On October 12th, AMCHAM’s Western Region organized a virtual thought leadership session on ‘ESG: A Key Differentiator for Organizational Performance.’ The session commenced with opening remarks by Ms. Surabhi Wahal, Regional Director – Western Region, AMCHAM followed by Mr. Sarthak Ranade, Chairman – Western Region, AMCHAM and Managing Director – Janssen India, Johnson & Johnson Pvt. Ltd. who set the stage through his welcome remarks. Through his remarks Mr. David J. Ranz, Consul General, U.S. Consulate General Mumbai, highlighted the efforts and initiatives undertaken by the U.S. Consulate and U.S. companies in India to promote the ESG agenda.

As part of the program, a fireside chat had Ms. Divya Gokulnath, Co-Founder, BYJU’S in conversation with Ms. Kaku Nakhate, Vice Chair, AMCHAM and President and Country Head (India), Bank of America, N.A. Ms. Gokulnath spoke of the evolution of BYJU’S, education technology becoming mainstream especially during the pandemic, BYJU’S social initiative ‘Education For All’ and creating job opportunities for unemployed women teachers. The conversation also shed light on BYJU’S partnership with NITI Aayog to enhance literacy in STEM education and provide scholarship programs. Ms. Gokulnath concluded by inviting U.S. companies to partner with BYJU’S to enable quality education facilities and infrastructure to students in rural areas at all learning levels.

The panel discussion that followed comprised of esteemed industry leaders Mr. Som Satsangi, National Executive Board Member, AMCHAM and Managing Director, Hewlett Packard Enterprise India, Mr. Sarthak Ranade, Chairman – Western Region, AMCHAM, Managing Director – Janssen India, Johnson & Johnson Pvt. Ltd., Mr. Shailendra Jagtap, Vice Chairman – Western Region, AMCHAM and Managing Director & Country Manager, John Deere India Pvt. Ltd., Mr. Chandrakant Nayak, CEO & Country President, Dow India, Dow Chemical International Private Limited and Mr. Chaitanya Kalia, National Leader, Climate Change & Sustainability Services, Partner, Ernst & Young Associates LLP. The panel was moderated by Ms. Kaku Nakhate. The discussion focussed on ESG initiatives and best practices across industries, the accountability of corporates to work on carbon neutrality, sustainable solutions, reduced wastage, shifting to renewable energy and creating an inclusive work ecosystem. The panel also touched upon how organizations can prepare to be ESG-ready, engaging business partners in the ESG drive, how companies can implement ESG as per the recent regulatory and investor’s expectations. A Q&A segment followed. The event concluded with closing remarks and a vote of thanks by Mr. Shailendra Jagtap.