ZS is driven by our values: treat people right, get it right and do the right thing. These principles are reflected in our work to improve health outcomes around the world—work that we consolidated in our latest business responsibility and impact (BRI) report. Developed in collaboration with ZSers globally, the report reflects on our passion and impact for BRI and outlines our commitments, challenges and progress.

Sarah Petitt, ZS’s BRI communications strategist, explains: “BRI can be a powerful tool for change. When companies take a hard look at what they are and aren’t doing well, it creates urgency for action. I believe ZSers genuinely want to drive that change, and this report is a way to hold ourselves accountable and stay focused on our goals.”

Where passion changes lives

Sarah originally joined ZS to lead people and corporate communications, but quickly saw an opportunity to broaden her impact.

“We had different community groups and teams working on BRI priorities, but many were operating in silos,” she says. “From my role in corporate communications, I started to see the connections between those efforts and felt compelled to tell a more cohesive story. Around that same time, a group of principals recognized the need for more strategic direction. This alignment—between grassroots momentum and leadership vision—sparked something real. What started as a passion has now evolved into a strategy with the infrastructure to scale.”

Sarah Petitt, corporate communications lead

While working on this BRI report, Sarah uncovered countless projects that aligned with BRI principles. From supporting pharma clients in diversifying clinical trials to investing in social drivers of health, corporate social responsibility, and inclusion and belonging, ZS has long prioritized these themes—but in fragmented ways. The report’s goal was to highlight how these efforts converge, allowing ZSers to better understand and amplify our collective BRI impact.

“We can only drive meaningful progress on BRI issues if we’re united under one mission,” Sarah says.

That mission is supported by three key governance bodies:

• The ZS Shareholders Council (our board of directors)

• The BRI Steering Committee

• The BRI Core Team

Following a formal BRI materiality assessment in 2022, these cross-functional teams came together to align on strategic focus areas:

• Health equity

• Climate impact

• Inclusion and belonging (I&B)

• Data security and privacy

• Ethics and transparency

“Without safe, responsible and secure practices, we can’t earn the trust of partners who deliver life-changing solutions,” says Judith Kulich, BRI chair on the Shareholders Council. “Without sustainable operations, we can’t address climate change—a known social driver of health. And without a workplace culture that sees, hears and includes its people, we can’t innovate in the ways we need to. All of these focus areas are interconnected—and they are where we, as ZSers, can have the most impact.”

After months of collaboration, Sarah is proud to share the report as a catalyst for long-term change.

“Our BRI reports set tangible, measurable goals across each of these focus areas,” she says. “We’ll track our progress year over year and share our goals in a transparent, accessible way—so everyone at ZS can participate in building healthy, fair and sustainable outcomes for all.”

Read the report here to learn more.

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