“We build bridges between business, academia, governments and civil society”

OUR APPROACH

Sibylle Baumgartner and Matthias Leisinger founded focusright in 2017 with the vision of making human rights tangible for business and initiating change. With this end in view, we support our clients in embedding human rights and environmental due diligence in their business practices.

With extensive experience in the private sector and in consulting, as well as a broad national and international network of civil society, government, academia and business representatives, we understand the challenges companies face in implementing human rights due diligence. We work in a solution-oriented manner and help to develop effective strategies – even where different interests clash. Our mission: With our pragmatic solutions, every client understands its impact and is empowered for change.

As thought leaders in the field of business and human rights, we align our work with international human rights standards and legal frameworks - and always keep our finger on the pulse of ongoing developments.

TEAM

Sibylle Baumgartner

Director, Co-Founder

Sibylle has longstanding experience in the field of responsible business with a specific focus on social aspects. She has worked with companies from various industries focusing on elaborating responsible business strategies, implementing sustainable supply chain management and developing human rights due diligence frameworks.

Languages: German, French, English, Spanish

Matthias Leisinger

Director, Co-Founder

Matthias is a specialist in corporate responsibility with extensive experience in the private sector. His professional goal is driving change to create a more sustainable business model, which delivers commercial success. He has a record of success in human rights due diligence, capacity building and developing and managing multi-stakeholder initiatives.

Languages: German, English, French

Yolinka Vossen

Consultant

Yolinka has several years of experience in the implementation of human rights due diligence in various sectors. Before joining focusright, she investigated success factors for the implementation of human rights due diligence in collaboration with large Swiss corporations for her Master's thesis and worked in a procurement optimisation consultancy on projects to optimise procurement processes and logistics costs for SMEs.

Languages: German, English, French

Dominic Rietmann

Consultant

Dominic has several years of operational experience in responsible business conduct and the implementation of human rights due diligence. Before joining focusright, Dominic worked in sustainability at the Federation of Migros Cooperatives. There he worked on projects in the areas of sustainable supply chains and responsible business and was responsible for the implementation of human rights due diligence in the specialist markets.

Languages: German, English, French

Carina Waser

Analyst

Carina has a legal background with a focus on international law. She wrote her Master’s thesis on the state's obligation to protect human rights in the face of environmental damage caused by transnational corporations in the Global South. Prior to joining focusright, Carina gained experience in human rights and corporate sustainability at the United Nations Global Compact, a human rights due diligence consultancy, and a legal advisory dedicated to the rights of refugees and migrants.

Languages: German, English, French

JOBS

Senior Consultant Business & Human Rights (80-100%)

focusright is looking for a senior consultant to lead projects, shape focusright’s future, and deliver innovative, impact-driven solutions.

The position focuses on acquiring, leading and managing client projects, providing practical advice and thought leadership on Human Rights Due Diligence, and analyzing trends and developments around Business and Human Rights and related topics.

As a member of our small team, you will work directly with the Directors of focusright and play an important role in building up our company and continuously improving our services. The position is located in Zurich.

Job Description

EVENTS

Sustainable Procurement Webinar: Changing purchasing practices - How to fulfil due diligence obligations on human rights (02.04.2025)

In order to fulfil due diligence and reporting obligations and requirements along the value chain, the interface between a company's sustainability and procurement departments is key. But how can this collaboration be organised effectively in practice and how do reporting and due diligence obligations differ?

In this webinar, Sibylle Baumgartner and Yolinka Vossen from focusright will show you practical ways in which you can successfully combine sustainability and purchasing in order to utilise existing processes in a targeted manner and take effective measures.

Language: German

Place: Online

Time: 02.04.2025, 12:15 - 13:15h

Information & Registration

Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) Peer Learning & Networking Group

focusright moderates the HRDD Peer Learning & Networking Group from the UN Global Compact Network Switzerland & Liechtenstein (GCNSL), which provides a platform for regular exchange among business and human rights professionals in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The peer learning group meets about every three months for informal virtual or in-person discussions on questions, learnings, insights and challenges with peers. The group is open for employees of for-profit companies working on topics related to business and human rights – from beginners, intermediates and experts.

Participation requirements

Active participation in informal group discussions
Willingness to share own experiences and learn from others
Private sector staff with a professional link to business and human rights
Being a client of focusright, a participant of the GCNSL or a member of öbu
Since the goal of the group is for participants to share their challenges and learn from peers, consulting or law firms are not accepted into the group

Language: English

Information

CLIENTS

Click on the logos below for more information about some of our clients from different sectors. To learn more about our completed projects, visit our services page.