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Formerly the ESG Research newsletter

Hi there,

It’s been too long.

In the early days of COVID-19, I started an ESG research newsletter to explore which parts of that rapidly growing ecosystem were grounded in fact and which were not. I then stopped publishing it when I took a “real job.”

There’s a version of events where I continued writing about ESG and its many trials and tribulations. However, that’s not how things turned out. Part of my motivation to writing extensively this year is “regret minimization.”

I want to build more of a “portfolio career” that better reflects my skills and interests across many domains. I don’t want my ideas to stay locked away, going unspoken and unread. I’d much rather be in a position where I can read, write, and publish what I like on my own terms.

Today, it’s unclear how enduring ESG will be within finance. There are obvious benefits - improved corporate governance and better handling of non-financial risks - but the last five years have shown a clear rise and fall with political blowback attached. Was I early?

This Substack newsletter will complement my new project, Global Custody Pro, where I write twice a week about the global custody industry. At Global Custody Pro, I’ll be covering the global custody industry. Some view it as a dull sector, but I think that’s shortsighted given its vast scale, complexity, and role in linking investors with global capital markets.

Here on Substack, I’ll be writing about economics, business, travel, and more lifestyle topics. I used to write a reasonably well-regarded economics blog for many years, and again, in hindsight, I should never have stopped writing it!

If you’re not interested in hearing from me anymore, feel free to unsubscribe. Thank you anyway for signing up—whether it was years ago for the ESG content or recently. For those who stay, I look forward to sharing the journey ahead.

Regards,

Brennan