2022 Ones to Watch: Will Duggan, Program Manager, ESG at EBI Consulting

What led you to your current profession? Since being introduced to the concept of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) at Lehigh University, I have always seen value in considering ESG concerns when making business decisions. When I started at EBI, I saw many opportunities for the company to develop additional services to improve the ESG and business performance of our clients. EBI believed in this vision and gave me the opportunity to pursue my current role as ESG Program Manager, which has allowed me to work with many talented individuals to develop new offerings at EBI relating to climate resiliency, ESG due diligence, and ESG reporting and strategy.

What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of? I’m most proud of the projects we have recently performed to help our clients report ESG performance in alignment with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Guidelines. EBI’s ability to not only produce and write these reports, but to also gather and benchmark the climate resiliency and greenhouse gas (GHG) performance information that goes into them shows how far our ESG program has come over the last 9 months. The trust our clients put in us to advise their climate resiliency and sustainability strategies is a testament to the quality of work we continuously provide.

What does it take to succeed in your specific industry? Flexibility. Especially when it comes to ESG, all of our clients have slightly different needs. Some may have well-established ESG teams and programs, while others may feel overwhelmed that they haven’t started the process yet. Some companies may be reporting to certain audiences — whether that be investors, regulators, or other stakeholders — who may have different requirements for what information is reported and how that information is reported. As ESG consultants, it is our job to provide solutions that fit each client’s specific needs. One-size-fits-all services are not competitive and make it impossible to build trusted relationships with valued clients.

What are the top 3 items on your bucket list?

1. Visit Dubrovnik, Croatia
2.  Go to an English Premier League game
3. See a Stanley Cup Finals game at TD Garden

What are you doing when you aren’t working? Golfing, skiing, kayaking, biking, hiking, watching sports