ESG – A “Vaccine” for Crisis Resilience?
- Star Consulting Team
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
In a world marked by uncertainty, can ESG act as a “vaccine” that helps businesses withstand the storms of crisis?
Join Nguyen Minh Quang – Strategy and Sustainability Expert at Star Consulting – as he explores how ESG not only helps companies survive disruption, but also lays the foundation for long-term, sustainable growth.
When crises are inevitable, how can we be better prepared?
From the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008 global financial meltdown to rising geopolitical tensions and environmental disasters, the world has experienced one “black swan” event after another. Waiting passively to respond is no longer viable. Businesses today must proactively build internal resilience – and one of the most powerful tools to do that is through ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance).
ESG – From Social Commitment to Strategic Imperative
Once seen as a corporate social responsibility add-on, ESG is now deeply integrated into business operations and decision-making frameworks. Its three pillars are:
Environmental: Addressing carbon emissions, efficient resource use, and environmental sustainability.
Social: Ensuring workforce safety, diversity, inclusion, and broader social responsibility.
Governance: Enhancing transparency, ethical leadership, cybersecurity, and risk management.
A growing body of research shows that companies with strong ESG performance are more likely to maintain stock stability during crises, recover more quickly, and gain favorable access to capital and stakeholder trust.
ESG and Crisis Resilience: What the Evidence Shows
Market stability: ESG-strong firms showed lower stock price volatility during COVID-19.
Faster recovery: Companies with higher ESG ratings recovered earnings per share (EPS) more rapidly after crises.
Better access to resources: ESG builds trust, improving access to financial and regulatory support when it matters most.
Stronger governance response: Firms with solid internal governance adapt more quickly and mitigate crisis impact more effectively.
That said, ESG’s impact is not one-size-fits-all. Industry, company size, market maturity, and national context all influence outcomes. ESG is not a magical fix – it must be implemented strategically and tailored to the realities of each organization.
Conclusion: ESG Is Not a Shortcut – It’s a Long-Term Competency
Crisis is here to stay, but ESG can help businesses build immunity to it. It is not a short-term fix, but a long-term journey that requires leadership commitment and organization-wide integration.
At Star Consulting, we believe ESG is more than just a risk management tool – it's a strategic asset that can future-proof your business. From diagnostics and roadmap design to practical implementation, we partner with organizations to embed ESG as a core competency. With experts like Nguyen Minh Quang on our team, we are committed to supporting Vietnamese enterprises in building a sustainable, resilient future.
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