Category: Corporate Responsibility & Sustainable Growth

The Biden-Harris administration has hit the ground running in determining that climate change poses one of the largest risks to U.S. economic and financial security...

Kelly and Jason came together to discuss the role of leadership in creating impactful, lasting change, and how leaders can instill a sense of bravery/empowerment across the entire culture of a company...

As companies develop new and revolutionary technologies and our society irrevocably shift towards greater online interaction and presence, so do the dangers of technological shortcomings. ..

The question of “why aren’t we getting credit?” is a common one. The answer is complex, but the following insights yield some answers and a possible prescription:..

Unequal pay is hardly new but with a global pandemic and its disproportionately devastating impacts on women—in the pandemic, women have lost a net of 5.4 million jobs—we are facing a true crisis...

Anna Ditchev shares important elements to consider before sharing corporate commitments on sustainability. ..

As we consider the year behind us, and all that it entailed, Claire Boussagol and Kelly Williamson share their thoughts on the events of the past year, and how APCO is working to ensure an inclusive and accessible work environment for all its employees. ..

Youth have been front and center in the recent explosion of climate advocacy. Around the world, young activists have breathed urgency into the climate movement, shaken up public discourse about climate action, or lack thereof, and put climate change on national and international agendas..

Following the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, global progress on addressing climate change appeared to slow for a number of years. In the absence of strong and coordinated political action, companies came to realize that they could take climate action substantially faster than political systems...

The world is at a tipping point. ESG risks and opportunities are making their way into substantive conversations in the C-Suite and Boardroom about business as a platform for change. Every journey needs a roadmap. Communicators can help their organizations redefine market leadership and chart their path on their journey of stakeholder capitalism, ESG and decarbonization...

As the Biden administration prepares to take the reins in Washington, one of the sharpest policy pivots is expected to be in environmental and climate policy. Water crises, including droughts and floods intensified by climate change, are among the greatest tangible risks to business and geopolitical stability...

2021 is a time for long, overdue change. This is the year when everyone needs to take a hard look at what commitment they will make to promote gender equality and how they will action it. Because without action on these commitments, women will slip further into economic and societal inequality...

Best practices in philanthropy are indeed shifting as we approach 2021. While there is no one organization doing it all perfectly, foundations looked to as leaders are in front of the trends and are working with urgency to address the broader range of historic criticisms of being “top-down, closed-door and expert-driven.”..

Smart businesses will spend next year embedding fully new structural changes, being more inclusive, and adapting to a new work mindset. While COVID-19 left an indelible mark on us all this year, 2021 will bring different, possibly greater, but certainly connected challenges...

In 2021, it is time for water advocates to turn their Achilles’ Heel into their secret weapon, reaching outside their comfort zones to engage, enlist and activate new allies. It’s time to assert water’s connective place among the pressing issues—climate, food, energy, health—facing our blue planet, which is becoming more and more thirsty by the moment...

Looking ahead to 2021, APCO Worldwide’s business experts analyzed potential trends and provided their predictions for the new year—examining the future of hospitality, global energy, financial technology and capital markets—where all signs point to continued focus on health, tech and safety...

Corporate purpose has increasingly become a watchword for companies looking to distinguish themselves in the modern era. 2020 has proved that the future is uncertain, change is ever-present and those companies that react quickly and adapt to uncertainties are better placed to come back stronger...

The European Commission laid down its vision for the future of the transport sector by presenting a ‘Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy’. This new and highly anticipated plan aims to strengthen the role played by the mobility ecosystem in pursuing the EU Green Deal by setting out various milestones for each mode of transport to ultimately become zero-emission...

The summer of 2020 felt like a historical turning point. As the pandemic continues to unravel across the region and disrupt every aspect of society, from workplaces to education, the unprecedented support for the Black Lives Matter movement in Europe offered a glimpse of hope...

It's hard enough hearing about the difficult experiences of people prior to COVID-19. Add a global pandemic, economic collapse and unemployment crisis on top of that and you understand just how disproportionate of an impact that systematic inequality has on the most vulnerable people in our society...

APCO’s Drake Brown shares his reflections on growing up as a Black man in American and steps companies and people need to take to have a worthwhile discussion about D&I...

The workplace of the future is still being defined and we must hold ourselves and each other accountable to creating a more inclusive workplace...

To help commemorate Women's Equality Day, we hosted a special conversation featuring Irene Khan, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression and Opinion, to discuss COVID’s disproportionate impact on women, the changing expectations of balancing work and family life and the work still ahead to ensure women’s equality...

Here some critical principles for organizations to keep top of mind as they plan and execute new campaigns and optimize existing ones...

Many companies are taking the extra steps to encourage their employees to vote. But, the next—and more significant—step to watch for is whether these companies will publicly advocate for proactive measures to expand access to voting at the state and local levels...

Achieving the goal of social good is not merely a responsibility of those who occupy the corner office, but all employees, as it is their individual decisions and actions which drive an organization towards adopting ethical practices...

APCO Worldwide’s adVOcaTE campaign consists of efforts designed to help get out the vote and elevate APCO employees’ voices as they advocate for what they believe in, during and beyond election year. Four members of the APCO family share their thoughts on why they’re voting this year. ..

2020 has shown that we must celebrate the good things, and perhaps as important, we must directly address the challenges. This means we have to be comfortable with having difficult conversations. ..

ESG investing has become impossible for regulators to ignore. With the market moving fast, regulators are beginning to co-develop common practices and frameworks that have, until now, largely been left up to companies, shareholders and financial market participants...

Mental health and mental wellbeing are obvious points of consideration during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. What have historically been taboo discussion topics—both inside and outside the corporate world—are now easily looming as a true known second-order health crisis...

Transportation companies have taken a range of measures to preserve the safety of their employees. With this experience, they can lead through the recovery to showcase what has worked and drive best practice adoption in other sectors...

While stressing the importance of celebrating our past, The Next 100 focused on creating a better future for the next generation of young female leaders. I hope that crafting a new narrative through actionable steps will inspire our employees, current and future, to build this new reality...

The current crisis has brought to the fore some of the most salient issues we face as humanity. The decisions we make now will either leapfrog our progress on these major challenges or cause us to slide back in time as we retrench and de-risk...

Japan serves as an important example of how local cultures and customs can impact a company’s strategy for corporate social responsibility and leadership in markets around the world...

As the coronavirus outbreak rapidly progresses, HR departments across all companies can and should be fully engaged and at the forefront to demonstrate caring and become part of the solution. ..

The last decade has shown us that our world is getting more complicated, and as we begin 2020—and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the World Economic Forum (WEF)—it is an opportune time to reflect on the changing nature of corporate leadership...

In today’s era of polarizing politics and gridlocked policy, companies’ ability to take a stand is becoming more important than ever before. While selecting an appropriate cause can be challenging, it can also be extremely rewarding, both financially and reputationally...

Given the disruptive changes that we are witnessing in many parts of the world, the notion of leadership takes on a different meaning. Communication, emotional intelligence and soft skills are more important than ever before...

As part of a push for high quality development, the Chinese government has increased calls for sustainability and environmental protection under the umbrella of “green development.” Under this context, an increasing number of socially responsible domestic businesses have emerged to demonstrate their role in supporting government priorities...

I foresee 2020 being a year which crystallises change. Organisations that are slow to adapt to the increased focus on the value of business in society may find it hard to recover their position in the eyes of consumers and even their own workforce...

Four APCO colleagues share their impressions and takeaways from ColorComm Network's NextGen Conference, November 2019...

If you are truly committed to maximizing business performance, attracting and retaining the best talent, and contributing to a broader societal mission, then you also must do the work to define (or more ideally, co-create) your company’s core values, to establish internal programs and processes that reinforce them, and to integrate them into every aspect of the business, every expression of the brand. ..

China’s participation in the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit, held at the UN Headquarters in New York on September 23, marks another major milestone in the development of China’s environmental protection policies...

The role of the CEO as a business or corporate diplomat for their company reflects a reset in politics, business and society...

As new generations enter the workforce, what can APCO and others do to improve communication within teams and throughout offices?..

As the media partner for Future Festival Chicago, we had the opportunity to participate in this unique and inspiring all-day conference. Here are our main takeaways...

Vision and values are a covenant with external stakeholders. They are the promise made, and C-suite leaders need to ensure that the company’s vision and values are a corporate hallmark not an Achille’s heel during a crisis...

For many, corporate purpose has been co-opted and exploited. So, what can brands do to change that and take a meaningful stance?..

Following the admissions scandals at some of the nation’s most highly-regarded universities, including allegations that athletic coaches received payments to admit students who had little or no experience, the universities took many of the right steps that a crisis consultant would recommend...

It has been almost nine months since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published its landmark report on global warming. The report shook the world with its warnings about the need to immediately cut carbon emissions or risk global catastrophe...

The expertise and frameworks to ensure that the mathematical foundation of AI and machine learning algorithms are ethical and fair has not kept up...

Taking a stance on social and political issues is no longer enough for corporate leaders to receive recognition and trust from the public and other stakeholders. It is actions that speak for corporations’ attitude and allow them to stand out from competitors...

To better understand the expectations placed on businesses by society and leaders today, we surveyed a select group of 16 members of APCO’s International Advisory Council (IAC), and asked them to share their perspective on social risk...

Although regarded as an innovative country in many ways, Japan still has a lot to learn when it comes to gender equality...

Market pressures have made universities more mindful of the need to make sure that their graduates are job-ready. Colleges and universities are nurturing career readiness through employers, internships and innovative courses...

This year’s annual meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women is rumored to be an even bigger gathering than the General Assembly with more than 9,000 representatives...

APCO’s North America 2019 Women’s History Committee created a report featuring advice, anecdotes and insights from our colleagues in North America about growing your career, mitigating bias, closing the gender gap and the workplace of the future...

The World Economic Forum continually demonstrates that we don’t wait for progress—we create it. The world will look to the outcomes of the World Economic Forum as a milestone in global progress. Let’s set the stage of a new agile world...

Given that active leadership is such a key component to organizational agility, members of APCO’s global team took a closer look at which leaders are best positioned to succeed in a range of sectors and industries...

Agility is key for businesses, organizations and governments to be successful in today’s complex and interconnected global environment. To better understand leadership in 2019, we surveyed a select group of 23 members of APCO’s International Advisory Council (IAC), and asked them to share their perspective on the current state of global leadership...

The best university presidents are the ones who think in an agile way. And they can teach CEOs something about upping their own agility game...

Now that the EU's 'Strategic Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment’ Communication is here, what should the pharmaceutical sector expect?..

Closing the gender gap and achieving balance around the world requires different solutions for each market and industry. However, each of those solutions will require that we hold each other accountable...

The reality is that companies in the business of health have their purpose built-in: they exist to generate health. The question their leaders need to ask themselves is not how do we define our purpose but rather, how do we deliver on it? ..

To better understand the future of health care, and the challenges the industry faces, we surveyed a select group of 18 members of APCO’s International Advisory Council (IAC) and Health Advisory Board (HAB)...

The United States, Canada and Mexico's winning bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup offers a tremendous opportunity for the host countries, the sport of soccer and brands looking to engage with the biggest tournament in international sports. ..

As corporate playbooks are getting re-written on a daily basis to keep up with this rapidly changing environment, companies are asking: How do I respond in this day and age? ..

I feel I have a tremendous responsibility to train and mentor the next generation of women leaders at all stages of their careers, not just in our profession but in business generally. ..

In Brussels, the EU capital that Trump once referred to as a hellhole, the president’s decision to ditch the Paris climate agreement is met with outcry, but also with determination...

If President-elect Donald J. Trump calls – or tweets – are you ready? ..

Given the fraught political and social times we’re living in today, brands are stepping up to take a stand on issues seemingly more than ever. This is primarily due to consumers becoming more informed, louder and organized to put pressure on brands – all through the ubiquity of engagement on social media platforms...

The story of Pride today has changed. Instead of the desperate “Why don’t you do something?” the question of Pride 2018 has become: “What are you doing?.”..

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the U.S. economy could lose upwards of $4 trillion in GDP and 2.5 million jobs because of the “infrastructure gap.”..

Our research shows that 56 percent of Americans believe U.S. companies that do business overseas should follow a “Buy American, Hire American” philosophy in their own businesses. ..

International Women’s Day is certainly a time of reflection for many and I am no exception...

To say that globalization is making the world smaller is a trite understatement. The fact is, globalization is blurring the lines between what’s “domestic” and what’s “foreign.”..

This year, against the backdrop of rising populist sentiment, the pharmaceutical industry has had to confront a uniquely hostile socio-political environment...

Now we are at the end of June, we should take a moment and appreciate the importance this month has for so many people around the world. ..

The transition from the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the new 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—to be ratified at the UN General Assembly in September—is a significant milestone in the global development agenda. ..

By breaking the barriers to opportunity, women are empowered to forge their own paths in society. This opens the door for more women to bear political awza and ana over the future of their country. That is why we press for progress...

In 2017, the talents of women remain deeply underrepresented in STEM fields around the United States. ..

Is a marriage of ideals with a celebrity activist a smart partnership? ..

Let’s face it, communicating on innovation is challenging for companies in any industry. ..

Each Davos presents a fascinating learning and comparative perspective: on evolving global policy issues and business initiatives, disruptive technologies, innovators, but most importantly puts in perspective all of these trends and their implications on our society at large...

To say that Super Bowl advertisers were operating in a new era this year is a bit of an understatement. ..

APCO founder and executive chairman, Margery Kraus spoke about ending corruption on a panel at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting...

There is a role for corporate expertise and knowledge to play in shaping the responses to global challenges. Multinationals will have to find a way to become engaged in this fast moving and turbulent environment, making their voices heard. Or they risk being left behind...

In 2017, many large corporations will face a delicate balancing act. ..

In this video, Julie Jack, senior director within APCO’s Sustainable Growth & Corporate Responsibility practice, discusses the changing expectations for companies today. ..

Here is what we expect to be important for multinationals navigating China’s business and policy landscapes in 2018. ..

Our research, as well as Fortune's, shows that employees are the centerpiece to any true expression of commitment to global citizenship...

Anyone with a video camera and an LMS can create online training programs for their company, but is that enough?..

On Tuesday, Starbucks announced it would close 8,000 stores for racial-bias education training May 29...

In recent years, recruitment and retention has crept to the top of the list of the most pressing issues facing communicators at brands, organizations and firms. It's also a major concern for companies in nearly every sector. ..

With the increasing demands from the public on knowing more about how a corporation behaves as a “citizen,” PACs engaging in the political process are bound to come under heightened scrutiny...

The recent European Commission Clean Energy jumbo package, and more specifically the Energy Efficiency Directive component thereof, was the topic of an APCO Forum debate in Brussels...

2018 was a long year. Many global businesses are ill prepared for an increasingly challenging global regulatory environment, to respond to complex social issues and especially to geopolitical threats and political uncertainty. But those that are better prepared, will be better insulated from unforeseen global shocks...

As the global business and political communities prepare to turn the page to 2019, APCO’s team of global experts took a closer look at trends in areas key to businesses and our clients...

When a team volunteer opportunity is skills-based, it’s often even more impactful, both to the organization or people being served and the volunteers...

Embracing difference means not cataloguing diversity under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, but acknowledging its impact on the bottom line...

Bill Dalbec, managing director of APCO Insight, takes a closer look at the Super Bowl LIII ads and what they mean for the brands behind them...

Leaders can be more effective advocates for their company, employees, shareholders, stakeholders, or constituents by considering several key approaches to be mindful of in 2019. ..

On April 28, China’s legislature, the National People’s Congress, passed the Foreign NGO Management Law (Chinese/English), the third draft of a law which had already received widespread criticism for moving foreign NGOs operating in China from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Civil Affairs to the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), China’s police and security authority. ..

Although this year marked 100 years since (some) women were granted the right to vote in the UK, gender equality has still not been achieved. The World Economic Forum currently estimates that it could take another 217 years to get there. Just last year, the UK gender pay gap stood at 9.1%...

Conversations about your brand are happening in every nook and cranny of the Internet — among friends, family, colleagues and individuals who influence the opinions of millions of followers. There’s value and risk, in those conversations, which is why executives around the globe are showing increased interest in adding consumer advocacy programs to their marketing mix. Why is this critical for your brand?..