Stewardship expectations are evolving rapidly, with institutional investors facing growing pressure to demonstrate independence, transparency, and rigor in their voting decisions. This Proxy Season Preview distills key insights from our New York Stewardship Series, where leading governance and stewardship professionals shared how they are adapting to a more complex and demanding environment.

Across the discussions, a clear theme emerged: firms are moving beyond traditional proxy workflows and investing in internal policy frameworks, stronger analytical capabilities, and better data infrastructure. As market volatility, shareholder activism, and expectations of board oversight continue to rise, stewardship teams are placing greater emphasis on evidence-based decision-making and consistent policy application.

This shift is being enabled by advances in data and technology, including the launch of Diligent Stewardship Intelligence, a purpose-built data feed designed to integrate directly into voting and engagement workflows. By delivering structured governance, compensation, and activist insights, it allows teams to streamline processes, reduce reliance on third-party recommendations, and scale their stewardship efforts more effectively.

Alongside this report, Diligent Market Intelligence provides a suite of regular roundups to help investors stay ahead during proxy season—surfacing key developments, tracking dissent, and highlighting potentially contentious meetings. Together, these resources are designed to help stewardship teams prioritize engagement, anticipate key votes, and allocate research capacity with confidence.

Download the report to explore the themes shaping the 2026 proxy season and how leading investors are responding.

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