Reputation Dynamics: On the Move

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

2020 is out the gate on the front lines of sustainability, collaborating and convening action to address our planet’s challenging social and environmental problems. 

Earth’s climate is going through unprecedented changes in the history of modern civilization as a result of human behavior. 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.  These include increasing greenhouse gas emissions, higher temperature extremes, heavy precipitation, flooding and wildfires. This is influencing the movement of humans, marine and wildlife species to find better places to live and survive in and outside of cities.

This weeks announcement by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and commitment of $10 billion of his own fortune to help fight climate change has further emphasized ‘the need to work alongside others both to amplify and explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share."

As we celebrate International Women’s Day in March, 2020 is also an important year for the fulfillment of women’s economic empowerment and gender equality.

Since I founded Reputation Dynamics in 2005, we have seen transformative change, progression in the corporate social responsibility movement, now transitioning to corporate social innovation commanding greater budgets, attention from the C-suite, filtering into corporate brand identities, into supply chains and increasingly critical for long-term customer loyalty.

We are excited to represent clients, mingle with peers and present at the following events in the next couple of months. 

I look forward to connecting with peers in 2020 and working together to make the world a better place.

Harambee, Sam Taylor

Events Schedule:

March 5: International Women’s Day Forum: Marking A Milestone: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s 10th Annual International Women’s Day Forum. Continuing the Momentum will showcase the change makers, doers, leaders, and visionaries who are paving the way for a better future for all.

March 6: United Nations Observance of International Women’s Day 2020: I am Generation Equality. Realizing Women’s Rights. General Assembly Hall from 10.00 am to 1:00 pm. 

March 12: 2020 Women’s Empowerment Principles Forum (WEPs): Hosted by UN Global Compact and UN Office for Partnerships, will align with UN Women's new multigenerational global flagship campaign, Generation Equality, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA), recognized as the most progressive roadmap for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, everywhere.

March 17-18: Responsible Business Summit: New York: I will be representing American Forests, the oldest conservation organization in the U.S., among 950+ leaders from across the globe who will share strategies and insights into how they are helping build regenerative and resilient strategies that deliver market-level change on key climate risks and opportunities – protecting and preserving our forests is fundamental to resilient communities.  

April 15: Luxury Daily: Women in Luxury Conference: Theme: Next Level Leadership: I am excited to join senior executives from luxury Fortune 500 brands for the day and present a keynote on ‘Embracing the Circular Economy’.

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.

Contact: sam@reputation-dynamics.com

Sustainable Development Trends 2020: Bridging the Gap: Corporate Social Responsibility and Strategic Innovation

While progress has been made in support of the Sustainability Development goals (SDG’s), gaps ensue mitigating climate change’s disruptions on people’s live, migratory patterns and getting out of poverty. 

Earth’s climate is going through unprecedented changes in the history of modern civilization 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.  These include increasing greenhouse gas emissions, higher temperature extremes, heavy precipitation, flooding and wildfires. This is influencing the movement of humans, marine and wildlife species to find better places to live and survive in and outside of cities.

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 the CSR movement has raised the bar for companies to have ethical brands, products and services, considerable investments and collaboration across multiple industries, supply chains will be required for transformative change and disruption, transitioning to the corporate social innovation movement. 

 A recap of the realities we face:

Climate Change: Extreme weather events, reduction in worker productivity could cause major global economic losses unless greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced in the next few decades, according to a series of reports from the United Nations and global financial institutions and revealing that climate change signifies economic risk. In the U.S. alone, if greenhouse gas emissions are not significantly reduced the country could see a 10 percent cut in real income by 2100. 

STEM Education: Women are still considered a minority in the fields related to science and technology, both in education and professions. According to the UNESCO report Cracking the Code, only 35% of all students in STEM higher education around the world are women. According to Girls Who Code, less than 20 percent of computer science graduates are women. Today, only 24 percent of computer scientists are women, and by 2027, just 22 percent of women will be represented in the field.

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 theEllen MacArthur Foundationand 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 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.

Women and Girls: Gender inequality is a major cause and effect of hunger and poverty: it is estimated that 60 percent of chronically hungry people are women and girls (Source: WFP Gender Policy and Strategy). Women make up more than two-thirds of the world's 796 million illiterate people.

Reputation Dynamics: Predictions for 2020:

Impact Investing: Recent growth in impact investing has come from a surge in interest from millennials — investors born between the mid 1980s and the early 2000s.  The impact investing industry is estimated at USD 502 billion as of 2018. The growing impact investment market provides capital to address the world’s most pressing challenges in sectors such as sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, conservation, microfinance, affordable basic needs including housing, healthcare, and education. Several of the world’s biggest money managers have entered impact investing, including UBS Wealth Management and Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Non-profits such as the Ford Foundation and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation have also made commitments.

Empower Consumers: Nearly two-thirds (63%) of surveyed global consumers prefer to purchase products and services from companies that stand for a purpose that reflects their own values and beliefs, and will avoid companies that don't, according to new Accenture research shared with Marketing Dive. Among consumers, 62% want companies to take a stand on the social, cultural, environmental and political issues that they care about the most.

Mission-related Investments: U.S. foundations are leading the way in MRI following the announcement just last year by the Ford Foundation that it will commit USD 1 billion of its 12 billion endowments to MRIs over the next ten years; this is the largest commitment of philanthropic endowment to impact investing. The Foundation will be focusing on investments in affordable housing in the U.S. and access to financial services in emerging markets.

Reset the CSI Framework: This entails devising the long-term strategic goals, a greater emphasis on research and development, human development, proper selection and alignment with NGO/civil society partners, measurements and mission-related investments.  

Gender-lens Investing: Gender lens, gender-focused investing is one of the fastest growing segments. Gender lens investing integrates gender-based factors into investment decisions with goals ranging from enhancing risk-adjusted returns to driving gender equality. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) estimates a $320 billion financing gap for female entrepreneurs in small and medium enterprises in developing countries alone. According to the World Economic Forum’smost recent Global Gender Gap Report, this trend could continue for years: at current rates of progress toward gender parity, the gender gap will close in 61 years in Western Europe, 70 years in South Asia, 171 years in East Asia and the Pacific and 165 years in North America

Conclusions: Mere checkbook philanthropy will not suffice

Bridging the gap between CSR and corporate social innovation will require a long-term sustainable approach. This entails enforcement throughout the organization, business units, supply chains, listening to and influencing customer behaviors including unlocking the power of human potential within the employee base. Businesses have the opportunity to leverage the diversity of their communities, philanthropic commitments and people they influence within their ecosystems. 

In turn, authentic brand and marketing campaigns can educate, advocate and empower the public at large to be part of addressing our pressing social and environmental challenges on a more united front, lifting people out of poverty and improving livelihoods. 

By: Samantha Taylor - Founder of Reputation Dynamics 

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

Trends for 2017: ‘We the People’ for Social and Economic Sustainability

The United States, United Kingdom and the European Union are undergoing dramatic social, economic and cultural change in a volatile political environment. Donald Trump’s victory was the outcome of years of disturbing world events, a turbulent financial system, and economic stagnation in the U.S.

In the wake of the election, the political system being scrutinized, lack of trust and transparency, ‘We the People’ have to live with it and has forced us to take poise.

 Preamble to The Constitution of the United States and Bill of Rights:

 ‘We the People’ of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

What is certain is that progress must be made to ensure a healthy planet for our future generations.

As we reflect on the complex global challenges, notably the widening gap between the rich and the poor, government(s) and hierarchical systems alone cannot address the multiple social, environmental and economic problems.

 ‘The world perishes not from bandits and fires, but from hatred, hostility, and all these petty squabbles.’  Anton Chekhov

 A recap of the realities we face:

•  Poverty: 700 million people worldwide are living on less than $1.90 a day.  The world will need to feed nine billion people by 2050 and a 70% increase in global agricultural production will be essential to ensure an adequate food supply.
• People displacement: Wars, conflict, and persecution have forced more people than at any other time to flee their homes, seek refuge and safety elsewhere. There were 65.3 million people forcibly displaced in 2015 with children and families being forced to flee to neighboring countries.
• Destruction of forests: Half of the earth's forest cover is gone with only 40 billion hectares remaining today. Every year, an average of 13 million hectares of forest disappear, often with devastating impacts on communities and indigenous peoples.
• Threatened wildlife species: In the 1970s, Africa was home to more than 1.3 million elephants. Today, as few as 415,000 may remain and 35,000 elephants are killed by poachers each year to feed the ivory black market.  Most recently, China announced a plan to phase out all ivory processing and trade by the end of 2017, a move that conservationists hope will stymie the mass killings -- and threat of extinction -- of African elephants.
•  Chronic diseases: Deaths from chronic diseases, such as cancer and heart disease, have risen by more than 50 percent and are rising fast in low and middle-income countries, striking far younger populations than in rich countries.
•   Lack of education in Africa: Today, there are 30 million children who are not receiving education and a shortage of quality teachers is a major problem.  

Reputation Dynamics Predictions for 2017:  Destructive Transformation:  

In the face of a disruptive economy and new technologies emerging every day, institutions are tasked to make progress with the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) which cites no poverty, zero hunger and partnerships for the goals among top priorities.  Key considerations for 2017 include:

• Nonprofit/Citizenship Program Development and Innovation:  Under the new administration, it is anticipated that government funds for charities will decrease over the years.  Growth of nonprofits, social enterprises and community development programs will depend on new approaches for fundraising and long-term development. Technology, marketing and creating an effective user-driven experience will be essential for authentic donor cultivation and support. 
• Public-Private Partnerships: The role of inclusive partnerships (to include corporations, academia, civil society/NGOs) will become even more critical to address gaps mitigating poverty, improving the lives of displaced children and families, while preparing for future leaders in the workplace.
• Diversifying with Foundations:  The growth and emergence of mission-critical organizations willing to give larger funds for innovative institutions with well defined cases for support addressing challenges for the longer term.
• Tapping the Next Generation: The millennial generation will outspend baby boomers for the first time in 2016. Gen Xers are set to inherit $40 trillion. For and nonprofit institutions must improve how they advocate, market and align with their philanthropic commitments via experiential digital and mobile network communications.
• Aid for Refugee(s) Displacement: Resettlement efforts are complex and must support children and families with immediate basic needs and education for future survival.
• Protecting Forests and Greening of Cities: The growth of urbanization, greening of cities, including conserving and sustainably managing forests are vital for addressing climate change, protecting ecosystems and wildlife habitats. 
• Role of Academia: Raising the bar on preparing business and social enterprise leaders for the needs of tomorrow’s workforce.  Engaging students in experiential learning and community programs to gain greater knowledge about human rights and social justice issues.

Conclusion:  The co-creation of programs at the local and global level with businesses, academia, civil society/nonprofits will continue to be essential for restoring and building resilient communities. However, what is fundamental to success is to convene more alliances, break down silos, enforce dialogue and action on a united front.

Since 2005, Reputation Dynamics (RD) has been committed to addressing social, environmental and human justice issues. RD will continue to mobilize corporations, NGOs/civil society and academia to devise share-valued approaches based on longer-term community needs and improvement of livelihoods.

‘We the People’ deserve our dignity, freedom, potential, human and social justice.

We welcome a dialogue with colleagues who are committed to making the world a better place and exploring opportunities for collaboration in 2017.

By: Samantha Taylor - Founder of Reputation Dynamics

To learn more about RD's work and clients' on the front lines of  change, please contact: 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.

8th Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations

The MDG Executive Sessions for Young Professionals -Thursday & Friday, January 20 & 21, 2011 Location: United Nations Headquarters, New York City

The MDG Executive Sessions is a two-day forum providing an opportunity to network with young working professionals, UN representatives, and corporate leaders at the United Nations.  Young Professionals from around the world will participate in panel discussions and case study think tanks about corporate social responsibility, social enterprise development, and capacity building strategies to realize the 8 United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  The Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations demonstrates what committed, global youth leaders can and have accomplished in support of the MDGs.

Friendship Ambassadors Foundation has partnered with the International Youth Council on the Youth Assembly at the United Nations

Sam Taylor of Reputation Dynamics will be moderating a panel on behalf of The Friendship Ambassadors Foundation on Friday, January 21^st.

A Corporate Perspective on Social Responsibility

The Global Compact and PepsiCo: A Report from the Field

Daniel Bena, Director of Sustainable Development for PepsiCo

Samantha Taylor, In Conversation                 

Program Highlights: 

• Opening & Closing Ceremonies featuring Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Enterprise Leaders and UN Agency Officials
• A presentation about a major new, masters’ level social enterprise scholarship program at NYU, by the Reynolds Foundation
• The announcement of 15 scholarships to Tangshan University in China. The dissemination of these scholarships will be to the world’s poorest and most talented youth. A plan to identify and adjudicate these scholarships will be a subject for discussion and development during the YA
• An overview of MDG successes and challenges by UNDP staff
• Two days of intensive meetings and workshops featuring Harvard case study method reviews of actual MDG programming by corporate CSR and SE leaders, NGO field workers, and UN staff
• Special Conference Reception and optional networking Weekend in New York City: Attend the Executive Sessions – and then stay on to enjoy the City with other YA delegates, all weekend long

Delegate Profile:

• Young professionals, ages 22-26, interested in achieving MDG success
• Youth leaders engaged in UN studies, ages 16-21
• Members of the International Youth Council and other youth organizations focused on the Millennium Development Goals
• Faculty and media seeking an active role in mentoring or chronicling youth led development toward the success of the MDGs
• University-age youth seeking a leadership position during the Youth Assembly next August, especially prospective YA summer interns

Friendship Ambassadors Foundation (FAF) is a nonprofit, tax exempt, 501(c)3 organization that provides meaningful cultural exchange opportunities by promoting peace through the performing arts. It directs and organizes the Youth Assembly at the United Nations on an annual basis. This year, FAF will finance the Youth Assembly and present a special performing arts event as well as offer general background support.  For more information -  http://faf.org/

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

Embracing the Power of Women on the Front Lines of Community Change

As the ‘War for Talent’ continues, women are being increasingly recognized and actively participating in building stronger economies, more stable societies and achieving goals for economic development 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.

Today, empowering women to take action is a critical component of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and community development initiatives.  Through CSR, organizations are mobilizing women to fulfill their potential by reducing poverty, fighting social justice 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.

According to World Bank statistics, 53 million more people could fall into $2 a day in poverty as a result of the global economic slump – or up to 100 million more people according to the UN Millennium Campaign.

Top line Trends on Women:

• Women are increasingly becoming advocates and addressing key issues such as poverty, the environment, healthcare, education and arts/culture
• Women are playing a prominent role in their households and communities when it comes to philanthropy
• Women in the U.S. give an average 3.5% of their wealth to charity
• The volunteer rate of women was 30.1 percent in 2009 – Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Taking a leadership position determining the future and value of charitable giving for the next generation – creating family charitable legacy

Snap shot on key issues women are addressing....

Zimbabwe         - Empowering Girls

Kenya                  - Accessing water

Cambodia          - Thwarting sex traffickers

India                    - Taking schools to children

USA                       - Creating leaders

Paradigm Shift: Women CSR Champions:  This, in turn, is effecting a major shift forcing culture change, transformation of organizations, community and workplace development programs.  Our leadership is continuing to be defined by innovative approaches that integrate sustainability into business operations, create a stronger workforce and build more impactful community development programs.

The following organizations’ are having a global impact on women by engaging in conscious commerce initiatives:

General Mills - Join My Village: Last fall, General Mills and CARE launched an initiative entitled ‘Join My Village,’ an innovative online community that is fighting poverty in Malawi through the empowerment of women and girls.  General Mills will donate up to $500,000 to increase economic and educational opportunities for women and girls in approximately 75 villages in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in Africa.  Through several activities such as telling a friend about Join My Village, or joining a village team – $1 will go to General Mills and will go to CARE’s poverty fighting programs in the Malawi villages.  Additionally, General Mills will match personal contributions dollar-for-dollar for up to $50 per donor, $15,000 per village or $150,000. Further information can be located at http://www.joinmyvillage.com/

Global Sister.org: A project of The Sisterhood is Global Institute (SIGI), is a global communications network and unique online social networking space, enabling women and organizations to collaborate, organize, and advance top-of-mind concerns such as violence against women, health and trafficking.  This is a virtual learning environment for women’s organizations to share and teach social organizing tools and techniques.  Further information can be located at http://www.globalsister.org/.

Unilever: Unilever has a number of programs that enable women to be progressively brought into the mainstream of economic activities to bolster development. The Fair & Lovely Foundation was set-up as a social initiative by Unilever Bangladesh Limited under its leading skin care brand Fair & Lovely. The mission of the Foundation is to "Encourage economic empowerment of Bangladeshi women through information and resources in the areas of Education, Career and Enterprise." The foundation provides scholarships that allow women to attend school and obtain degrees in fields such as engineering, commerce, science and medicine. Further information can be located at http://www.unilever.com.bd/sustainability/women-empowerment/FALfoundation.aspx.

The key is no longer ‘Why’ it is needed, but rather ‘How’ an organization is empowering women, developing and incorporating initiatives into core, everyday business and community development programs.

It is critical for an organization to treat and develop their own workforce well to be credible as they advocate for addressing pressing global concerns, impact and transparency of their programs.  Women’s career development programs are an important platform and link to CSR, as well as creating a global community of women citizens.  Through such programs, women are not only improving their economic potential but giving back to their communities through active participation and demonstrated impact.

And, they have the right and opportunity to earn more than 10 percent of the income and own 1 percent of the property.

Organizations have a timely opportunity to empower and galvanize a global grassroots level movement among women who are hungry to change pressing global concerns.

Sam Taylor

***

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

***

"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

**

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.

 ***