Category: Strategic Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

A rising social consciousness fueled by the rapid evolution of digital communications has compelled companies to make social impact a core tenet of strategic program development. Corporate social responsibility has evolved from sidecar activities to bolster reputation to strategic investments in concrete action connected to larger purpose and impact strategies for the business, more and more often with C-Suite buy-in...

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. Six members of the APCO family, who are parents, share their thoughts on why they’re voting this year. ..

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...

In 2016, the American electorate delivered a black swan outcome that has had profound implications for people everywhere. Their choice next week will set the trajectory for the post-pandemic global order of the 2020s and beyond. ..

To analyze the issues at stake during an unprecedented American presidential election, APCO Worldwide’s Paris office and the American Chamber of Commerce hosted a webinar focused on understanding the key communications trends at the heart of the 2020 campaign...

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...

National strategies for voter outreach have long oversimplified how voters make decisions based on certain identity characteristics. As the country becomes more diverse and the electorate more complex, campaigns need to rethink how they appeal to voters and what the electorate looks like...

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. ..

Since 2000, the size of immigrant electorate in the United States nearly doubled, and in 2020, naturalized citizens make up a record 10% of eligible voters in America. It is time for immigrant electorates to, not only get the job done, but to get their votes in as well...

While most of the high-tech, operational changes that will help the holiday season are already underway, companies hoping to drive traffic to their brick and mortar locations should now take the time to focus on stakeholder communication and engagement. For retailers, agility in communications, especially with and by employees, will make it easier to close out the year coming back stronger...

The passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is sad news in a terrible year. Her legacy is a testament to her view that “real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.”..

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

At a time when hyper-connectivity makes decisions and their consequences widely visible and with perceptions affecting an organization’s bottom line, communicators need to be part of the C-suite...

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...

It is important for organizations to understand that while the pandemic has tested their resiliency like never before, their long-term viability depends upon the consumers who will ultimately judge them on their ability to effect real change...

In a few days, on July 15, less than two months after Crew Dragon took off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral, the Emirates Mars Mission (an APCO client), part of the UAE’s National Space Program, is set to launch its Mars probe. Now is the time for communicators to don their space suits and contribute their creativity as well as skills in storytelling, public relations, and public affairs to propel the space industry forward, while helping a deeply divided public see beyond its differences...

Leading experts in the field share their insights on conducting public affairs in the COVID-19 era...

While there still are many uncertainties about what the post-COVID-19 reality will look like for society, observers and experts agree that the format, focus and expectations around social advocacy will change. As a result, companies should evolve their original CSR pathway to meet new social and consumer environment...

Even if you’ve never heard of Dungeons & Dragons, you’re familiar with the fight to get your messages out. It’s a battle to cut through the noise and reach your audiences. Sometimes competitors and the news cycle seem like monsters. So, we’re taking a page from the Player’s Handbook. Here are some lessons communicators can learn from our favorite tabletop roleplaying game...

Governments and the travel industry will both need to earn trust through the actions that they take to revitalise tourism in the wake of COVID-19. That was the central outtake of an APCO Worldwide webinar, held in association with The Ambassador Partnership, that examined the pressures, priorities, parameters and practicalities of enabling tourism to recover and making mass travel feasible again, with differing timelines and considerations for every country in determining the steps required and when they can be applied...

While there won’t be parades this year, it doesn’t mean that Pride is canceled altogether. Rather, it is an opportunity for brands and corporations to turn flashy shows of support into action. It is a time for change...

COVID-19 has had a profound impact around the world. The use of digital technology to facilitate effective communication has intensified and cutting-edge tech is booming...

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...

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...

Media relations and social media communications are more important than ever during this time of fast-paced news cycles and endless Twitter debates, driven by the global COVID-19 pandemic...

Research demonstrates that it is critical for brands to use their advertising to amplify their COVID-19 efforts and solidify their role in the community. As you develop advertising messaging here are three things to focus on as you build the right message...

APCO Worldwide’s team in Paris recently published a study on the CAC 40 CEOs’ communication strategies since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ten CEOs have particularly distinguished themselves as leaders during the crisis...

While the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area plan has reached a number of milestones, it has faced several setbacks. Foreign companies that tailor their strategy to the plan’s ambitions and priorities are best placed to benefit from its ambitious agenda...

Resilient organizations must act now to establish their foothold to come back stronger, recognizing there will be varying degrees of coming back...

To get a better sense of how working parents are faring and how employers can help, APCO Insight conducted a pulse survey on March 31 of the U.S. general public and singled out parents working from home...

Navigating our new world in this time of crisis is not easy. From a media relations and storytelling perspective, now is the time to be sensitive and thoughtful, and to lay the groundwork for the future. ..

COVID-19 has moved faster than any country or company could have imagined or prepared for. Focusing on your organization’s purpose can help employees feel a sense of normalcy and ensure that they are thinking about the future...

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...

New research from APCO Insight shows that concerns about the impact of COVID-19 are high in the Arabian Gulf...

Diversity brings benefits such as enhanced creativity and better decision-making as employees with different backgrounds bring various viewpoints and strengths to the table...

Performance data increasingly demonstrate superior long-term financial results from companies taking action on Social, Environmental and Governance (ESG) factors material to their business. Profit and purpose are not mutually exclusive.   ..

With a significant number of employees now working remotely, how can organizations ensure that their people are productive, engaged and connected? We share some trends and best practices...

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 coronavirus is leading many companies in the United States to encourage their employees to work from home. While many miles may separate them from their onsite colleagues, a new APCO Insight survey of U.S. employees shows that remote workers are not so different from their in-office counterparts. ..

Workplace culture reflects the company’s overall personality but essentially, it is the environment that surrounds us all the time. A positive culture drives productivity, efficiency, increases retention, promotes teamwork and reinforces an environment that encourages growth...

Today, enhancing the engagement of employees is critical to a company’s near and long-term successes and helps to retain the best talent. Based on our experience in Japan, here are three key elements that global companies should consider...

For any business, building a culture does not happen overnight. It is a process that needs to evolve over time and allow for wider interpretation to include a wider set of stakeholders, as the business grows. But for now, the question is: where to does it start?..

Over the last five years, the idea of “purpose” and the role it can play in creating alignment and driving value for an organization and its employees has gained a lot of traction...

By maximizing the potential of the people within, learning & development can take a business from good to great. But creating a learning culture is a long-term talent strategy that requires a top-down mindset shift from organizational leadership and a dedicated vision for what is yet to come...

With four generations working together, today’s workplace offers a wide range and dynamic combination of experience, expectations and priorities. We asked three APCO Worldwide colleagues to share their views on the workplace, how it has changed and what they see as the most important future considerations for companies as they look to create a culture that is inclusive for a multi-generational workforce...

Employees are seeking more than just a paycheck and benefits in the jobs they hold. Crucial are top executives’ integrity and candor, along with the organization’s mission and values...

Much like the game itself, Super Bowl LIV advertisers played it pretty safe with their offerings. Bill Dalbec, managing director of APCO Insight, takes a closer look at the commercials, companies and brands that aligned to a higher purpose of advocating on behalf of their key stakeholders on game day...

Anna Tunkel, head of global strategic initiatives & partnerships at APCO Worldwide, shared nine key takeaways from Davos 2020...

To get the most out of Industry 4.0 technologies, organizations must invest heavily in building capabilities in data and connectivity, analytics and intelligence, conversion to the physical world and human-machine interaction. This calls for a new approach to leadership...

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...

From corporate boardrooms to headquarters of multilateral organizations and NGOs to government offices, Anna Tunkel, head of global strategic initiatives at APCO Worldwide, takes a closer look at the top priority issues on the global agenda at the start of this new decade...

Major global events provide excellent platforms for companies to demonstrate and strengthen their thought leadership in tackling global issues, and some of the major international events that will take place in 2020 will help to develop tangible and intangible legacies for future generation...

Key trends, such as millennials beginning to turn 40, the need for technology to help people and ESG's new status as a must-have, not a nice-to-have, all present market obstructions for the financial sector. Companies need to rewire their strategic thinking, offerings and communications to connect with today’s customers, borrowers, investors and workforce...

With five generations now working side-by-side in many organizations, we expect to see an even greater focus on internal communications in 2020 as companies understand the importance of keeping their generationally-diverse workforce informed and engaged...

China is set to overtake the United States as the world’s largest aviation market by the mid-2020s. Despite its slowing economic growth, the country’s booming middle class offers significant potential for future market expansion as more people opt for air travel, be it for business or leisure...

As the proliferation of social content from corporations and brands continues, the future of effective and authentic stakeholder engagement and influence lies in employee advocates...

Influencing activists to effectively engage the target audience is difficult. Focusing on targeted and trusted outreach and highlighting the urgency of their own action can set an advocacy campaign apart...

While it is often difficult to balance the competing demands of different stakeholders, business is under increasing pressure to meet growing expectations around the world...

When developing advocacy campaigns, organizations will do well to consider the impact of integrating digital communications intended for policy elites into their grassroots efforts and direct lobbying activities. Doing so will deepen their impact and put organizations in a better place to succeed...

In China, significant opportunities exist for foreign enterprises to align with the government’s ambitious healthcare reform goals and influence the future of the country's health sector...

The challenges of today’s interdependent and interconnected world dictate responses and issue management that require leadership based on sensitivity, adaptability and agility...

APCO CEO Brad Staples joined Bloomberg Markets to share insights on the challenges that business leaders face today and discuss the need to engage on social issues in an informed and cautious way...

Fundamental trends are shaping the future of the travel and hospitality industry. It will be those destinations that can adapt and cater to these evolving expectations that will succeed as travelers seek new and dynamic experiences around the world...

Today, advertisers have more mediums than ever before to deliver their messages. Whatever creative messaging or clever medium is used in the future, one old-fashioned principle will continue to be critical to winning and retaining consumers—trustworthiness...

Even with a shrinking number of print outlets, there are plentiful opportunities today to get our stories and messages in front of and shared among our target audiences. The way people consume media is going to continue to evolve, but the role of media relations in the communications mix remains complex and relevant...

In Japan, perhaps now more than ever, multilateral institutions and their initiatives command the respect of public and private sectors. Despite a number of geopolitical issues plaguing the country, governments and privately-owned businesses still look to international standards to guide their practices...

For leaders from international organizations, NGOs, academia, media and global companies, UNGA provides a vital opportunity. Here are three things to look for at this year's general assembly...

Understanding who and what influence decision makers online allows communicators to make more informed decisions about indirect influence strategies..

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...

Companies have an unprecedented chance to use their vision and values to influence the social landscape, take a stand and make a meaningful difference. It is what society wants to see, and employees are demanding...

In today’s competitive business environment, a clear, well-thought-out set of vision and values, backed by action, can help organizations reach key business objectives, attract the best talent and protect their reputation...

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...

A corporation’s conscience is the road map guiding company culture and foresight. A C-suite that clearly exemplifies and communicates how company philosophy will live and breathe is a crucial factor for whether corporate consciousness will remain trapped on paper or permeate the culture and drive a company to unity and success...

When it comes to effective values initiatives, it’s often less about the words that are used, and more about the actions that a company is willing to take to bring their values to life. Values need to be reflected in people’s day-to-day experience to truly resonate...

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. ..

After the transformation in PR prompted by digital, we are once again at another inflection point. There is an upsurge in public affairs today. There are a number of skill sets which go into making a successful 'Public Affairs' professional and inherent skill sets present in PR professionals uniquely positions them to take advantage and diversify their career opportunities in 'Public Affairs'...

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

The digital advocacy landscape is different in 2019 than it was in 2009. But these five hurdles of digital advocacy are what we expect to hold true over time – however our digital landscape changes...

Procurement optimization can add immense value to your business, and in an evolving social landscape, procurement organizations are starting to diversify their suppliers. Here are three important factors for diverse suppliers to keep in mind when forming relationships and negotiating with procurement officers...

Businesses across the region and around the world are looking to Europe with a keen eye on its future. APCO’s team of experts shares insights on the future of various European sectors...

Europe is a very different place since the previous Japanese acquisition waves, and Japanese business leaders need to adapt their approach and be aware of the changes Europe is undergoing...

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

The traditional media industry is in a state of upheaval. To best counsel clients, as practitioners, we must not only keep abreast of new developments but understand how the evolving media landscape will affect our clients’ stories...

During a time when half of leaders and mid-level managers anticipate challenges with hiring and retaining qualified workers, a strong Enterprising Culture can be a differentiating factor in future-proofing an organization...

In this highly competitive world where much is at stake, companies need to create as advantageous a work environment as possible for their employees...

Today’s workforce is the most educated, globally-mobile, gender-balanced and ethnically diverse ever. To convert all of that potential energy into a world-changing force, organizations of all types, sizes and geographies must acknowledge the structural changes that have and are reshaping the employer-employee relationship...

"The war for talent" is not a new phrase, but even today, and perhaps even more so in the future, the war continues. To win, employers must continually keep abreast of what current and future employees are looking for...

The way companies can stay ahead and meet the challenges of the future is by enacting key practices that contribute to a learning culture. Companies of any size can begin implementing these practices tomorrow to build a learning culture...

How does China’s social media landscape differ from the west? Who are the biggest players, and how can foreign companies leverage them? Here are the three key things multinational companies need to know about China’s current social media landscape, and how it differs from the west...

The audiences of today and tomorrow can no longer be reached through mainstream, traditional methods. To reach them with positions, concepts, ideas or products, business leaders and marketers must use the language of the new age of information...

Today’s polarized political climate has created a difficult advocacy environment for companies and associations to accomplish nearly anything. Ganging up on a problem together, while often difficult to corral, significantly increases the odds of success...

The convergence of rising expectations of corporations, live to work culture and commitment to our company’s mission has given rise to this new phenomenon of employee activism. Business decisions need to take this into account...

High expectations and the eroded control of the corporate narrative have joined forces to create a new category of enterprise risk: Social Risk. Companies who integrate social risk into their strategic planning will earn the license to sustainably operate in this new landscape...

From climate change to fighting disease to reducing inequality gaps, business leaders need to better leverage global opportunities to convene existing and future partners around pressing global challenges...

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

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...

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...

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...

It’s time for B2B companies to get on the bandwagon of paying attention to consumer expectations...

European brands are looking at Japan, the world’s third largest economy, as a new market to tap into. The Land of the Rising Sun is a market quite different from the West under many aspects. APCO's team shares insights on media relations in Japan...

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? ..

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...

At this time of change, proponents of "future investment" must balance diverse stakeholder interests, negotiate generational disparity and navigate an evolving media environment. This is a prime moment for Japan’s PR industry to redefine its role as arbiter and communicator...

In a media environment where both public and private organizations are repeatedly placed under scrutiny by an increasingly values-driven public, communicators are struggling to address the complex issues that impact trust and reputation...

Tomorrow, I leave for Kazakhstan. As I get ready to make the long, hard slog back to Astana, there is one thing that keeps me going more than any other: the idea that right now in these increasingly complicated times, events like Expo 2017 are more important than ever...

Providers’ views on the relationship between price and value in building patient trust...

The U.S. public is feeling empowered to use social media to document or talk about a company’s wrong doing, an APCO Insight survey conducted last year found. Here are three guidelines for how to prevent a reputation backlash. ..

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

As the calendar ticks to July, it doesn’t mean we pause and wait till next June to both celebrate and protest. If anything, we need to love and fight and protect and promote outside those calendar moments, and we can only be buttressed with the support of brands and companies who make no judgment and refuse to tolerate hate and discrimination...

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. ..

Since 1999, the year China’s "Going Out" strategy was first announced, China has dreamed of creating global brands. ..

With over 5,000 speakers, 4,000 media, nearly 2,500 sessions and over 70,000 participants from 90 countries, South by South West (SXSW) represents the new Mecca not only for creative, marketing and advertising executives, but increasingly, communications and policy leaders from across all sectors, including cities and governments from all over the world...

In this white paper, APCO Worldwide provides its global public affairs insight and offers specific recommendations for Chinese entities who seek to expand in the United States...

Raise your hand if you can recall a president who had a majority of Americans dislike him personally and disapprove of his job handling yet a majority approve of his policy positions...

Contrary to conventional wisdom on crises being generated from external factors, only 20 percent or fewer of crises start from people or forces outside the organization...

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

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. ..

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

If you're reading this in the C-suite, chances are, as accomplished as you are, you aren't ready to deal with the challenges of social risk —a new set of societal issues driving business decisions around the world...

What are the implications of this new challenging, turbulent environment for health care communications?..

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

Over the next twenty years, we are likely to witness some of the most significant disruptions to the workforce and work as we know it in recent memory. This has been fueled by the demographic and socioeconomic trends of the past decade...

To minimize the reputational damage that legal filings or arguments can cause, a company’s legal and communications counsel must work closely together...

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

In a game that was close and exciting until the end, the commercials, however, did not have the same sort of drama, with a few hits among many misses...

The sanctity of the courtroom has been invaded by the Inter-net and the use of social media. Courtroom justice is played out across the globe in the nanoseconds it takes to put information online for use and abuse by interested and committed parties...

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

It’s hard being a chief communications officer (CCO). The news cycle never ends, audiences are hard to reach and the stakes always are high. As a result, one of the most strategically significant relationships a CCO can make is an alliance with the general counsel...

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

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. ..

In the waning years of the Obama administration, media and tech reporters said the social web had disrupted the business model for legacy news publishers, forcing rounds of layoffs in newsrooms throughout the country. ..

It is impossible to talk about promoting destinations without acknowledging the foundations on which destinations worth promoting are built. Megatrends, evolving consumer demand, technology, the political environment and the green economy are all changing the face of tourism...

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...

As internal social media (ISM) becomes more prevalent in the workplace, how is this impacting employee engagement? wwwwwww..