This has been a rocky beginning to the new year, to say the least. One hope is that, like the Enron collapse in 2001 and the financial crisis in 2008, this week might serve as a wake-up call for those in government. I believe government officials could learn a lot from those of us in the private and non-profit sectors – not in the traditional sense of “running a business,” but in how we conduct ourselves. Imagine if government officials were bound by the fiduciary duties of loyalty and care? If they needed to ensure their statements were materially accurate? If legislators treated each other with the genuine respect afforded in our board rooms? If governments considered and disclosed the broader impacts of their actions on all stakeholders, society, and the environment?

Even if those ideas remain in the realm of imagination, we can still, in our own way, continue to lead by example. And here at the ESG Center, we’re trying to do our part to help companies fulfill their evolving obligations in society.