Theresa Bischof’s Post

This way for Better PR It’s B Corp Month, and here at PRN we're taking a moment to look back on how far we've come in our journey towards becoming a better and more sustainable business. Getting our B Corp certification wasn't just about getting a badge. It was about showing the world that we're serious about being the best PR agency we can be, not just in terms of our work, but also in terms of our values and our impact on the world. Our partnership with Furthr | B Corp™ has been a total game-changer. They've helped us put sustainable practices in place and get involved in projects that make a real difference. This journey to do good and be better has taken a lot of time and effort across the team, but it's also been really rewarding. We've learned so much - from the many ways our business can impact the economic and social well-being of the communities in which we operate, to how to both measure and understand our own environmental impact. We’ve made a lot of progress, and we're not stopping there. By the end of 2024, we're aiming to hit a B Impact Score of 100. That's a pretty ambitious goal, especially with B Corp updating its standards and tools for measuring impact this year, but we're up for the challenge. So let's celebrate B Corp Month together. Let's take some time to reflect on our impact, learn from each other, and set some bold goals for the future. Together, we can make a real difference in the world. Henry Bishop B Lab UK #BCorpMonth #Sustainability #PositiveImpact #Furthr

Listening to the song "Life is a Mess" always reminds me of how chaotic my career once was. But then, I decided to take a leap of faith and join a place far from my already distant home. 𝘋𝘪𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵, 𝘪𝘯 2023, 𝘐 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 Dr. Sarvesh Tiwari, 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘣 𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳. 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥. 𝘈𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, PR Professionals Now, back to my story—while it might be too soon to claim that my life is entirely streamlined, I can confidently say that it's on the right track. The internal battle between making the right decision and hoping that a decision turns out right didn’t last long after I joined PR Professionals. I was blessed with a team that became my constant support, guiding my career towards the desired outcome. This is the identity of a strong corporate culture—a place where you can be part of the race yet find time for yourself. Often, organizations fail to become a home away from home, despite the 8-10 hours spent there daily. But I can confidently say that even if I spend half a day in the office, PR Professionals still feels like home. Here, managers manage without micromanaging; you realize this when your work gets streamlined on time, thanks to an external push. For me, that push is Prerna Dalakoti. Her approach, emphasizing that work comes first but always paired with strong character, personify the benefits of a strong corporate culture. This post is a cheers to my team—Shipra Kumar Bhawna Lakhera Guneet Kaur Udayabhanu Mohanty MD Kasim Aditi Jain and Aniruddha Sir—for making this place feel like home away from home. How do I wrap my post without mentioning Sadam Husen who has been a constant mentor, elder brother, and a very supporting colleague. The image is of 2023 awards event mentioned above, where I was behind my present team much ahead of time.

Does creative talent care about B Corp status? 🤔 In short, yes. People want to use PR as a force for good. The world of PR is changing and comms plays a key role in shaping the future of society and the planet. Candidates want to know how they'll help contribute towards a positive future, and how their future employer has a purpose, beyond profit. 🌍 Having a B Corp status is one (brilliant) way that agencies can align values with talent, creating something bigger - and more attractive - than the average job opportunity. Liked this clip? Tune into the full conversation with Dean Connelly and Kathryn Myers on Spotfiy👉 link in the comments. #bcorp #bcorpmonth #thiswayforward #talentattraction

Did you know that 77% of consumers are more motivated to purchase from companies committed to Corporate Social Responsibility ? 🌍 Delivering a strong #CSR strategy can be tough without the right expertise—that’s where we come in. At last week’s AKG regional roadshow, I had a chance to connect with colleagues from across the group, and it reminded me how well-positioned we are to help businesses create impactful CSR initiatives. At Jobs 22, we work with Healthfind UK, Learn Plus Us, and Intuitive Thinking Skills to support employers in making a real difference in their communities. Together, we offer comprehensive services, from employability support and skills development to health and well-being. Our work goes beyond job placements; we focus on building healthier, more resilient communities, enabling employers to contribute meaningfully while strengthening their workforce. Want to find out how we can help you deliver impactful CSR? Reach out today to book a discovery call and explore how we can help you connect with your local community and grow your business 💼🌟 #CommunityEngagement #WellBeing #SocialValue

"They're a good cultural fit" is possibly the most effective way of never achieving representation and inclusion in our industry. And here's why.... Earlier this week, we welcomed over a dozen senior communications professionals for our InterComms Network discussion with Aubrey Allegretti and this concept really struck a chord. Surely the very idea of finding and recruiting "people like you" is just the reason our teams and our organisations look like a drinks reception at Soho House. This year, I was a judge for PRWeek UK's Best Places to Work for their DE&I category and this was just as true for those entries we saw that really stood out. Those that shone were comfortable to be confronted and focussed on truly understanding the depth of the issues they were striving to overcome. To be frank, I think we're all bored of listening to agencies rattle off a veritable feast of initiatives and promises when the results speak for themselves: our industry is overwhelming drawn from a monolithic and (sorry, not sorry) monotonous group of middle/upper-middle class backgrounds. Where are the regional accents? Where is the racial diversity? Where are people whose parents or families weren't already in the industry and managed to get them an internship or role as a "step up". The answer, at least partly, is that as an industry, we perpetuate what is comfortable for us and we attempt to spread ourselves across all things. In doing so, we achieve very little. Much better to focus, really focus, in depth on tackling barriers to access in our industry where they exist. Imagine if agencies sat down and divided and conquered, focussing their resources and time on truly understanding and breaking down the barriers for people who don't look or sound like the rest of the people in the office. Imagine if we then shared learnings with each other on engaging and retaining the very best talent. Imagine if we stopped saying "they're a good cultural fit" and focussed instead on the value people can bring to our industry.

Being a judge for PRWeek Best Places to Work was great fun, BUT, it also reminded me that particularly when it comes to DE&I, there are some simple but crucial elements: 1️⃣ MEAN IT - Don't expect policy alone to create the environment you say you are looking for - passion and commitment are fundamental 2️⃣ BACK IT UP - Words are nothing without concerted, long-term and positive action behind it. Signing up to schemes and producing policies won't cut it when it comes to meaningfully engaging everyone at your company 3️⃣ CRUSH IT - Rip up the idea that real inclusion and diversity will be achieved with a top down approach. Senior and exec sponsorship are important, but nothing without the genuine inclusion and buy in from people across the organisation. Their experience, passion and commitment is what will truly create the culture you strive for Loved being a part of a stellar panel ⚖ 💙 So endeth the lesson

Who is the terrible party? You or your ex-employer? Because you need to explain to me, why your ex-employer does not have an alumni network or community. I was reminiscing about some of the wonderful people I've met in my career sojourn so far. Then, I stumbled upon a video from a while back, where I thought to make a colleague’s birthday unforgettable by bringing “panranran” 🎷 to the office 🥁🎺 . The energy, the laughter, the sheer joy in that moment, all were relieved as I was just smiling at my phone. These connections at the workplace, small celebrations, and bonding last even when you switch jobs. Unless you have a bad character 🥲 We have all been part of one kind of alumni community or another, be it in secondary schools, universities, associations, or even tutorial centers for professional certifications. Alumni communities create an avenue for valuable networks, resources, and opportunities. My biggest concern is why we do not see this culture in corporate institutions. In my opinion, not having a formal alumni community in most companies is an opportunity lost. Imagine the value of an engaged alumni network where ex-employees go on contributing insights, referrals, and even collaborate on projects. An ex-employee with a positive experience can indirectly act as a brand ambassador, bringing in new talent or even potential business partners. As a matter of fact, it can also be used as a valid feedback channel about organizational practices and culture. Why, then, do more companies not build these networks? Is it that some companies do not wish to be reminded of their ex-employees or are not confident that their company will be spoken about positively? Maybe I'm just living in my own head 🤷♂️ Building an alumni community might be one of the secret weapons for continuous growth and a culture that exists beyond company walls. But what do I know?😂 Why are we even talking about "Alumni" on a Monday morning? 😂 🤷♂️ What a great way to start your week 😁 Video Credit: Enike Oshiomah Mohammed , AAT, B.Sc, ACA *Tag someone you recognize in the comment section 👇🏾 👇🏾 👇🏾 #Alumnus #Alumni #Networking #Monday #AlumniNetworks #CorporateCulture #EmployeeExperience #TeamBonding #Birthdays 🎉🎈

As we celebrate #worldPRDay may we remember to take stock of what we do and the value we bring to our organisations and clients. So, here's a toast to all my colleagues in the PR space and our collaborators 🥂. 🥂To nurturing a positive relationships between your brand and it's stakeholders💐. 🥂 To managing the reputation of the brands you love & represent👏. 🥂To that earned media publication. Well done!👏 🥂To saying NO to a client as your duty to safeguarding their reputation. 👏 🥂 To being data led in how you approach PR. You are adding value💪 🥂 To managing that crisis. It was a challenge, you lost a lot of sleep but eventually you saved the day. kudos!💪 🥂To our siblings, the media, for the role you play in our business of shaping narratives. Thank you! 💜 🥂To our cousins, marketing, people often get us mixed up but thank you for always complimenting what we do. 👏 🥂To that photographer we have to hound for images post event 🙈. Thank you for being patient with us, you play a key role in our storytelling efforts. 🥂To our professional bodies, you hold us accountable to the ethics of this profession and constantly provide us with opportunities for continuous learning. We appreciate you! 🙌 🥂 To seasoned professionals who also serve as mentors, thank you for selflessly serving as our knowledge hubs and accountability partners (special shoutout to Paulina Kuranchie, PhD 🙌) 🥂To young professionals and interns, yes the classroom is very different from what you find on the field but you've got this. Keep learning. 🥂To AI, you've come to stay! Through you we've found clever ways to be more efficient at what we do. Let's continue to co-exist in harmony. I find that as Comms professionals we wear so many hats but some way somehow we wouldn't have it any other way. Happy #worldPRday this week don't forget to give a Comms person a hug (don't be weird, ask them first 😅) .

💡 Potential and what to do with it… It’s so easy to spot in other people, isn’t it? And the frustration sometimes with people who have it but don’t want to really use it. But then there’s also young people with it who just need an opportunity 🤷♀️ One of the best things about what I do is the chance to meet and work with lots of different people. A few weeks ago I found myself in Bolton working with a team of people as part of a Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge, where essentially over the course of a week you immerse yourself in that council in such a way that you can hopefully reflect back to them where they are, both as opportunities and challenges. The team carrying the work out often don’t know each other before you arrive on site, so you have limited time to build a strong understanding of each other and where your strengths lie as a group. You learn a lot about each other - and yourself - in these scenarios, and as local government is often quite a small world, the connections between people and places become part of the discussion either in drawing comparisons or general chitchat round the table at dinner. It’s a great opportunity to get advice, understand more or just build networks, whether you’re an elected member, senior officer, or someone starting out in the sector. And in reverse, in Bolton we heard a lot about what it is like to start out in the sector from one of the team, who began their career as part of what was the National Graduate Development Programme for local government. Local government is a great career opportunity, but it’s perhaps not the one that jumps off the shelf at you when alongside sexier alternatives. Changing the graduate recruitment programme’s name to Impact should help, along with the new collateral alongside it. Having worked with some great alumni of the programme, I know first hand how it’s helping shape the potential of the next local government leaders, people like Florence Drew, Harry Parker, Katharine (Katie) Goodger and Jacqui Smale, plus many others. Impact launched its new look just a few weeks ago and it’s open now for applications from local councils looking to take enthusiastic graduates ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/e2jS7vHR #localgov #leadership #potential

Career transitions are challenging enough. Add in today's employment landscape, and mid-life professionals face a complex reality. The Careers can change (CCC) campaign unites organisations dedicated to supporting mid-life career transitions. The Ethical Agency (TEA) provides comprehensive service delivery for CCC, including: 1️⃣ Brand development and guidelines 2️⃣ Corporate communication materials 3️⃣ Website development with ongoing maintenance 4️⃣ Digital marketing strategy and implementation 5️⃣ Social media strategy 6️⃣ Community management across platforms This initiative aligns with TEA's commitment to empowering positive change through strategic social development communication. The UK-based project demonstrates how effective digital solutions can transform lives. Follow TEA for more updates on our work and clients! #CareersCanChange #MidLifeCareers #EthicalMarketing #SustainableDesign #TheEthicalAgency