Investor Relations is more than just keeping shareholders informed. It’s about understanding how investors perceive risk and opportunity, then shaping a clear investment story that aligns a company’s strategy, performance and long-term vision. The Strategic IR Foundation: A Practical Framework to Start Right training course, organised by SGListCos (as part of the Value Unlock Equip Grant), brought together IROs, finance and corporate communications professionals, as well as senior management from listed companies for a hands-on workshop to strengthen the foundations of effective investor engagement.

The session was conducted by Grace Chen, Founder & Principal of Second Room, who guided participants through a practical framework for gathering investor insight, synthesising market feedback, and shaping a compelling investment case.

Participants explored how the distance between a company’s intrinsic value and market perception – the valuation gap – can be systematically closed through strategic investor engagement. As highlighted by Grace during the session, “Investors don’t just buy numbers. They buy conviction. Companies focus on what they want to say. Investors focus on what they need to believe.” An emphasis was also placed on the importance of applying the three investor lenses – value, risk, and signals to decode market behaviour and anticipate investor reactions.

Attendees also discussed the need for IR professionals to build a structured IR cycle that strategically aligns engagement activities with investor priorities and company events such as financial results and corporate transactions. As noted during the session, “Transactions are narrative accelerators.” The session highlighted how roadshows, analyst briefings, investor days and site visits can be timed around key company milestones to strengthen visibility and reinforce the company's investment narrative.

Through scenario exercises and a structured workbook, participants were guided to reflect on their existing IR practices and their daily decision-making frameworks. This intentional pause for self-assessment provided the understanding needed to elevate the need for IR professionals’ role from tactical execution to strategic advisory.

SGListCos is a service provider under the Equip Grant for IR training courses, supporting listed companies in strengthening investor engagement and market confidence. More IR training courses are currently in the pipeline.

Link to SGListCos courses