USIDHR ESG Leadership Program: Advancing Responsible Business and Ethical Governance
Helping Businesses Build Trust, Achieve Top ESG Ratings and Lead Responsibly
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What is ESG and Why It Matters for Your Business
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is not just a trend—it's the foundation of how today's most reputable companies operate. ESG principles are embedded in everyday business practices to demonstrate responsibility, reduce risk, and meet global expectations.
As ESG takes center stage in today’s business landscape, the question is—how is your organization advancing toward responsible business leadership?
Our ESG Leadership Program is designed to meet you where you are—whether you're just beginning or ready to elevate your efforts—and help you move from zero to state-of-the-art ESG performance.
At the same time, businesses must align with key international standards, including:
  • The UN Sustainable Development Goals and UN Global Compact
  • The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
  • The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, which require enterprises to conduct due diligence to identify, prevent, and address ESG-related risks
  • EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
Whether you're in finance, hospitality, manufacturing, energy, or technology, ESG plays a central role in how your company is evaluated. Investors across all sectors now use ESG criteria to assess long-term risk and opportunity.
Strong ESG practices are a key driver in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), enabling businesses to contribute meaningfully to global development while managing risk and enhancing long-term value.
ESG Topics We Help You Address:
Environment
Climate Change Strategy, Eco-Efficiency, Energy Management, Environmental Impact
Social
Equal Opportunities, Human Rights, Product Responsibility, Supply Chain Management
Governance
Business Ethics, Compliance, Board Independence, Shareholder Participation
Benefits of Integrating ESG Into Your Strategy

Improve access to responsible investment capital
Attract investors who prioritize sustainable and ethical business practices, opening doors to new funding opportunities.
Strengthen brand reputation and customer trust
Build stronger relationships with consumers who increasingly make purchasing decisions based on a company's environmental and social impact.
Mitigate legal, regulatory, and operational risks
Stay ahead of changing regulations and reduce exposure to potential fines, litigation, and operational disruptions.
Contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world
Make a positive impact on communities and the environment while ensuring long-term business viability.
Our ESG Solutions and Services
We provide end-to-end ESG consulting solutions tailored to your industry and regulatory needs—helping organizations implement compliant, responsible, and high-impact ESG practices. Our work aligns with globally recognized frameworks such as the UN Global Compact, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and a wide range of regulatory and voluntary ESG disclosure frameworks applicable in both the U.S. and internationally.
Many companies are required—or soon will be required—to disclose ESG data under regulations such as the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Others voluntarily report ESG performance through platforms like CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) or do so to qualify for ESG investment funds and improve ESG ratings. Whether mandated by regulation or driven by market expectations, ESG disclosure is now a core business responsibility.
Initial ESG Assessment and Gap Analysis
We conduct a detailed analysis of your company's current ESG posture and identify any gaps compared to recognized ESG standards.
Materiality Analysis & Stakeholder Consultation
We identify the ESG topics most relevant to your company by conducting internal reviews and engaging key stakeholders to align priorities with expectations.
Sustainability Report Development
We create official sustainability reports, collecting and analyzing ESG data to ensure full alignment with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and other international and European sustainability regulations.
ESG Strategy & Program Development
We help define your long-term ESG objectives and build actionable plans that include initiatives, timelines, and performance indicators.
Operational Expertise
We offer hands-on ESG problem-solving built on over 50,000 hours of real project execution. Our team doesn’t just advise—we step in to fix whatever isn’t working. Whether you're facing compliance gaps, unclear strategies, stalled reporting, or implementation issues, our experts bring practical, on-the-ground experience to resolve it. We know the challenges companies face and deliver fast, effective solutions with precision and insight. No matter the ESG issue, we’ll get it done.
ESG Consulting & Implementation Support
We assist in the development of ESG policies and guide your organization in implementing sustainability initiatives across departments and supply chains.
ESG Index Improvement Support
We provide guidance and support to help your organization obtain internationally recognized ESG indexes.
Compliance & ESG Readiness Services
We provide comprehensive support for regulatory and voluntary ESG frameworks, including CSRD, CSDDD, TCFD, and UFLPA. Our services cover ESG attestation readiness, ESRS alignment, resiliency assessments, industry/peer benchmarking, and support with evolving reporting requirements to ensure your organization is audit-ready and future-proof.
Human Rights & Social Impact Reporting
We draft specialized reports on human rights performance, labor practices, and social impact, ensuring transparency and alignment with global standards.
Compliance Manuals & Prevention Guidebooks
We develop internal manuals and guides, including labor trafficking prevention, ethical sourcing, and grievance procedures, tailored to your sector and region.
Training & Capacity Building
We deliver expert-led training programs across a range of critical areas, including human rights, human trafficking and labor trafficking prevention, business etiquette, and sustainable development. Our sessions equip executives, employees, and partners with the knowledge and skills to integrate ethical practices, meet compliance standards, and lead impactful sustainability and human rights initiatives across global operations.
Why Work With Us
Led by USIDHR and enhanced by strategic collaboration with Aurora Global Advisors, the ESG leadership Program integrates cutting-edge sustainability practices with deep-rooted expertise in human rights, diplomacy, and governance.
1
Human Rights Foundation
We are unique in the ESG landscape in that most consulting firms offer consultants with a business management, financial accountants, or legal background. What makes us different is our foundation in human rights expertise—an essential but often overlooked dimension of sustainability and governance. Each member of our team has worked for over two decades on human rights, democracy, and good governance—serving in government, partnering with civil society, advising private foundations, and supporting global organizations.
2
Diplomatic Expertise
As diplomats, our team managed and oversaw numerous human rights, democracy, rule of law, and women's empowerment programs. We led human rights dialogues that convened business leaders, government representatives, civil society groups, advocates and other stakeholders for meaningful reforms. We provide organizations with strategic, pragmatic recommendations for planning and sustainable growth.
3
Academic Excellence
Upon leaving diplomacy, we became trained academics and teach doctoral level research methods in content analysis, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussion, participant observation and other primary source research methods. We apply these methods to produce original data for new clients. Our team offers Doctoral-level expertise in research, analysis, and data translation.
4
Global Impact
USIDHR brings a mission-driven, nonprofit lens to ESG consulting—one that bridges the gap between compliance and conscience. We’ve trained over 20,000 professionals in 136 countries and built a global network of consultants with regional and thematic expertise. Our services help organizations align profit with purpose, delivering lasting value to people, planet, and shareholders. Our founder, Dr. Isabelle Vladoiu, has been recognized by two U.S. Presidents for her global leadership in human rights education.
Sustainability Contacts

Dr. Isabelle Vladoiu

Chairwoman | USIDHR Dr. Isabelle Vladoiu is an award-winning international human rights law specialist and global security expert with over a decade of experience advancing corporate accountability and sustainable development. As the founder of the US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights (USIDHR), she has trained more than 20,000 professionals worldwide in human rights, labor trafficking prevention, nondiscriminatory employment practices, and Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD). She has collaborated with major institutions including the United Nations, UNICEF, the World Bank, and the Organization of American States, and has been recognized by two American presidents for her service and leadership. She holds a Doctorate in Global Security from American Military University and is a bestselling author, serving as a strategic advisor to companies and governments working to build resilient, ethical global value chains.

Dr. Elise Rainer

Partner | Aurora Global Advisors Dr. Rainer is a former diplomat with the U.S. State Department, U.S. Mission to the United Nations, and USAID. Her work helped shape U.S. foreign policy and human rights and democracy programs in North Africa and the Gulf. While at the State Department, Dr. Rainer edited the U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report) for Gulf countries and participated in dialogues regarding the Tier ranking system working to prevent and reduce human trafficking. She served as Senior Editor for the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices and International Religious Freedom Reports for Middle East countries. She managed programs related to improving human rights, good governance, and international labor rights standards, in collaboration with civil society partners and multinational organizations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO). Dr. Rainer currently serves as a professor of international relations and her research expertise includes human rights and security, gender and diplomacy, the Kurdish diaspora, business and human rights, nationalism, democracy and governance.

Dr. Katie Mclain

Partner | Aurora Global Advisors Dr. McLain is a former diplomat with the U.S. State Department where she managed a multi-million-dollar portfolio of human rights, democracy, good governance and rule of law programs in Iraq and Latin America. Alongside managing human rights programs, Dr. McLain edited the U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Reports and the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Before the U.S. State Department, Dr. McLain worked at the U.S. Department of Justice on domestic crime prevention programs. Dr. McLain currently leads the Montana Community Action Network, supporting ten nonprofit organizations working to combat poverty across Montana. Dr. McLain holds a Ph.D. in History from Montana State University where her research focused on the history of illicit drug controls in the United States. Her area expertise includes rule of law programming, human rights and good governance, Central America security sector, community policing, international drug policy, poverty reduction programs and community action.

Manuel Oancia

President | USIDHR Manuel Oancia is a renowned entrepreneur and international business leader, and the founder of the US Institute of Business and International Development. Over the past decade, his expertise in creating and teaching irresistible offers has made him a sought-after advisor for top Forbes companies like Motorola, Ford, GM, and General Electric. Manuel has collaborated with bi-partisan American administrations, including the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations, and has worked with high-level foreign diplomats to strengthen relationships among countries. Manuel has been recognized for his outstanding leadership in international business strategies, promoting trade, investment, and cooperation among countries.

Mandatory ESG: What You Need to Know Now
Under the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), more than 50,000 companies—including U.S.-based businesses—will soon be required to publicly disclose ESG data. If your organization operates in or exports to the EU, this applies to you.
And it’s not just CSRD. The EU’s new Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), alongside existing acts like the UFLPA and TCFD, means transparency, human rights diligence, and sustainability reporting are no longer optional—they are legally binding.
Countries such as France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, and Romania have already transposed CSRD into national law. All 27 EU Member States are mandated to comply, and enforcement has begun. If your business touches the EU market—even indirectly—you are expected to prove your ESG practices or face legal, financial, and reputational consequences.
This is more than compliance—it's a market access requirement.
Buyers, investors, and regulators across the EU will reject partners who fail to meet ESG standards. Whether you're in apparel, tech, logistics, agriculture, or manufacturing, your ESG readiness now determines your ability to trade, attract capital, and grow in Europe.
Where ESG Compliance Is the Law
Across Europe, ESG disclosure and human rights due diligence are no longer optional. These countries have enacted binding legislation—meaning if you operate in or trade with them, you must comply:
🇫🇷 France – Duty of Vigilance Law (2017)
Large French companies are required to identify, prevent, and address human rights and environmental risks across their global supply chains.
🇩🇪 Germany – Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (2023)
Applies to companies with 1,000+ employees, mandating oversight and reporting on human rights and environmental risks across operations and suppliers.
🇳🇱 Netherlands – Child Labor Due Diligence Law (2019)
Requires companies to assess and prevent child labor in their supply chains. Enforcement mechanisms are being finalized.
🇳🇴 Norway – Transparency Act (2022)
Applies to companies offering goods or services in Norway. Firms must carry out human rights due diligence and publish annual statements.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom – Modern Slavery Act (2015)
Businesses with over £36 million in turnover must publish annual reports on efforts to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking in supply chains.
🇸🇪 🇩🇰 🇫🇮 🇮🇪 Sweden, Denmark, Finland & Ireland
These EU countries are not only early adopters of CSRD but also enforce national ESG and supply chain standards aligned with EU directives.
🇪🇺 European Union – Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
Now active across all 27 EU Member States, CSRD requires over 50,000 companies—including non-EU businesses with significant EU presence—to disclose ESG data using ESRS standards.
✅ Now in Force – Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)
Adopted in 2024, the CSDDD is now being implemented across the EU. It requires large companies—and non-EU firms with €150M+ in EU turnover—to identify, mitigate, and report on human rights and environmental impacts across their entire value chain.
Join the ESG Revolution with USIDHR
Transform your business into an ESG leader with USIDHR's comprehensive program. Our expert guidance will help you navigate the complex world of ESG, driving sustainable growth and creating lasting value for all stakeholders.