In this year’s People and Climate Change report we look at individuals’ need to act in the climate crisis, the transition to net zero, and the role of ESG as a corporate priority in 2026.
With the pace of change quickening, we ask Council members about the challenges they face in their day to day activities; when it’s right to pursue corporate activism, and the risks and rewards of doing so; the importance of the ‘employer brand’; and whether Millennials truly a different audience from a communications perspective?
Corporate communicators need to demonstrate a deep commercial understanding of the business issues their organisations face – this gives them credibility around the leadership table. They operate in fast-moving and complex environments and need to be able to learn and adapt quickly. Building strong relationships and networks with influencers and decision-makers (both internally and externally) is essential if they are to get things done.
Corporate activism is both an opportunity and risk, with council members acknowledging both sides of the debate in equal measure. There is widespread acknowledgement that corporate activism is expected by consumers, but is also very hard to do well. Authenticity is the key, with campaigns that are true to your corporate values having the greatest chance of success.
Having a strong employer brand is crucial to corporate reputation, giving companies not only a recruitment edge in the growing talent war but also the highest-quality long-term ambassadors to deliver on their brand promises. Employees are more demanding than ever when it comes to what they expect from their employer but this is not purely down to Millennials; employees at all life stages want a career with a deeper purpose. Getting it wrong and failing to deliver on the employee brand expectation can have consequences that extend well beyond employees; consumers too are demanding more from corporates.
Equity flow is an important way to leverage value from a strong reputation. It can be used to build business when market opportunities arise, or as a defence when reputation turbulence hits. Above all, the management of equity flow should be seen as a strategic process that brings together people across the marketing, communications and leadership spectrum.
Millennials can be challenging to communicate with, but corporate comunicators often do not think in terms of age, but rather attitudes and behaviours. The most worrying phenomenon concerns ‘echo-chambers’. Millennials trust companies and engage with those that are transparent, responsible and have something to say. however, true loyalty is hard to achieve.
Anyone who regularly reads the news would be forgiven for thinking that cybercrime was endemic across the world at the moment. Scarcely a week goes by without a new story, and while many of them are newsworthy for only a short time, as these attacks increase in number so will the frequency that they become genuine headline news.
