Infusing Community Needs into Products and Services: Lessons from Prudential
Release Date: 09/24/2021
Surviving a Near-Death Experience: Lessons on Resilience (Pt 2)
ESG News and Views
Geralyn Ritter knows about personal and organizational resilience. She was on Amtrak Train #188, which derailed outside Philadelphia in 2015 at 106 miles per hour. The crash killed eight people and injured more than 200. Geralyn was critically wounded. Her doctors use the word “miraculous” to describe her survival and recovery. She also knows about organizational resilience, as the current Head of External Affairs and ESG for Organon, following twelve years at Merck, where she held numerous leadership positions, including Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Assistant General...
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Surviving a Near-Death Experience: Lessons on Resilience (Pt 1)
ESG News and Views
Geralyn Ritter knows about personal and organizational resilience. She was on Amtrak Train #188, which derailed outside Philadelphia in 2015 at 106 miles per hour. The crash killed eight people and injured more than 200. Geralyn was critically wounded. Her doctors use the word “miraculous” to describe her survival and recovery. She also knows about organizational resilience, as the current Head of External Affairs and ESG for Organon, following twelve years at Merck, where she held numerous leadership positions, including Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Assistant General...
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What’s the Role of the Board and C-Suite in Addressing Health Equity?
ESG News and Views
The COVID-19 pandemic shone a spotlight on the level of health inequity in the US, where access to health care can depend on a person’s zip code, income, insurance, and contacts in the medical profession. This podcast discusses the role that companies – and, specifically, boards of directors – can play in helping to address this problem, which accounts for approximately $320 billion in the US. The discussion makes clear that all companies – not just those in the health sector – can play a role through the health and other benefits they provide to their employees; and that boards can...
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How to ESG: Preparing for ESG Disclosures
ESG News and Views
The ESG reporting landscape is quickly evolving. Not only is it cluttered with an ever-growing number of rating agencies, initiatives to harmonize reporting frameworks and standards are underway, and regulations are rapidly arising in many jurisdictions – making ESG disclosure a business reality rather than a passing fad. So what’s a company to do? In this podcast, Merel Spierings, Corporate Governance Researcher at the ESG Center, speaks with Andrew Fowler, Partner at the law firm of Hughes Hubbard & Reed about how companies can prepare for upcoming disclosure requirements –...
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Hurricane Ian: Lessons from Past Disasters and Preparing for a New Era of Disaster Response
ESG News and Views
Natural disasters are increasing in both frequency and intensity. Yet, only 22 percent of corporate citizenship executives say their number one priority is preparedness – taking action to mitigate the effects of a natural disaster before it occurs. Only 3 percent of corporate citizenship executives prioritize long-term recovery and reconstruction. In this podcast, Patty McIIreavy, President and CEO of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy speaks with Lindsay Beltzer and Jeff Hoffman from The Conference Board ESG Center to discuss the impact of Hurricane Ian and why the traditional playbook of...
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What does the C-suite Actually Think of Their Boards? A Conversation on Board Effectiveness
ESG News and Views
Only 29 percent of C-suite executives rate their board’s effectiveness as good or excellent. And 74 percent of executives say two or more of their directors should be replaced. That’s despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of C-suite executives say their boards understand the company’s strategy, risks and opportunities, and competitive landscape -- and that nearly 90 percent say their directors have independent judgment and are willing to challenge management. In this podcast, Paul Washington, Executive Director of the ESG Center, speaks with Leah Malone, Director of...
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What the New Landmark #MeToo Law Means for the Future of Business and Employees
ESG News and Views
Join Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Congressman Ken Buck (R-CO) and Gretchen Carlson, the woman whose lawsuit helped ignite the #MeToo movement and who co-founded the non-profit , to discuss the recent groundbreaking bipartisan legislation, T. Passed with strong bipartisan support in February, the legislation marks one of the most significant workplace reforms in the last 50 years. Under the legislation, employers would be prohibited from requiring workers to settle discrimination and harassment claims through arbitration. Instead, employees have the choice to...
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Director-Shareholder Engagement: Practical Advice for Constructive Conversations
ESG News and Views
Traditionally, corporate board members played a limited – and only occasional – role in discussions with investors. But now investors expect to hear from independent directors on the board’s oversight of ESG issues. And companies are recognizing that involving their directors in discussions with investors can have significant near-term and long-term benefits. In this podcast, Paul Washington, Executive Director of the ESG Center, speaks Bill Ultan, Managing Director at Morrow Sodali, to discuss what’s happening, why, the do’s and don’ts of effective...
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C-Suite Outlook 2022: Which ESG Issues Do Leaders Care About
ESG News and Views
For the year ahead, what are the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities of business leaders around the world? This year’s annual survey of the C-suite provides fascinating ESG insights. Listen to this ESG News and Views podcast as Chuck Mitchell, Executive Director of Content Quality, unpacks the findings with Paul Washington, Executive Director of the ESG Center.
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Corporate Political Activity: Opportunity Amid Scrutiny with Adie Olson, Jason Abel, and Bruce Freed
ESG News and Views
Many have viewed corporate political activity with skepticism, if not suspicion. In 2021, companies faced a combination of surprises and scrutiny that made their political activity exponentially more difficult . . . and 2022 promises to be equally, if not more, challenging. In this podcast, Paul Washington, Executive Director of the ESG Center, speaks with experts, Adie Olsen and Jason Abel, Partners at Steptoe and Johnson, and Bruce Freed, President of the Center for Political Accountability, to address some of the myths and misunderstandings about corporate political activity,...
info_outlinePrudential has been a pillar in the city of Newark for more than 140 years. Established in 1875, it provides financial wellness services to retail and institutional customers throughout the United States and over 40 countries worldwide. As an “anchor” organization in Newark, along with corporations such as Audible, United Airlines, Mars, PSEG, the company plays a vital role in working with community groups, nonprofits, and government officials in creating a more vibrant city – helping to make Newark a top destination for employers, workers, residents, and visitors alike.
Prudential also provides an excellent blueprint for others in effectively engaging with community stakeholders. Not only does it tap into the needs of communities through its corporate citizenship and philanthropic programs, but in the creation of its products and services.
In this podcast, Jeff Hoffman, Institute Leader of Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy at the ESG Center, speaks with Sarah Keh, Vice President of Inclusive Solutions at Prudential Financial and Vice President & Secretary of The Prudential Foundation, and Vishal Jain, Prudential’s Head of Financial Wellness Strategy and Development. They discuss how Prudential’s Corporate Citizenship team and Financial Wellness team partner in creating products and solutions that address the racial wealth gap, why working with local organizations – tapping them as thought-leaders and influencers – is key in getting individuals engaged with their suite of offerings, and the role of their Business Resource Groups (BRGs) in providing a sounding board to ensure their for-profit products meet the needs of different audiences.
Related Resources:
How Companies Can Make an Enduring Difference in American Cities
Case Study: Newark, New Jersey: Community Voices
Case Study: Baltimore, Maryland: Community Voices
Case Study: Detroit, Michigan: Community Voices
Case Study: Los Angeles, California: Community Voices
Corning’s Approach to Social Issues: A Story of Innovation and Passion
Corporate Citizenship in Action: Helping Small Businesses Survive and Thrive