Most teams don’t struggle with ESG because it’s inherently complex.
They struggle because it shows up too late, all at once.
Usually not by choice.
When companies leave ESG until:
And suddenly ESG goes from “something we should think about” to something we need to answer for.
That’s when it becomes painful.
When ESG is scoped early, it’s rarely overwhelming.
When it’s left undefined until someone asks for it, everything must happen at once.
Teams start scrambling to:
Not because they ignored the topic — but because they didn’t have clear boundaries in place.
This is where ESG starts to feel like cramming for an exam you didn’t know was coming.
When pressure appears suddenly, the instinct is to overcorrect.
Teams:
Not because they want to build an ESG program — but because having nothing feels risky.
Ironically, this often creates more work than necessary.
The calm alternative isn’t doing more.
It’s doing just enough — early.
That means:
This doesn’t require a dedicated team.
It doesn’t require months of effort.
It requires clarity.
For most finance and legal leaders, ESG isn’t about passion or ambition.
It’s about not being exposed.
When there’s a basic, documented baseline in place:
You’re no longer reacting.
You’re simply responding.
That’s the difference between panic and control.
Doing a little bit early:
Most companies don’t need a program.
They need something reasonable, documented, and defensible.
Enough to stand behind.
Enough to move on.
ESG isn’t hard because it’s complicated.
It’s hard because it’s often left undefined until it becomes urgent.
Set boundaries early.
Put a simple baseline in place.
And ESG becomes just another thing that’s covered — not a looming problem.
Have something reasonable in place — without making this bigger than it needs to be. Learn more at Fortifai.
