The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), under the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation, has released exposure drafts proposing targeted revisions to three sector-specific SASB standards covering Agricultural Products, Meat, Poultry & Dairy, and Electric Utilities & Power Generators.

Corporate fraud have been rampant globally despite of enactments of various Laws, rules, strict norms, regulations and guidelines and it seriously harms a company’s trust, financial health, and long-term sustainable growth.

The contemporary Boardroom is in a state of continuous evolution, demanding constant adaptation and updation from the directors and all participants. The Independent Directors and Audit Committee must be actively informed, engaged, and questioning, passive or last-minute review of financials is no longer acceptable.

Beyond possessing subject matter expertise, directors must demonstrate sound decision-making, provide constructive critique, and voice dissent when warranted traits that remain vital regardless of changing business climates.

Corporate governance is essential for startups to ensure sustainable growth, investor trust, and long-term success. By embedding strong practices from day one, founders can avoid pitfalls that plague many early ventures.

Roy Amara, the renowned futurist, said it best: "We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run.

What do many conversations in boardrooms begin with?

Financial literacy is a very interesting subject. Throughout my working life, and especially after I retired 17 years ago and went into training and mentoring, people across a wide variety of groups – undergraduates, entrepreneurs, independent directors – have kept telling me, “Of course I know I should be knowledgeable about Finance. Please give me the book or books that I can read and refer to for this purpose”.

The participation of women in the Board room reshapes Board dynamics, provides a different perspective to the deliberations, strengthens oversight, enhances risk management, and fosters a more balanced view of various matters that constitute the Board agenda.

Over the past decade, Indian boardrooms have witnessed a greater number of women occupying board seats. The narrative has successfully shifted from “if only” to “how meaningfully?”