The conversation around ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) often overlooks the crucial social pillar. Without prioritizing people – and their education, skills and development –  companies cannot truly drive superior business performance. Recognizing this, Leidar concluded a week of discussions at the SDG Tent in Davos with its flagship event: “Harnessing Human Capital in an Intelligent Age.”

A dynamic discussion

The event drew a full room for an engaging discussion on social capital and the necessity of prioritizing human needs in ESG.

Lukasz Bochenek, Managing Director and Deputy CEO at Leidar, set the stage by underscoring the significance of human capital:  

“It’s the most valuable and dynamic asset that companies possess, enabling them to drive business performance in an increasingly intelligent age.”

Watch the event video here:

Insights from industry experts

Panellists further enriched the conversation, withKarl Schmedders, Professor of Finance at IMD, emphasizing the need to look beyond ESG metrics. He noted:

“You’re not reporting for Brussels or Bern—you report to understand your business better.”

Donata Garrasi, Vice President, Head of Multilateral Engagement and Peacebuilding at Peaceinvest, highlighted the economic impact of investing in people:

“For each dollar invested in human capital, your GDP will grow fourfold. Investing in people’s capacity—through better skills, better education—is the foundation for everything else.”

Sahil Tesfu, Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer at global hygiene and health company, Essity, added an essential perspective:

“For me, everything is a matter of diversity and inclusion. If you don’t get that component right, it will be difficult to advance any of the SDGs.” She also stressed the importance of shifting attention from reporting to strategy.