Category: Strategic Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
Addressing Climate Change Starts With Meeting People Where They Are
Sabiha Ozgur
& Delia Mayor
To effectively address this global and complex challenge that uniquely shapes multiple aspects of human life across different regions, it is crucial to understand public perceptions and knowledge around climate change...
Read moreBusinesses Must Meet the Needs of The Latino Customer Base
Camille Villafañe
& Luis Enrique Fernández Torres
Keeping up with the Latino consumer market is essential for businesses looking to blossom in today’s diverse economy...
Read moreSupply Chain Scrutiny Is the New Normal
Julian Gray
& Gabrielle Muhlberg
& Saga McFarland
It has become increasingly important for businesses to understand the underlying motivations behind the labor policy agendas in the United States and China in order to effectively respond to and mitigate reputational and operating risks...
Read moreGermany’s New Imperative Doing Business with China: De-Risking
Yuanyuan Wang
In mid-July, the German government unveiled its inaugural China strategy paper, outlining its approach to China and China's evolving role in the world and in geopolitics. The strategy aims to strike a delicate balance between necessary commercial engagement with China and reducing critical dependencies on China, with the ultimate goal of safeguarding Germany's economic and national security...
Read moreKey Communication Considerations for CEOs when Contemplating a Merger or Acquisition
Jennifer Renwick
M&A is also frequently disruptive and can fail to deliver anticipated benefits if the process is not carefully managed. It is therefore imperative for CEOs to carefully evaluate various aspects before embarking on such a journey...
Read moreA Transatlantic Look at Competition Policy
Benjamin Faull
Because of recent legislative developments on both sides of the Atlantic, the times of fluid and smooth cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the United States are over, at least on economic, trade, competition and antitrust affairs...
Read moreIs Remote Work to Blame for a Company’s Demise? Maybe, Maybe Not.
Katie Sprehe
During this the COVID-19 pandemic and era of remote work, some companies have succeeded, others are now bringing their employees back to the office and some are even blaming remote work for their company’s collapse...
Read moreChina’s 2023 Two Sessions: Engineering a Stable Recovery
Katharina Qi
& Rachel Farmer
Crackdowns on business have left Chinese entrepreneurs weary and wary. The perception of foreign business in China serving as a bridge between the world is shifting dramatically. Here's what multinationals need to know...
Read moreEmboldening Brands to Be Content Benefactors
Steve Salvador
Steve Salvador, Director of Video and Brand Programming at APCO explains why more brands should feel emboldened to be benefactors...
Read moreTelling Your Innovation Story: Lessons from CES
Nicole Zion
& Tim Bolton
With the right approach and storytelling, this event can open doors with partners, media, tech consumers, and other stakeholders. If you’re employing technology either to drive core business or to create external impact, there’s a place for you at CES...
Read moreHow the Private Sector and Youth Are Addressing the ‘Polycrisis’ in 2023
Gabriel Barrientos
This year is the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and with a “poly-crisis” of global issues, it is increasingly important to re-think how multistakeholder partnerships are developed and executed...
Read moreBuilding With Resilience — Sustainability and Inclusive Growth Should Be the Touchstones for 2023
Avantika Singha
While in today’s multi-polar world, where the boundaries between the Global North and South are getting blurred due to the realignment of interests, the recent “Voice of the Global South” summit has brought back the focus on the global South- bringing together 120-odd developing countries...
Read moreHow Does Effective Crisis Management work in 2023?
Ellie Rutland
& Hayes Nolte
When a stakeholder communication plan is thoughtfully planned and meticulously executed, it is often the reason why a company or organization can overcome the potential issue and ultimately come back stronger by retaining trust and support from key stakeholders. It’s safe to say there’s never been a more important time to take a look at your crisis management strategy for 2023...
Read moreInfluyente y Resiliente: The Importance of Getting Data “Right” on U.S. Latinos
Alida Valle
As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close and as companies wind down their celebration efforts, it’s an opportune time to revisit how Hispanics continue to shape the United States, as well as the challenges they face year-round. As consumers of data, companies should care about where their data comes from and how it was collected, especially when that data is being used to inform corporate strategy...
Read moreThe Future of People in the Workplace: The Rise of Japan’s Freelance Community
Masaya Takasaka
In this changing societal landscape, Japan is also observing a rapid growth in its freelance population and economy...
Read moreReclaiming the Lost Art of "Stakeholder” Engagement
Scott Conklin
& Devyn McDonald
Maintaining dialogue with your constituents, allies and critics in times of calm and crisis prevents circumstances that enflame controversy...
Read moreWhy U.S. Universities Must Implement DEI Initiatives Strategically
Isaac Rosso Klakovich
& Tyler Blackburn
To achieve meaningful progress, it is essential for university leadership to weave DEI goals into the fabric of the strategic plan...
Read moreAPCO's Davos 2022 Digest
Jean de La Rochebrochard
APCO's Davos 2022 Digest takes stock of key themes and issues covered in Davos and on the global agenda today...
Read moreEffective Advocacy For Today and Tomorrow
Nina Verghese
Advocacy campaigns must be innovative, nimble and constantly rethinking and reevaluating whether their tactics are successful..
Read moreA Pending Boom in Japanese M&As Requires New Forms of Cultural Intelligence
Dale Vieregge
& Seiko Indo
Among the various means of achieving foreign market expansion, Japanese firms have turned time and again to a classic pair: mergers and acquisitions...
Read moreImpact-Multiplying Partnership Spotlight: Talking Refugee Inclusion With the Tent Partnership for Refugees
Hilary Brandenburg
& Helena Deman
Tent’s mission is focused on inclusion–we encourage companies to think about refugees as customers, employees and entrepreneurs...
Read moreMultilateral Trade Agreements in the Asia-Pacific: What China’s Participation Means For MNCs
Zhaohong Liu
& Tari Such
This post takes a closer look at how China’s RCEP membership and potential CPTPP and DEPA memberships may impact MNCs...
Read moreWhat’s on the Global Agenda in Fall 2021?
Gabriel Barrientos
From G-20 to the ongoing COP26, our team took stock of a number of cross-cutting emerging themes that present opportunities for strategic engagement, cross-sectoral partnerships and collaboration to advance innovative solutions to critical issues on the global agenda...
Read moreMultiplier Partnerships for Inclusive Recovery: APCO Forum
John Defterios
In this edition of APCO Forum, our Anna Tunkel and Hala Hanna, managing director of MIT Solve, focus on the power of multiplier partnerships...
Read moreScoring High: Opportunities and Challenges for Multinationals in China’s Sports Industry
Nina Zholudeva
& Howard Kwong
China set a goal to become a global sports power. This market is lucrative for multinational companies if they understand the opportunities and challenges...
Read moreCelebrities: Just Like Us in a Post-Pandemic World
Kika Chatterjee
Due to the pandemic, we have all let the world virtually into our homes. COVID-19 has tested the fourth-wall tension between celebrity sheen and authenticity...
Read moreReshaping Tourism through Partnership and Accountability
Silvia Perino Vaiga
The sudden halt to tourism activities in 2020 caused losses of jobs and income, making it evident how some communities are largely reliant on tourism...
Read moreMeaningful Event Participation in China
Wendy Chen
Due to the stability of the China market, companies have prioritized building relationships with major stakeholders in China through events and expos...
Read moreCombating Event Uncertainty in 2021
Suemya Shabab
It is evident that the benefits of virtual connection are strong. Event organizers must have contingency plans in place with the pandemic's end in question...
Read moreFuture of Post-COVID-19 Partnerships
Dasha Iventicheva
Post-competitive partnerships were accelerated by the pandemic like in the pharmaceutical industry, leading the way in developing life-saving vaccines...
Read moreChina’s New Urbanization Strategy
Nina Zholudeva
The Chinese government introduced a “new urbanization” strategy, which offers ample opportunities for multi-national companies to support and benefit from...
Read moreUnlocking Data Analytics is Transforming Communications for Organizations
Bill Dalbec
There’s a lot of talk today about “analytics,” “data science” and “machine learning.” How these are defined and how they are applied differ depending on who you’re talking to, the field they work in and what their expertise is...
Read moreLessons Learned from One Year into COVID-19
Linda Barnhart
We have now arrived at a significant milestone where companies and organizations should take stock of what’s worked, what hasn’t and what they can and should be doing to prepare themselves for the next “unprecedented” event...
Read moreDevelop Corporate Sustainability Strategy
Colin Reisser
Following the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, global progress on addressing climate change appeared to slow for a number of years. In the absence of strong and coordinated political action, companies came to realize that they could take climate action substantially faster than political systems...
Read moreNavigating Gender Equity in a Pandemic World
Katherine F. Mackinnon
As we celebrate this year’s Women’s History Month, we must recognize that we very much stand on the shoulders of those women who came before us and created space in the workplace for us. Holding that space, and retaining women in the workforce, is our collective responsibility...
Read moreWhat is the Shelf Life of Racial Justice?
Charlene Wheeless
Company leaders need to reimagine the business case for diversity, dig deeper and focus on the systems and power structures within their organizations that elevate one group of people and diminishes another. This is hard work. It requires self-examination to understand our own biases and how we contribute to the systemic issues that exist...
Read moreDiverse Hiring: Seven Ways to Help Your Business Thrive
Semhar Tesfay
As the economics of business changes, corporations need to reelevate their talent strategy to compete globally. Diversity is a business imperative and not just "the right thing to do." Building a more inclusive workforce offers different perspectives and provides the innovation, creativity, and acceleration of positive change that companies need to ensure long-term success...
Read moreAccelerating Philanthropy: How We Must Evolve to Address Racial Justice
Stephanie Green
The traditional philanthropy sector is having its own reckoning with race—confronting its roots in wealth disparities and paternalistic, colonial approaches, and moving towards justice-centered giving, redistributing power and investing in community-led solutions...
Read moreAccelerating What's Right With Data
David Sánchez Carmona
With great knowledge and insights come with great responsibility and as business and organizations select how to use data towards their business activities, none can claim data neutrality. There are clear business and cost-effective strategies to mitigating racial and prejudice bias, but above all, these offensive applications affect people’s lives and should be open to scrutiny and accountability...
Read moreSuper Bowl LV Ad Review: The Greatest Ever
Bill Dalbec
When it comes to advocacy and adding to societal value, this year's Super Bowl was again one where only a handful of ads rose to the level of the brands recognizing and embracing their strengths...
Read moreWhat I Want to See in the Big Game
Bill Dalbec
This month’s Super Bowl LV will be different. There will be a limited number of fans inside the stadium and likely (hopefully) fewer large watch parties. Adding to the disruption of this annual spectacle are the numerous long-standing brands that have decided to take a pass and not advertise in the game...
Read more2021: An Opportunity to Build a Better and Healthier World
Margery Kraus
As 2021 kicks off, let’s think about the kind of society we want, because we have an opportunity to rebuild society better, healthier and more supportive. While change won’t happen overnight, we can make the choice to do better not just for ourselves and our businesses, but also for the people who lost their lives, livelihoods and loved ones over the past year...
Read moreCOVID-19 in 2021: Is Your Company Ready?
Barie Carmichael
& Charlene Wheeless
If COVID-19 ushered in new issues for your company in 2020, just wait until 2021. Bridging the period between the pandemic and widespread COVID-19 immunity will require thoughtful policies that further define your corporate legacy and how you live your values...
Read moreMedia in 2021: Earn it, Own it and Share it
Iris Shaffer
The media landscape has been changing and contracting for years, and will continue to do so in 2021. Content is still the key to successful media coverage and here are a few ways to prepare your media programs for the year ahead...
Read moreHow to Achieve Healthcare Celebrity Status
Julie Orsini
As a global population, we’re leaning in to science and the scientific community more than ever before—representing a critical inflection point for healthcare communicators and marketers...
Read moreEssential Bytes: The Role of Social Impact
Elizabeth Duncan-Watt
& Nicole Monge
& Dan Smith
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...
Read moreI Vote Because… Part II: Six Takes from APCO Team Members
Edwin Feliciano
& Julie Jack
& Jack Kalavritinos
& Pete Wentz
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. ..
Read moreHow Europe Responded to the Black Lives Matter Movement
Silvia Perino Vaiga
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...
Read moreBlack Swan or Boomerang: Trajectories for Geopolitics in the 2020s
James Robinson
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.
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Read moreUnderstanding and Tackling Voter Suppression
Dan Meyers
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...
Read moreI Vote Because… Four Takes from APCO Team Members
Prateek Allapur
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. ..
Read moreImmigrants—We Get the Job Done (But Need to Vote More)
Jimmy Koo
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...
Read moreThree Leadership Lessons from RBG
Kelly Williamson
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.”..
Read moreC-Suites Need Communicators!
Liam Clarke
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...
Read moreFor U.S. Organizations, Recovery Plans Begin Within
Linda Barnhart
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...
Read morePublic Affairs in the COVID-19 World
Masayo Nagai
Leading experts in the field share their insights on conducting public affairs in the COVID-19 era...
Read moreCSR and Advocacy After COVID-19
Deanna Javadi
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...
Read moreFive Lessons PR Pros Can Learn from Dungeons & Dragons
Riley Templeton
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...
Read moreCommunicating in a Post-COVID-19 Landscape
Nicole Monge
& Bedoor Khalil
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...
Read moreHow Can CEOs Generate Media and Social Media Attention During a 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...
Read moreHow to Make Your Advertising Stand Out in the Crowded COVID-19 Pandemic Landscape
Mac Struthers
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...
Read moreThe Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area in 2020
Howard Kwong
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...
Read moreStart Today to Come Back Stronger Tomorrow
Kelly Stepno
& James Robinson
Resilient organizations must act now to establish their foothold to come back stronger, recognizing there will be varying degrees of coming back...
Read moreJuggling Life During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Katie Sprehe
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...
Read moreStorytelling in a Time of COVID-19
Iris Shaffer
& Lauren Pellek
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. ..
Read moreEngaging Employees During and After COVID-19
Kimberly Gardiner
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...
Read moreBuilding the Next 100 Years of Women’s Empowerment
Margery Kraus
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...
Read moreGulf Employees Look to Governments for COVID-19 Guidance
Mamoon Sbeih
New research from APCO Insight shows that concerns about the impact of COVID-19 are high in the Arabian Gulf...
Read moreFive Questions to Assess an Authentic Corporate Purpose
Margery Kraus
& Barie Carmichael
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. ..
Read moreBest Practices on Working from the Homefront
Julie Jack
& Kimberly Gardiner
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...
Read moreThe Critical Role of HR Communication in Times of Crisis
Agnieszka Zieminska Yank
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. ..
Read moreBuilding a Virtual Culture: The Remote Workforce
Katie Sprehe
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. ..
Read moreImportance of a Positive Workplace Culture and How to Build It
Rahul Sharma
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...
Read moreCreating a Culture That Boosts Employee Engagement
Miho Tsunoda
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...
Read moreHow to Build a Culture in Your Company That Lasts
Uzma Lodhi
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?..
Read morePutting Meaning Back in Purpose
Julie Jack
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...
Read moreGenerational Viewpoints on Workplace Culture That Lasts
Pete Wentz
& Lelia Busch
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...
Read moreTrust in Leaders Emerges as a Pivotal Workplace Factor for 2020
Kimberly Gardiner
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...
Read moreSuper Bowl LIV Ad Review
Bill Dalbec
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...
Read moreGlobal Leadership in 2020 and Beyond
Claudia Fritsche
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...
Read moreThought Leadership Opportunities Presented by Major Global Events in 2020
Miho Tsunoda
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...
Read moreThree Challenges for Financial Services in 2020
Jeff Zelkowitz
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...
Read moreFive Workplace Trends Employers Can’t Afford to Ignore in 2020
Kimberly Gardiner
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...
Read moreChina’s Global Aviation Ambitions
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...
Read moreEmployee Advocates: the Future of Stakeholder Engagement and Influence
Dale Vieregge
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...
Read moreHow to Influence People to Engage in Your Advocacy Efforts
Dan Meyers
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...
Read moreStakeholder Primacy: Reconciling Competing Expectations
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...
Read moreThe Future of DC Influence Must Include Digital
Bill Dalbec
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...
Read moreHow Multinationals Can Influence and Build a Healthy China
Anne Wang
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...
Read moreLeadership Skills to Navigate Volatility and Uncertainty
Brad Staples
The challenges of today’s interdependent and interconnected world dictate responses and issue management that require leadership based on sensitivity, adaptability and agility...
Read moreCEOs Today Must be Alert and Engaged
Brad Staples
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...
Read moreThe Importance of Experience to the Traveler of the Future
Liam Clarke
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...
Read moreAdvertising to the Consumer of the Future
Elaine Kolish
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...
Read moreMedia Relations for the Consumer of the Future
Iris Shaffer
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...
Read moreMeta-influence: How do you Influence an Influencer?
Alexandre Marie Saint Germain
Understanding who and what influence decision makers online allows communicators to make more informed decisions about indirect influence strategies..
Read moreHow to Win the Future: Tips from Future Festival
Emily Coghlan
& Emilie Schulze
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...
Read moreBuilding an Agile Company
Julie Jack
& Joanna London
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...
Read moreIt’s Time to Talk and Walk the Talk
Kelly Williamson
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...
Read moreThe North Star for Navigating Through a Crisis
Jim Moorhead
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...
Read moreCorporate Conscience: External Impact Driven by Internal Forces
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...
Read moreActions Over Words: Living Corporate Values
Kimberly Gardiner
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...
Read moreWhat Would It Mean for Values to Drive Your Business?
Dale Vieregge
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. ..
Read morePublic Affairs is at an Inflection Point in India
Adip Puri
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'...
Read moreThe Importance of Corporate Vision and Values
The role of the CEO as a business or corporate diplomat for their company reflects a reset in politics, business and society...
Read moreWhy Supplier Diversity is Crucial for Driving Business Growth
Edwin Feliciano
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...
Read moreAdvice for Japanese Businesses Investing in Europe
Pietro Battistella
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...
Read moreRediscovering True Brand Purpose
Lauren Pellek
For many, corporate purpose has been co-opted and exploited. So, what can brands do to change that and take a meaningful stance?..
Read moreThe Evolving Media Ecosystem
Lauren Pellek
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...
Read moreEnterprising Culture: The Secret to Business Success
Kimberly Gardiner
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...
Read moreThe Office Environment of the Future
Richard N. Swett
In this highly competitive world where much is at stake, companies need to create as advantageous a work environment as possible for their employees...
Read moreTo Win Today’s Top Talent, Organizations Must Be Flexible
Dale Vieregge
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...
Read moreThe War for Talent
Natasha Angileh
"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...
Read moreBuilding a Learning Culture
Courtney O’Connell
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...
Read moreChina’s Social Media Landscape
Yitao Deng
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...
Read moreUnderstanding Your Audiences
Ido Aharoni
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...
Read moreSocial Risk: Teaming up for Advocacy
Dan Meyers
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...
Read moreEmployee Activism: A New Model for Business?
Katie Sprehe
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...
Read moreDoes Your Company Know its Social Footprint?
Barie Carmichael
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...
Read moreCan AI be Truly Unbiased and Inclusive?
David Sánchez Carmona
The expertise and frameworks to ensure that the mathematical foundation of AI and machine learning algorithms are ethical and fair has not kept up...
Read morePerspectives From the 2019 UN Women's Summit
Judit Arenas
& Shivangi Gupta
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...
Read moreAchieving Balance Around the World
Margery Kraus
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...
Read moreReputation Management for B2B Companies in a B2C World
Katie Sprehe
It’s time for B2B companies to get on the bandwagon of paying attention to consumer expectations...
Read moreJapanese Media Relations Insights for Communicators
Pietro Battistella
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...
Read moreHow Companies Navigate the New Normal
Tina-Marie Adams
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? ..
Read moreHelping Brands Take a (Meaningful) Stand
Lauren Pellek
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...
Read moreCommunicating in an Era of Great Change
Seiko Indo
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...
Read moreAdapting to the Age of Fake News
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...
Read moreGet off the Plane
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...
Read moreWhen Sorry Isn't Enough
Katie Sprehe
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.
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Read moreA Look Back at Pride
Brad Staples
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. ..
Read moreThe Four Principles of Champion Brands: China
James McGregor
Since 1999, the year China’s "Going Out" strategy was first announced, China has dreamed of creating global brands. ..
Read moreFDI in an "America First" Administration
Jeff Zelkowitz
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...
Read moreThe Contradiction that is President Trump
Bill Dalbec
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...
Read moreManaging Reputation Through the Windshield
Barie Carmichael
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...
Read moreCelebrity Activists Lend Lower Credibility to Companies
Katie Sprehe
Is a marriage of ideals with a celebrity activist a smart partnership? ..
Read moreChina's Foreign NGO Management Law
APCO Forum
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. ..
Read moreInnovating Communication About Innovation
Katie Sprehe
Let’s face it, communicating on innovation is challenging for companies in any industry. ..
Read moreBusiness and Social Risk
Barie Carmichael
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...
Read moreHealth Care PR in Turbulent Times
Stig Albinus
What are the implications of this new challenging, turbulent environment for health care communications?..
Read moreSuper Bowl LI Ad Roundup
Bill Dalbec
To say that Super Bowl advertisers were operating in a new era this year is a bit of an understatement. ..
Read moreThe Need to Coordinate Legal and Comms Strategy
Pete Wentz
To minimize the reputational damage that legal filings or arguments can cause, a company’s legal and communications counsel must work closely together...
Read moreCorporate Reputation in the Trump Administration
Katie Sprehe
In 2017, many large corporations will face a delicate balancing act. ..
Read moreSuper Bowl LII Ad Review
Bill Dalbec
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...
Read moreManaging Social Media in the Legal System
Kent Jarrell
The sanctity of the courtroom has been invaded by the Internet 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...
Read moreSharedPurpose
James Robinson
Here is what we expect to be important for multinationals navigating China’s business and policy landscapes in 2018. ..
Read moreImportance of the General Counsel/CCO Relationship
Jim Moorhead
& Joanna London
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...
Read moreThe Best Corporate Advocacy Starts at Home
APCO Forum
Our research, as well as Fortune's, shows that employees are the centerpiece to any true expression of commitment to global citizenship...
Read moreStarbucks Turns Their Response Into Action
APCO Forum
On Tuesday, Starbucks announced it would close 8,000 stores for racial-bias education training May 29...
Read moreEngagement is Critical to Employment Strategy
Kimberly Gardiner
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. ..
Read more100 Days Recap: Media Disruption
Dale Vieregge
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. ..
Read moreWhat Trends Will Dominate 2019?
Brad Staples
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...
Read moreThe Benefits of Internal Social Media
Bill Dalbec
As internal social media (ISM) becomes more prevalent in the workplace, how is this impacting employee engagement? wwwwwww..
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APCO Forum blog posts represent the voice of the author and not necessarily the corporate position or policy of APCO Worldwide.