147.6

 

26Mandi McReynolds

Mandi McReynolds

Mandi McReynolds

Head of Global ESG
Workiva

Personas: Content Creator

Total Engagement: 1,512

Average Engagement: 25.2

 

Total Engagement: 131

Average Engagement: 3.4

 

27Chuka Umunna

Chuka Umunna

Chuka Umunna

Managing Director, Head of EMEA ESG & Green Economy Investment Banking
J.P. Morgan

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 1,281

Average Engagement: 106.8

 

Total Engagement: 75

Average Engagement: 12.5

 

28Brian Tippens

Brian Tippens

Brian Tippens

SVP, Chief Social Impact Officer
Cisco

Personas: Event Speaker, Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 1,194

Average Engagement: 170.6

 

Total Engagement: 20

Average Engagement: 4

 

29Mika Leskinen

Mika Leskinen

Mika Leskinen

Chief Investment Officer
S-Pankki

Personas: Event Speaker

Total Engagement: 814

Average Engagement: 54.3

 

Total Engagement: 534

Average Engagement: 22.3

 

30Dr. David Cooke

Dr. David Cooke

Dr. David Cooke

Executive Director
ESG Advisory

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 1,001

Average Engagement: 250.3

 

31James Temple

James Temple

James Temple

Managing Director & Chief Sustainability Officer
PwC

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 1,307

Average Engagement: 72.6

 

Total Engagement: 36

Average Engagement: 2.4

 

32Richard Howitt

Richard Howitt

Richard Howitt

Strategic Advisor
 

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 1,273

Average Engagement: 42.4

 

Total Engagement: 90

Average Engagement: 4.5

 

33Louise Koch

Louise Koch

Louise Koch

Director, Global Sustainability Strategy & Innovation
Dell Technologies

Personas: Event Speaker

Total Engagement: 1,127

Average Engagement: 51.2

 

34Cara Williams

Cara Williams

Cara Williams

Global ESG Strategy Leader, Wealth Management & Multinational Client Lead for Wealth
Mercer

Personas: Event Speaker

Total Engagement: 1,108

Average Engagement: 16.8

 

Total Engagement: 17

Average Engagement: 1.4

 

35David Aikman

David Aikman

David Aikman

Co-Founder & CEO
ESG DAO

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 908

Average Engagement: 82.5

 

Total Engagement: 55

Average Engagement: 7.9

 

36José Luis Blasco

José Luis Blasco

José Luis Blasco

Global Sustainability Director
ACCIONA

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 906

Average Engagement: 113.3

 

Total Engagement: 6

Average Engagement: 1.5

 

37Virginie O’Shea

Virginie O’Shea

Virginie O’Shea

Founder
Firebrand Research

Personas: Analyst

Total Engagement: 1,079

Average Engagement: 13.2

 

Total Engagement: 19

Average Engagement: 0.5

 

38Katie Kross

Katie Kross

Katie Kross

Managing Director, EDGE
Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business

Personas: Event Speaker

Total Engagement: 872

Average Engagement: 58.1

 

Total Engagement: 78

Average Engagement: 0.5

 

39Jon Hale

Jon Hale

Jon Hale

Global Head of Sustainability Research
Morningstar

Personas: Academic & Researcher, Journalist & Contributor

Total Engagement: 744

Average Engagement: 82.7

 

Total Engagement: 124

Average Engagement: 5.4

 

40Frank Meehan

Frank Meehan

Frank Meehan

Head of Product and Partnerships, ESG & Climate
FiscalNote

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 947

Average Engagement: 37.9

 

Total Engagement: 3

Average Engagement: 0.6

 

41Fran Seegull

Fran Seegull

Fran Seegull

President
U.S. Impact Investing Alliance

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 831

Average Engagement: 41.6

 

Total Engagement: 99

Average Engagement: 5.5

 

42Alexandria Fisher

Alexandria Fisher

Alexandria Fisher

Sustainable Finance Manager
Global Risk Institute

Personas: Social Amplifier

Total Engagement: 280

Average Engagement: 40

 

Total Engagement: 603

Average Engagement: 20.8

 

43John Friedman

John Friedman

John Friedman

Managing Director, ESG & Sustainability
Grant Thornton LLP (US)

Personas: Author, Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 954

Average Engagement: 10.1

 

Total Engagement: 25

Average Engagement: 0.3

 

44Ellen Weinreb

Ellen Weinreb

Ellen Weinreb

Managing Director
Weinreb Group

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 829

Average Engagement: 75.4

 

Total Engagement: 7

Average Engagement: 0.7

 

45Dr. Dorothea Baur

Dr. Dorothea Baur

Dr. Dorothea Baur

Principal & Owner
Baur Consulting AG

Personas: Event Speaker, Journalist & Contributor, Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 797

Average Engagement: 31.9

 

Total Engagement: 101

Average Engagement: 3.9

 

46Kurt Harrison

Kurt Harrison

Kurt Harrison

Founder & Co-Head, Global Sustainability Practice
Russell Reynolds Associates

Personas: Event Speaker

Total Engagement: 819

Average Engagement: 74.5

 

47Andrea Bonime-Blanc

Andrea Bonime-Blanc

Andrea Bonime-Blanc

Founder & CEO
GEC Risk Advisory LLC

Personas: Author, Event Speaker

Total Engagement: 860

Average Engagement: 31.9

 

Total Engagement: 20

Average Engagement: 1.2

 

48Claudia Zeisberger

Claudia Zeisberger

Claudia Zeisberger

Senior Affiliate Professor of Entrepreneurship & Family Enterprise
INSEAD

Personas: Academic & Researcher

Total Engagement: 846

Average Engagement: 38.5

 

49Lee Ballin

Lee Ballin

Lee Ballin

Managing Director | ESG & Sustainability Services
Deloitte

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 812

Average Engagement: 50.8

 

Total Engagement: 4

Average Engagement: 0.3

 

50Matthias Hübner

Matthias Hübner

Matthias Hübner

Global Head of ESG Solutions
ESG Book

Personas: Thought Leader

Total Engagement: 761

Average Engagement: 34.6

 

Total Engagement: 13

Average Engagement: 0.9

 

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About Who’s Who reports Future of Work

These Who’s Who reports are created using the Onalytica platform which has a curated database of over 1 million influencers. Our platform allows you to discover, validate and categorise influencers quickly and easily via keyword searches. You can read our in-depth report Methodology here.

This Who’s Who list should give you an insight into who is driving the most engagement on ESG online. We always want to make sure you are getting the most valuable information available from our lists, so feedback is always welcome!

If you want to learn more about Onalytica, or if you’d like to see our platform in action, feel free to get in touch!

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