We are focused on building the next generation Nasdaq as a leading technology, analytics and infrastructure provider to capital markets. For us, that lies in integrity: integrity in the markets, across the financial system, and in broader society. By combating market manipulation and financial crime, by advancing corporate sustainability and governance best practices, and by planting seeds for inclusive growth and prosperity across the communities in which we operate, we can continue to redefine the role of corporations in society for the better. In doing so, we believe that we are well-positioned to facilitate safe, inclusive markets that catalyze long-term economic growth.
Nasdaq is deeply devoted to being a multiplier of best practices – within our own operations, within our communities, and with our clients who we serve every day. Examples include:
- Driving ESG Adoption: Nasdaq’s position at the intersection of the financial, corporate, and regulatory communities gives us a unique perspective on corporate sustainability. From this vantage point, we’re actively engaging with clients to help them navigate the complex and fast evolving ESG landscape. This includes our voluntary ESG reporting guide and investor targeting solutions, as well as supporting the buy-side with tools to integrate ESG into their decision-making process.
- Sustainability Reporting: Nasdaq is a champion of strong ESG practices, underpinned by our commitment to transparency and disclosure. We are continually improving our ESG reporting and performed a strategic analysis to identify our key topics that form the foundation of our corporate sustainability strategy.
- Diversity, Inclusion, and Culture: When it comes to our core mission and values, we embrace the role of diversity, inclusion, and culture as a fundamental driver of our corporate growth, workplace culture and market development. One prominent example is a new listings rule for companies on our U.S. exchange to publicly disclose consistent, transparent diversity statistics regarding their board of directors and choose whether to meet recommended board diversity objectives or explain their reasons for not doing so, which could include describing a different approach. In addition, in April 2021, Nasdaq joined alongside other technology companies to launch the Alliance for Global Inclusion, an industry coalition to develop shared D+I metrics to accelerate the adoption and measurement of inclusive business practices.
- A Long-term Outlook: Nasdaq has established mid-term growth targets of three-to-five years as we pursue our strategic repositioning as a leading technology company, and a long-term strategy of five-to-ten years.
- Purpose Initiative: In 2020, Nasdaq launched its new Purpose Initiative, which brings together our philanthropic, corporate sustainability, and community outreach programs under one strategy aimed at advancing inclusive growth and prosperity.
- Nasdaq Foundation: The Nasdaq Foundation was relaunched in September 2020 with two primary goals: to reimagine investor engagement to help ensure that underrepresented communities can share in the wealth that markets create; and to leverage the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center alongside new strategic partnerships to build a deeper, data-driven understanding of where the challenges are greatest and how we can maximize our impact.
The impact markets have in catalyzing innovation and facilitating faster innovation and job growth has never been clearer, nor more important. The changes brought on by the global pandemic reveal just how vital it is to support a marketplace ecosystem that is resilient, equitable, and sustainable.
[i] This communication contains forward-looking statements relating to Nasdaq’s operations that are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections. Words or phrases such as “believes,” “can,” “enables,” “strategy” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Nasdaq cautions readers that any forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information. Therefore, the actual conduct of our activities, including the development, implementation or continuation of any program, policy or initiative discussed or forecasted in this report, may differ materially in the future.