Episodes
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Episode Summary
The Coronavirus crisis is testing the armor of companies’ CSR (corporate social responsibility) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices - while, now more than ever, they rapidly need to be transparent and innovative. And we desperately want to help.
In this second of two episodes, we guide you through 5 practical steps to consider in developing your CSR response to Coronavirus:
Who can you tap into to help the cause?What inherent resources does your company have to contribute?When should you respond? Now or later? Where: which of your locations need the most support?Why create a CSR response?We are thrilled at the opportunity and the impact we can collectively have - together! If you find our podcast helpful, please share ...and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!
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Episode Summary
The Coronavirus crisis is testing the armor of companies’ CSR (corporate social responsibility) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices - while, now more than ever, they rapidly need to be transparent and innovative. And we desperately want to help.
In this first of two episodes, we guide you through 5 practical steps to consider in developing your company's response to Coronavirus:
How has this impacted your business and industry?What do the next 30-60-90 days look like?What opportunities do you see during this time? What do you need help with?What have you learned that would help others?We are thrilled at the opportunity and the impact we can collectively have - together! If you find our podcast helpful, please share ...and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!
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Missing episodes?
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Episode Summary
In this episode, we discuss a recent Newsweek and Statista partnership to rank America’s Most Responsible Companies 2020.
Newsweek explains, “companies, we all know, need to make a profit to prosper and survive. But over the years, executives have come to realize that they need to do much more. That is, by giving back to the communities they operate in and standing up as good neighbors and citizens.”
Join us as we explore this research, the super valuable key performance indicators they used, and how those areas are key to your company's CSR strategy.
We are thrilled at the opportunity and the impact we can collectively have - together! If you find our podcast helpful, please share ...and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!
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Episode Summary
In this episode, we discuss a recent Forbes article by Marguerita Cheng called 8 Characteristics of Millennials That Support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Cheng notes that “Millennials' specific traits and consumption trends make SDGs goals more attainable. They are investing in and working for companies that have embraced visible sustainable practices and their tastes and preferences support creating sustainability and equality for all.”
Join us as we dive into current research about this generation's unique attributes and how your company can benefit in recruitment, retention, and sales to Millennials.
At 3:00, Where do Millennials get their social awareness? What do they believe is the key to alleviating poverty and improving life outcomes?
At 5:16, Hear how Millennials’ lifelong connection to technology drives their curiosity and eagerness to learn.
At 6:22, As the most ethnically diverse generation, learn why your company’s diversity and inclusion policy is so important to Millennials.
At 8:15, Do Millennials prefer to spend their time and money on products or experiences?
At 10:16, Millennials know how to use devices to learn what they want to know! Learn what percentage of Millennials:
Value a college education and are preparing to acquire one Are college graduates Are in college working toward graduationAt 12:12, Millennials have been referred to as the most health-conscious generation ever because of their access to online health information.
At 13:31, Even though they make 20% less than their parents, millennials are saving and investing in systems that have a positive impact on the world.
At 18:00, What drives Millennials' deep sense of connection in helping each other? Is it their belief in human rights more than religion?
We are thrilled at the opportunity and the impact we can collectively have - together! If you find our podcast helpful, please share ...and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!
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Episode Summary
In this episode, we review the Porter Novelli/Cone report, Undivided: 2019 Gen Z Purpose Study, that examines this emerging generation’s expectations of and attitudes toward company involvement in social and environmental issues — and the actions they are willing to take to positively impact topics they care about.
At 2:59, 94 % of Generation Z believes our country needs to come together to make progress on important issues. In fact, 85% would rather focus on the positive progress we’ve made rather than the negative.
At 3:52, Gen Zers remain hopeful! They expect we will have made advancement on important issues in just five years’ time.
At 6:32, What do Gen Zers use as a core filter in deciding which companies to associate with when deciding where to work and shop?
At 8:06, Learn how Gen Zs prioritize the top issues they want companies to solve for like equality, environment, human rights, and job creation.
At 10:14, Ways Gen Zers stand ready to support companies that care!
At 12:37, Janet shares her theory on the gap between our level of awareness of social and environmental issues and the rate at which companies can create that change.
At 16:06, Generation Z uses social media not only to learn about issues, but to make a meaningful difference.
At 18:45, In the key findings from this research we learn that Gen Zers are:
Tired of the Negative DialogueInspired for ActionHolding Companies AccountableImpact through Social MediaWe are thrilled at the opportunity and the impact we can collectively have - together! If you find our podcast helpful, please share ...and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!
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Episode Summary
In this episode, we review the Accenture Report, To Affinity and Beyond, from Me to We: The Rise of the Purpose Led Brand, a study that outlines how consumers are no longer looking at companies just as “companies”, but as brands, and brands they are a part of.
At 3:07, 62% of customers want companies to take a stand on current and broadly relevant issues like sustainability, transparency, and fair EE practices.
At 4:19, Who does your brand really belong to? A brand no longer belongs to just the company; it belongs to the community.
At 6:30, What is Purpose? How does it align with a company’s CSR or sustainability strategy?
At 7:32, Don’t overlook the intangible components of a brand’s essence such as culture, transparency, and ethical values
At 8:15, Purpose and customer relationships
At 9:16, It’s data time! Listen as we talk through the percent of respondents who:
Appreciate brands that stand up for societal and cultural issues they believe inAct upon and support causes they have in common with a companyPrefer a company who is transparent Want to know employees are being treated wellBelieve in reducing plastics and improving the environmentAt 13:00, Accenture’s advice on how to take action using the report results (with examples from Janet and Barbra!)
1. Be Human
2. Be Clear and Authentic
3. Being Creative
We are thrilled at the opportunity and the impact we can collectively have - together! If you find our podcast helpful, please share ...and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!
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John Lee Dumas of Entrepreneurs on Fire: The Value of Sustainability to Business
Our guest, John Lee Dumas, is the host of Entrepreneurs on Fire, an award-winning podcast where he interviews inspiring Entrepreneurs who are truly ON FIRE. With over 2000 episodes, 1 million + listens a month, and seven-figures of annual revenue, JLD is just getting started. Visit EOFire.com to set YOUR Entrepreneurial journey ON FIRE!
You’ll want to watch this one on our YouTube channel!
About CSR, JLD said it best: “You have to do this if you want to be relevant in this world.”
At 3:00 - A sneak peek into how JLD incorporates sustainability into his own business and life in Puerto Rico: getting off the grid, staying operative during natural disasters and adding “organic gardener” to his bio.
At 6:12 - Millennials want to do business with you, but you need to be transparent. Millennials are reprioritizing how they spend money on what is right. Being authentic and transparent is one of the greatest opportunities companies have today to capture those consumers.
At 8:07 - Value bomb for Entrepreneurs on Fire: CSR is a profitable, long-term business strategy and can have a world-changing ripple effect. The “sell a pair, give a pair” Toms Shoes model didn’t fit the typical idea of “maximize profit first”. But if you are looking to maximize the overall brand and be a long-term profitable company, embedding social and environmental responsibility in your business carries the gift of free publicity, media, goodwill and overall awesomeness.
At 11:53 - Janet and Barbra challenge Entrepreneurs on Fire listeners to hyper-impact JLD’s influence and legacy! The backbone of the global economy is entrepreneurs. If only a tiny percentage of JLD’s millions of followers began making small changes to their companies to become more responsible, imagine the difference it would make on the world.
Janet’s Data Point: An estimated $15-20 trillion dollars is poised to be invested in socially and environmentally responsible companies in the next 10-20 years.
Behind-the-scenes: What product does JLD’s mom buy that makes her walk out of the store smiling because she knows her purchase is doing something good for the world? (9:50)
How YOUR business can incorporate CSR in your business model: If you are wondering how to embed social and environmental components and get your authentic message articulated, schedule a free, 20-minute chat with us. You have a world to change and a legacy to leave, so let’s get started!
We are thrilled at the opportunity and the impact we can collectively have - together! If you find our podcast helpful, please share ...and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!
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Part 3 of a 3 part series on communicating CSR:
Corporate Communications: Why Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) topics are foundational to your content strategy and how to include them with 6 components for success: Investor, Owner & Shareholder Communication
“Companies are doing great things, they just aren’t telling their stories.” — Barbra & JanetSpecial 3-part Series
Good communication can be tricky - especially when speaking with investors, owners, and shareholders. It is important for you to speak their language and provide the information they seek in a format they can use, so they too can see the value in your initiatives and goals.
These episodes unlock the topics that every CSR and communications professional needs to know to effectively communicate environmental, social and economic initiatives and practices:
Episode 6: Internal CommunicationsEpisode 7: External CommunicationsEpisode 8: Investors, Owners, and ShareholdersCommunicating with investors, owners and shareholders can be a rewarding and beneficial experience for you and your company when you link social and environmental initiatives to the value of the business. The field of CSR uses many similar terms. Investors typically refer to CSR or sustainability as Environment, Social and Governance (ESG), because many investors find the information and data for each of the three ESG areas valuable to their investment decisions.
In this episode, we focus on investor, owner and shareholder communications - how a company keeps these parties engaged, informed and in support of the value ESG brings:
The importance of strong investor, owner, and shareholder communication and the type of ESG information to share. Why it’s important to make appropriate and relevant ESG information public and how this plays a role in the success of your communication strategy...and company.The investors’ expectations of finding various types of ESG information in your company’s public communications. The reasons why communicating ESG is valuable to your CSR role and the long-term success of your company.To lay the foundation, here is a simple definition of CSR:
How your company manages the impact it has on the environment, as well as the people inside and outside the company: its employees, communities, customers, suppliers, and owners. And as a third component, how a company governs these areas, including its economic performance.
Here are our Six Components for ESG Communications Success
WHO: Identify the types of investors, owners, and shareholders you are communicating withWHAT: Determine what to communicate to these groupsWHY: Know why ESG communications should be part of your content strategyWAYS: To communicate with investors, owners, and shareholdersWords of cautionAreas of opportunityWe are thrilled at the opportunity and the impact we can collectively have - together! If you find our podcast helpful, please share ...and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!
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Part 2 of a 3 part series on communicating CSR:
Corporate Communications: Why Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is foundational to your content strategy and how to include it with 6 components for success: External Communications
“Companies are doing great things, they just aren’t telling their stories.” - Barbra & Janet
Special 3-part Series
Every person can become a great communicator and enjoy the personal and professional rewards it brings. These episodes unlock the topics that every CSR and communications professional needs to know to effectively communicate environmental, social and economic initiatives and practices:
Episode 6: Internal CommunicationsEpisode 7: External CommunicationsEpisode 8: Investors, Owners, and ShareholdersEvery company can be rewarded for communicating social and environmental initiatives to outside parties and stakeholders. In this episode, we focus on external communications - how a company keeps stakeholders and other parties outside its organization informed and the value it can bring:
The importance of strong external communication and the kinds of information to share regarding CSR or environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.The topics that should be shared outside any company and why they are important to the success of your communication strategy...and company.The various types of external stakeholders and audiences you should be connecting with and what you should be communicating to them.The reasons why communicating is valuable to your CSR role and the long-term success of your company.To lay the foundation, here is a simple definition of CSR:
How your company manages the impact it has on the environment, as well as the people inside and outside the company: its employees, communities, customers, suppliers, and owners. And as a third component, how a company governs these areas, including its economic performance.
Here are our Six Components for CSR Communications Success
WHO: Identify your External audienceWHAT: Determine what to communicate externally WHY: Know why CSR communications should be part of your external content strategyWAYS to communicate externallyWords of cautionAreas of opportunityWe are thrilled at the opportunity and the impact we can collectively have - together! If you find our podcast helpful, please share ...and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!
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Part 1 of a 3 part series on communicating CSR:
Corporate Communications: Why Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is foundational to your content strategy and how to include it with 6 components for success: Internal Communications
“Companies are doing great things, they just aren’t telling their stories.” - Barbra & Janet
Special 3-part Series
Good communication doesn’t have to feel mysterious if you know what to communicate and to whom. These episodes unlock the topics that every CSR and communications professional needs to know to effectively communicate environmental, social and economic initiatives and practices:
Episode 6: Internal CommunicationsEpisode 7: External CommunicationsEpisode 8: Investors, Owners, and ShareholdersAny company of any size can benefit from including its social and environmental initiatives in its internal and external communications. In this episode, we focus on internal communications - how a company keeps stakeholders inside its organization informed and the value it can bring:
The importance of strong internal communication and the kinds of information to share regarding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. The topics that should be shared inside any company and why they are important to the success of your communication strategy...and company.The various types of internal stakeholders and audiences you should be connecting with and what you should be communicating to them.The reasons why communicating is valuable to your CSR role and the long-term success of your company.To set the stage, here is a simple definition of CSR:
How your company manages the impact it has on the environment, as well as the people inside and outside the company: its employees, communities, customers, suppliers, and owners. And as a third component, how a company governs these areas, including its economic performance.
Here are our Six Components for CSR Communications Success
WHO: Identify your Internal audienceWHAT: Determine what to communicate internally WHY: Know why CSR communications should be part of your internal content strategyWays to communicate internallyWords of cautionAreas of opportunityWe are thrilled at the opportunity and the impact we can collectively have - together! If you find our podcast helpful, please share ...and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!
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Part 2 of a 2-part series, with Episode #4 “Better You: The 24 Skills Every Professional Needs, But They Didn’t Teach You in School”
Throughout our years of working in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) with some of the world’s largest and most respected companies, we have developed an easy 3-step process for what is an often complicated and confusing process.
In this episode, we go into the simplest definition of CSR you’ve ever heard and provide you with a detailed breakdown of the 3 steps and how they can work in any business from small local shops to global operations.
These 3 steps will guide you to a better understanding of what CSR means, the value it brings and what is involved for a successful strategy. Listen to the episode for more details about each step.
1. Discover: your environmental and social impacts
2. Prioritize: risks and opportunities for each
3. Implement: a strategy aligned to business value
We are thrilled at the opportunity and the impact we can collectively have - together! If you find our podcast helpful, please share ...and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!
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Better You: The 24 skills every professional needs, but they didn’t teach you in school
Part 1 of a 2-part series, with Episode #5 “Better Company: CSR Made Easy in 3 Steps.”
After decades of working for some of the largest and most progressive companies in the world, we created this unique list of skills that are critical for every professional. But even more essential to the success of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) professionals.
The 24 essential skills are clustered into three categories:
1. Natural Talents – Skills that come easily to some, while others may need help in developing them.
2. Communications & Relationships – Learn how every professional can greatly benefit from building and maintaining relationships.
3. Technical Skills – Skills that are pertinent to your role and will help guide you in the management of your CSR programs.
We are thrilled at the opportunity and the impact we can collectively have - together! If you find our podcast helpful, please share ...and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!
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Why Corporate Social Responsibility is critical today. In this episode, Janet and Barbra talk about 5 intriguing headlines and 15 questions that will change the way you look at your company. Listen and learn more!
Warning: this information will change the way you look at your company! …and other companies!
We have chosen 5 top headlines that show CSR’s critical role in business today.
These stories include intriguing, hard facts that make CSR a “no brainer” for your company. And no matter your role in your company, no matter the type of company you have or work for, we think you’ll be able to connect these with your business.
On our free download, we have provided links to each of these articles. We have also provided 3 ways you can consider applying each of these articles to your company!
1. Fast Company : “Most millennials would take a pay cut to work at an environmentally responsible company” (Feb. 14, 2019)
2. Sustainable Brands: “Gen Z Believes in Its Own Power to Make Change, But That Companies Must Lead the Way” (Oct. 23, 2019)
3. Harvard Business Review: “ESG Comes of Age” (May 2019)
4. The New York Times: “Companies see climate change hitting their bottom lines in the next 5 years” (June 4, 2019)
5. The Wall Street Journal: “Move over shareholders: Top CEO’s say companies have obligations to society” (Aug. 19, 2019)
We are thrilled at the opportunity and the impact we can collectively have - together! If you find our podcast helpful, please share ...and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!
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Shift Happens! 5 Global Trends That Made CSR Mainstream in Business and Why This Info Should Be a Tool In Your Management Toolbox.
In our mission to make CSR easy, we want to provide some context for how CSR became a mainstream business practice. To do so, in this episode we’ll look back at recent history to share a series of events that have taken place and made CSR mainstream in business.
1. Significant changes in the world
World population growthFood-energy-water nexus: the increase in population will drive an enormous need for more food, energy and water. A growing middle class now has more disposable income to buy more things.We’ve become a disposable economy.2. Companies’ offerings have shifted from offerings that were primarily tangible – things that were manufactured or produced, like steel or even printed materials to more intangible items like software-based companies and experiences.
3. The internet has made it possible for anyone to look up anything about a company and companies are expected to be more transparent.
Like no other time in history, information is available 24/7/365.At any given time, within minutes, a company’s reputation can be significantly harmed by accurate, and even inaccurate, information.For these reasons and many more, companies are expected to provide the information that we as consumers or citizens want, when we want it, accessible in a place that we can easily find it, at any time.This is why it’s imperative for a company’s reputation to be transparent.4. 5 generations exist together in the workplace, affecting employees and culture
Millennials and Gen Z’s are raising the bar on expectations for transparency and action.5. Organizations have been developed to help consumers, employees and even investors understand the social and environmental information that companies are reporting.
UN Sustainable Development GoalsGRI – The Global Reporting InitiativeDJSI - the Dow Jones Sustainability IndexSASB- the Sustainability Accounting Standards BoardWe are thrilled at the opportunity and the impact we can collectively have - together! If you find our podcast helpful, please share ...and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!
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In this episode, Barbra and Janet take you on a journey about their career twists and turns, what drives them and how they overcame odds to achieve success after skinning their knees along the way.
We have walked in the shoes of the CSR professional, trailblazed, drove change, innovated, overcome objections, won awards, added value to the business, all while creating a career with purpose.
It wasn’t always easy! But that is why we are here now.
We have devoted ourselves to creating this podcast to make CSR easy for you. By listening to this episode, you can learn from our backgrounds so you can:
Foster relationships to get things doneKnow when and how to ask for helpIdentify opportunities to create change and take actionInspire others with your vision and make a differenceWe are thrilled at the opportunity and the impact we can collectively have - together! If you find our podcast helpful, please share ...and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!
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Episode Summary
People want to know how companies are treating the environment, their employees, and how they’re giving back in support of the communities in which they operate. In this episode, Janet and Barbra talk about how and why the Creating Responsible Companies podcast was born and how it can help you figure out what corporate social responsibility (CSR) is for your organization and how engaging in social and environmental initiatives can benefit your career and your organization’s profitability and reputation.
Topics CoveredOur experience: We have worked with multiple companies throughout our respective careers and with our consulting company, Destination Better. Companies as large as Fortune 10 have turned to us to help them create and manage their own employee, community and environmental programs. Now, we are ready to spill the secrets we learned in the corporate trenches!
Throughout our careers we learned two important lessons:
80% of the work of any professional, especially a CSR pro, is in soft skills: EQ, relationship building, being relatable and effectively communicating to advance your mission. Human beings, no matter if you are a business leader, CSR pro or someone who just graduated with a degree in sustainability, feel like they have a calling of some sort, something they naturally do really well and were “called to do”. These same people have jobs where they are being “asked to do” something.Where this podcast sits is in the middle of what you are being “called to do” and what you are being “asked to do”. Our purpose is to close that gap through social and environmental awareness and responsibility, to help you develop the relationship skills you need and give you the tools you need to actually make a difference.
Can we really change the world with a podcast and help create careers and companies that, yes, can make a difference?
Business leaders, CSR professionals and Everyday Superheroes have asked us to equip, empower and encourage them, sharing our uncomplicated tools and career insights to create more socially and environmentally responsible companies; to strike a balance between “called to do”/”asked to do” so that everyone can have a career and company that matches their values.
A podcast seemed like the best way, so we took the plunge to:
Equip: We will give away tools we have created over our careers that help advance social and environmental practices to create a better world, one responsible company at a timeEmpower: We’ve already skinned our knees, so you don’t have to! We’ll share social and environmental advice and knowledge we have used to guide executives, CSR professionals and those who just want to make a difference.Encourage: Help leaders, CSR professionals and Everyday Superheroes learn in a safe environment, hone their superpowers and address the gaps that are holding them back from making a difference in their own careers and companies.We are thrilled at the opportunity and the impact we can collectively have - together! If you find our podcast helpful, please share ...and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!
