Empowering Organizations, Transforming Futures, Through People.

Singapore, 16 Oct – Despite the recent political backlash and changing regulations around ESG and DEI, B Lab's Senior Standards Manager, Brigitta Nemes has reiterated that sustainability isn’t going away. In fact, the hard work to turn sustainability goals and pledges into concrete action and measurable progress has just begun. And with the introduction of the new B Lab standards that demand genuine impact backed by evidence, the pressure is on to move beyond pledges to drive real transformation.

While the ambition and drive are there to turn pledges into reality, many firms lack the strategic expertise to galvanize and bring their sustainability strategies to life. Acknowledging this gap, ESG Talent, a new ESG executive search and advisory firm, was born with the mission to identify leaders who can translate ESG ambitions into measurable outcomes.

Strong technical knowledge is undeniably required in ESG but many firms have discovered that it is not sufficient to drive meaningful change. Sasho Boshevski, Managing Director of ESG Talent, concurs quoting that “ESG is not just a technical function. It requires strategic leadership, influence, sector understanding, and an ability to operationalize change,”

Hence to bridge this gap, ESG Talent evaluates potential ESG candidates across three crucial pillars - ESG expertise, strategic and operational capability, and most importantly, leadership influence to drive stakeholder engagement and cross-functional transformation. The goal is to “ensure we place leaders who can drive transformation, not just report on it,” he added.

Unlike general recruitment firms, ESG Talent combines executive search with advisory. When asked to elaborate further on the advisory support, Sasho explained, “We help organizations define what “good” ESG leadership looks like for their maturity stage.” Through this personalized approach, clients get to build lasting ESG capacity not just hire individuals for the sake of filling a position.

“Our advisory support includes role scoping and competency frameworks, leadership development and succession planning as well as market intelligence and salary benchmarking,” he added.

The New ESG Leadership Mandate

ESG roles have transformed dramatically, evolving from compliance-focused positions to strategic leadership roles such as Chief Sustainability Officer. When asked what defines an exceptional ESG leader in 2025, Sasho is clear: "An exceptional ESG leader today is someone who understands sustainability risks and opportunities at a strategic level, can communicate clearly with investors, regulators, customers, and the board, and drives cross-functional transformation, not just compliance."

Critical competencies now include systems thinking, commercial acumen, regulatory fluency, and strong stakeholder influence, reflecting that ESG is no longer a siloed function but a strategic imperative touching every aspect of business operations.

Navigating Global ESG Complexity

Operating globally presents unique challenges when regions have varying ESG regulations and priorities, from the EU's CSRD to Asia's biodiversity focus. "We maintain a global view of emerging regulations while building specialized local insights through our consultants in APAC, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas," Sasho explains. "Our search strategy always begins by aligning the role with the organization's maturity level and the regulatory context of the region."

Winning the War for ESG Talent

The ESG job market remains candidate-driven, giving top talent wide choices. Sasho's advice for organizations? "Top ESG leaders are purpose-driven and impact-driven. To attract them, organizations need to demonstrate genuine commitment to ESG beyond marketing language, provide executive support and clear decision-making authority, and show transparency in where they are today and where they aim to be."

For candidates, he advises evaluating whether the organization has real influence pathways, including board sponsorship and investment in ESG transformation.

Navigating the ESG Backlash

Despite recent political and corporate backlash, Sasho maintains perspective: "While some markets show resistance, the underlying drivers - regulatory pressure, investor expectations, and climate-related risk - remain unchanged. We advise clients to remain consistent and transparent in their sustainability commitments."

For candidates, ESG Talent helps assess whether organizations are genuinely embedding ESG or only complying defensively, ensuring alignment and long-term impact.

Measuring Success After Placement

Success six to twelve months after placement looks like "a defined ESG roadmap connected to business priorities, improved cross-functional engagement, and early measurable progress against KPIs," says Sasho. ESG Talent stays engaged during onboarding to ensure alignment and accelerate performance.

The Future of ESG Leadership

Looking ahead, Sasho anticipates strong demand for Chief Sustainability Officers with board-level influence, biodiversity and nature-positive specialists particularly in APAC, and ESG data and regulatory compliance experts, especially in Europe. His advice? "ESG professionals should invest in upskilling in data, reporting frameworks, and cross-functional leadership to stay competitive."

Taking the Next Step

For organizations, Sasho recommends starting with a consultation call to understand ESG maturity and define the role clearly. For candidates, a conversation to explore career vision, impact goals, and regional opportunities. Connect through esg-talent.com or LinkedIn to begin the conversation.

As sustainability continues to evolve from compliance to strategy, one truth stands out: impact depends on people. The right leaders can turn ESG from an obligation into a competitive advantage, embedding purpose into performance and driving measurable transformation. ESG Talent is helping organizations make that shift by connecting visionary companies with the leaders capable of shaping a more responsible and resilient future.