Our Sustainability Strategy
Over more than 140 years, we've learned that people live their best lives when they feel secure. While financial stability plays into that, so too do social and environmental factors. We're here for it all.

Our role in society
We make financial security accessible to all, while doing right by our customers, our communities, and the planet.
The scope of our strategy
Sustainability Vision
Help people today by advocating for security and inclusion, creating opportunity for future generations.
Sustainability Approach
Grow a sustainable and secure society through long-term, responsible actions.
Activation pillars
People
Practices
Products and services
ESG materiality matrix
We refine and prioritize the issues most material to our business, based on their impact and influence.


Sustainable development goals
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
Sustainability Task Force

Beth Wood
Chair, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer

Binay Chandgothia
Managing Director, Portfolio Management

Kevin Farley
Vice President, Enterprise Worksite Services

Jane Keairns
Director, ESG and Emerging Strategies

Natalie Lamarque
EVP, General Counsel and Secretary

Miriam Lewis
Chief Inclusion Officer

Ken McCullum
EVP and Chief Risk Officer

Jo Christine Miles
Director, Principal Foundation and Community Relations

Chris Reddy
Executive Director, Investment & Client Solutions

Beth Wood, EVP, Global Chief Marketing Officer and Chair, Sustainability Task Force
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

Binay Chandgothia, 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

Kevin Farley, VP-Enterprise Worksite Services
Kevin Farley
VP-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

Jane Keairns, Director, ESG and Emerging Strategies
Jane Keairns
Director, ESG and Emerging Strategies
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

Natalie Lamarque, 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 and Financial Services):
20

Miriam Lewis, Chief Inclusion Officer
Miriam Lewis
Chief Inclusion Officer
How does your work advance our sustainability goals?
Our sustainability strategy is largely fueled by our people. We believe everyone plays an important role in creating a more diverse workforce and inclusive culture. Our purpose compels us to create meaningful work and rewarding experiences for our employees and ultimately better business outcomes for our customers and stakeholders.
SDGs supported:
5, 8, 10
Joined Principal:
2019
Years of Experience (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion):
11

Ken McCullum, 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 and Financial Services):
36

Jo Christine Miles, 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 and Philanthropy):
20

Chris Reddy, Executive Director- Investment and Cllient Solutions, Principal Asset Management
Chris Reddy
Executive Director- Investment and Cllient Solutions, 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:
1986
Years of Experience (Financial Services):
34
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Insurance products issued by Principal National Life Insurance Co (except in NY) and Principal Life Insurance Company®. Plan administrative services offered by Principal Life. Principal Funds, Inc. is distributed by Principal Funds Distributor, Inc. Securities offered through Principal Securities, Inc., member SIPC and/or independent broker/dealers. Referenced companies are members of the Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392. ©2023 Principal Financial Services, Inc.
Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. ("Principal® Foundation") is a duly recognized 501(c)(3) entity focused on providing philanthropic support to programs that build financial security in the communities where Principal Financial Group, Inc. ("Principal") operates. While Principal Foundation receives funding from Principal, Principal Foundation is a distinct, independent, charitable entity. Principal Foundation does not practice any form of investment advisory services and is not authorized to do so. © 2023 Principal Foundation.
Integration of sustainability considerations and/or environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors is qualitative and subjective by nature. There is no guarantee that the criteria used, or judgment exercised, will reflect the beliefs or values of any particular investor. There is no assurance that any strategy or integration of sustainability considerations and/or ESG factors will be successful or profitable.