Recently, I had the opportunity to attend Newsweek’s panel discussion of ‘Why Going Green Pays Dividends’. You may recall, Newsweek announced the Greenest Companies in America last September and the panel addressed corporate sustainability.
One of the outcomes for me was a shift in my thinking. Actually, it is one of those key points you already know, but addressed in this context brought with a renewed commitment to operationalize my a-ha moment.
Rana Foroohar, Senior Editor, Newsweek International moderated and panelists included Anisa Kamadoti Costa, Director CSR for Tiffany’s; Tony Prophet, Senior Vice President, Hewlett-Packard (no. 1 on the Green Rankings); Annalyn Swan, Partner, ASAP Media; Sally Wilson, CB Richard Ellis and the most intriguing to me was Peter Lehner, Executive Director, National Resources Defense Council.
Peter unfolded the value of NGO’s to corporate America through a lens I had not previously considered. I am keenly aware of NGOs role vs. a NPO, but now more fully aware of why NGOs should be Corporate America’s partners.
As you know, NGOs perform a variety of activities and often shift the balance of the activities they pursue. New to me was the classification: operational or campaigning. Operational NGOs achieve small-scale change directly through projects while campaigning NGOs achieve large-scale change indirectly through influence on the political system.
Peter made a simple point. He unraveled a thread about how NGOs shape corporate thinking by the issues they raise about public policy. Ok, not earth shattering so far, but what turned on the CFL for me was this: A partnership with an NGO gives corporate America the opportunity to affect their bottom line because NGOs affect policy. Policy affects how businesses can operate. That was my a-ha moment.
So, I am on the hunt for the NGOs that line up with corporate sustainability and environmental issues specifically in the Southeast, although geographical location is not a requirement. I am signing up for their e mails, their blogs and all that social media stuff these youngsters say are good for me. And yes, I will carve out time to be more active. Since I am in Atlanta, I do not have to look far for many terrific NGOs. And I hope you will join me wherever you are.
‘Got NGO?’
