We’ve learned that people live their most fulfilling lives when they feel secure. And for 145 years, everything we do has been built around this understanding.
We help more people and businesses gain access to financial security. We strive to meet people where they are on their financial journey, understanding their process, possibilities, and hurdles—then offering choices for a clear path forward.
Our sustainability vision
We aim to grow a resilient, inclusive, and secure society, helping people enjoy a shared prosperity today and creating opportunities for future generations.
Our sustainability approach
In pursuit of this vision, we deliver innovative products and services to help meet the diverse needs of our customers around the globe, integrate sustainable practices across our business, and provide an inclusive and rewarding experience for our global employees.
People
We are committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees feel empowered to succeed and grow to their full potential, improving performance and driving innovation.
Practices
We are committed to acting responsibly and operating with integrity, helping ensure we’re doing right by our customers while considering our impact on all stakeholders and the planet.
Products & services
We are committed to offering and expanding access to inclusive products and services that help individuals and businesses achieve their personal and financial goals, enabling a more sustainable and financially secure future.
The following sustainability topics help drive our sustainability goals and initiatives.
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The UN describes SDGs as “the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all,” and we're committed to supporting this effort.
Goal 5: Gender equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
Reduce inequality within and among countries
Goal 13: Climate action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts*
Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
Chair, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer
Beth Wood
EVP, Global Chief Marketing Officer and Chair, Sustainability Task Force
How does your work advance our sustainability goals?
Building a reputation for being a purpose-led company that helps people build a brighter future and that values inclusion, is at the core of what we stand for and stand up for. We are committed to helping more people and businesses gain access to systems, products and information to help them feel more secure as they journey through life. Financial security is a journey unique to each person depending on their experience and condition. It’s important to have the right data, messaging, and communication channels to reach our customers wherever they are in the world, whatever their financial status, goals, stage of life, or level of financial confidence. Our own sustainability journey is one that adapts over time—and it’s important to always tell an authentic and transparent story of impact.
SDGs supported:
5, 8, 10, 13, 17
Joined Principal:
2019
Years of experience (Marketing, Communications):
37
EVP, General Counsel and Secretary
Natalie Lamarque
EVP, General Counsel and Secretary
How does your work advance our sustainability goals?
Good governance and strong compliance are essential for any sustainable business. By ensuring integrity in our business practices, we can navigate an ever-changing legal, regulatory, geo- political, and reputational landscape while maintaining an ethical and transparent culture.
SDGs supported:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Joined Principal:
2022
Years of experience (Law, Financial services):
20
EVP and Chief Risk Officer
Ken McCullum
EVP and Chief Risk Officer
How does your work advance our sustainability goals?
Managing and mitigating risk is essential to the sustainability of our business. We work to identify, measure, monitor, and communicate, and manage risks within established limits and risk tolerances which may include but is not limited to market risk, insurance risk, operational risk and includes climate-related risk considerations.
SDGs supported:
4, 9, 11, 16
Joined Principal:
2015
Years of experience (Risk, Financial services):
36
Managing Director, Portfolio Management
Binay Chandgothia
Managing Director, Portfolio Management
How does your work advance our sustainability goals?
As an asset owner through the general account of Principal Life Insurance Company®, sustainability considerations form an important cornerstone of our investment strategy. Our investment teams consider sustainable investing factors in their analytical frameworks, with ESG metrics factored into the scoring of fixed income investments and climate change and emissions considerations incorporated into the evaluation of real estate deals by our real estate analysts.
SDGs supported:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Joined Principal:
2000
Years of experience (Financial services):
30
Vice President, Enterprise Worksite Services
Kevin Farley
Vice President, Enterprise Worksite Services
How does your work advance our sustainability goals?
Through operational improvement, renewable energy procurement, and employee engagement, we aim to reduce the environmental impact of our GHG emissions, energy and water usage, and waste production.
SDGs supported:
12, 13
Joined Principal:
2000
Years of experience (Financial services):
36
Director, Principal Community Relations and the Principal® Foundation
Jo Christine Miles
Director, Principal Community Relations and the Principal® Foundation
How does your work advance our sustainability goals?
Principal® Foundation is an important part of helping people along their financial journey and focuses its support on those who are underserved and under-resourced. Principal Foundation spends a portion of its endowment each year to fund programs that address gaps in basic living needs, remove barriers, and provide resources to help people, small businesses, and communities take the next steps in their financial journeys.
SDGs supported:
8, 10, 17
Joined Principal:
2020
Years of experience (Law, Philanthropy):
20
Director, Sustainability and ESG Reporting
Jane Keairns
Director, Sustainability and ESG Reporting
How does your work advance our sustainability goals?
Our sustainability journey requires us to listen and respond to stakeholder concerns and employee priorities—and to consider our external context, such as market factors and economic trends. It’s also about a commitment to sharing what we’ve learned and showing evidence of our activities so stakeholders can learn about our work to build a more sustainable future. We work across teams and disciplines to set sustainability commitments that reflect our values and aspirations for a more inclusive and resilient world. Our multi-year sustainability goals and annual targets allow us to measure our progress. To manage the evolving landscape and stay ahead of the curve, we’re continuously refining our approach while we remain dedicated to transparently reporting progress.
SDGs supported:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Joined Principal:
2021
Years of experience (Financial services):
21
Managing Director-Head of Equities Client Portfolio Management, Principal Asset Management
Phil Wood
Managing Director-Head of Equities Client Portfolio Management, Principal Asset Management
How does your work advance our sustainability goals?
As a global asset manager, our commitment to sustainable investing revolves around our fiduciary responsibility to our clients. Acting in their best interests comes first and foremost. Our approach to sustainable investing is always driven by that priority. We recognize that client needs and expectations vary across segments and geographies and that we must be consultative and offer choice. By collaborating with our clients in personal and customized ways, we can help determine what types of engagements and investments best support their values, goals, and expectations for a repeatable investment process. Through our client engagement efforts, we are mindful that sustainable investing offers the potential to enhance security analysis by providing a holistic view of the factors driving risk and potential return.
SDGs supported:
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17
Joined Principal:
2025
Years of experience (Financial services):
27