ISS invited 25 experts — drawn from all sides of the governance debate and from every corner of the globe — to offer their perspectives on the quarter-century that has passed since ISS was founded in 1985. We asked each of them one short question: “What, to you, is the most significant development in corporate governance over the last 25 years?” From their responses, we compiled the collection of essays that you are preparing to read.

As you’ll soon see, the responses are as varied and engaging as the individuals who were kind enough to offer them. Answers to the central question cover a broad range of topics — from the increasing prevalence of independent audit committees to holding executive sessions of the outside directors to the spread of advisory votes on remuneration. Market perspectives span the globe — including the United States, Canada, Japan, the U.K., and Continental Europe.