Pernod Ricard North America’s vice president and head of diversity and inclusion discusses how companies need to look at the “entire employee life cycle” when examining their DEI programs and why public affairs professionals shouldn’t be afraid of data.
Is your diversity training getting the results that you want — and that your employees (and prospective employees) deserve? Do you have a system for reviewing the effectiveness of your training? Read on for guidance for quantifying your efforts.
Who knew that a bag of granola would carry what might be the most admirable example of branding extant? But there it is, on a BE-KIND product: “Ingredients you can see and pronounce.” Learn how to apply this “simple and direct” approach to your writing.
The Council’s job board is the place to find public affairs jobs from around the world and across industries. See this month’s featured listings.
Why didn’t the “red wave” so many experts predicted materialize in the 2022 midterms? With an unpopular Democratic president in office and economic pessimism weighing on voters, Republican success seemed likely. Nathan Gonzales explains what turned independents off in 2022 and why we need to keep an eye on this voting bloc in 2024.
The midterms left us with slim margins and the prospect of even more gridlock at the federal level. Discover why those looking to move the needle in either direction have shifted focus to the states and localities, as well as a breakdown of the challenges they’ll face.
With a master’s in divinity as well as both a J.D. and a master’s in law, Kendra Brown brings a varied knowledge base to her work as Mastercard’s vice president of public policy, U.S. federal affairs. Read on for how she is taking meaningful steps in the DEI landscape.
We’ve all been told that stories need a beginning, a middle and an end, but that advice can leave a lot of holes. Learn about a “story hack” inspired by the creators of South Park that applies a more helpful framework for your comms work.
The Council’s job board is the place to find public affairs jobs from around the world and across industries. See this month’s featured listings.
From serving in the C-suite of companies such as Political Quotient Advisors and Grant Thornton to her current leadership role with the George W. Bush Institute, newly elected Council Chair Mary Moore Hamrick has enjoyed a remarkable career with a focus on learning. Read about her priorities for the Council in the year ahead.
Nathan Gonzales explains why there’s a difference between “what happened in an election and what politicians think happened” and dives into the issues to listen for as politicians diagnose the midterm results and the implications for 2024.
The pandemic may have changed how the Council served its members, but it didn’t affect the quality. Learn how the outstanding contributions of Volunteers of the Year Adrienne Marks (left) and Bethany Dame helped bring value to the Council and the public affairs profession during challenging times.
Public affairs professionals are relying on their issues and reputation management skills to help companies navigate the growing focus on DEI, corporate social engagement and ESG. The Council’s Social Impact Committee Co-chairs Roi Ewell and Maureen Kline discuss how the committee can help provide guidance in that area and priorities for the year ahead.
Random House editor Benjamin Dreyer says very is a “dull adverb and encourages duller adjectives.” More often than not, it detracts from the word you’re trying to strengthen. Keep reading for examples of more “Throat-Clearers” and “Wan Intensifiers” to avoid in your writing.
The Council’s job board is the place to find public affairs jobs from around the world and across industries. This issue spotlights jobs in corporate social responsibility.
During the Fall Board Meeting in Los Angeles last week, the Public Affairs Council elected Mary Moore Hamrick of the George W. Bush Institute as its 2022-23 chair. The new Executive Committee Officers were also announced, and the Volunteers of the Year were honored.
Prepare for a tumultuous post-election period that could escalate debates over the legitimacy of results. Nathan Gonzales breaks down how we could find ourselves with an even uglier election denial in 2024.
The 2022 Public Affairs Pulse survey, conducted by the Council and Morning Consult, reveals a deepening gulf between older and younger Americans on corporate engagement in social issues and concerns about the conduct of politicians. Read more about these differences and whether the divide between business and the Republican Party is narrowing or growing.
The Association for Accessible Medicines’ senior director of marketing has enjoyed a career traversing four states that finally brought her to D.C. Read how Klinger fused her visual arts background with cause marketing and how she spearheaded grassroots engagement and growth at AAM.
To help today’s communicators perfect their messaging and news channels, the Axios editors wrote a book offering tips for clear and concise writing. Yet the concept of “smart brevity” isn’t new. Learn more about the best books for writing guidance.
The Council’s job board is the place to find public affairs jobs from around the world and across industries. This issue spotlights jobs in public policy, regulatory affairs and government relations.
Will Republicans sweep Congress? Will congressional control be split between parties? Will Democrats make gains in both chambers? Nathan Gonzales dives into the uncertainty of the midterms and how the overturning of Roe v. Wade, President Biden’s approval rating and other factors may (or may not) mean unexpected results in November.
It can be difficult to apply value metrics to public affairs as the outcomes are rarely tracked the same as business KPIs. Council President Doug Pinkham outlines a framework for measurement focusing primarily on impact rather than activity. Read on for his guidance.
The National Association of Broadcasters’ vice president of government relations offers insights for getting Capitol Hill staffers up to speed on your advocacy topics and how to develop relationships that will keep you on their radar.
As remote work continues, workers with disabilities have been most severely affected by the inadequacy of some of the new tech tools. Learn how to ensure that your company’s culture and policies give people with disabilities the same opportunities as their colleagues.
In the beginning of the pandemic, working from home felt liberating, but setting your own schedule has its downsides. Has the temptation to be available 24/7 left you lacking “work-life balance”? To restore some order, check out these actionable tips from time management experts.
Writing about numbers may seem straightforward, but the pursuit of accuracy can sometimes translate to TMI. Read on for tips on how to avoid a soup of digits and vary language to communicate effectively with numbers.
The Council’s job board is the place to find public affairs jobs from around the world and across industries. This issue spotlights jobs in public policy, regulatory affairs and government relations.
Twitter may not be the largest social platform, but it remains influential for navigating political discussion with 33% of tweets published by adults being political in nature, according to Pew Research Center. Read on for why Twitter toxicity shouldn’t dissuade public affairs professionals from using the platform as long as they do it wisely.
Will the midterm elections follow historical precedent, or will they be influenced by a confluence of data and circumstances that vary from the norm? Nathan Gonzales breaks down how President Joe Biden’s approval rating, opinions of independent voters, the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, and other factors are making this election cycle difficult to predict.
Companies routinely publicize their diversity programs, but how many actually go beyond self-aggrandizing announcements and do the real work to advance their stated goals? Learn how to ensure you’re putting teeth into your DEI efforts.
The vice president of government and public affairs with General Mills shares his experience leading the organization through the pandemic, the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, where General Mills is headquartered, and his commitment to DEI and racial equity issues. Learn more about Lee.
The pandemic forced us to rethink how we do presentations, but are we slouching a bit too much toward informality? The key is to hit the right casual tone but still be taken seriously by your colleagues … and that takes work. Keep reading for modern tips on body language and professional decorum.
The power of a well-written memo cannot be underestimated. Considered by many to be a dying art, developing a concise memo (or talking points) gives you the “power to frame the issue the way you want.” Read our tips for how to do it right.
The Council’s job board is the place to find public affairs jobs from around the world and across industries. This issue spotlights jobs in media relations, federal policy and congressional affairs.
While the news media waits to see how corporate America will react to changes in abortion laws, few firms are viewing the expected demise of Roe v. Wade as an opportunity to hold a press conference or issue a public statement. Council President Doug Pinkham looks at what companies are already doing and factors to consider before speaking out or taking action.
After watching more than a handful of Republican and Democratic incumbents struggle or even lose their primaries, it might be easy to assume that voters are poised to punish candidates from both parties in November. Nathan Gonzales explains why you shouldn’t assume we’re in for a “throw the bums out” election.
From White House intern to National Guard member after 9/11 to state and local advocacy leader, AIA’s senior director of advocacy capacity development has had a fascinating career. Learn how Gray was inspired by his grandmother, and how he helped her early in his career at the White House.
There’s much to celebrate during Pride month, including the continued evidence that inclusion of LGBTQ people in the workplace is good for business. Despite this, members of the community report struggling to be accepted in their workplaces and recognized for their efforts. Read on for why this disconnect persists and the role of business and the media.
What was appropriate for the office was already becoming more casual before the pandemic, a process that working from home accelerated. But as we return to offices and in-person meetings, is it wise for public affairs professionals to ditch the power suits and dresses altogether?
Best-selling author Stephen King shares common-sense writing tips in his new memoir, asking us to stop already with the self-conscious pursuit of colorful synonyms and annoying phrases. Keep reading for an excellent example of how to write in the active voice rather than the passive.
The Council’s job board is the place to find public affairs jobs from around the world and across industries. This issue we spotlight jobs across the field, from PAC management to digital marketing to grassroots.
People are leaving their jobs in search of something better, and it’s not always about more money. Read on for how to make your work culture satisfying and stimulating, and how smart companies are enticing women who left the workforce during the pandemic to come back.
