Jo Geneen MBA’s Post

AI, Sustainability, DEI and more are some of the things event professionals are thankful for in our industry. I'm thankful to be a part Gensler and for their support of my involvement on Events Industry Council's Sustainability and Social Impact committee. See what else I'm thankful for in BizBash's latest article by Claire Hoffman.

The importance of Aligning Personal and Business Values I had an amazing day at the #BusinessCulturesConnected Conference last Thursday. I highly recommend it for next year! So many great speakers to learn from and people to connect with. It’s certainly one of the most friendly and engaging conferences I’ve been to, allowing for great conversations, insights and meaningful connections. Basically it was group of passionate people who were genuinely interested in improving their cultures at work. To create great places to work which we know creates great business results. It’s about people, purpose and profit! There was so much to take in and a number of different streams going on at the same time, to allow us to select what was of most interest. So here are a few highlights and I’ll share more next week. A key theme for me was the important link between #cultureandvalues, and importance of aligning people’s personal values with that of the organisations. It was mentioned in various ways, such as ‘ we need to bring group values in a way that resonates with all’ ‘Values are what we value, and they inform our behaviours’ ‘Toxicity occurs when business and personal values are misaligned’ ‘Belonging occurs when our personal and business values are the same’ And the UK Culture Study 2024 revealed there is a 67% gap here at the moment, so lots of work to be done, to engage people at work in a meaningful way. Years ago I trained in a BlessingWhite approach to exploring the alignment of values and it’s still as relevant today if not more so. See the model below. How aligned are you values to those of the company you work with I wonder? I’d love to know! #businesscultureconnected #values #alignedvalues #businesssuccess

The D&I Changemakers Conference is not just another event. This year conference theme is #EmPowered DEI: 🟢 how we fuel ourselves and teams to keep going during not easy times? 🟡 what tools and solutions power up up your organization? 🟣 what are the DEI superpowers for the current times? 🟠 how to transform one off behaviors into DEI HABITS that truly shape sustainable and empowering DEI culture? Habits that make you a succesful Changemaker! Companies who teamed up with us as conference Partners send a clear message to the world - 'We are the DEI Changemakers!', and the world responds - "We need more Changemakers!' Be one of them! #EmPoweredDEI #DIChangemakers #diversityhub #diversitymatters #ESG

What an absolute pleasure spending time yesterday, moderating a panel at Reed Gift Fair at ICC Sydney. Our topic was How To Embed Sustainability into Your Business and Brand, and the incredible panel consisted of: *Sasha Titchkosky, Co-Founder and CEO, Koskela *Jane Cox, Managing Director, Porter Green *Cintia Rodrigues, Owner, Tea Trees Eco Ware *Esther Bailey, Heads of Systems Transformations, APCO My job was made so much easier by having 4 inspirational women to interview, who all passionately and actively support sustainable practices in their businesses. We were thrilled to share so much valuable content with the audience. The key take outs were: *Start with something small and manageable that you can do consistently in your business. You don't need to single-handedly change the world, but if everyone makes some small changes we will undoubtably shift the dial. *It doesn't have to be expensive to introduce sustainability into your business. Assess everything from where you bank, have your super, or the suppliers you use and their own practices, to see how you can action change. *Communicate your priorities and pillars to your customers as many are looking to work with sustainable brands. In many instances despite costs increases to implement sustainable practices, customers were happy to pay more as they valued this pillar - but they have to know the value you are offering so make sure you articulate it clearly! #sustainablebusiness #timeforchange #sustainbility

"We cannot do business on a dead planet." This was the most powerful statement I heard at the Responsible Business Europe event I attended earlier this week in London. Even more compelling than that statement was the collective effort of all the attendees striving to keep our planet alive—for ourselves and for future generations (mine and your children and grandchildren, to make it clearer). They are implementing business practices that not only preserve the planet but also uphold ethical standards and benefit all stakeholders involved. In the 21st century, it is imperative for corporations to prioritize a balance of people, profit, and planet rather than solely maximizing profits for shareholders. It was inspiring to see CEOs, CFOs, and CSOs from numerous companies like Rolls-Royce, Danone, Vodafone, ITV, L'Oréal, Vitality, Davines, The Social Hub, and others leading the way with tangible actions towards this goal. As a strategist and communicator, I feel a strong urge to be part of this change. If your company is undertaking initiatives that align with these values and could be valuable for me to learn from, please let me know. #RBEU #ethicalbusiness #consciouscapitalism #wehavethepowertochange #sustainability #regeneratebusiness

Here we go again! The D&I Changemakers Conference attracts more field enthustiasts and top DEI voices every year. This year we are levelling up the experience and brands that are teaming up with us already know it! #EmPowered DEI - are You in?

👨🍳 What a starter! This block will sharpen your taste buds for the full conference program. If you ever worked on putting together a dinner menu you know this is not such an easy task. What to select? What to reject with no risk? How to find a balanced proposal? The same goes for the organizational #DEI menu. How to strategize the agenda? What to focus on? How to navigate the needs and motivations of different audiences? Our speakers are more than ready to share their experience on the following subjects: 🌶️ What's on the D&I Menu? DISCUSSION PANEL - Michal Wiznerowicz (Nordea), Heidi Robertson (She/Her) (ABB), Nikolett Szappanos (TikTok) 🌶️ Crafting a Flavorful D&I Strategy: The Balanced Diet for Inclusion - Monica Stancu (Lloyd's) 🌶️ Spicing Up Diversity & Inclusion: Local Flavors on the Menu. Addressing Regional Challenges in the D&I Strategy - Regina Curry (Franklin Templeton) 🌶️ A Taste of D&I Research Findings: Diversity IN Check vs. Diversity Charter Research - Irena Madej (she/her) (Forum Odpowiedzialnego Biznesu / Responsible Business Forum) You are welcome to join us at the table! 👩🍳 Register (free): https://lnkd.in/dTgPiJRH 👩🍳 View the full agenda: https://lnkd.in/dym-ixxq And remember to click on the 'ADD TO CALENDAR' button:) #MichalWiznerowicz #HeidiRobertson #NikolettSzappanos #MonicaStancu #ReginaCurry #IrenaMadej #CulinaryChoices #MenuExploration #FoodForThoughtPanel #BalancedStrategy #BalancingInclusionDiet #HealthyStrategyDiet #OpenToNewIdeas #SpiceUpDandI #InclusionImplementationBoost #DIchangemakers2023 #whatsyourflavor #registerforfree #besteventever #diversityhub #diversitymatters #nosugarcoating #DiversityAtW

Enjoyed joining a great panel discussion in New York this week on the intersection of brands and societal issues - had a great time meeting and sharing thoughts alongside: - Amanda Coffee @ Under Armour - Neil Cassley @ PayPal - Paul Quigley @ NewsWhip I had the opportunity to share some insights from our Trust Barometer Special Report on Brand and Politics (out today - https://lnkd.in/giXT5jsB), notably that the pressure brands are feeling around societal issues isn't going away - people continue to expect brands to do more, and they're expressing their opinions through their purchases. A key point: people are less likely to trust a brand that surrenders to political pressure, so it's important to know your values, your audiences and your permission space, and to be consistent. Some of the other topics that jumped out to me: Neil Cassley noted the importance of empathy in communication around societal issues, and the importance of local nuance, context and culture. Paul Quigley reinforced the importance of listening and getting ahead of issues - a trend that we've seen from companies grappling with this space. Thanks to Amanda Coffee for the invitation to join the panel!

 ‘Is Doing Good Actually Doing Any Good?’ panel event on Friday for SXSW Sydney with CEO Skye Lambley. Great discussions around corporate morality and what it really means as a business to drive positive change. Mixed with a range of other incredible panelists from UTS Business School, Impact Economics and Policy, moderated by Catherine King (Chief Strategy Officer Leo Burnett Australia) Some key takeouts from Urban List - we couldn't have said it better ourselves! ✏ As a brand, if you stand for something, get comfortable with the fact that it’s not for everyone and some backlash from opposing positions is inevitable. You will be questioned on things—ensure your team is trained up and bring your customers and/or audience on the journey. ✏ As a brand, it should be all about ‘Double Materiality’, meaning if you’re not practising what you preach internally then don’t put it out externally. What you stand for should be part of your brand fabric and values. ✏ The difference between real activism and brand activism is a brand has to think about the bottom line, which means ‘Woke Capitalism’ can be a dangerous marketing ploy—it’s all about what brands do when no one is looking. Doing good should lead to community prosperity, not just economic growth. ✏ Be the change you want to see. In an increasingly polarised world, it’s time to step up and be brave. ✏ Many Australians work for small and medium-sized businesses, who makes up the critical fabric of our society and are already engaged and implementing more sustainable business practices—and there’s a lot we can learn from them. #sxswsydney #corporatemorality #pragency

Provi hosted a wildly fascinating roundtable titled "Rise of the Conscious Consumer" which addressed the intersection of diversity and profitability in the Wine & Spirits industry. #wine & #spirits Thank you to Dia Simms (Exec. Chairwoman of Lobos 1707 Tequila & Mezcal), Nicolas Beckers (President & CEO of Rémy Cointreau Americas), Jackie Summers (President & CEO of Jack From Brooklyn / Sorel Liqueur), Chris Swonger (President & CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States), and Courtney Schiessl Magrini (Editor in Chief of SevenFifty Daily). It was inspiring to listen to a panel of industry leaders from varying races, nationalities, and backgrounds as they discussed a shared message- Diversity is not just a moral imperative, but a proven path to profitability! Dia Simms said, "We vote with our ballots AND with our wallets" to promote what we believe in and choose to support. In today's global marketplace, consumers come from all walks of life and they want to see themselves reflected in the products they select. For brands/companies to treat each and every customer like they truly matter is not only the right thing to do but also a powerful business strategy. When you make diversity and inclusion a priority, you create a welcoming environment that encourages people to connect with your brand and invest in your products. To reinforce the point that diversity is not just a buzzword, Nicolas Beckers stressed the value of authenticity. "Diversity is not just some campaign. And, if truly authentic, your consumers will recognize the brand for that." An action item set forth by Jackie Summers was for us to "drink at different bars with people different from ourselves." Treat your consumers like they truly matter, because at the end of the day- you're nothing without them. #wine #spirits #wineindustry #spiritsindustry #alcoholicbeverages #alcoholfree #diversity #diversityandinclusion #profitability #wineandspirits #businesssuccess #dotherightthing #consumers #equity Diageo