ESG is rapidly gaining traction in India, yet many companies remain focused primarily on compliance and risk mitigation. However, there’s a significant opportunity to leverage the ESG movement to advance SDG outcomes while driving business growth. This journey, though challenging, can be navigated with the right support. Companies need to understand the importance of ESG, build confidence in their ability to implement it effectively, develop organizational capabilities, and secure access to capital that can de-risk business models and fund inclusive growth. Our master class will explore the key drivers of effective ESG practices and provide real-world examples to demonstrate how it can be successfully achieved.

Sub-Themes:

• ESG as a Catalyst: Why is it important for ESG to act as a catalyst for business impact- A business strategy closely intertwined with ESG principles is more resilient, impactful and sustainable. This section would cover some of the pressure points driving stronger ESG linkage with core business strategy – ranging from market dynamics and global supply chain pressure for sustainable sourcing, regulatory shifts and financial incentives such as improved cost of capital. By addressing these pressure points, ESG is quickly becoming a competitive advantage for businesses and driving a combined impact on SDG and business metrics.
• Global and Indian ESG Leaders: Case Studies in Capturing Business Opportunities: Over the past few years, a lot of companies globally (and a few in India) have transitioned from considering ESG as a compliance and disclosure requirement to capturing ESG-linked business opportunities and shaping core business strategy around ESG. Improved ESG ratings across multiple sectors for leading global players has built strong competitive advantage for these companies and has a direct linkage to their business metrics and steady market share growth. A few examples from India and global ESG leaders would be covered in this section along with showcasing their journey from ESG awareness to a high ESG ambition and action.
• Driving 'Good' ESG in India: Best Practices, Challenges, and Local Insights: Building on the previous section and adding local Indian context, this section will cover a few best practices and themes across each step of the ESG journey that has helped ESG leaders shape their ESG-led business and organization transformation. Challenges faced by companies in India would also be covered here along with select recommendations on overcoming these challenges. This would then lead to Q&A with the audience.

About the Facilitator:

Shruti Goyal, Project Co-director, Dalberg
Shruti Goyal is a Partner with Dalberg based in Mumbai, specializing in development areas such as women’s economic empowerment, skilling, and livelihoods. She leads the Program Management Unit for India's first Skill Impact Bond, aimed at sustainable livelihoods for young women. Shruti has worked on various projects including financial inclusion for women smallholder farmers, barriers in financial services for women, and community-based WASH models for climate resilience and economic empowerment.
She has also conducted research on the digital economy's impact in Kenya, addressed gender norms affecting health and economic outcomes, and examined private philanthropy’s role in tackling Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. Shruti has been involved in designing innovative financing programs and business models for women in agriculture and has supported NGOs in scaling and fundraising efforts.
Before joining Dalberg, Shruti had over 18 years of experience, including a role as Deputy Regional CEO at Lodha Group, where she managed a significant real estate portfolio and led urban planning and infrastructure development. She also oversaw CSR initiatives focusing on education and worker well-being.

Vineet Bhandari, Project Co-director, Dalberg
Vineet Bhandari is an Associate Partner at Dalberg's Mumbai office, focusing on integrating private sector strategies with social outcomes across Data & Digital, Finance & Investment, and Agriculture & Food Security. His work includes deploying advanced agricultural technologies like soil diagnostic systems to promote environmental sustainability and advocating for drip irrigation among smallholder farmers to address both environmental and social issues.
He has influenced sustainable practices in the edible oil industry, developed a global evaluation framework for Mastercard to enhance financial inclusion, and assessed the Supply Chain Financing landscape for MSMEs in Punjab. Vineet’s strategic advisory includes developing diversity training programs, scaling skilling initiatives, and advocating for investment in care infrastructure in India.
He has also worked on ESG and gender-focused strategies for growth-stage and large startups, such as incorporating a gender lens into Agtech products, designing financial products for low-income consumers, and expanding social security programs. Additionally, he has guided startups in entering the Indian market and developed gender-sensitive climate products with an NBFC.

Richa Malik, Project Manager, Dalberg
Richa Malik is a Senior Project Manager based in Delhi, specializing in climate change mitigation, adaptation, and the net-zero transition. With over 15 years of experience, she has built a strong background in sustainability, ESG, and the circular economy across various sectors in India.
Before joining Dalberg, Richa was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey, where she developed circular economy, decarbonization, and ESG strategies for clients in industries like pulp and paper, transport, plastics, and FMCG. She worked on e-mobility and scaling last-mile EV solutions and co-authored publications on decarbonization and circularity in India.
In 2017, Richa founded The Happy Turtle, an award-winning startup focused on promoting circular economy practices for plastics through reusable products and consulting. Over five years, she supported more than 20 corporate clients in reducing plastic use and waste. Her career also includes experience with FMCG giants like Hindustan Unilever and Procter and Gamble, where she managed marketing for major hair care, skin care, and home care brands.