Business leaders today are facing increasing pressure to take public positions on social, political, and cultural issues. From employee activism to consumer expectations and media scrutiny, deciding whether, and how, to weigh in can have lasting consequences for reputation, trust, and the bottom line.

In this virtual presentation, Dr. Heather LaMarre and Gregg Feistman, co-authors of Raising Social Capital: Corporate Advocacy and Impact in a Time of Social Change, share research-based insights and practical guidance for navigating these high-stakes decisions. Drawing on expert interviews, contemporary research, and real-world case studies, they introduce their proprietary SpeakIF© decision-making model, designed to help organizations evaluate when corporate advocacy aligns with values, stakeholder expectations, and strategic goals.

Attendees will gain perspective on:

• How leaders can balance influence, risk, and responsibility when facing controversial issues

• The impact of corporate advocacy on public trust, employee engagement, and brand reputation

• Managing political pushback, partisan media attention, and workplace activism

• Making principled, strategic decisions grounded in organizational values

 Raising Social Capital: Corporate Advocacy and Impact in a Time of Social Change is available through Amazon at https://a.co/d/arHQuDF and Routledge Publishers at https://www.routledge.com/Raising-Social-Capital-Corporate-Advocacy-and-Impact-in-a-Time-of-Social-Change/LaMarre-Feistman/p/book/9781032630496.

About the presenters:

Gregg Feistman has more than 40 years of business and PR experience. As Professor of Practice in Public Relations at Temple University's Klein College of Media and Communication, he specializes in public relations, CSR/corporate social advocacy and activism, reputation management, strategic communications planning, corporate sponsorship, crisis communications, media relations, consulting skills and organizational communication. His research interests include the use of emerging technology in public relations education, and corporate social advocacy and activism. Read more here.

Dr. Heather LaMarre is an associate professor at Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication. With over 20 years combined experience in public policy, communication, and leadership, Dr. Heather LaMarre's work applies behavioral science research to solving social issues. Dr. Lamarre's line of research examines how media and communication affect attitudes, policy, and social change. This work is primarily strategy-focused. Her second line of research applies these solutions-based strategies to urgent social problems. This work is management and leadership-focused. Dr. LaMarre works closely with purpose-driven organizations that foster social innovation and solve real-world challenges. This ranges from developing effective communication strategies to implementing leadership and management tools designed to drive positive change. Read more here.