Years ago, the role of the Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer (CIDO) was more figurehead than business head, a symbol of an intention versus a commitment. A placeholder for action that would begin as soon as other business priorities and investment dollars cleared up and could be reallocated to “nice to have” initiatives. Although corporations instinctively understood the need for a...
At the start of this year, never could anyone have imagined the drastic changes that would immediately affect all facets of life as we know it. As a young executive at a global communications agency, I have relished in the fact that there is so much more to learn. A global pandemic; however, was not one of those learning moments I had anticipated. I did not anticipate something that stops me...
Our recent Coronavirus Disruption Project is full of countless trends, insights and numbers.
One number stands out from the rest: 37%. That’s the percentage of Americans who — even after a vaccine is found and the pandemic fades away — plan to reduce their face-to-face contact with other people.
Once we feel safe (if we ever do) we may quickly revert back to old habits and...
It happened fast. One day our favorite lifestyle social media influencer was posting photos of herself wearing Gucci sunglasses, holding a Chanel handbag at an exclusive offshore resort. The next, she was posting photos of herself at home, linking to Amazon.com attire. The COVID-19 pandemic almost immediately impacted advertising spending as brick and mortar operations came to a standstill and...
When we were creating our 2025 business plan, our team decided we needed a rallying cry to articulate our continued aim to put people and purpose at the heart of everything we do. After some brainstorming, we landed on a message around the concept “WE is rising.”
This spring, when we unveiled our vision across the globe, the resounding feedback was positive. So, it took me by surprise...
The recent trend of brands engaging in purpose-driven conversations has been amplified by the events of 2020. From COVID-19 to #BlackLivesMatter to climate crisis, brands and organizations of any type are increasingly seizing the opportunity — but also feeling the pressure — to engage in complex conversations.
This makes many corporate executives and communicators nervous, as they’re...
My father, Bill, is one of the most active social media users I know.
Just a few months shy of his 92nd birthday, he is sharp as a tack, incredibly healthy, an avid traveler, and has a zest for life that is unrivaled by people half his age. He brings that unquenchable enthusiasm to his social media world, engaging with a broad spectrum of family and friends daily. In fact, at the start...
I first heard about a “mysterious pneumonia virus” back in December when I was alerted to it by my colleagues in Shanghai who were watching it closely. The holidays came and went and by mid-January, Disney’s Asia theme parks were shuttered, with the Paris and domestic parks and resorts following suit by March.
As crisis communicators, it was go time. In those early days in January, we...