Verity O’Shaughnessy is a pragmatic business strategist and experienced facilitator of multi-stakeholder partnerships with a focus on gender equity and climate change adaptation. Verity uses data insights to identify pragmatic steps and translate evidence into strategies that strengthen business, social and economic impact.
As the co-founder of the Partnership Collective, a women-led consultancy that supports both private sector and social impact organizations to transform their impact through partnerships, Verity has partnered with Better Cotton, Textile Exchange, and Lululemon to design frameworks and solutions that embed equity and resilience.
Her background at the Fairtrade Foundation and CARE International underpins her expertise in commodity supply chains and global partnerships.
Question 1: What are the three things people should know about you?
I’m a co-director at The Partnership Collective, a consultancy I co-founded. We’re a women-led team dedicated to equity, community and collaboration.
I’m passionate about inclusive business models. I believe we can drive change by building value chains that deliver shared value for businesses, farmers, workers, communities, and the planet.
My work is all about helping businesses shift from a risk mindset to a resilience mindset. I help them build collaborative, future-proof supply chains that allow both business and communities to thrive.
Question 2: What fascinates you about your work?
What fascinates me is seeing how transformational shifts often begin with smaller, pragmatic steps. The scale and urgency of today’s challenges can feel overwhelming, but I’m inspired by how even small changes can plant the seeds for something much bigger. It’s often these incremental, intentional actions that lead to the most sustainable and embedded change long-term.
Question 3: If there were no limitations, what would you recommend companies do to advance the rights of people in business?
If we were truly reimagining the system, I would recommend companies regard rightsholders as equal shareholders. This means building rightsholder and community voices directly into the ownership and governance of the business. By doing this, a company’s success isn’t just measured by profit for investors, but also by its impact on the people who create the product’s value. This is the ultimate way to genuinely centre impact for rightsholders.
Question 4: What is the most pressing question in your field of work right now, and how are you approaching it?
The most pressing question right now is, “How do we keep driving responsible business in a turbulent global and political environment?”
There’s no doubt that this is dividing the room—some businesses are doubling down on their commitments, some are rephrasing their narrative, and others are stripping back.
My approach is to help businesses navigate this by focusing on long-term resilience rather than short-term reactions. I help them stay true to their values while building practical, adaptable strategies that can withstand these external pressures.
Question 5: What will the world of responsible business look like in 10 years?
In ten years, social equality and climate sustainability will be a requirement for businesses to be able to exist. The effects of the climate crisis will be undeniable, and the direct link between that and social and economic impacts will require a transformation of business as usual. Businesses will face greater pressure from both legislation and consumers. They’ll also be competing with new enterprises that have had equity and sustainability baked into their core from the beginning. It won’t be a nice-to-have; it’ll be a must-have for future business resilience.
Get in touch with Verity O’Shaughnessy via Linkedin or via email.
