“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”               -Edith Wharton

Through the process of gathering perfor­mance data and reporting on impacts, corporate citizenship professionals act as both the candle and the mirror—shedding light on opportunities and risks present throughout the value chain and illuminating new ideas for how they might be addressed. Are our operations and products sustainable? Are our policies and practices respon­sible, inclusive, and considerate of human rights? Does our business model create value for all our stake­holders? Are our employees engaged? What are competitors doing? Other industries?

Soon, reporting on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors will be required for many, as raters and policymakers around the world plan to mandate corporate disclosure of climate-related and human rights risks. ESG reporting frameworks and standards are abundant and can, in some instances, be redundant—making it challenging for investors and other stakeholders to benchmark comparable performance data. To address these inconsistencies, many standards-setting organizations are collab­orating or consolidating, with ambitious timelines to deliver streamlined reporting mechanisms within the next couple of years.

This important development is one of many that will be a topic of discussion at the 2022 International Corporate Citizenship Conference. This year’s conference theme is Better. Bolder. Brighter. Together with con­vening sponsor Liberty Mutual and our other sponsors, we at the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship are planning a rigorous program that fortifies attendees with knowledge, tools, and a supportive community of peers. Attending our conference will prepare you to implement your ambitious plans with confidence and sup­port. And this year, you can attend in-person, virtually, or both! Click here to learn more about new offerings at this year’s event.

In the spirit of “better, bolder, brighter,” I’m delighted to share the Winter 2022 issue of the Corporate Citizen. This edition presents a clear picture of the bright spots to come and the bold initiatives that companies are undertaking to make the world brighter and better for us all. Center members are embed­ding diversity, equity, and inclusion across the business, redefining disaster relief and response to meet our New Normal, manag­ing waste in unexpected ways, and more. Please see below for links to all of the articles—many of which feature companies that will be presenting at upcoming conference events, both in-person and virtual:

• Inclusion as strategy: With integrated inclusion across all aspects of business, Ally Financial and Banfield Pet Hospital see meaningful results.
• Going global with community involvement: Companies share best practices for implementing giving and volunteering programs abroad.
• From the Corner Office: Pitney Bowes CEO Marc Lautenbach provides his executive perspective on education equity.
• Redefining disaster relief and response: UPS and BJ’s Wholesale Club expand relief programs to address basic needs and build long-term resilience.
• Throwing out old ways to manage waste: Gallagher challenges the status quo with new strategies to increase pro-environmental actions among employees.
• Major investment, systemic change: Bank of America is driving positive impact on racial equity with investments in the community over time.

I am grateful that corporate citizenship professionals like you are lighting the path to a brighter future for us all. I look forward to seeing many of you at our 2022 International Corporate Citizenship Conference, where we can put your work in the spotlight. Best wishes for a better, bolder, brighter 2022!