This brief provides financial institutions with tailored insights, accessible resources and practical guidance on why, how and when to engage people with lived experience of human rights abuses such as modern slavery across the investment cycle. It includes real-world examples from industry peers and recommends concrete short, medium and long-term actions that institutions can take – regardless of their starting point – to embed lived-experience insights into financial risk assessment and portfolio decision-making, while strengthening their human rights strategies and governance practices.