electro mag Mar 25 (2) - Flipbook - Page 4
[image description: Shevonne is wearing black and
smiling with her arms crossed, looking at the camera]
editors note:
SHEVONNE JOYCE [SHE/HER].
WHERE BUSINESS +
HUMANITY
INTERSECT.
The concept of being socially responsible
in business is not new. What’s new is the
modern iteration of it.
social activism and into brand activism in a
It9s hard to believe it9s only been 6 months since
way that simply bolting on a corporate social
we all were wondering what 2025 had in store
responsibility program cannot suffice.
for us, and yet in many ways it feels like we9ve
lived years. The Donald Trump saga has been
Now being socially responsible reaches into
around the moon a couple of times, and now he
your very business model itself, and your
has broken up with his bestie, Elon. This is fitting
purpose for being. Customers, and
given in our last edition we unpacked the Trump
communities, are no longer accepting
phenomenon, and in this edition, Tesla is
greenwashing instead of green strategies,
providing a very real time, live example of what
unethical behaviour in organisations who are
can happen when you lose your social license to
supposedly the pinnacle of ethics, supply
operate.
chains or employees who are mistreated, or
any other organisation who doesn9t walk the
The concept of being socially responsible in
talk of their values (or put their money where
business is not new. What9s new is the modern
their mouth is).
th
iteration of it. In the early 20 century, we saw
the rise of 8corporate social responsibility.9 Many
For purpose and for profit brands are now
organisations got on this bandwagon, which
being expected to be forces for good as a
mainly consisted of philanthropic efforts. For
standard part of their existence. With climate
example, Andrew Carnegie9s extensive funding
change and other real humanitarian risks on
of libraries and educational institutions. Others
the horizon, the world of business is having
donated to charity through corporate
their come to Jesus moment. If not for the
sponsorships or volunteer days.
better of us and our planet, then what for?
At the time, these were well received, and to
The brand activism of today is rooted in
their credit, were a step in the right direction.
purpose; businesses and leaders that do
Now, in the modern world, we9ve moved on from
genuine good and have a positive impact as
04
part of their status quo. We have a jammed
packed edition exploring exactly that.
