Multi-stakeholder partnerships are more and more seen as a key way to tackle the complicated and complex challenges we face as a society. I am a great champion of the power of partnership and believe that they can really make a significant difference. However, too many collaborations jump head first into the partnership without considering the complicated mechanics of 'how' to successfully partner.
Social Enterprise in Action! Deepwater Farms
Social entrepreneurs are change-drivers that creatively approach some of our most substantial social problems and look to leverage business solutions in solving them. Their social purpose allows them to change the world while their business focus allows for sustainability and flexibility. This past weekend Beakerhead held a Social Venture Pitch Contest, sponsored by Trico Charitable Foundation.
Growing the Purposeful Workforce
There are two types of employees in today’s workforce, those who come to work in order to get a paycheck, and those who believe their work can have a greater impact. Recently we have seen an increase in purpose driven employees as millennials enter the workforce and baby boomers look for a higher meaning in their day to day work.Millennials in particular are well-known for being more purpose driven than any other generation.
Reflections from the Partnership Brokers Community of Practice
At the end of June I attended the global Partnership Brokers Association’s weeklong Community of Practice. Almost 20 Partnership Broker practitioner trainers from around the world gathered to study and reflect on how to strengthen the partnership process through the emerging profession of Partnership Brokers. The Community of Practice meeting involves sharing new ideas, evolving the training material and learning from thought-provoking discussion. Here are three highlights from the week:
Engaging Employees: ‘Employee’ Centered Design
Encouraging engagement among employees is an age old problem that is not getting any easier. More and more companies are implementing employee engagement programs, but the majority difficulty with low participation rates. So what makes the difference between an engaging, exciting program and the lackluster ones that we see all too often?
Five Reasons to Sign Up For Partnership Brokers Training this Fall!
If you want to travel fast, travel alone. If you want to travel far, travel together” –African Proverb It can be said that partnering creates a whole that is significantly greater than the sum of the individual parts, and in the process builds greater value than any one partner could achieve on their own. But what does it take to make a partnership successful? What makes some partnership successful and others not?
Partnership Brokers – Training for Stronger Partnerships
In a couple of weeks I leave for London, UK and Wales for the global Partnership Brokers Association’s weeklong Community of Practice. Leading partnership practitioners from around the world gather to study and reflect on how to strengthen the partnership process through the emerging profession of Partnership Brokers. Partnering is critical if we are to create more inclusive and sustainable communities.
'One for Many' Cause Marketing
There are a number of innovative Canadian brands that are transforming the way consumers see business. In this issue, we are highlighting an up and coming Canadian company, Cole & Parker. These guys have put a new spin on the traditional One-for-One model and are transforming the way we think about giving back! This new model is called ‘One for Many’, and is a form of BOGO: Buy One Give One.
Profits & Purpose: The State of Shared Value
This past week, the annual Shared Value Conference was held in New York City. Shared value has been around for a few years now. A recent report, The State of Shared Value in Australia by the Shared Value Project has us reflecting on the state of shared value worldwide.The report details the state of shared value, the challenges, the benefits, and critical next steps. It also has a few case studies to illustrate successful shared value in practice – which is always helpful in understanding the potential.
How Non-Profits Are Similar to Their For-Profit Counterparts
A recent report from Imagine Canada, Charities in Canada as an Economic Sector details the importance of Canada’s charitable sector in providing services to Canada’s most vulnerable. As the demand to address social and environmental challenges continues to rise, non-profits will become an even more important element of Canada’s society and economy.