Our team had the pleasure of attending the National Investor Relations Institute’s 2025 Annual Conference, which brought together investor relations (IR) professionals from across the U.S. and around the world. The mainstage keynotes, expert panels, and breakout sessions made it clear that the IR role continues to expand in both scope and strategic importance. Here are five key themes from the event.
1. Stabilizing Markets, Skepticism Remains
While macro uncertainty, such as tariffs, consumer sentiment, and Fed ambiguity, - remains top of mind, speakers highlighted signs of moderating market conditions. There are potentially some green shoots in the IPO market, particularly in financials and fintech, and public company valuations continue to recover from lows at the time of the initial tariff announcement. Still, companies must contend with a more cautious investor base. Today, it is especially critical for management and IR teams to assess and understand potential macro risks to their business and, to the extent possible, specifically address efforts to mitigate these risks and expectations for performance in various scenarios.
2. IR’s Growing Strategic Influence in the Boardroom
Across sessions on boardroom alignment, ESG disclosure, and investor targeting strategies, IR professionals were reminded of their vital role as conduits between the Board, management, and the investment community. The Board is responsible for guiding leadership and managing risk and, to do so effectively, it must be equipped with the right information and tools. IR should serve as an active resource to the Board on critical matters such as investor perceptions, key concerns, and activism preparedness. While quarterly IR updates are essential, IR teams should also work with management to identify additional touchpoints for Board engagement. This could include conducting scenario planning and research, or providing briefings on anticipated investor or analyst reactions ahead of major guidance updates.
3. Shareholder Activism Preparedness
Companies are increasingly expected to act as their own activists by identifying and addressing potential vulnerabilities before investors bring them to light. Clear strategy and financial targets, regular updates on execution against plan, proactive board refreshment, and active and ongoing shareholder engagement can help prevent activist narratives from taking hold. There is also a growing need for vulnerability assessments, scenario planning, and activist simulations for Boards and executives. Organizations are significantly better positioned to navigate potential activist campaigns when the Board, management, and IR teams are aligned on proactive strategies, and when the Board regularly engages institutional holders.
4. Engaging Passives
With the rise of passive investing, engagement with stewardship teams has become a critical component of effective investor relations. While index investors do not actively buy or sell individual stocks, they wield significant influence through proxy voting, particularly on issues related to governance, sustainability, and executive compensation. IR teams play a key role in building and maintaining relationships with these investors, regularly engaging with stewardship teams to understand their voting policies, decision-making frameworks, and evolving expectations. These insights should be shared with management and the Board to inform strategic planning and governance practices. Understanding voting guidelines for large passive holders is even more critical following recent guidance from the SEC on 13D filings, which has caused some stewardship teams to limit engagement. As emphasized throughout NIRI2025, Board accessibility to stewardship teams at large passive investors is essential for sustaining support and avoiding surprises during proxy season. IR can help prepare directors for these conversations and facilitate meaningful engagement that reinforces investor confidence.
5. New and Emerging Platforms
Gone are the days when a simple press release and earnings call transcript suffice in getting your message across to the Street. With sell-side analysts spread thinner than ever and buy-side attention diverted across hundreds of stocks, IR teams are pushing the boundaries of traditional investor communication and finding new and creative ways to get their message out. From earnings recap videos posted to social channels and live video earnings calls to executive interviews on investor-focused podcasts, companies are increasingly using video, audio, and social-first formats to humanize their leadership and make financial narratives more accessible. These new and evolving platforms are allowing IR teams to reinforce their narratives and scale their reach.
Ashna Vasa (Vice President) and Nicole Harlowe (Senior Vice President)