Boards and executives play a critical role in embedding long-term thinking into an organization’s strategy.

 

A long-term approach in business drives superior performance – companies that balance long-term vision with short-term execution consistently outperform their peers in revenue, earnings, economic profit, market capitalization, and job creation. This means prioritizing competitive advantage, strategic objectives, and disciplined capital allocation.

 

Yet, executing a long-term strategy can be challenging. Boards must strike the right balance, work closely with executives to ensure aligned decision-making, and engage the market to build credibility and support. When boards and leadership teams share a commitment to prioritizing the long term, they can influence investors to adopt the same mindset.

Case Studys

Case Study

Maintaining Board Skills to Ensure Long-Term Success

February 28, 2024

Given the importance of their role, how can corporate boards ensure they are an effective cornerstone of long-term strategic growth?

Learn More

Case Study

Creating a Sustainability Centre with a new Sustainable Board

March 1, 2023

Although our sustainable journey has been underway for 15 years, we have accelerated this throughout the whole firm, creating a groupwide Sustainability Centre with a...

Learn More

Reports

Report

The Board Playbook: Winning Strategies for Long-Term Value Creation

May 19, 2025

Companies — both public and private — strive to build boards that are instrumental in creating long-term value. But boards often feel they must follow...

Learn More

Report

Recap: FCLT Summit 2024

March 7, 2024

The annual FCLT Summit, held on 28 February 2024, brought together FCLTGlobal members and friends to map out the next steps in our shared mission...

Learn More

Report

The Missing Element of Private Equity: Creating Long-term Value Through Portfolio Company Board Diversity

July 19, 2021

Despite the evidence of the benefits of increased leadership diversity, progress at private companies has been slow.

Learn More

Report

Corporate long-term behaviors: How CEOs and boards drive sustained value creation

October 1, 2020

Although the advantages of maintaining a long-term orientation are clear, the practical aspects of managing for long-term performance are less well understood. FCLTGlobal and McKinsey...

Learn More

Report

Tone at the Top: The Board’s Impact on Long-term Value

April 23, 2020

Taking a long-term approach in business leads to superior performance.

Learn More
Oil wheel graphic

Report

Building Long-term Value: A Blueprint for CFOs

December 18, 2019

A company's CFO has a unique ability to drive long-term value creation for the organization.

Learn More
Board

Report

The Long-Term Habits of a Highly Effective Corporate Board

March 29, 2019

A well-functioning corporate board of directors wields the power to meaningfully influence the purpose, culture, and direction of an organization. This is often among a...

Learn More

Report

Short-Termism on Boards: Insights From Canadian Directors and Executives

June 5, 2015

Learn More

Report

Where Boards Fall Short

February 2, 2015

Learn More

Articles

Article

Tariffs Will Test Investors’ Long-term Thinking

April 15, 2025

Uncertainty has gripped markets since the U.S. announced new tariffs on trade partners, raising the specter of a global trade war and escalating barriers. The...

Learn More

Article

Empowering Long-Term Investment: Key Takeaways from IFSWF’s 2024 Governance Workshop

July 15, 2024

On 25 June 2024, FCLTGlobal joined the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds’ (IFSWF) Governance Workshop in London to lead a two-part discussion on avoiding...

Learn More

Article

FCLTGlobal Joined the Pacific Pension Institute to Discuss the Long-Term Investment Ecosystem

May 22, 2024

On 15 May 2024, FCLTGlobal joined the Pacific Pension Institute at its “PPI in Residence” salon in New York City to lead a discussion on...

Learn More

Article

The Myth of the One Size Fits All Board

April 15, 2024

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to designing corporate boards for long-term value creation. Recognizing and understanding that choices are available is the first step toward...

Learn More

Article

Geopolitical Risk and Disruption: A Conversation Guide for Management and Board Directors

May 24, 2022

Geopolitical risk is currently front and center for executive management and boards. The war in Ukraine and accompanying geopolitical disruptions are an action-forcing event for...

Learn More

Article

How Good Governance Can Mend a Disconnected Global Economy

January 19, 2022

Political uncertainty needn’t capsize an organization’s long-term strategy. Rather, through good governance and investing in stakeholder engagement, businesses can cut through the noise of what’s...

Learn More

Article

When Boards Should – and Should Not – Lead on Risk Management

October 21, 2021

Learn More

Article

How Private Equity Can Drive Boardroom Diversity

April 20, 2021

For public companies, more diverse boards of directors are correlated with significant long-term value. The same can be true for private companies. What role can...

Learn More

Article

Diversifying private equity-backed portfolio company boards can drive long-term value

January 5, 2021

Recent research, including The Long-term Habits of a Highly Effective Corporate Board (2019), shows that diversity at the board level adds meaningful long-term value for...

Learn More

Article

Comment to the SEC on Board Diversity

December 18, 2020

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed an amendment requiring Nasdaq listed companies to adopt rules intended to promote board diversity.

Learn More

Article

An Opportunity for US Leadership to Build a Long-term, Sustainable Economy

December 9, 2020

A sound, future-oriented policy from the White House would enable the US to lead on reshaping capital markets to focus capital on the long term....

Learn More

Article

Recap: Tone at the Top: The Board’s Impact on Long-term Value

October 27, 2020

Webinar hosted by FCLTGlobal and Russell Reynolds Associates follows up on joint research on how boards can steward long-term value creation

Learn More

Article

Case Study: Funding Long-horizon Innovation at Baillie Gifford

October 13, 2020

Learn More

Article

Interview: Robert Pozen on Executive Compensation

August 17, 2020

FCLTGlobal researchers sat down with MIT Senior Lecturer Robert Pozen to discuss potential ways to implement a change in corporate pay.

Learn More
An empty conference room

Article

Recap: CEO Roundtable: Lessons of COVID-19

June 1, 2020

FCLTGlobal hosted virtual roundtable discussions for Members to discuss how to effectively manage their organizations in the face of the global coronavirus pandemic. The current...

Learn More

Article

Navigating COVID-19: Advice from long-term investors

April 30, 2020

Look after employees, customers, and suppliers; adopt a through-cycle mindset; and communicate transparently. Profits and dividends will come later if you make the right moves...

Learn More

Article

FRC revises UK Stewardship Code

October 31, 2019

Updates widen scope to span asset classes and geographies, and increase focus on activities and outcomes of stewardship

Learn More
Data Header

Article

Board Stock Ownership is Correlated to Company Returns

September 16, 2019

Learn More
Sarah Williamson photo

Article

Business Roundtable’s Statement of Corporate Purpose Prioritizes Long-Term Value Creation

August 19, 2019

Learn More
Board Diversity Header

Article

Data Shows That Diverse Boards Create More Value

May 28, 2019

Learn More

Article

FCLTGlobal Consults on UK Stewardship Code Updates

April 3, 2019

Learn More

Article

Three Dilemmas for Creating a Long-Term Board

March 19, 2019

Learn More
Ron OHanley header

Article

An Interview with Ronald O’Hanley: President and Chief Executive Officer of SSgA

October 17, 2017

Learn More
Theresa

Article

An Interview with Theresa Whitmarsh: Executive Director of WSIB

August 2, 2017

Learn More

Podcasts

Podcast

Going Long Podcast: Raphael Arndt on Building Resilient Sovereign Wealth Funds

September 4, 2024

“Having a strong and clear foundation and clear governance around who can make decisions, then puts you in a very strong position for a volatile...

Learn More

Podcast

Going Long Podcast: Andrew Liveris on Leading Through Disruption

February 12, 2024

"That system of geopolitics brought us this notion that globalization superseded the United Nations as a way of dealing with each other. That's been torn...

Learn More

Podcast

Going Long Podcast: Clarke Murphy, Russell Reynolds Associates

November 22, 2021

What makes a long-term CEO? Clarke Murphy (Russell Reynolds Associates) joins the podcast to discuss the attributes that make executive leaders effective at driving long-term...

Learn More

Podcast

Going Long Podcast: Robert F. Smith, Vista Equity Partners

September 14, 2021

Robert F. Smith is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of investment firm Vista Equity Partners. Learn more on this episode of the Going Long Podcast...

Learn More
theresa

Podcast

Going Long Podcast: Theresa Whitmarsh, Washington State Investment Board

March 8, 2021

Theresa Whitmarsh, head of Washington's state investment board, joins the show to discuss how long-term investing is ingrained into the organization's approach and the long-term...

Learn More

Podcast

Going Long Podcast: Mark Machin, CPP Investments

January 25, 2021

Learn More

Podcast

Going Long Podcast: Adena Friedman, Nasdaq

November 2, 2020

Adena Friedman, President and CEO of Nasdaq, sits down with FCLTGlobal CEO Sarah Keohane Williamson to discuss the importance of cooperative capitalism.

Learn More
Carmine Di Sibio headshot

Podcast

Going Long Podcast: Carmine Di Sibio, EY

October 15, 2020

Carmine Di Sibio, Global Chairman and CEO of EY, joins the Going Long Podcast to share how EY embodies long-term principles in the way it...

Learn More

In the News

In the News

Governance Matters podcast: Getting directors on board to tackle climate crisis

August 3, 2022

This episode of the Governance Matters podcast looks at changing board attitudes toward climate change and what investors are looking for from directors in terms...

Learn More

In the News

Guest view: CEOs learn value of long-term vision

October 5, 2020

Learn More

In the News

Uptick in CEOs Retiring to Exec Chair

September 25, 2020

Learn More

In the News

Earnings are back, but Wall Street’s guidance game? Maybe it’s gone for good

July 21, 2020

Learn More

In the News

Quarterly earnings guidance drives CEOs’ ‘hysteria.’ Time to let it die

May 18, 2020

Learn More

In the News

Amid the Covid-19 outbreak, how can companies prioritize the needs of different stakeholders?

April 23, 2020

Learn More

In the News

More companies suspending earnings guidance as economy tanks

April 6, 2020

Learn More

Toolkits

Toolkit

Pro Tips for Board Chairs

October 9, 2024

How can chairs lead their boards toward long-term success effectively?

Learn More

Toolkit

Self-Assessment for Board Directors

October 9, 2024

When considering whether to accept or continue a position on a board, it is critical that directors evaluate the match between their skills and interests...

Learn More

Toolkit

Questions For Developing Strategic Governance

June 17, 2024

Long-term corporate boards must evolve to achieve their corporation’s future ambitions, rather than remaining anchored to the status quo.

Learn More

Toolkit

Geopolitical Risk and Disruption: A Conversation Guide for Management and Board Directors

May 24, 2022

Geopolitical risk is currently front and center for executive management and boards. The war in Ukraine and accompanying geopolitical disruptions are an action-forcing event for...

Learn More

Toolkit

Best Practices to Improve Board Diversity

July 19, 2021

A practical guide for GPs and LPs to evaluate, implement, and report on diversity and inclusion in the boardrooms of their privately held portfolio companies....

Learn More

Toolkit

Conversation Guide on Board Diversity

July 19, 2021

Leading GPs and LPs can drive long-term performance by building effective, diverse portco boards and building diversity among their advisors.

Learn More
Model Stewardship Code

Toolkit

Portfolio Company Board Diversity Disclosure Template

July 19, 2021

FCLTGlobal’s business and investor communities recognize the need for the private sector to demonstrate long-term value creation along both financial and non-financial criteria, especially when...

Learn More
Stewardship Checklist

Toolkit

Stewardship Checklist for Long-Term Success

June 10, 2019

Learn More
Model Stewardship Code

Toolkit

Model Stewardship Code for Long-Term Behavior

June 10, 2019

Learn More
Conversation Guide for Stewardship Teams

Toolkit

Conversation Guide for Stewardship Teams

June 10, 2019

Learn More
Model Stewardship Code

Toolkit

Interactive Portal for Global Stewardship Codes

June 10, 2019

Learn More
Is my board cultivating long-term habits

Toolkit

Is My Board Cultivating Long-Term Habits?

March 29, 2019

Learn More
Time Visualization

Toolkit

Time Visualization for Corporate Boards of Directors

March 29, 2019

Developed in conjunction with Behavioral Economics in Action at Rotman at the University of Toronto, this digital dashboard will assess how your Board of Directors...

Learn More
Tools for Long-Term Boards

Toolkit

Tools for Long-Term Boards

June 25, 2018

Learn More

Videos

Video

Long-term Corporate Culture: Creating Value and Strengthening Capitalism

March 5, 2021

The Denny Center for Democratic Capitalism at Georgetown Law held a virtual conversation with the authors of our recent report, Corporate Long-term Behaviors: How CEOs...

Learn More

Video

Webinar: Winning in the Long Term

October 15, 2020

During this session, McKinsey’s Global Managing Partner Kevin Sneader, Partner Tim Koller, and FCLTGlobal CEO Sarah K. Williamsonm discussed the five steps CEOs and boards...

Learn More

Video

Stakeholder Capitalism: Creating Common Standards for Corporate Governance

January 22, 2020

The shift towards stakeholder capitalism calls for a new vision of good environmental, social and corporate governance. What difficult decisions must chief executives take to...

Learn More

Video

Focusing Capital on the Long Term

August 15, 2017

Are markets and company boards too focused on the short-term? How should the weaknesses of corporate governance along the investment chain be addressed?

Learn More