We see ESG implementation (from a high level) as both a journey and a cycle that continues over many years, and follows these steps:

Appoint an ESG lead

When starting the ESG journey, it’s important to make a specific person responsible and accountable for the process—one with qualities such as:

• Being a senior management member
• Having capacity to spend time on ESG
  • 2–3 hours per week (to get started), sometimes more depending on the month. (Note: This allocation of time will increase as the startup grows, with many companies eventually creating a full-time role that is responsible for sustainability or ESG.)
• Being able to mobilize people across a variety of stakeholder groups
  • Including internally (different function organizations within the company, different levels of employees)
• Having an interest and eagerness to learn more about ESG

The rest of the steps in the cycle are outlined in the subsequent chapters.