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VANGUARD ROUNDTABLE FOR
ESG LEADERS

Kim Yapchai

ESG is so complex and challenging. The best leadership resource is other ESG leaders. That’s why this network is so important to me."

KIM YAPCHAI

Former SVP & Chief ESG Officer,

Tenneco

CONCEPT

C-suite Executives and ESG-responsible executives across sectors have noted that there is an important need for a forum where ESG leaders can discuss critical leadership challenges, share experiences, and develop effective approaches. 

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Among the reasons are the global complexity of ESG issues, the freshness of many of the challenges, the needed cross-functional and cross-department collaboration, and the reality that very often ESG leadership must be carried out via persuasion with other executives and teams, including CEOs and Boards.  

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Mary Ann Hynes (Dentons), Kim Yapchai (Former ESG lead at Tenneco) and other leaders have been working with Ken Banta, CEO of the Vanguard Network, to develop a program that will respond to these and other challenges. The result is a new ESG Leaders Network. It is sharply focused on the leadership dimensions of the role.  

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Importantly, the Network is not conceived as a policy-, rules-, or regulations- focused organization. Rather it is an intensely pragmatic membership network of top ESG-responsible executives, working together on real-world leadership challenges so as to advance their ESG agendas.

THE ESG NETWORK

Attendees will be executives with broad ESG leadership mandates. In some cases this may be individuals whose sole accountability is ESG, and others for whom it is a major part of their portfolio.  

  • Co-Chairs of the Network are Mary Ann Hynes (Dentons) and Kim Yapchai (Former ESG lead at Tenneco)

  • Membership will consist of senior ESG-responsible individuals across sectors and positions, regardless of formal title. For example, the membership will include ESG-named senior executives, as well as COOs and CEOs depending on the context.

  • The Network will begin with monthly or bi-monthly intimate virtual Roundtable sessions, where participants can work together on immediate challenges and issues for peer feedback and networking. The Roundtables will be in virtual format for efficiency. and ease of access.

    • The Roundtables will run ~90 minutes, with the appropriate length to be decided by the participants.  The participants will be polled regarding the optimal date and time each month. 

    • Vanguard will convene, facilitate and execute follow up materials

  • In due course, The Network may also include periodic longer sessions on specific topics, typically led by members with particular expertise, and/or invited guests. These may be virtual or face-to-face, as the members decide.  

  • All aspects of the Roundtable will be confidential unless otherwise agreed

  • C-suite level participants who are not already Vanguard members will receive complimentary Circle Membership in the Vanguard Network

ADVISORY BOARD

The ESG Network Advisory Board, composed of very senior ESG-experienced leaders, will play a critical role in setting the direction and content of the Network.

  • Mary Ann Hynes (Dentons and multiple board and advisory roles), and Kim Yapchai (Former ESG lead at Tenneco) are also co-chairs of the Board

  • The Board is building and in due course will consist of 7-9 members

THE VANGUARD NETWORK

The Vanguard Network uniquely convenes conversations and networking among C-suite executives around high performance leadership. Its Founder is Ken Banta, an experienced corporate executive and advisor.

The ~15,000 members cut across sectors and roles within their organizations, both for- and non-profit.

 

Vanguard is well-equipped and positioned to support the Network, and to actively facilitate the roundtable discussions, and other programming that may develop.

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Vanguard will help to lead, manage and curate the program, including such aspects as 

  • Membership development, recruitment and service

  • Meeting management, agenda setting and moderation, face to face and virtual as appropriate

  • Developing content (e.g. videos and podcasts)

  • Issuing invitations, reminders and notices

  • Handling  follow up on agenda items with participants and their designees

  • Producing an appropriate record of proceedings, recognizing the needs for confidentiality

  • Operating as a member services team, including making warm introductions, supporting new initiatives requested by members, and creating value-adding linkages with other members of the Vanguard Network

INVESTMENT

$1,200 per month

For an initial six month commitment

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