Public companies hold annual shareholder meetings to provide a space for shareholders to ask questions, engage with company leadership, and review and vote proxies. A proxy ballot is similar to an election ballot – it contains important company matters that shareholders have a right to vote on. This can include executive compensation, election of board members, auditor selection, management and shareholder proposals, and more. 

The outcomes of proxy votes can have a significant impact on both companies and the shareholders who own their stocks. Yet, according to ProxyPulse’s 2023 Proxy Season Preview, only 29% of retail investors exercised their right to vote.

The four principles of excellence are at the heart of everything Strive does. They help form the basis of all our voting recommendations and how we engage with corporations on behalf of our clients.

We believe companies should use the following principles to drive shareholder value:

Proxy voting is a vital part of leading companies to focus on excellence. However, most corporate governance decisions are not made through shareholder votes; they’re made through shareholder engagements that do not require approval from other shareholders.

Large asset managers exert their influence year-round by privately pushing publicly traded companies to prioritize other stakeholders above shareholders. We unapologetically prioritize shareholders and urge companies to do the same.