Photo by Acumen

Well, it’s not really radical (especially compared to all the bad ass ideas and innovations they’ve supported in the past, but it is pretty unique and super cool. Acumen recently launched their new manifesto, and a beautiful new visual identity to go with it.  The manifesto is great because it explains not only what the organization is doing (normally found in a mission or vision) but also what they’re learning. So important!

If there is one thing we encourage our clients to do over and over it is to share what’ve they learned. Share the journey, the lessons, the successes the failures. Share and we will all grow. Check out Acumen’s new manifesto and you’ll see what I mean:

“It starts by standing with the poor, listening to voices
unheard, and recognizing potential where others see despair.

It demands investing as a means, not an end, daring to go
where markets have failed and aid has fallen short. It makes
capital work for us, not control us.

It thrives on moral imagination: the humility to see the world
as it is, and the audacity to imagine the world as it could be.
It’s having the ambition to learn at the edge, the wisdom to
admit failure, and the courage to start again.

It requires patience and kindness, resilience and grit: a
hard-edged hope. It’s leadership that rejects complacency,
breaks through bureaucracy, and challenges corruption.
Doing what’s right, not what’s easy.

Acumen: it’s the radical idea of creating hope in a cynical
world. Changing the way the world tackles poverty and
building a world based on dignity.”

This idea of being on a journey continues through their new logo which is an unfinished A. According to an email from founder Jacqueline Novogratz to their followers, the logo symbolizes “that our work is never finished, that we don’t have all the answers, and that we can’t do this work alone.” I’d say that’s true of pretty much every problem we face as a society and it’s great to see such an important and influential organization take such a visual stand to make that point.

We know that purpose-driven organizations are the ones that will thrive in the 21^st century and it’s exceptional to see an organization take things to the next level by clearly articulating their values, in a meaningful way, to all their stakeholders. Kudos to Acumen, we can’t wait to see what great ideas you spread next!

This year at Saatchi & Saatchi S, we decided to keep it “close to home” and to tend to our sidewalk garden which we installed and planted a few years back.  The weeds and other unplanned growth were spilling out onto the sidewalk.  We cleaned, pruned, pulled, dug, and planted.

Naturally, we are thankful to all who participated in our 2013 Earth Day activity.

BEFORE …

DURING …

AFTER …

We are also grateful to the many people on the street who let us know how much they appreciate our efforts and enjoy the garden.

It is always nice to be reminded that simple acts can make a positive difference in people’s lives right in your own back (front) yard.

If you are ever in the ‘hood, be sure to stop and say “Hello.”

Happy Earth Day from all of us at Saatchi & Saatchi S.

Yes, Earth Day is around the corner. Yes, you’ll be seeing even more endorsements from celebrities to recycle more, use less, turn off the lights, and on and on. And yes, that is all great. But we believe in order for Earth Day to truly be irresistible, we also have to make it a little fun.

So in order to get you in the spirit, lighten up your day, and remind you to enjoy yourself this Earth Day, I’m posting a video guaranteed to put a smile on your face (courtesy of HuffPost of course).

Click to play

Of course the message behind Earth Day is no laughing matter: we have one planet with finite resources and we’re destroying it. But the truth is no one is going to change their behavior out of duty. Living a sustainable life should be rewarding, engaging, uplifting. It should be fun!

At Saatchi S we challenge all our readers, clients, colleagues, partners to do something fun on Earth Day. We’ll once again be doing what we love most: playing in the dirt, under the sun. Stay tuned to see all the fun we had, and let us know what you plan to do today that puts a smile on your face. J

Photo from Solar Impulse

San Franciscans hear about hip new gadgets and apps on a pretty regular basis.  Just recently, I was invited to check out the Stanford Cool Product Expo 2013, an event that showcases interesting products from various design and manufacturing companies.  As I flipped through the brochure of featured products, I was impressed to see several products that clearly make sustainability irresistible.  Here are some of my favorites:

Photo from Stanford Cool Product Expo 2013

Faraday Bikes. There’s nothing more efficient and sustainable than riding a bike, especially as an urban dweller. That being said, the number one excuse I hear from San Franciscans for not commuting by bike is that there are too many hills. It’s understandable that after a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is spend 20-30 minutes conquering hills to get home. Faraday Bikes solves this problem with their chic looking bicycles with a built-in electric assist feature to give you an extra boost as you ride.

Photo from Stanford Cool Product Expo 2013

Oru Kayak. Connecting people with the natural world is crucial in promoting sustainability. And that is exactly this company’s objective. This kayak is fully recyclable and is made with 70% less petroleum than standard kayaks. Using origami concepts, it can be folded up and easily transported and stored so that any city dweller can explore the nearby waters whenever he or she pleases.

Photo from Stanford Cool Product Expo 2013

Back to the Roots. These founders from UC Berkeley have been mentioned in a previous Saatchi S blog post on skills-based volunteering through social ventures, but they are worth featuring again as a great company that makes sustainability fun for both kids and adults. This simple kit, which can be purchased at Whole Foods, allows anyone to grow delicious oyster mushrooms out of recycled coffee grounds. BTTR is also coming out with an aquaponics fish tank for growing herbs, which I have already pre-ordered through their Kickstarter campaign!

Photo from Stanford Cool Product Expo 2013

Solar Impluse. This impressive Swiss project, which launched in 2003, has been receiving a lot of media attention recently as it plans to be the first solar powered plane to fly across the US, taking off on May 1^st.  With 12,000 solar cells, the plane has already flown from Europe to North Africa and completed a 26 hour journey in 2010.

Have you noticed any other innovation sustainable products that seem irresistible to you? Share them with us in the comments below or on Twitter (@saatchi_s).

Photo by jjcb via Flickr

When one hears the words sustainability and Asia spoken together, the conversation is more than likely focused on the many challenges that the region faces. However, at Saatchi & Saatchi we believe that the time has come for these conversations to shift to the positive and that the new reality needs to be focused on the incredible sustainability opportunities that exist throughout Asia. That is why we are excited to announce that, as of today, we are adding the sustainability capabilities of Saatchi & Saatchi S to Saatchi & Saatchi in the Asia Pacific region.

Sustainability is undoubtedly starting to come into its own in Asia and we’ve long felt that the region actually has quite a bit to teach the world about sustainability, as was recently explored in our report on India. At the same time, there are also some big shifts on the horizon that could change the conversation for companies in Asia even more dramatically and quickly. For example, India has passed a bill in its lower house that will “ensure” that companies spend 2% of their net profits towards CSR activities. While it remains to be seen if it will pass the upper house (and how it will be enforced), if it does pass it will be one of the first laws of its kind in the world. Another example is the carbon tax that was recently considered in China, which will hopefully be instituted in time to make a difference in their deadly air pollution problem.

Certainly the fact that both of these policies are even being considered is a good sign, but they also point to the need for companies to get ahead of the curve on sustainability rather than be forced to act by their governments. Not surprisingly, many companies are already doing so and indices like the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific 40 Index are broadening the conversation on what it means to be a sustainable company in Asia. In fact, some companies have already become leaders in their industries, as was recently evidenced when the Indian electronics company Wipro took the top spot away from HP in Greenpeace’s Guide to Greener Electronics. We firmly believe this is not an aberration, but a sign of things to come and we are excited to do our part to make this vision a reality in the region.

All of this and more points to why I’m excited to join the Saatchi & Saatchi team in Singapore. As I mentioned in an earlier post, there is already some great sustainability related work coming out of the region and we are excited to collectively create even more. The time has come to turn the region’s challenges into opportunities and demonstrate what we mean at Saatchi & Saatchi when we say Nothing Is Impossible.

San Francisco, Calif., April 2, 2013 — Saatchi & Saatchi S, an award winning sustainability consulting and communications agency, adds its capabilities to the Saatchi & Saatchi team in Singapore under the leadership of Andrew Bryson, Regional Director of Sustainability – Asia Pacific. Previously based in the San Francisco headquarters, Bryson brings expertise in sustainability strategy and employee engagement to clients throughout the region.

“We are delighted to have Andrew coming to the region to bring a much needed capability to the fastest growing and most dynamic region in the world,” said Chris Foster, Chairman & Regional CEO Asia Pacific, Saatchi & Saatchi.

Saatchi & Saatchi S is dedicated to making sustainability irresistible to all stakeholders. Working with well-established brands including AT&T and Coca-Cola, as well as up-and-coming clean tech companies such as Edeniq and STEM, Saatchi & Saatchi S offers a spectrum of strategy and communication services.

“I am excited to work closely with the Saatchi & Saatchi team throughout the Asia Pacific region to help make our clients and our own operations more sustainable,” said Andrew Bryson.  “We see the large environmental and social challenges that many companies face in the region as opportunities they must seize in order to strengthen their businesses and brands for the long term.”

Saatchi & Saatchi is adding these capabilities to its Singapore office to deepen its global reach and perspective on sustainability, while also positioning the agency on the leading edge of corporate sustainability efforts in emerging markets. From working closely with clients to develop their strategies for sustainability to creating engaging communications around their efforts, the agency will work closely with its clients to create real and lasting positive impacts while driving business results.

About Saatchi & Saatchi S

Saatchi & Saatchi S is a leader in architecting social and brand movements designed to make sustainability irresistible to all stakeholders. Their offices in San Francisco, London and Singapore collaborate with some of the world’s largest corporations and most revered brands, developing and executing powerful ideas that inspire and engage people. Their work also solves a wide variety of corporate, brand and reputational challenges.

Saatchi & Saatchi S was named among the ten “Most Innovative Companies in Advertising and Marketing” by Fast Company, and has received an Effie Award for its groundbreaking work with Wal-Mart.  Saatchi & Saatchi S is part of the Saatchi & Saatchi network and is owned by Publicis Groupe S.A., the world’s 3rd largest communications group. For more information, visit www.saatchis.com.  Follow Saatchi & Saatchi S on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin.

Media Contact:

Nayelli Gonzalez

(415) 871-2013

nayelli.gonzalez@saatchis.com

Every Thursday night the California Academy of Science hosts NightLife, a chance to see the wonders of this awesome science museum after hours, drink in hand and DJ spinning. A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to share a short presentation about organizations that help us connect with sustainability in our city.

The theme for last week’s NightLife was San Francisco Microhoods in partnership with the BoldItalic. The Saatchi & Saatchi S team was there to represent the “Mishipot,” a microhood out where the Mission ends and Potrero hill begins.

At NightLife, I highlighted a few inspiring organizations and places that make it easy to connect to sustainability in our microhood and that make our make us proud to work here: ODC Dance Commons, Friends of the Urban Forest, the Potrero Hill Community Garden, Bike Kitchen, CarrotMob and Preceita Eyes Muralists Association. But here in San Francisco, where our lives are practically overlapping, the best way to sustain our community is easily forgotten: we must connect with each other. Connection is what brings purpose to our lives and connection that is what will hold together our little city by the Bay.

This post first appeared on Sustainable Brands and can be viewed here.

Last week I had the pleasure of participating in a pre-SB’13 program dialogue session organized by some of the leading women in sustainability: Annie Longsworth, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi S; Kellie McElhaney, Whitehead Faculty Fellow in Corporate Sustainability at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business; Jen Boynton, Editor-in-Chief of Triple Pundit; and Aman Singh, Editorial Director of CSR Wire. The topic: The Role of Women in Sustainability. Nearly 100 participants (five of them men) from companies such as AT&T, Visa, Safeway, North Face and many others contributed to a very lively discussion about “women and sustainability,” which is gaining a significant amount of traction these days.

Despite the fact that through the years we have repeatedly been asked to feature this topic on our agenda, we have declined up to now — and I have to personally take responsibility for this. I understand the choice may seem counterintuitive given my personal history, having both scrambled from the bottom to the top of a multinational at one time in my career and given the past decade to helping drive the sustainable business movement forward. After all, the data is becoming increasingly clear, as Ms. McElhaney’s research and others point out: Placing more women in positions of leadership is demonstrated to result in healthier, more sustainable businesses and communities. 

I neither doubt nor underestimate the value of this, and I’m now feeling responsible for carrying this fact forward to our community  in a more pronounced way as I do agree supporting more women into leadership is one of the highest leverage, concrete things we can do to help shift our systems toward those that support a healthy and flourishing future. My reticence to date, though, is worth explaining: It stems from my passion for creating frames that can serve to help generate the kind of unifying traction that can propel our movement forward as fast as possible.

The sad fact, as Ms. McElhaney shared in the kick-off to our discussion last week, is that 71% of women in the US avoid associating themselves with the term ‘feminism’ — just one indication that the women’s movement through the years has gained a bad rap. My concern has been that framing the conversation around the need to move more women into sustainability, or to shout out that women are the solution to our future, may be misheard as a continuation of a 20^th century “me vs. we” debate — that would actually obscure the very strengths that we want to call out that women have to bring to bear as we move forward.

I’m afraid a conversation about “women in sustainability” can too easily be reduced to a feel-good cry for equality, to a call for women to ‘lean in’ in order to achieve success as it has been defined by men over the past several hundred years. And I fear this frame may cause us all — men and women — to miss at least one bigger point: that the notion of “success” as we currently think of it may in fact be outmoded, and that what we really need to be doing here is changing the game.

During our discussion last week it was suggested that women are particularly adept at things like seeing, understanding, appreciating and even manipulating (I can hear the negative connotations of this last gift rattling male readers already!) complex systems more readily. We see women as more inclined to listen — to empathize with others who are different than we are, and to see the value of those differences. We see women as being more inclined to see the forest for the trees, but at the same time, as being able to ‘chop wood and carry water’ — often at the same time. We see ourselves (I think the men in the group agreed?) as tending to be more naturally equipped to effectively balance both short term and long term — a gift that equips us to deliver better return on invested capital. And, in my own case and the case of many others I know, it means we may be inclined to choose to temporarily put work aside in order to nurture our kids, knowing that while doing so may put us a step behind our male counterparts in our career, it will likely optimize both the satisfaction we feel at end of life.

It dismays me, therefore, to see women who’ve managed through a combination of their own good fortune and hard work to create a powerful podium for themselves, use it to urge other women to ‘lean in’ in order to win at the game designed by men — and I want to guard against that missed step. There is no question that business and society would both benefit from elevating more women to places of leadership. But is the bigger point that healthy systems benefit by nurturing a diverse set of strengths and talents? And if so, would we be more likely to create broader alignment if we avoid focus on a single gender (or race or religion or socioeconomic background, all of which have been taken up as independent battles to various degrees of success in the past). More importantly, I see the opportunity to frame our fight as a fight to redefine the meaning and measure of success for all rather than as a fight for more women in the boardroom. I understand the interim step may be to acknowledge more broadly women’s ability to understand the importance of this, but my hope is that ultimately we can frame a call that can be heard and taken up by all of us.

The 21^st century must be about a renewed awakening to the true sources of a healthy, happy life and an awareness of those things that truly sustain us over time. Certainly we need to continue to fight for equality, as well as freedom from oppression, slavery, abuse and exploitation for all. But not all of us need to be in the boardroom to be happy or ‘successful.’ My hope is that as women, we work together toward a future which offers permission for all of us — women and men of all countries and colors, gifts and talents, to define success for themselves, and in which we respect equally the value and importance of the gifts, talents and aspirations of all. It takes arms and legs and hands and feet and heads and heart to make a body — no one without the other is more or less important, and without them all working together, any part is disabled. Women understand this in a visceral way. As we apply our passions and carry our conversation forward, let’s take care with the choices we make about the way we frame the work.

Read more about KoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz here.

In recognition of International Women’s Day and on the heals of a national dialogue about women in the workplace spurred by Sheryl Sandberg’s recently published book, Leaning In, Saatchi & Saatchi S hosted a “Women in Sustainability” conversation last week guided by some of the leading women in sustainability: Annie Longsworth, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi S; Kellie McElhaney, Whitehead Faculty Fellow in Corporate Sustainability at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business; and Jen Boynton, Editor-in-Chief of Triple Pundit. The event, a precursor to a panel discussion on the same topic that will take place at Sustainable Brands conference this June, attracted more than 60 women (and a few men) from organizations such as AT&T, The North Face and the Sustainable Apparel Coalition.

Photo via Africa Schools of Kenya

Last week it seemed as if Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, was all over the media, including a segment on NPR in which she discussed how the percentages of women in top executive positions and board rooms has remained static for the last ten years. When I heard this, I couldn’t help but be surprised. This seemed counter intuitive to me as I read through the impressive list of women who attended Saatchi S’s Women in Sustainability event, and thought back to an article I’d recently read in Fast Company outlining the basic fact that “companies with more women on boards and in leadership positions outperform, financially and otherwise, companies with fewer women.”

In general, women have proven to be excellent keepers, growers and investors of money. Even when we look to developing countries, organizations such as the World Health Organization  have found that investing in women and girls reaps positive returns not only for their health and well-being, but also that of society. In fact, gender equality is a major determinant of health and is acknowledged as a means of achieving optimum health worldwide.

Aside from the fact that women working at home (most often unpaid)  account for one-third of the world’s GDP, research has shown that extending credit to women increases household consumption about twice as much as credit extended to men.

These facts have not gone unnoticed. Major corporations, foundations and non-profit organizations have declared their support and understanding of the importance of investing in women time and time again. From Coca-Cola’s 5by20 initiative, dedicated to empowering 5 million women entrepreneurs by 2020, to the creation of UN Women in 2010, to organizations like Africa Schools of Kenya, which is working to bring education to a small Kenyan village, these facts are making waves in the philanthropic world.

Investing in women’s education is not something that should be left to businesses and organizations, though.  We all can do our part to support women’s education.  The first step is to get educated. I invite you visit a site like Kiva, Africa Schools of Kenya, or simply to google “invest in women” or “women’s education” and learn about the various causes and organizations that pop up.  The next step is up to you.