Purpose in a polarised world
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Happy May Day weekend!
I’m going to kick this May Day issue off, with something positive! In the last edition I talked about finding our own own ways to create impact. TomTom Co-founder and Chief Brief subscriber Corinne Vigreux delivered, as she always does.
In addition to the ground breaking CodeAm project in Amsterdam (read more about it here), Corinne and TomTom are collaborating with the OBA, City of Amsterdam, Adyen, Just Eat Takeaway.com, Miro and Tumo Center for Creative Technologies to fund and kick start the first Dutch branch of the after-school program TUMO from 2025. Tumo currently works with 28,000 students in countries including Armenia, Lebanon, France, Portugal, Germany and Ukraine.
Founded by Armenian Tech entrepreneurs Sam and Sylva Simonian, TUMO is a free program for teenagers focusing on creativity, technology and digital knowledge. Teens decide for themselves what they want to learn and how. Whether its game and web development, 3D graphic design or robotics, the program opens minds, doors and opportunities for young people who may never have thought such opportunities could be accessible to them.
Hats off to founders like Corinne - my belief that ‘tech for good’ is still a real concept is kept intact by those like her, making our world a better place.
Finding purpose in a hopping mad world!
For what began in 1889 as a socialist leaning, trade union commemoration of workers embroiled in a violent confrontation in Chicago - May Day across the world has crossed those leftist boundaries and become an integral part of our holiday calendar.
The trillion-dollar question is will May Day still be relevant in the coming years as AI’s potential to disrupt human work, or global economic and geopolitical uncertainties create a push back on hard fought wins for workers?
Who would’ve thought for example, physical (think maternity/paternity/disability) and mental health, diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) or the gender pay gap would become political hot potatoes, especially in the boardrooms of U.S. companies in 2024?
Turns out the pendulum in the United States has definitively swung against DEI and even ESG. Even talking about either has become like wading in piranha infested waters.
Afterall 28 U.S. states and the U.S. Congress have introduced 81 anti-DEI bills targeting colleges since 2023, with 8 signed into law in states like Texas and Florida. Industry bosses like Bill Ackerman have been quick to jump on the derision stage, as has Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump. It’s even a goal in his campaign’s transition plan to reverse “the DEI revolution.”
ESG s is now such a bad word in U.S. investment circles that “transition investing” is the new buzzword for finance folks looking to keep jumpy investors pacified. Those who really don’t want to deal with backlash are indulging in what’s being called green hushing. Everyone wants to stop talking and frankly, who’d blame them?
On my recent trip to New York, the palpable tension around the Columbia University protests and its heavy-handed handling was eye opening for those like me, visiting from other parts of the world. The atmosphere starkly laid bare the political dynamite U.S. based organisations are grappling with. It also clearly explains their caution on the next stage of evolution of internal corporate social responsibility.
The first and most obvious sign for this immigrant transplant to Europe, arriving in the United States? My social media feed and its dramatic make-over. Gone was my constant stream of international news about Gaza or the climate. Also vanishing from my stream - Peace activists and accounts most vocal about DEI. But at least my hilarious dog videos remained!
Perhaps I was also paying closer attention to the undercurrents since I was headed into conversations centred around a company’s ability to create social impact in a polarised world. Between Europe based Adyen, UNICEF, human rights barrister Amal Clooney and the impact heads of companies from both sides of the Atlantic - we talked about the way forward despite the palpable shift in the United States in wanting to be seen talking about human rights, equality or diversity or workers. It turns out the companies who were always serious about doing good are choosing to soldier on, even if it is quietly. Impact after all isn’t made by noise.
Spotify CHRO Katerina Berg’s comment really stuck with me.
"Where will people find HOPE? They'll find it in music. Stick to what you know. Here's to bold values and leveraging core capabilities for a better world!”
For the world to not follow the U.S. on this reversal, and finding purpose and creating a net positive impact on society is going to take breaking with tradition. For once, globally perhaps we need not emulate the world’s economic juggernaut.
For leaders in global boardrooms evaluating their future course, it will take forging a brave path - whether vocally or quietly, bringing their values and expertise to the issues closest to their business and stakeholders.
Another option Generation Unlimited CEO Kevin Fray hopes that leaders will consider is - to lead the charge and be a first mover on social impact, regardless of consequence.
In Amal Clooney’s words: "Don't be on the wrong side of history."
