In the second part of our Future Ready Board series we speak to Paul Washington, Executive Director of the Environmental, Social and Governance Center at The Conference Board. Paul explains to us how the relationship between NGOs, government and business has changed. We also speak about what makes a sustainable board and what challenges lie ahead. Paul gives us some examples of specific stakeholder groups and how the dynamics between these players has changed the corporation.
Listen to the podcast here:
All links to Paul’s cited research can be found below:
About Paul Washington
Executive Director, Environmental, Social and Governance Center
The Conference Board
Paul Washington is a recognized leader with a distinguished career in the ESG space. Before joining The Conference Board ESG Center, he served as Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of Time Warner Inc. He also served as Chief of Staff for the company’s Chairman and CEO, after holding positions of Assistant General Counsel and Litigation Counsel. Prior to Time Warner, Washington practiced law at the firm of Sidley & Austin and served as Vice President and Corporate Secretary of The Dime Savings Bank of New York.
Washington brings an in-depth understanding of The Conference Board and its offerings. A long-time active member of the organization, from 2013-2014 he chaired its Advisory Board on Corporate/Investor Engagement. Washington's distinguished career also includes extensive work in public service. He served as a law clerk for former Supreme Court Associate Justices William Brennan and David Souter, and for Circuit Court Judge David Tatel. In addition, he was the principal staffer on tax matters for former Congressman Stanley Lundine and, later, his principal speechwriter, when Lundine served as New York’s Lieutenant Governor.
Washington has served on the boards of numerous cultural, civic, and professional non-profit organizations, including the Legal Aid Society and American Folk Art Museum. He also is the former Chairman of the Society for Corporate Governance. Washington graduated from Yale College and Fordham University School of Law; he is a Resident Fellow at the latter, where he has taught corporate governance for over a decade.
About 'Leadership Conversations by TSBR'
Leadership Conversations is a podcast by The Sustainability Board Report (TSBR), an independent not-for-profit project. We aim to showcase different dimensions of sustainable business leadership and corporate governance.
In this podcast we interview global leaders who advocate for more positive societal impact and responsible business.
Leadership Conversations is hosted by Frederik Otto and Helena Guðjónsdóttir.