How can our network of top talent help your company reach its goals?

I’m honored to be in a position to meet and get to know so many dedicated individuals working to help companies achieve significant social and environmental impacts. We are surveying our network of over 400 experts in CSR, ESG and sustainability, and we are reminded, once again, about the incredible range and depth of their talent. A few highlights from the responses we’ve gathered to date:

• Decades of Experience – The majority of the consultants have worked on average 15 years in corporate impact and are seasoned in working across a variety of sized companies, corporate cultures and leadership styles.
• Deep Expertise in Complex Services – Employee empowerment, impact reporting, ESG strategy, measurement, and materiality assessments are just a few of the areas our consultants support our corporate clients in a fast-changing landscape.
• Issue Area Knowledge – Most of our consultants have climate knowledge, but there is also strong experience in education, workforce development, water, energy, disaster relief, health, DEI, and so many more critical issues.
• Tools and Platforms – Our consultants have worked on all of the employee engagement and grantmaking platforms as well as survey, measurement and evaluation tools and products that are needed for many corporate impact programs.
• Industry Background – Every industry is covered by our network of consultants; we can provide experts who understand how a company should perform within its industry.

In short, we have identified a unique cohort of extremely talented and experienced consultants, who can bring their deep corporate impact experience, coupled with their consulting experience to just about any challenge. And given the new normal gig economy, they can deliver that support from increments of a few hours to full-time fractional roles. (Most have at least five years of consulting experience). Let us be your outsourced corporate impact HR team to ensure you get just the right talent, for just the right amount of time to meet your goals.

—Tom Knowlton, CEO, CSR Talent Group

Welcome to Our New Senior Advisor!

Welcome to our third senior advisor, Michaella Wittmann, ENV SP, LEED Fellow!

Joining CSR Talent Group senior advisors Victoria (Tori) Hay Lindahl and Deborah Napierski, Michaella is a nationally recognized ESG and sustainability strategist with 30 years of experience leading organizational change and embedding ESG principles into infrastructure, operations, and corporate culture. As a LEED Fellow and Envision Sustainability Professional, she has shaped pioneering frameworks like LEED and Envision and driven the creation of ESG strategies for global firms.

She served as the inaugural Corporate Director of ESG at a global architecture, engineering, and consulting firm, where she established the company’s first ESG framework and KPIs, aligning cross-functional efforts to meet evolving global disclosure requirements. In 2023, Michaella founded EcoMend Solutions to help clients and professionals advance sustainability, ESG strategy, and climate resilience across sectors.

A passionate educator and mentor, Michaella has trained over 3,000 professionals and actively supports the next generation of sustainability leaders through coaching, training programs, and career development initiatives. At CSR Talent Group, she brings deep expertise in ESG materiality, goal-setting, and strategic program development—helping clients accelerate their sustainability impact through practical, forward-looking solutions.

Evaluating Public Engagement on Social Issues in a Deeply Polarized Environment

In this episode of our podcast on Communications in an Anti-Woke Society, two CSR Talent Group experts, Michael Holland (Northmoor Ventures) and Leon Kaye (Cypress Communications + Storytelling), discuss the risks and opportunities companies face when communicating with stakeholders. (This podcast took place before the 2024 election, and as a result, before the acceleration of anti-DEI policies and actions by the Trump Administration.)

For CSR and communications leaders at U.S.-based companies, navigating today’s landscape means balancing increased stakeholder expectations for social engagement with managing risks associated with consumer or political backlash.

Starting at 14:05, Michael discusses ‘Organizational Readiness and Institutional Will’ as a vital internal assessment, as companies evaluate public engagement on social issues in a deeply polarized environment. Watch here.

Case Study: CSR Talent Group Experts in Action

A global interactive entertainment software company based in the United States was seeking to further develop its Impact Report and elevate it to meet the highest standards.

CSR Talent Group placed two ESG consultants with deep experience developing and writing impact reports – each of them had worked on at least ten reports at multiple companies.

The team collected data and information from internal subject matter experts and worked with the company’s design firm to create the Impact Report. The team was invited back for the next two years to assist with the development of each year’s report and to help build the capacity to produce the report internally.

Find more case studies here.

Partner Spotlight

CSR Talent Group is excited to announce our new partnership with Givinga!

Givinga transforms corporate giving into a strategic asset for recruitment, retention, and culture-building with the privacy and security that protect employees and brands. Their financial-grade solutions power meaningful experiences while eliminating administrative burden through customizable matching, seamless HRIS integration, and real-time tracking, providing complete operational control and measurable impact. Learn more.

Connect with CSR Talent Group.

Contact us if you need: 

• Help to make the internal case for flexible staffing.
• General support for any staffing issues.
• Customized data or reports made just for you, based on your industry, location, and company size.
• Complimentary time to talk through your hiring challenges and opportunities.
• Book a 20-minute brainstorm session and let us help you get clear on how to move forward while saving time, maximizing your budget, and reaching your goals. Connect with Tom on LinkedIn and follow our company page.

Sign up for our newsletter here:

Name *

First

Last

Email *

Submit

A note from our Head of Partnerships, Sheilah Crowley, ACC:

In a time when disruption is the new norm, one silver lining is that organizations that may have once been siloed are now coming together in creative, collaborative ways.

I just returned from my first Benevity Live, an annual conference hosted by our partner Benevity—this year in Palm Springs.

The energy over the three-day conference was palpable. While many of us are familiar with the dynamic that arises when CSR, ESG, and sustainability practitioners gather, this year felt different. External pressures—particularly the ongoing challenges facing the nonprofit sector—demanded new, innovative ways to meet the moment.

During her opening remarks, Sona Khosla, Benevity’s Chief Impact Officer, shared a quote from Billy Jean King that shifted my perspective and resonated with many in the room:

“Pressure is a privilege, and champions adjust.”

This set the tone for the entire event, encouraging us to reclaim our agency, trust our hard-earned navigational tools, and seek out new alliances in every conversation. I found myself part of a community in overdrive, determined to solve for this new reality—together.

Partnership has been a throughline in every professional role I’ve held. On both micro and macro levels, we achieve more when we open ourselves up to collaboration. Last week was a powerful refresher course, and I’m excited to share my renewed enthusiasm with others who believe in the power of collective championship.

—Sheilah Crowley

Head of Partnerships, CSR Talent Group

Sheilah Crowley at Benevity Live! with Benevity‘s Alliances Manager, Georgia Ferretti, and CECP‘s Senior Director, Strategic Engagement and Growth, Nandika Madgavkar.

Encouraging opening session with Benevity leadership as we all grapple with political and public sentiment upheaval.

Our Most Recent Corporate Impact Leaders Podcast:

Case Study: CSR Talent Group Experts in Action

The VP of CSR and Sustainability at a U.S. chain of discount department stores was going on maternity leave and needed fractional support to oversee and manage the company’s programs while she was on leave.  

CSR Talent Group placed two ESG consultants with relevant experience to cover the work over six months. A senior consultant with experience leading CSR departments at two companies provided oversight and managed the relationship with senior executives. The second consultant had CSR experience at a major department store and assisted with program management and implementation.  

The two provided a seamless transition as the VP returned from leave and moved back to a full-time role.

Find more case studies here.

Partner Spotlight

We are excited to announce our new partnership with CSRHub, which provides the most comprehensive global set of Consensus ESG ratings of over 40,000 companies that drive corporate and investor sustainability decisions. Learn more.

Connect with Us

Book a 20-minute brainstorm session and let us help you get clear on how to move forward while saving time, maximizing your budget, and reaching your goals. Connect with Tom on Linkedin and follow our company page.

Sign up for our newsletter here:

Name *

First

Last

Email *

Submit

I’ve been listening to podcasts, reading the latest news and speaking to knowledgeable friends in an attempt to understand and make sense of the new policies being implemented and how they will impact business and society. While it may feel overwhelming and difficult to keep up with the firehose of activities, what’s clear is that companies still need and want to support their communities, reduce their environmental impact and engage their employees.

I’ve been honored to meet hundreds of extraordinary individuals who have spent their lives helping companies be responsible corporate citizens during uncertain times and are now part of our network. And as corporate leaders pivot to meet these unprecedented times, these seasoned experts bring a wealth of experience that can turn challenges into opportunities, helping companies not just survive but thrive in meeting the evolving expectations of their stakeholders.

Sending you all my encouragement, energy, and support.

—Tom Knowlton

CEO, CSR Talent Group

Recent insights from corporate impact leaders:

Make No Sudden Movements: 4 Social Investment Tips for Times of Uncertainty

This new paper from CSR Talent Group expert Michael Carren highlights how managing through times of great social, political, and regulatory uncertainty can be difficult for social investment professionals working to remain true to business aligned strategies. Carren shares 4 insights to manage through times of uncertainty and challenge.

Read

How This Nonprofit is Transforming Workforce Development, STEM Education and Community Development

Companies supporting workforce development, STEM education and community development would be wise to learn about a high impact technology-driven model in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Hear how Mark Parsons, the Founder and Executive Director of New Bedford Research & Robotics, is transforming this gateway city.

Listen & Follow

Especially in disruptive times, maintaining a flexible workforce is key. The ability to tap into a diverse pool of expertise and access specialized skills provides major benefits for company leaders seeking ways to ensure they still meet their goals.

Case Study: CSR Talent Group Experts in Action

An American multinational law firm needed assistance with the development of a materiality assessment to guide the development of its ESG strategy.

CSR Talent Group placed a team of two experts with deep experience having implemented a combined total of 15 materiality assessments for multiple companies.

Using a dynamic materiality software tool, the team’s work resulted in strategy and implementation recommendations resulting from a materiality assessment with a matrix of issues and their level of importance to the company and stakeholders derived from benchmark research, stakeholder interviews, and a stakeholder survey.

Find more case studies here.

Partner Spotlight

CSR Talent Group is excited to announce our new partnership with Visit.org!

Visit.org is the leading partner for companies looking to start, streamline, and scale purpose-driven employee engagement programs. With a platform offering thousands of social impact experiences worldwide, Visit.org shares our commitment to providing the widest variety of solutions to companies seeking the greatest impact.

Connect with CSR Talent Group.

Book a 20-minute brainstorm session and let us help you get clear on how to move forward while saving time, maximizing your budget, and reaching your goals. Connect with Tom on Linkedin and follow our company page.

Sign up for our newsletter here:

Name *

First

Last

Email *

Submit

A note from our CEO, Tom Knowlton:

Now more than ever we need corporate impact leaders to lead. Kudos to those companies who are pushing back and publicly committing to DEI, amplifying their environmental goals, and supporting their employees. 

We know that many corporate impact leaders are struggling with limited resources and staff, and a directive from senior leaders to tone down communication around ESG. But we also know that there is still a need to keep programs moving and make progress toward annual impact goals. 

We recognize the pressures you face, and we’re here to help. On top of your already full plate, experts in our network can also help assuage the onslaught of regulatory requirements, data collection, and reporting.

There’s nothing I enjoy more than talking through how to maximize resources in both predictable and unpredictable times. Let’s talk.

Recent insights from corporate impact leaders:

Dataminr’s Jessie End on How the Company Provides Its AI Product and Experts for Social Good

On the latest episode of our Corporate Impact Leaders podcast, Jessie End, VP of Social Good and Nonprofit Partnerships at Dataminr, talks about how Dataminr provides its AI product and experts for social good by supporting nonprofits responding to critical events such as conflicts and natural disasters.

Listen & Follow

Case Study: ESG Strategy and Communications Experts Strengthen Insurance Company Approach

A Fortune 500 insurance company reached out for assistance in refining its ESG strategy and approach, and after completion of the strategy, development of its ESG communication strategy and approach. 

CSR Talent Group identified and placed a team of two ESG strategy consultants, with extensive experience leading ESG at a major financial institution for over 25 years. After a series of interviews, benchmarking research and a competitive analysis, they provided recommended revisions to the strategy and an implementation plan. 

CSR Talent Group then placed an ESG communications expert with work experience at a major agency as well as several Fortune 1000 companies. This expert created a communications plan that focused on building engagement with stakeholders and improving the company’s reputations as a CSR leader.

Find additional case studies on our website.

Partner Spotlight

We’re excited to welcome Benevity as an official partner with CSR Talent Group. Benevity shares our commitment to helping companies achieve their impact goals through its dynamic and comprehensive employee engagement platform.

To kick off our partnership with Benevity, we want to share their latest Executive CSR Report, which is full of actionable findings, including that 76% of executives report that they will be increasing their CSR budgets this year. Much of that increase will go towards Employee Engagement (see the chart below). One of the main drivers is the need to recruit and retain talent. From the report:

• Nearly a third of leaders (31%) who are planning to increase investment in CSR initiatives over the next 12 months are doing so to gain an edge in today’s competitive talent market. 
• According to 2022 research from McKinsey, 70% of employees said their personal sense of purpose is defined by their work. A Monster survey about Gen Z — who now make up 25% of the workforce — found that 74% rank purpose ahead of a paycheck. 
• LinkedIn’s Workforce Confidence Index found 80% of Gen Zers say that better alignment with their values and interests is a priority for their place of employment.

Source: Benevity Executive CSR Report, January 2025

CSR Talent Group has a deep bench of employee engagement experts available to assist with all aspects of developing and implementing employee engagement strategies, programs and systems.

Connect with CSR Talent Group.

Contact us if you need: 

• Help to make the internal case for additional staffing.
• General support for any staffing issues.
• Customized data or reports made just for you, based on your industry, location, and company size.
• Complimentary time to talk through your hiring challenges and opportunities.
• Book a 20-minute brainstorm session and let us help you get clear on how to move forward while saving time, maximizing your budget, and reaching your goals. Connect with Tom on LinkedIn and follow our company page.

Sign up for our newsletter here:

Name *

First

Last

Email *

Submit

What we’re watching for in 2025:

Happy New Year to all of the leaders in the corporate impact space! The second edition of CSR Talent Group’s newsletter, Corporate Impact Today, contains insights and ideas from company leaders, experts in our network, and partners providing valuable services and products.

Many of you have expressed uncertainty for the coming year and a concern that lack of resources will make it difficult to meet regulatory requirements and achieve impact goals. CSR Talent Group was created to address this concern. Over the past few years, our clients have used experts for fractional placements and short-term projects to address capacity needs and skill gaps, such as:

• 3-month Employee Engagement Platform Implementation and Integration Project 
• 4-month CDP, EcoVadis, and SBTI submissions
• 4-month ESG Strategy Development Project 
• 7-month, Temporary, Full-Time, Senior Manager of Global Social Impact 

Deloitte’s 2024 Sustainability Action Report noted that 2024 was a year of ESG capacity building for companies and that “companies are continuing to strategically integrate ESG into their workflow as well as shore up on talent to meet the demand.” 

We recognize that budgets are tight; our team is committed to helping you get the talent you need within your budget to keep you moving forward. We have a deep and diverse talent pool, 90% of whom have worked across multiple corporate environments and industries.

Reach out to me if you’d like to discuss your impact goals and staffing plans for 2025. Let’s also connect if you’re a corporate impact leader who would like to:

• Provide resources to the field in the form of a webinar, paper, or presentation.
• Share your insights on our podcast, Corporate Impact Leaders. 
• Join our network of experts.

Recent insights from corporate impact leaders:

How to Improve Your EcoVadis Score

We are excited to feature Silvina Skverer, co-founder and partner of Thinking Beyond Business. Silvina shares insights on how companies can improve and maximize their EcoVadis Score, one of the metrics that stakeholders use to assess a company’s sustainability performance.

Watch

How to Build a High Impact Sustainability Program

On this episode, Melissa Smith, VP of Sustainability at Sun Communities, Inc. speaks with Tom about her myriad of roles and responsibilities that led to her current position and provides the background and experience that guides her approach to building high-impact sustainability programs.

Listen & Follow

How to Systematically Improve Social Compliance Auditing

Social Compliance Auditing: A Broken Eco-System by CSR Talent Group expert Colleen Vien sheds light on the systemic flaws within social compliance auditing. Drawing on her extensive experience in corporate social responsibility, Vien advocates for systemic reforms, emphasizing a worker-centric approach, independent audits, and alignment of industry protocols to create a more effective, ethical, and just system.

Read

One final note:

Connect with CSR Talent Group.

Book a 20-minute brainstorm session and let us help you get clear on how to move forward while saving time, maximizing your budget, and reaching your goals. Connect with Tom on Linkedin and follow our company page.

Sign up for our newsletter here:

Name *

First

Last

Email *

Submit