Greening Goliath: Developing a Shareholder Engagement Strategy for Emerson Electric

The Social Enterprise Program Case Series Tim Smith, Director of ESG Shareowner Engagement at Walden Asset Management, had already drafted one resolution on behalf of Emerson Electric shareholders requesting a detailed sustainability report from the company. Yet this resolution, and subsequent cordial meetings with management, had not yielded any results. This case provides students with background on how shareholders can use their leverage to create beneficial social change—and asks them to weigh in on what Smith's next steps with Emerson might be.