Our purpose is “Leadership for a Better World.” We help major organizations transform in a world that is calling out for action. However, long-term systemic change cannot happen without a collective change in mindset—understanding the role we all play in creating a better future. As a Firm, we are on this journey, too. You can learn about our progress in our Sustainable Impact Report, where we share our values, our vision, and our commitment to change going forward.

Each of us makes different contributions to creating a better world, and these contributions from leaders, teams and organizations collectively shape a better future for us all.  Our Vision Map, which is rooted in our Firm’s values, shows the interconnectedness of what we aim to do internally as colleagues and externally with clients.

We use the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB) industry-specific material risks for Professional Services as the basis of our sustainability risk matrix to prioritize where we can have the most material impact, and as a member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), we are aligned with their principles.  

Since 2021, the Firm has compensated for 100% of its operations and is on track to reduce emissions by 25% by the end of 2024. Our long-term goal is net-zero emissions, focusing on office operations, supply chain, transportation electrification, and non-client travel.

As we map our improvement journey, we use various business sustainability ratings, such as EcoVadis and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) to track and measure our sustainability impact with transparency. We report in reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) to communicate our sustainability impact using a common, global language. In addition, we have committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and will submit our targets in the coming years.
 

We encourage our colleagues to minimize waste, emissions, and energy consumption. We discourage unnecessary flights in favor of video conferences, promote the use of public transport, cycling, or other environmentally friendly alternatives to driving for commuting, and treat office resources with care. Local offices are also asked to separate their waste. Overall, we strive to motivate employees to support initiatives that meet our sustainability targets. 

Our clients increasingly seek our leadership consulting services with clear expectations that the work we engage in together will benefit business, society and the planet. In fact, we have had a fivefold increase in requests for proposals containing sustainability criteria—and a fourfold rise in those including all three environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.

To address these needs, our Sustainability Practice partners with clients to solve complex ESG challenges – helping to build teams and develop leaders who will contribute to environmental quality, long-term economic prosperity, and improved social quality. Our Public and Social Sector (PSS) Practice works with hundreds of the world’s leading public organizations – from universities, arts and culture institutions, and NGOs to trade associations – on their leadership journeys. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Practice sets the foundation of inclusive talent practices applied in all of our work.

In addition, we have developed a Framework for Sustainable Leadership, which helps leaders to re-frame their organization’s purpose, navigate an ever-broader set of stakeholders, operate with a more inclusive and connective mindset, and strive for sustainable value creation beyond the organization and its shareholders.

Outside of work, many of us are also committed volunteers within local communities, active members of public service, or members of interest groups. We encourage and support the volunteering of Egon Zehnder employees across all geographies.
 

We believe that diverse and inclusive leaders can create a better world where individuals and organizations not only grow but thrive. We have been advancing our DEI commitment and activities for many years. Learn more about our DEI initiatives.

As we work with our clients to help them shape and transform their organizations and cultures, we recognize the responsibility this brings. Our commitment is to provide advice and solutions that mirror our own passion for diversity and inclusion. A part of this commitment is rooted in how we discover leaders. Our Search 2.0 process has inclusivity at its core—it doesn’t exclude any leader or seek predetermined outcomes, and takes into account societal and situational perspectives. Search 2.0 sets the bar for all leadership appointments, not just those focused on diversity enhancement.

We have also been tracking diversity on boards for 20 years, ensuring that organizations are not only bringing more diversity into the boardroom but also adapting their cultures to be more inclusive—to help diverse boards be more effective boards. 
 

We are deeply committed to supporting our clients’ journeys toward enhanced governance and informed boards. We achieve this through holistic leadership discovery and development services while continually refining our own governance structures and sustainability approach. We have partnered with The Sustainability Board Report, Sustainable Views, a division of The Financial Times, and sustainability leaders to develop thought leadership that increases the shared learnings for all of us. 

These learning exchanges keep us at the forefront of change—they build impactful client relationships, improve our service offerings, and enhance our own internal governance.

Egon Zehnder is incorporated in Switzerland, and we adhere to its relevant corporate governance practices and requirements. Our six-member board, which reflects an equal gender split and representation across eight offices on three continents, sets the Firm's strategic direction, guided by Partner decisions while overseeing associated risks and opportunities.

Our Firm is owned by our Partners, and we have been committed to our Equal Partnership model since our founding in 1964, which we refer to as “One Firm.” Though we are composed of many individuals, we operate with a single, shared P&L. In addition to One Firm, our other Firm Values are Clients First, Generosity, Spirit of Ownership, and Embracing Differences.
 

We have a Code of Conduct  that comprehensively documents our commitments. Also, every member of the Firm has signed a policy of avoiding insider trading, which prohibits Egon Zehnder employees from buying or selling any security of any company with securities listed on a stock exchange, regardless of whether or not such company is a client.