2024/2025 reporting season in review

The first quarter of this year was honestly a bit of a whirlwind, both personally and professionally. As a freelance sustainability report writer working with listed companies, Q1 is always intense. Deadlines pile up as clients rush to release their reports within the same narrow window. The pace can be relentless at times.

But this year brought unique challenges that went far beyond the usual workload. In December, I lost my Mum. Grief has been my constant companion ever since—a heavy presence that doesn’t care about work schedules or to-do lists. Navigating loss while running a business is something I’m still learning how to do well.

At the same time, the sustainability reporting landscape has been shifting dramatically. January was spent helping companies reframe how they talk about diversity in light of changing expectations and backlash against DEI initiatives. In February, I worked with clients to navigate the latest changes to EU corporate responsibility proposals, which could potentially put some of them out of scope under new regulations. And March? That was all about fine-tuning language, managing risks, and working with legal teams to ensure every word in these reports was precise and compliant.

With the first round of sustainability reports now hitting the (virtual) presses, I finally have a moment to breathe—and reflect on everything this season has taught me.

As a solopreneur, I often feel the pressure to do all the things: to be everywhere, write everything, and make an impact in every corner. But this season has reminded me that sometimes, it’s enough to take things project by project, day by day.

To my fellow solopreneurs (and anyone navigating grief): be gentle with yourself. You don’t have to do it all right now. Rest is productive too—and healing takes time.