This article explores the Social pillar in the ESG equation and offers a framework for aligning interests of employees, communities and investors within this context.   We discuss the contributions of a developed Social pillar to company performance and describe how The Collaboration Vector Inc. framework can help companies boost the performance of this pillar.   The proposed framework enables employee-led community programs that generate social impact in communities and in companies. 

An integrated corporate community program is one that becomes an indiscernible part of a company’s culture over the long term. It is achieved by providing latitude and support to employees who take ownership of local leadership while adhering to a united corporate focus. In our experience at The Collaboration Vector, integrated community programs are welcomed and embraced by employees. When employees are supported in leading partnerships with non-profits over the long term, sustained positive social impact is realized in communities.

The pandemic taught us many lessons about leadership that will serve us well.  As management models based on autonomy and trust evolved, natural and often unexpected leaders came to the forefront.  They self-empowered as hierarchical communication and decision-making channels were disrupted. At a time when uncertainty is the new norm, companies can identify and enable these natural leaders to rise and thrive.  In this new era no longer defined by supervision and oversight, which employees will lead the way?  What effective leadership characteristics might they possess?How will companies create conditions needed to develop and retain them?

Vous considérez mettre en place un nouveau programme communautaire corporatif ou vous désirez effectuer une refonte d’un programme existant à la suite de la COVID-19? Pensez à développer un programme à long terme. 

Companies looking to put new corporate community programs in place during COVID-19, or who are rethinking existing programs as a result of COVID-19, may wish to consider engaging employees in long-term partnerships with culturally aligned non-profits, focussed on achieving social objectives.  Our team at The Collaboration Vector Inc. is witnessing firsthand the robustness of these programs because by design, they continue to generate both business and social value during a time of upheaval.

During COVID-19, The Collaboration Vector has been working diligently with business clients and non-profit partners on what is possible relative to what is needed in the community.   Case-by-case problem solving, multi-sector engagement and agile decision-making in corporate community programs is leading to immediate and pragmatic solutions.  Every action during COVID -19 is having a huge impact.

Pendant la pandémie de COVID-19, le Vecteur de Collaboration travaille consciencieusement avec des clients corporatifs et des partenaires à but non lucratif afin de déterminer ce qu’il est possible de faire pour répondre aux besoins de la communauté. La résolution de problèmes au cas par cas, l’engagement multi-sectoriel et un processus de prise de décision flexible à l’intérieur des programmes communautaires corporatifs génèrent des solutions immédiates et pragmatiques. Chaque geste peut avoir un énorme impact en ces temps de COVID-19.

Evidence is mounting rapidly that links a strong relationship between business performance and the extent to which a company is socially and environmentally responsible.  While being socially responsible is known to drive multiple favorable employee indicators, it is also fostering consumer, customer, investor, and citizen engagement.  Social transformation and deep engagement drive favorable stakeholder perceptions as stakeholders naturally and readily relate to social missions.   

Matching the professional skill sets of Sealanders with local needs, Sealand Americas, in collaboration with non-profit partner Projeto Arrastão (PA), designed and delivered a customer service training program for underprivileged youths in the Campo Limpo region of Brazil. An essential component of Transformative Community Involvement™  (TCI™) principles is the assessment of impact and the generation of evidence-based data for program development and evolution. To this effect, our white paper shows the quantified return on investment and qualitative impact on lives of PA students and Sealand employees, demonstrating yet again that businesses and society can flourish together by seeking the intersection of interests for mutual value creation!

In 2016, Sealand Americas, a people-centric ocean carrier in the Americas,(1) and non-profit partner Humanity and Hope United,(2) set out to generate employment for women in La Coroza, Honduras. This case study presents the successes and challenges of their journey in implementing a pig farm operation in this small rural village and explores the business and social impact of the project.   

Your company, with its unique set of possibilities and limitations, has a sweet spot for both volunteer time and funds that it can sustain over time.  This is the spot at which you provide maximum return for society and business at the lowest risk.  Whether you are transactional or transformative in your approach to community investment, it is important for you to find your sweet spot.  Doing so will help you reduce risk that is associated with some common and well-intentioned community investment practices.    

This article explores the social and business transformation that resulted when Sealand Americas, a differentiated ocean carrier in the Americas, moved from a transactional to a transformative approach to community involvement.  It is a joint effort between Sealand Americas and The Collaboration Vector Inc. (TCV), a CSR strategy and service firm specializing in Transformative Community Involvement™.

Sealand Americas, a differentiated ocean carrier in the Americas, together with the company’s dynamic non-profit partner Costa Recicla, catalyzed an office recycling movement in Costa del Este, Panama...

Business and societal challenges are becoming increasingly bigger and way too complex to be addressed by traditional, transactional approaches to community involvement...

Aujourd’hui, les défis en affaires et les problèmes sociétaux deviennent de plus en plus complexes et grands et ne peuvent plus être résolus par des approches transactionnelles en philanthropie...

Los desafíos del mundo de  los  negocios y de la sociedad se vuelven cada vez más complejos, por lo cual no pueden ser manejados con un enfoque tradicional de apoyo a las comunidades....