2023 Conscious Commerce Trends: By Samantha Taylor

CLIMATE CHANGE FOR HUMANITY

ESG = Climate Philanthropy

In the aftermath of COVID-19, global challenges prevailed including the war in Ukraine, economic crisis in Syria, drought in the Horn of Africa, wildfires in multiple continents and increasing gender divide.

2022 saw increasing philanthropic commitments in support of reducing carbon emissions, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and supporting climate justice by focusing on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), women, and people in the Global South.

Despite the urgency and increasing commitments, giving from individuals and foundations to climate-related causes remains a small percentage of overall charitable giving. A ClimateWorks Foundation report released in October found that in 2021, total grantmaking to address climate change grew 25 percent from 2020 levels.

The increase in giving was significant - 25% over 2020 - and outpaced the growth of giving overall. However, contributions to climate philanthropy accounted for just 1-1.5% of all giving, according to the report — just $7.5 billion to $12.5 billion out of the $810 billion given to all causes in 2021.

There is also increased focus by donors protecting forests — funding for forests grew by nearly 70% over the previous year, to $260 million. There was a multi-year $5 billion announcement by nine grant makers, including the Bezos Earth Fund and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The majority of funding targeted programs to help indigenous and local communities preserve forests.

Human-induced climate change continues to cause widespread disruption to the environment and wellbeing of communities. The cascading affects have exposed millions of people to displacement, health risks, food and water insecurity, especially in developing and emerging economies.

A 2022 State Of The Global Climate report, released by the UN World Meteorological Organization showed that the last eight years have been "the warmest on record, fueled by ever-rising greenhouse gas concentrations".

Greater leadership is needed from governments and businesses to address the climate crisis, warning that efforts to keep the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels is “on life support”.

Net Zero: Emissions Reductions Alone is Not Enough

By 2050 there will be 9.7 billion people on the planet, half of them will be in water-stressed regions, requiring 50 percent more energy. 

Sustainability, the new normal for integrated lifestyle and business missions, will continue to drive trends in 2023, challenge us to build trust within our communities and mobilize collective action. 

While climate funding is on the rise, more than 2 percent of philanthropic giving needs to be directed to climate mitigation efforts, moving forward.

Many countries raised their ambitions, new pledges and multistakeholder coalitions were forged to address methane gas pollution, deforestation, coal financing, and shipping, among others. The U.S. and China put aside their differences and agreed to boost cooperation around combating climate change in the years ahead.

Private sector actors and the investor community continued to make bold commitments to reach Net Zero, balancing off new greenhouse gas emissions with an equivalent amount of emissions removed from the atmosphere.

Companies’ Stepping Up

Patagonia: Founder Yvon Chouinard and his family transferred ownership to a trust and a nonprofit organization and expect to pay out an annual dividend of roughly $100 million to help fight climate change and protect the planet.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Pledged $1.4 billion over four years to help smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia build resilience and food security through climate-smart agriculture projects, new applications of digital technologies, innovations for smallholder livestock farming, and support for women smallholder farmers.

Bezos Earth Fund: Awarded grants totaling $50 million in support of marine conservation and research in the Pacific Ocean.

Bloomberg Philanthropies: Pledged $204 million to accelerate data-driven policy solutions and community involvement to protect coral reefs, stop illegal fishing, safeguard marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

Amazon + U.S. Agency for International Development: Launched a $56 million public-private partnership to address gender inequities in the climate finance ecosystem and ensure that female entrepreneurs have the resources they need to accelerate innovations in climate solutions.

Role of ESG’s

In the face of confusion about the goals and benefits of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) benchmarks, organizations need to better communicate how their business practices mitigate the impacts of climate change in their supply chains and communities.

To avoid further escalation and consolidation of crises, we need transparency and accountability on how a low-carbon transition, which supports the integration of business, employees and communities, is being prioritized – through the lens of the entire Ecosystem.

Clarifying the role of ESG’s includes illustrating the stakes for business and society ‘at large’.  Customers and employees want executives and boards to be authentic about social and environmental promises. Also, demonstrate how they align with the long-term health of the business to include workforce development, economic mobility, food security, environmental protection and conservation.

Conclusion

We still have a long way to go increasing and aligning philanthropic collaboration with climate change mitigation strategies. How we address these challenges requires holistic thinking, long-term strategies and clear accountability, connecting and collaborating with cross-industry peers with similar goals.

2023 signifies major milestones to ensure that we make real progress in achieving a more equitable, prosperous, healthier world for future generations.

By: Samantha Taylor - Founder of Reputation Dynamics and Elephant Art Shop

Since 2005, Reputation Dynamics (RD) has committed to addressing social, environmental and human justice issues. RD mobilizes corporations, NGOs/civil society and academia to devise share-valued approaches and develop inclusive partnerships.

Please contact me at:  

sam@reputation-dynamics.com

Elephants and #GivingTuesday

The Little One - Watercolor painting by Samantha Taylor

Reputation Dynamics (RD) is proud to support #GivingTuesday by forming inclusive partnerships, mobilizing collective action between the public and private sectors. 

By 2050 there will be 9.7 billion people on the planet, half of them will be in water-stressed regions, requiring 50 percent more energy. 

Human-induced climate change is causing widespread disruption to the environment and wellbeing of communities. The cascading affects have exposed millions of people to health risks, food and water insecurity, especially in developing economies.

Public-private sector partnerships will continue to be essential for devising solutions for complex global issues associated with climate change threats.

As we celebrate our National Day of Giving, it is important to work together collectively to address our pressing world issues. 

Protect the Endangered Elephant Species -Holiday fundraiser: The Little One – Watercolor painting by Samantha Taylor

Price: $1000

Conflict between elephants and humans has risen due to the pursuit of land and food, illegal hunting for their tusks, trafficking, and sale of ivory.

50 percent of proceeds will be donated to the Elephant Crisis Fund.

We are committed to building resilient communities, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) citing no poverty, gender equality, life on land and partnerships among top priorities.  

Reputation Dynamics welcomes the opportunity to learn more about your #GivingTuesday initiatives, exchange knowledge and explore opportunities to collaborate.

With gratitude,

Samantha Taylor, Founder and President of Reputation Dynamics

Image Credit: The Little One

Watercolor painting by Samantha Taylor – Watercolor on canvas – 16x20 – framed in black wood floater frame. Price $1000.

Elephant Art Shop

Contact: sam@reputation-dynamics.com - 917 647 4787

***

Bridging the Nature Gap for Community Resilience

In our third year of the global pandemic, unprecedented changes continue to prevail in our daily lives, business and role in community.

As we navigate our way through the impacts of COVID, demands for racial justice and equality, economic empowerment, political instability, and a warming climate — we face the realities of our planet with humility and optimism.

Top line realities include:

• Climate Crisis: Increasing emissions of greenhouse gases are causing temperatures to rise and catastrophic events all over the world – the US is experiencing devasting bushfire seasons, The Death Valley National Park recorded the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth, 13% of deaths in the EU being linked to various forms of pollution, populations of wildlife have experienced an average decline of 68% since 1970 and record-breaking wildfires in California have blocked out the sun – and these are just a few examples reported by earth.org.  

• Biodiversity: A recent WWF report found that the population sizes of mammals, fish, birds, reptiles and amphibians have experienced a decline of an average of 68% between 1970 and 2016. The report attributes this biodiversity loss to a variety of factors to include land-use change, particularly the conversion of habitats, like forests, grasslands and mangroves, into agricultural systems. Animals such as elephants, sharks and seahorses are significantly affected by the illegal wildlife trade.

• Deforestation: Every minute, forests the size of 20 football fields are cut down. By the year 2030, the planet might have only 10% of its forests; if deforestation isn’t stopped, they could all be gone in less than 100 years. Health of the planet is the new imperative for improving livelihoods and driver of long-term approaches for sustainability.

On the heels of the net-zero goals set at the 2021 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26), more than 80 countries – representing nearly 75% of global emissions – announced commitments to achieve net-zero emissions – a necessary step to cut global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 to keep the world’s temperature from rising above 1.5 degrees C.

 Sustainability, as the new normal for integrated lifestyle and business activities, will drive emerging trends in 2022:

• ESG’s: 2021 was a record year for ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) investments, with an estimated $120 billion poured into sustainable investments, more than double the $51billion of 2020, and expected to reach $1 billion by 2030. Seasoned and new investors are embracing funds with a focus on environmental and social issues, such as nature, biodiversity and skills development. However, careful due diligence is required into ethical and ESG-themed funds as the sector is rife with greenwashing. The 2015 Paris climate accord will be the legal standard for promoting and messaging ESG funds.

• Carbon Offsetting: Carbon offsetting is about the replacement or reduction of carbon emissions. High-emission companies fund projects that either prevent the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) or remove them. These projects range from planting trees to deploying technology to capture carbon emissions. With carbon market rules, low-carbon emitters will increasingly tap the carbon offset market.

• African Youth: By 2030, young Africans are expected to make up 42 percent of the world’s youth and account for 75 percent of those under age 35 in Africa. With such a large population of young people, supportive policies and programs on inclusive youth development are critical now more than ever.

• Protecting Museums:  More than 35,000 museums in the U.S. are in a race to save America’s treasures from climate change with increasing flooding and more frequent wildfires. For example, water from rain seeped into Smithsonian spaces after a major storm in 2006 and again last spring, when the American History Museum’s cafeteria flooded with over a foot of water.  With the growth of climate initiative funding, investments are needed for clean energy, energy efficiency and to address climate resilience.

• Role of Partnerships: Throughout this pandemic we have seen the benefits of public-private partnerships. They have been instrumental in the provision of masks, testing, humanitarian relief and vaccine distribution. We need full vaccine access and distribution to address the equity disparities between the Global North and the Global South.

Conclusion: With the growing threats of climate change, disruptive weather patterns, water shortages, nature will dictate our ultimate destiny. This requires a dramatic shift in how we evaluate, anticipate and find solutions for the co-dependent connections between nature, humans, wildlife for resilient communities. 

Successful outcomes for restoring nature and humanity will be dependent on the enduring strength of our global community, growth of inclusive partnerships and collective action between the private and public sectors.

By: Samantha Taylor - Founder of Reputation Dynamics and Elephant Art Shop

Photo by Samantha Taylor: New Forest Preserve, Hampshire, England

Since 2005, Reputation Dynamics (RD) has committed to addressing social, environmental and human justice issues. RD mobilizes corporations, NGOs/civil society and academia to devise share-valued approaches and develop inclusive partnerships.

Please contact me at:  

sam@reputation-dynamics.com

Ground Control to Major Tom: Nature and Humanity: Priceless

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

On the heels of the election, I wish you well during these challenging times and hope you enjoy my perspectives about the role of nature and humanity. 

With COVID-19 continuing to race into a global crisis at such scale and speed, companies and organizations have been forced to re-evaluate nature, economic and human value.

With 66% of US employees working remotely due to COVID-19, human attitudes, behaviors, concept of family and community has changed – along with relationships to dogs, children, material possessions and health.  Life in ‘our own backyards’ is intervening, shifting our pace and appreciation of daily life. 

A global virus that keeps us contained in our homes—certainly through next year—is further influencing our relationship to government, the outside world, even to each other.  These changes in the coming months will continue to feel unfamiliar and an unchartered course. 

Disasters and crisis moments also represent transformation and opportunity: more sophisticated and flexible use of technology, less polarization, a revived appreciation for the outdoors and life’s other simple pleasures. 

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a BIG difference.” Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.” “If you're going through hell, keep going.” “Everyone has his day, and some days last longer than others.”  

Winston Churchill. 

The science of behavior change is a subject of study and evolving tool for design over the past ten years. Leading companies have instituted tools and practices to monitor, collect, analyze and act on a range of digital surveys, behavioral patterns, experiential listening and artificial intelligence. These capabilities are becoming the foundation for experience creation – future drivers of influence and growth.  The speed at which companies can —and must—respond to them will become sources of competitive advantage aligned with solving social and environmental challenges. 

Some major implications to consider in our new holistic approach to the life and business entwinement:

Trust and Transparency:  The continual emergence of social and humanitarian justice will influence consumers buying patterns, selection of products/services based on more ethical decisions, alignment with preserving the environment, focus on racial equity and inclusion. 

Health Ecosystem:  Health will dominate, divide and conquer among all of us including our role in society, how we contribute and maintain our community pods for the future including new approaches to mental health, disease and wellness. 

The Role of Storytelling: Amplifying our voices, facing a new audience of multiple ZOOM screen and masked faces, two-minute pitches is fueling connection by a story, image or intuition. Time to re-write a compelling script that underscores being present, empathetic and truthful.  

 [19th century copywriter] John Powers had given us all we’ve ever really needed to know. “Be interesting. Tell the truth. And if you can’t tell the truth, change what you’re doing so you can. In other words, live the truth.”

Winning the Story Wars by Jonah Sach

Virtual Economy: Virtual working is fueling day-to-day activities, disrupting the routines, creativity, how we market and sell our products, distribution and channels of influence. Prioritizing and nurturing authentic relationships will be crucial for success.

Lead and Follow:  Listening and engaging in two-way dialogue are driving the leaders and reinvention of archaic leadership training, education and skills building. No more textbook and old school approaches – just real-world learning. 

Science Wins:  The growth and importance of STEM education has never been so important, essential for preparing tomorrow’s leaders, tackling real world issues and solutions for addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Migration Patterns:  For sure, people have fled major cities like New York, Los Angeles to the country and suburbs during the pandemic. However, these decisions are impacted by other factors such as climate, wealth and racial inequality – emerging as the dominant narrative of migration patterns. 

Underserved Communities:  The spotlight is on to tackle poverty in America, the gaps between the rich and poor. A person deserves a home, education, food on the table and healthcare. There is an opportunity to change the rules for the millions of people or are underserved and vulnerable including people of color.

 ‘Wake-up Call’

By 2050 there will be 9.7 billion people on the planet, half of them will be in water-stressed regions, requiring 50 percent more energy. 

With the growing threats of climate change, disruptive weather patterns, water shortages, nature will dictate our ultimate destiny. This requires a dramatic shift in how we evaluate, appreciate and find solutions for the co-dependent connections between nature, humans, wildlife and resilient communities. 

Scientists, conservationists, academia, businesses and civil society must work together on these approaches on a more united front, lifting people out of poverty and improving livelihoods - the critical path for restoring nature and humanity. 

By: Samantha Taylor - Founder of Reputation Dynamics and Elephant Art Shop

Photo: On assignment – Shining Hope School, Kibera Slum, Nairobi, Kenya

Since 2005, Reputation Dynamics (RD) has committed to addressing social, environmental and human justice issues. RD mobilizes corporations, NGOs/civil society and academia to devise share-valued approaches and develop inclusive partnerships.  

I look forward to connecting with peers who are making the world a better place, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. Please contact me at:  

sam@reputation-dynamics.com

***

Nature Calls: Rebalancing the GPS System

To my Friends, Colleagues and Community, 

I wish everyone well during these challenging times, optimism for positive outcomes, for the sake of humanity and our future generations. 

Born in the UK and informative years in Kenya, the USA is the longest place I have resided to pursue my dreams. I am reminded what my Mother endured for several years during World War 11, who was frequently sent to shelters, had gas mantles and masks in their homes, ration books for food, coupons for essential clothing.  There was no telephone and not everyone had a radio.  As there was no National Health Service then, the nations worked together by example for the common good to preserve life, community and world peace.

My family lived through a shut down in Kenya, during the 1982 Kenyan coup d'état, a failed attempt to overthrow President Daniel Arap Moi,confining us to our homes, a rifle lined curfew and access to barely any food for several weeks.  The Expatriate community, foreign aid and civil society worked together to restore the community and daily life.

Let us now follow their stoicism. During these times, families, people and community must rally to ensure survival, development and growth rather than be driven by politics and fear.

Earth’s climate will continue to go through unprecedented changes in the history of modern civilization, such as diseases, as a result of human behaviors. Without adaptation and mitigation strategies, substantial damages to the U.S. economy, environment, human health and well-being will continue to increase over the coming decades.

The world is going through a major RESET on our values, community, sense of purpose and ensuring resilient communities for the long-term.

From the Power of Kabbalah:

“We have been conditioned to focus our awareness on the 1 percent realm of existence, which is akin to chasing our own shadows. Kabbalah says that won’t cut it. It’s an exercise in futility”

This time of social distancing gives us PAUSE to reflect and think:

 What does a human being truly desire from life? 

Top priorities on the list include health, happiness, control – among others that resonate with people. Physical possessions are not the answer in the pursuit of happiness.

As we navigate this complex tipping point together, it is time to convene and refine solid networks, build partnerships for social and environmental impact, maintain a healthy lifestyle, mobilize a community to better the world – with a focus on empowering our youth, protecting our planets natural resources, arts and workforce development.

During this pause, I will continue to convene partnerships, provide development and marketing services to nonprofits, individuals and the private sector utilizing the power of digital/virtual tools – to also include the Woodstock, NY community and organizations.

I remain committed to my mission and for art inspiration for family, loved ones, please visit – Elephant Art Shop.

United we will stand.

By: Samantha Taylor - Founder of Reputation Dynamics 

Self portrait photo taken at The Comeau Property, Woodstock.

Since 2005, Reputation Dynamics (RD) has committed to addressing social, environmental and human justice issues. RD mobilizes corporations, NGOs/civil society and academia to devise share-valued approaches and develop inclusive partnerships.

I look forward to connecting with peers who are making the world a better place, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. Please contact me at:  

sam@reputation-dynamics

Conscious Commerce Predictions: Accelerating Transition to a Circular Economy

Our turbulent political climate, world disasters and unprecedented events is fueling businesses, individuals to collaborate on tackling key challenges facing the planet and threats to humanity.  

By 2050 there will be 9.7 billion people on the planet, half of them will be in water-stressed regions, requiring 50 percent more energy. 

While progress has been made in support of the Sustainability Development (SDG’s) goals, gaps ensue mitigating climate change’s disruptions on peoples lives and economies, the circular economy, a $4.5 trillion opportunity, according to Accenture, is the new driver for innovation across industries, product lifecycles and global supply chains.

While attention on plastic waste, including bans on plastic bags and straws, is advocating sustainability, more effective programs are needed to address resource scarcity and climate threats, respond to societal pressure to preserve our planet for future generations. 

This transition requires companies, retailers, and consumers to adopt a systemic approach to developing new models that use less natural resources, tackle climate change, generate more economic growth and influence buying patterns. 

With escalating concerns about pollution, habitat loss and exploitation of natural resources, businesses are under pressure from investors, civil society and consumers to tackle these challenges.

A recap of the top realities we face:

Oceans: Nearly half of the ocean’s marine populations have declined over the last 45 years. About 13 million tones of plastic leak into our oceans every year, harming biodiversity, economies and health.  By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish if we keep producing (and failing to properly dispose of) plastics at predicted rates, plastics in the ocean will outweigh fish pound for pound in 2050, according to a report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and World Economic Forum. 

Wildlife Species:  In just 20 years African elephants could be gone.  Despite the ivory ban in 1989, elephants continue to be slaughtered with only half the number of elephants left. Approximately 100 African elephants are killed each day by poachers seeking ivory leaving only 430,000 remaining. Elephants are a critical species as they create and maintain the ecosystems in which they live and for other plant and animal species to also survive.

Waste: Businesses are the largest producers of hardware waste and recyclables, with a study finding that £40 billion worth of hardware materials are in the bin. Consumers are discarding usable devices to get the latest new gadget or technology. The amount of annual waste is expected to increase globally to 51 million tons a year due to the digital economy. 

Forests: Warmer temperatures and changing precipitation patterns are driving forests northward, to higher elevation. Changing forest health and range has implications far beyond what types of trees will succeed. Trees are a major backbone of ecosystems that birds and other wildlife rely on for survival. If there is such an abrupt change in the natural landscape, the wildlife, the human systems, and the economies that rely on those systems will be challenged to keep pace with the rate of change.

Global Warming:  Global emissions are reaching record levels and show no sign of peaking. The last four years were the four hottest on record, and winter temperatures in the Arctic have risen by 3°C since 1990. Sea levels are rising, coral reefs are dying, and we are starting to see the life-threatening impact of climate change on health, through air pollution, heat waves and risks to food security. 

Reputation Dynamics Predictions:

What will be key to success for a circular economy for the long-term will be ‘inclusiveness’ towards devising holistic approaches to embrace key social and environmental trends:  

Growth of Consumer Power and Activism:  Recent research by consultancy firm Deloitte revealed over 80 percent of Millennials across Australia, Canada, China, India, the UK and the US find it important for companies to behave ethically and take steps to diminish their environmental impact. Consumers aged 25-35 are projected to spend 150 billion US dollars on sustainable goods by 2021.

Disaster Relief and Recovery: With the increasing number of natural disasters, corporations, emergence of mission-critical foundations and nonprofits are re-thinking approaches to disaster relief and recovery efforts. While many organizations will continue to provide immediate relief to victims of natural disasters through cash grants and product donations, companies are taking a more pro-active approach to restoring and building resilient communities for the long-term, such as affordable housing, trees and parks, mass transport and urban infrastructure; and resilience for the urban poor.

Growth of Sustainability Incentives: As corporations determine metrics, suppliers are incentivized to be more sustainable. For example Project Gigaton is a Walmart initiative to avoid one billion metric tons (a gigaton) of greenhouse gases from the global value chain by 2030. Suppliers can take their sustainability efforts to the next level through goal setting and receive credits. 

Urbanization: Nearly 70 percent of the world’s population (6.7 billion), are projected to live in urban areas. This calls for new innovative designs for cities and living spaces to include water resource protection, renewable energy, food is grown locally, supporting diverse cultures, population migration patterns and carbon-neutral infrastructures. 

Plant a Tree: Urban forests are dynamic ecosystems that provide critical benefits to people and wildlife. Urban forests help to filter air and water, control storm water, conserve energy, and provide shade. By reducing noise and providing places to recreate, urban forests strengthen social cohesion, spur community revitalization, and add economic value to our communities. American Forests, the oldest conservation organization in the US, is dedicated to protecting and restoring healthy forest ecosystems with a goal to plant a further 3 million trees.

Conclusion: A strong business case is a priority for companies looking to adopt effective circular economy practices. With financial incentives for businesses to shift to 100% renewable energy, adopting the circular model represents environmental conservation as an economic opportunity while restoring and building resilient communities for the long-term. 

It will transform our relationships as consumers, our buying habits, selection of clothes, food, utilities and choice of materials. 

However, what is fundamental to success is to treat our materials as precious resources, convene more alliances, work across multiple industry sectors, break down silos, and enforce action on a united front.   

It’s that Simple. Plant a Tree Today: www.americanforests.org

By: Samantha Taylor - Founder of Reputation Dynamics 

Since 2005, Reputation Dynamics (RD) has been committed to addressing social, environmental and human justice issues. RD mobilizes corporations, NGOs/civil society and academia to devise share-valued approaches and develop inclusive partnerships.

I look forward to connecting with peers who are making the world a better place, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. Please contact me at:  

sam@reputation-dynamics.com

Emerging Market Spotlight: Improving Health and Livelihoods in Africa

A recent Wall Street Journal article titled, U.S. Companies Race to Catch Up in Africa, addressed the issues American companies are facing expanding and selling more products in Africa, a market predicted to grow in the coming decade. According to McKinsey & Co, 220 million Africans will join the middle class as consumers within five years. The Wall Street Journal article states:

“U.S. companies' game of catch-up shows the perils of waking up late to the next big frontier market, Africa. The continent's economy is forecast to grow to $2.6 trillion in 2020 from $1.6 trillion in 2008, fueled by booms in mining, agriculture and development of ports, roads and other infrastructure, according to McKinsey Global Institute. The middle class is growing and total household spending now exceeds that of India.”

While the article features many of the challenges Africa presents, (a multitude of regional logistics and laws, changing governments and difficult environment for supply chain development) the article does not address solutions towards aligning profits with purpose.

Often termed base-of-the-pyramid (BOP) markets, these markets represent the 4 billion people who live in poverty and a potential customer base for corporations. However, approaches are fragmented and vulnerable communities are too often considered ‘problem children.’ Corporations continue to be challenged by how to properly access, invest and operate in these untapped markets.

No matter how large the company or brand, the lack of on-the-ground relationships, understanding about local laws and customs, implications of a weak governance system, and limited local capacity for building partnerships, can undermine authenticity of business and social engagement.

To succeed in Africa, companies need to adopt different approaches and properly navigate the economic, social and political circumstances of these communities.

Social intelligence is at the nexus where companies can look to make up for “waking up late” to the African market. While China may have a better financial foothold on Africa, this is in large part due to U.S. hesitation to grant trade terms to countries that are failing to adequately support human rights, market-based economies, and the rule of law - scruples which China has notably lacked in doing countries in Africa. By demonstrating long-term corporate social responsibility programs and investment in their African stakeholders, U.S. companies can win over the competition and prosper in the continent.

Companies also have the opportunity to extend current social purpose initiatives to improve the health and livelihoods of populations impacted by poor health and malnutrition, lack of access to safe, drinking water:

• Nearly 1 billion people lack access to safe water
• Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease
• Maternal Health: More than 350,000 women die annually from complications during pregnancy or childbirth, almost all of them — 99 per cent — in developing countries.

Companies can learn from their peers, exchange best practices and knowledge sharing in the interests of collaborative action. For example:

P&G created the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program aligned with their products to solve the problems facing many communities due to the lack of access to clean drinking water. The program works with more than 100 partners in 60 countries (many in Africa) to hand out PUR packets, a water purifying technology developed by P&G and the Center for Disease Control – the product has saved more than 16,000 lives.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters ensures a healthy and prosperous supply chain, from coffee-growing communities in Latin America, Indonesia, and Africa, to manufacturing operations in China. GMCR focuses on the food security for farmers and their families especially during times of drought. GMCR and The Coffee Trust debuted, After the Harvest: Fighting Hunger in the Coffeelands, a documentary about food insecurity in coffee communities.

The Power of Nonprofits

Properly align with nonprofits/NGOs that specialize in key sectors such as healthcare, education, nutrition and economic development. They have the expertise and knowledge in the field, understand the local customs and social intelligence. A couple of non-profit examples include:

InterAction, the largest alliance of more than 190 US-based international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), is leading a collaborative dialogue between U.S. businesses and its members. The new InterAction Business Councils’ mission is to decrease poverty, promote social and economic development via inclusive partnership development between the corporate and NGO sectors.

Indego Africa attacks systemic poverty by delivering access to export markets and job skills to African women in Rwanda by partnering with artistic cooperatives to produce contemporary crafts for export around the world. that poverty in Africa. So far, Indego has partnered with more than 250 women in Rwanda working for five for profit cooperatives.

Not a ‘One size fits all’ Approach

If U.S. Corporations want sustainable results in Africa, they need to ensure their policies and programs include the following considerations:

• Align the local market community assets and benefits with their business – rather than business interpreting the interests of the community;
• Recognize the social value and considerable assets such as the people, local customs and resources;
• Promote more ethical, responsible and sustainable business policies;
• Change traditional norms and behavior by influencing the development of new lifestyles among poor consumers including new products and services;
• Expand on the networks and usability of the goods/services already owned;
• Design and co-create models from within the communities to include leadership, capacity and infrastructure development.

Navigating the New Frontier - Emerging Markets: Implications for Aligning Social Change with Business ROI

As multinational companies continue to explore growth opportunities in an economic downturn, emerging economies are dominating the strategic agenda and boardroom discussions. 

The economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) are projected to account for over 55 percent of worldwide GDP by 2020.  The number of multinational companies that are based in BRIC countries more than doubled from 27 in 2005 to 58 in 2009.  Whether a corporation is targeting a BRIC, Africa, or other emerging market business growth opportunity, they are also being forced to re-consider their social investments.

This is further fueling competition among organizations who are seeking the benefits of investing overseas, as well as the increasing evolvement of the relationship between business and social impact.

Despite the naysayers and ongoing responses to the recent Wall Street Journal article (The Case Against CSR-8/23), Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability is continuing to evolve as a strategic imperative for safeguarding a company’s brand reputation, engaging employees, driving revenue and sparking innovation.  

According to a study conducted by the UN Global Compact and Accenture,  93 percent of corporate CEOs say that sustainability will be critical to the future success of their companies including the following business actions over the next five years:

• Shaping consumer tastes to build a stronger market for sustainable products;
• Training management, employees and the next generation of leaders to deal with sustainability issues;
• Communicating with investors to create a better understanding of the impact of sustainability.

Among the survey’s additional findings, Education and climate change were identified by respondents as the ‘big issues’ they face, with resource scarcity and health starting to appear on the horizon.  Education was identified by 72 percent of the respondents as the most important development issue for the future success of their business, followed by climate change at 66 percent. 

The War for Talent Continues…

Our economic situation is also impacting productivity and creating talent shortages both in the US and abroad. Despite lay-offs and cost cutting, attracting and retaining talent remains a top challenge for global leaders as our new generation of leaders’ are flexible enough to work in different cultures.  Education systems in some developed nations, including the US, are struggling to create the talent pool needed for productivity gains and companies are challenged filling technical positions.

Corporations are poised to maximize their bottom-line growth by properly aligning business strategy with creating meaningful social impact. 

77 percent of CEOs state that embedding social engagement into business strategy is the most important action to take to prepare for 2020. Source: Pathways to Sustainable Value Creation: McKinsey.

The Wall Street Journal featured an analysis of the 30 companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and found that those with a large portion of revenue abroad are expected to fare better than those dependent on the US economy. Global players such as 3M, McDonald's, Coca-Cola and Hewlett Packard are cited among those poised to reap the benefits of investing overseas in fast-growing economies like China and Brazil. Source: WSJ: 9/8 -Divided by Two-Track Economy.

In this ‘low trust’ marketplace, multinational corporations have the opportunity to take a greater leadership role  addressing and providing solutions to some of society’s most pressing social issues.  For example:

The Impact of the Economy on Poverty: Despite the progress made with respect to the fight against extreme poverty between 1990-2005, (during that period, the number of people living on less than $1.25 a day decreased from 1.8 billion to 1.4 billion), in 2009 an around 55-90 million more people were estimated to be living in extreme poverty as a result of the economic crisis. Source: UN Millennium Development Goals Report 2009.

The State of Water: Some 1.1 billion in people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation.

Poverty in India: According to a new Oxford University study, 55 percent of India’s population of 1.1 billion, or 645 million people, are living in poverty. Using a newly-developed index, the study found that about one-third of the world’s poor live in India.

Child Malnutrition in India: More than 1.5 million children in India are estimated to suffer from malnourishment and 43 percent of children under five years of age are underweight, according to the latest UNWFP report.

Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission in South Africa: A high number of babies, around 70,000, are born with HIV every year, reflecting poor prevention of mother to child transmission.  HIV and AIDS is one of the main contributors to South Africa’s infant mortality rate, which increased significantly between 1990 (44 deaths per 1000 infants) and 2008 (48 per 1000), when other regions of the world saw decreases.

Local to Global..

To prepare for, properly operate and invest in emerging markets it is critical for an organization to:

-Understand the marketplace context, customs, culture and social issues

-Properly identify and align with nonprofits/NGOs that specialize in key sectors such as healthcare, education, nutrition and economic development

-Develop grass-roots programs that impact their local communities

-Further retain and attract talent under the halo of our ‘War for Talent' via development of employee engagement programs

-Engage and build relationships with critical stakeholders

-Develop partnerships that mobilizes action among businesses, government, civil society and community

-Report social progress and impact - integral to business performance and ROI

It is critical to evaluate and focus on the social issues that are integral to their business, products and services.  Ensure that these social issues are embedded into the business strategy and throughout the supply chain.  Also, devise social engagement strategies that are aligned with corporate marketing activities, community development initiatives, foundation giving, employee giving/volunteering programs, product and resource donations.

Corporations have the opportunity to ‘turn it up a notch’ by reworking their business strategy for future development and growth – capitalizing on creating solutions that truly benefit communities and corporate bottom lines. 

Emerging-market leaders prevail.

**

By Sam Taylor, Founder of Reputation Dynamics and Senior Advisor to the nonprofit Synergos Institute. For more than 20 years, Synergos has created innovative solutions to address poverty and advance social equity in emerging markets around the world.

Resources/Links:

The Synergos Institute - www.synergos.org

The Wall Street Journal - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704855104575470202726780746.html

Accenture and UN Compact Study - http://www.unglobalcompact.org/news/42-06-22-2010

UN Global Compact Leaders Summit

BUILDING A NEW ERA OF SUSTAINABILITY - JUNE 24-25 - NEW YORK Chaired by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2010 will provide the platform for organizations to convene, collaborate and commit to building a new era of sustainability – an era where environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues are deeply integrated into business based on both material and ethical rationales. At the Summit, leaders will collectively tackle priority areas that are central to corporate leadership today and essential for the transformation to sustainable markets and the achievement of societal goals. With over 1,000 global leaders in attendance, this triennial Summit will be the most important UN-business event ever held.

The Summit will be divided into three parts:

Part I: Setting the Sustainability Agenda

Corporate responsibility has always been defined by and evolved within the broader context of politics, power and technological change, and responded to the call for the greater good. A confluence of factors – notably the financial crisis and climate change – has finally pushed this agenda towards a tipping point. It is now widely understood that our globalized marketplace requires a stronger ethical orientation, better caretaking of the common good, and more comprehensive management of risks.

Part II: Leading the Change

Corporate sustainability leadership today calls for a sophisticated and comprehensive approach to integrating ESG issues across the organization – from the Board, down through the organization and subsidiaries, and out into the supply chain. It requires connecting sustainability issues and actions – moving beyond silos – and meaningfully reporting progress and impacts. Corporate leadership today also calls for responsible engagement in public policy spheres.

Part III: Achieving Development

2010 will mark a decade since world leaders committed to reduce extreme poverty and set out the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to be achieved by 2015. Much remains to be done – especially with negative impacts from climate change, food crises and the global economic downturn turning back advances. Poverty is a profound threat to global security, interdependence and building strong markets. Business can and must strengthen its role in finding strategic and effective solutions to combat global poverty, hunger and disease.

Reputation Dynamics will be attending this event and will report back.

Further information can be located at:  http://www.leaderssummit2010.org/

Sam Taylor

CMOs Convene to Address ROI, Profits with Purpose, and Leading the Company Growth Agenda

The CMO Club Hosts Summit in New York on April 21-22

Special Panel on CSR and Cause-Marketing

Leading marketers will be sharing world class marketing practices within their businesses and how to drive the growth agenda through these economic times.  To provide a forum for CMOs to share their perspectives for the constantly evolving marketing landscape, The CMO Club, an exclusive organization for CMOs will host a Thought Leadership Summit - “The World’s Best CMO Conversations” from April 21-22 in New York City. Information: http://www.thecmoclubsummit.com.

The Summit, which will host more than 75 Chief Marketing Officers representing both Fortune 500 and mid-size companies, will feature a series of sessions and workshops designed and lead by CMOs.  Sessions will include - ROI: “Achieving Real Returns from Changing Traditional Media and Social Media” - Innovation: “How to Deliver Real Innovation” - and - Profits with Purpose: “Cause Marketing that Benefits Everyone.” 

Featured companies will include Gail Galuppo from Western Union, Jeffrey Hayzlett from Kodak, Steve Liguori from General Electric, Terri Graham from Jack in the Box, Barbara Goodstein from AXA Equitable, Babs Rangaliah from Unilever, Thomas Moradpour from PepsiCo, Tracy Dolgin from YES Network, Guido Sciascia from Barilla Foods, Neil Popplewell from Novartis, Morgan Johnson from JetBlue, among others.

The summit will also feature a special session on aligning profits with purpose:

“Giving Back: Real Insights for Cause Marketing that Benefits Everyone” - 4:30‐5:30 pm, Wednesday, April 21

This session will provide practical insights on how to use the power of cause marketing to benefit and engage key stakeholders. The traditional philanthropic‐based approach of cause marketing has fundamentally changed adopting a new strategic model to properly align profits with purpose.  Topics to include: 

• Creating a lasting emotional connection with consumers
• Demonstrating the social and financial benefits of your campaign
• Lessons learned from successful cause marketing campaigns
• Avoiding common pitfalls such as “Green Washing” and mission‐drift
• Choosing the right non‐profit partners and create the most value
• Enhancing your employee brand via cause marketing
• Developing effective social media strategies

Featured Panelists: 

• Mark Bonchek (Moderator), Executive Director, Qindred Foundation
• Renata Black, Director, 7 Bar Foundation - Case Study: Fusion Beauty (http://www.fusionbeauty.com/kissaway.html)
• Samantha (Sam) Taylor, Founder, Reputation Dynamics/Conscious Commerce
• Peter Land, Senior Vice President, PepsiCo

Heads of Marketing, CSR and Sustainability interested in attending the Summit can visit www.thecmoclubsummit.com or contact Pete Krainik at pete.krainik@thecmoclub.com.  To learn more about The CMO Club please visit www.thecmoclub.com.

Posted by advisory and founding member of The CMO Club, Sam Taylor.

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In Honor of World Water Day, Reputation Dynamics and Elevate Destinations Partner on Kenya: Water 2010

July 10 - 20, 2010

Registration Deadline: April 15 View full itinerary

5% of Trip Cost to be Donated to NGO Partner Organizations

As citizens and companies are becoming increasingly aware, we are facing a global water crisis, which is consigning large segments of humanity to lives of poverty, vulnerability and insecurity.

In fact, the United Nations estimates that by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population will face periodic and often severe water shortages.

The UNDP Human Development Report argues that the scarcity at the heart of the global water crisis is rooted in power, poverty and inequality, not in physical availability of water.

In partnership with Elevate Destinations, Reputation Dynamics is offering an exciting opportunity for your company stakeholders (employees, customers, business partners) to understand the importance of water, as well as consider Kenya as an extension to your sustainability initiatives. Through conversations with local and international water experts, policy makers and NGO representatives, as well as project site visits, you will learn first-hand the significance of water for human, environmental and economic prosperity. 

Trip Overview:  Travelers will receive a comprehensive overview of the most important water-related challenges facing people in Kenya, and explore some of the innovative and effective solutions that have been suggested in response.

Participants will explore issues of environment, biodiversity, droughts, floods, transboundary water resources, sanitation and health, agriculture and fisheries, pastoralism, and other areas through a combination of activities: conversations with local experts, participation in daily activities, project visits, and tourism.

Paul Faeth, President of the coalition group Global Water Challenge based in Washington DC, will lead the tour.  Local experts will also accompany the group and add their own particular perspective on the issues of each region.

This trip is the first in a series of theme-based travel opportunities for global citizens wishing to understand and impact urgent issues.

Highlights:

• Nairobi: Learn about water distribution and sanitation in informal urban settlements
• Lake Victoria:  Explore the importance of integrated and transboundary water management for sustainable growth and development
• Northern Kenya:Learn about the devastating effects of the recent drought in Samburuland, and examine ongoing mitigation strategies.
• Maasai Mara:  Understand how deforestation has affected local communities, wildlife and the ecosystem

Partner organizations include Florida International University (FIU), Global Water Challenge; KickStart; the Lake Victoria Region Local Authorities Cooperation (LVRLAC); the Kenyan NGO Maji na Ufanisi (Water and Development); the Ol Malo Trust; and the WWF, among others.

More information:

View full itinerary

For more information and to register for the trip, please contact Sam Taylor at sam@elevatedestinations.com. Tel. +1 212 979 6092

Why is water important? Water has always played a key role in economic development, and economic development has always been accompanied by water development. Investment in water management has been repaid through livelihood security and reductions in health risks, vulnerability and ultimately poverty. Water contributes to poverty alleviation in many ways – through sanitation services, water supply, affordable food and enhanced resilience of poor communities faced with disease, climate shocks and environmental degradation. Water of the right quality can improve health through better sanitation and hygiene and, when applied at the right time, can enhance the productivity of land, labor and other productive inputs. In addition, healthy freshwater ecosystems provide multiple goods and services essential to life and livelihood. Water and sanitation are among the most powerful preventive medicines available to governments to reduce infectious disease. Investment in this area is to killer diseases like diarrhea what immunization is to measles – a life saver. Unclean water and poor sanitation have claimed more lives over the past century than any other cause. Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2006; UN World Water Development Report 3

About Elevate Destinations: Founded in 2005, Elevate Destinations is a leading global sustainable travel company offering customized adventures to travelers seeking to explore and impact the environmental, socio-cultural and economic conditions of the places they visit. Elevate Destinations offers travel to Africa, India, Latin America and Southeast Asia, and organizes donor trips for both profit and non-profit organizations. Every Elevate Destinations trip benefits environmental preservation and community development.

Posted by Sam Taylor

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"Corporate Social Responsibility's Role on Improving Women's Lives Around the World" - WebSeminar

International Women’s Day Web Seminar: March 8, 2010 -- 11-12:30 pm EST Corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainability and 'Going Green' has emerged as a new management paradigm for safeguarding a company’s brand reputation, engaging employees, maintaining customers and driving revenue.  Our leadership in the 21^st century is increasingly being defined by innovative approaches that integrate sustainability and profitability. 

Sam Taylor, founder of Reputation Dynamics, will be joined by representatives from Royal Dutch Shell, General Mills and Unilever Bangladesh Limited who will discuss their Corporate Social Responsibility programs and how it is impacting women all around the world.

Women perform 66 percent of the world's work, and produce 50 percent of the food, yet earn only 10 percent of the income and own 1 percent of the property.

Through CSR, companies are empowering women in communities around the world to fulfill their potential by reducing poverty and driving economic growth. They are providing women with access to healthcare, job training, technology advancement and education while boosting their confidence and encouraging them to make social change.

Empowering women is a critical component of CSR initiatives and ‘How’ an organization can best develop and incorporate initiatives into their core, everyday business practices.

In honor of International Women’s Day, we will be  exploring how some top companies are changing the world by empowering women, learn more about their innovative programs, and how they are having a global impact on women by engaging in conscious commerce. 

The WebSeminar will be moderated by an early pioneer in corporate social responsibility, Samantha Taylor, Founder of Reputation Dynamics, and will feature presenters Josefine van Zanten, Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion from Royal Dutch Shell; Ellen Goldberg Luger, Executive Director, General Mills Foundation and Vice President, General Mills and Sabin Rahman, Internal Communications Manager, Unilever Bangladesh Limited.

Sponsors: PricewaterhouseCoopers.

For sponsorship and non-member registration information, email: sponsorship@workingmother.com

Additional information about Working Mother Media and WebSeminar: www.workingmothermediainc.com

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POWER TO THE PEOPLE: Reflections from Diversity Best Practices: Global Best Practices Session 2010.

The recent Diversity Best Practices session, hosted by The New York Times, convened 300 corporate diversity and inclusion leaders followed by a joint report out with CEOs.  This interactive forum featured three core topics including  implementing global gender strategies, developing innovative solutions for engaging people with disabilities, along with utilizing CSR as a vehicle for maximizing diversity and inclusion results.  Corporations have significant opportunities to address some pressing issues and implications for conducting business in today’s marketplace including:

• How powerful social and economic change can be enabled when girls and women have the opportunity to participate in their society. Women perform 66 percent of the world’s work and produce 50 percent of the food, while earning 10 percent of the income and owning 1 percent of the property.
• Aligning Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as integral component of key business and talent strategies.
• Devising innovative strategies for people with disabilities.  There are 610 million individuals with disabilities worldwide and 386 million of working age with approximately 80% living in developing countries.

Following are some key takeaways and perspectives on the advantages of CSR, diversity and workforce inclusion.

Despite lay-offs and cost cutting, attracting and retaining talent remains top priority for global leaders in 2010.

A new study revealed that only 45% of Americans are satisfied with their work – even in an economy where some feel lucky just to be employed.  Job satisfaction in 2009 hit the lowest ever recorded by the Conference Board research group in the 22 years they have been studying US workers.

The new war for talent is creating greater consequences for corporations’ reputation management, enforcing culture change, transformation and reenergizing of their brands, particularly the employee brand.

Fellow CSR panelists included Peter Lamberta, Manager, Office of Global Diversity and Inclusion, Whirlpool Corporation and Orlando D. Ashford, Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, Marsh and McLennan Companies (MMC).  Sharing perspectives about their initiatives and best practices for developing the employee value proposition, they provided the following comments.

”It is critically important to develop and promote the next generation of leaders that will enable the company to grow and gain competitive advantage”  - Peter Lamberta.

Orlando Ashford highlighted in his presentation:

(1997) “War for Talent:” – “The most important corporate resource over the next 20 years will be TALENT: smart, sophisticated business people are technologically literate, globally astute, and operationally agile. And even as the demand for them goes up, the supply of it will be going down.” Source: 1997 War for Talent – McKinsey & Co.

“Understanding employee concerns is the foundation for creating the right infrastructure and developing deeper intellectual capital to conduct business in today’s marketplace” - Orlando Ashford.

Diversity and Implications for CSR…

Diversity is increasingly becoming a key factor for attracting talent and creating teams that can perform to their full potential.

The ‘Business Case’ for diversity states that in a global marketplace a company that employs a diverse workforce (men and women, people of many generations, racially diverse backgrounds, LGBT) is better able to understand marketplace demographics, able to sell more products and services, and thrive than a company that has more limited employee demographics.

CSR is increasingly becoming a branding imperative, strategic tool to deliver diversity and inclusion results, as well as source of leadership, growth and competitive advantage.  

The key is not longer “Why” it is needed, but rather “How” can a company best align diversity with CSR into business strategy, customer relationships and sustain a diverse global workforce. 

Consumers and employees continue to advocate for their favorite brands to address pressing global concerns such as climate change, poverty, economic development, healthcare and mobilize more impactful community development programs. They are the advocates for change.

Meanwhile, a major new talent incentive is creating CSR and diversity champions.   Employees are seeking to work for an organization with a reputation for being environmentally friendly, caring about their workforce and a great place to work.

And, they are asking for and want to become more involved with philanthropic, workplace and community development initiatives. 

95% - CEOs report that businesses must address social and environmental pressures of society and employees will drive companies’ efforts to address sustainability.  Source:  McKinsey & Co/MIT Sloan Management Review.

Furthermore, in reviewing employees performance evaluations and development plans, companies are considering community involvement as a major performance competency and compensation criteria.

This, in turn, is creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce and key driver of bottom-line growth and corporate reputation.

Yet, according to research uncovered by Climb The Green Ladder:  Make Your Company and Career More Sustainable, Wiley, only 1 in 10 employees feel they have the training and resources to help their firm become more sustainable – so training and employment engagement programs are critical to ensure well trained staff and inclusion.

We cannot underestimate the role and power of employees for storytelling, experiential marketing, stakeholder engagement and creating loyal brand champions.

Leaders of global organizations must increase diversity in the workplace and align with conducting business in a sustainable and socially-conscious manner.

They need to make it front and center of the business case for the long term, a critical component for talent acquisition, growth and innovation to thrive in today’s complex marketplace.

**

Sam Taylor

Diversity Best Practices - www.diversitybestpractices.com

For further information about CSR education, training and advocacy contact (212) 979 6092.

Reputation Dynamics Founder - Sam Taylor - Participating at Diversity Best Practices: CEO Symposium on February 9

Learn How to Sustain and Build Global Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives throughout Business. Hosted by the New York Times Company.

Diversity Best Practices specializes in facilitating discussions on diversity and inclusion among the most powerful leaders of corporate America.  Now in its fourth year, Diversity Best Practices' Global Best Practice Session offers its members a full day of research insights, best practice case studies and interactive discussion structured around three provocative topics:

• Implementing Global Gender Strategies: Utilizing Metrics and Accountability for Driving Gender Equality
• The Workforce and Long-term Implications: Innovative Strategies for People with Disabilities
• *Corporate Social Responsibility: The Vehicle to Deliver Diversity and Inclusion Results

Featured Speakers:

Janet Robinson, CEO, New York Times

Dr. Rohini Anand, Global Chief Diversity Officer, Sodexo 

Panel Details:

*Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):  A Vehicle to Deliver Diversity and Inclusion Results

Sam Taylor, Founder, Reputation Dynamics

Peter Lambert, Manager, Office of Global Diversity and Inclusion, Whirlpool Corporation

Orlando D. Ashford, Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, Marsh and McLennan Companies (MMC)

Leaders of global organizations are aligning CSR as an integral component of key business and talent strategies, leveraging their positioning to not only grow but also to sustain a diverse global workforce. No longer is CSR viewed as a “nice thing to do” but rather as a key strategic tool in creating a diverse and inclusive workforce.  

Stanford University surveyed 800 MBA students from eleven leading North American and European business schools and found that 94% would accept a lower salary - an average of 14 percent lower to work for a firm with a reputation for being environmentally friendly, caring about employees and about outside stakeholders such as the community.

Furthermore, in reviewing employees’ performance evaluations and development plans companies are considering community involvement as a performance competency and compensation criteria. How can CSR be utilized as a tool to drive market share and brand loyalty? How can CSR increases employee engagement? What’s being done to shrink the gaps and take steps forward?

For further information - http://www.diversitybestpractices.com/events/194

Stay tuned for Sam Taylor’s next blog posting – perspectives on utilizing corporate social responsibility to deliver diversity and inclusion results.

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