May - Mental Health Awareness Month

This week is the start to a new month, May, which also happens to be Mental Health Awareness Month.

This past year has been life-altering to say the least, for our agency and for our community of family, friends and clients. Along with balancing client work, our teammates have stepped up in ways we never expected – both professionally and personally – for one another.

With that, we know and understand the feeling of being burned out…

With company culture and employee well-being at the top of our priorities, we wanted to share a few things that the agency and senior leadership team are putting into practice starting in May. We challenged ourselves to think of easy, impactful and meaningful actions that we could take as a group to help everyone strike a better work-life balance.

• No meeting Friday: with jam-packed schedules at the top half of every week, to alleviate some of the TEAMS/Zoom-fatigue, to the best of our ability, we will not schedule meetings on Friday

• No emails after 7pm: there’s nothing more stressful than an email ping (!) at dinnertime, so unless it’s urgent, we’re saving that email until the next day

• Friday, May 21 is now H&S Mental Health Day: this is a company first and we’re extremely proud to announce that Friday, May 21 will be an agency-wide Mental Health Day. We are giving everyone at the agency the day off to rest and recharge. Whether it’s meeting up with a friend for lunch, going to the gym or even just sleeping in, whatever refills your cup, we support it.

We know these habits aren’t going to break overnight and it will require some “un-learning” on everyone’s part. Of course, being in our business, there’s always going to be some exceptions, but the hope is that we will all stick to these as much as possible so that we can all better our collective well-being.

In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, we hope you, too, have a plan in place to rest, recharge and refill your cup.

Leave Your Mark Podcast Featuring Elizabeth Harrison

If you’re looking for some career inspiration for the New Year check out this recent episode of Leave Your Mark podcast featuring our CEO and President Elizabeth Harrison! Host Aliza Licht interviews Elizabeth on how she started her career, how PR and events have evolved over the years for clients, and the agency’s mission to redefine what diversity and company culture look like. Listen to the full interview HERE.

Inauguration Day 2021

A letter from our CEO and Co-Founder Elizabeth Harrison:

Observer Power 50

We are excited to announce that our very own Elizabeth Harrison was recognized for Observer’s 2020 PR Power List! A huge congratulations is in order for this Boss Lady as well as the 49 other power players recognized.

Real Talk from the Boss Lady

On August 31st, Elizabeth Harrison and Jeffrey L. Bowman joined Munson Steed on Rolling Out's ‘A Seat at the Table’ series, to discuss how our partnership with Reframe is working to culturally transform Corporate America. Although progress continues to be made, a long journey lies ahead and as People Leaders it's important that you're prepared. Please see below for some of the excerpts, and to listen to the full conversation, check out the link here.

“One of the things we had to really do to reshape this conversation was to redefine the business model. DE&I was meant to integrate Corporate America based on race and identity outcomes and sucess is based only race and identity. Blacks only account for 13% of the U.S. population but often time in our business, blacks as a group over-index on the impact of culture. Our goal was to see the value and impact based on culture, so we redefine and restated the problem statement.”

— Jeffrey L. Bowman

“When we talk about culture there are five stages of culture – monocultural, multi which we’ve been for more than 30 years, now we enter the space of cross-culture, polyculture and transcultural. So by restating the problem, we then are able to go in and diagnose the attitudes and behaviors of where a company is on a scale of one through five. With our cultural assessment, we are able to see where they are as it relates to their score, the company structure, strategy, the systems, segments, and solutions. So when we do the assessment we are able to see where the issues and barriers are.”

— Jeffrey L. Bowman

“I had an epiphany about five years ago, before Black Lives Matter was on the scene. I looked around at the people who worked for me and my clients – the CMOs and CEOs, and everybody looked the same. I sat back and literally transformed the agency to now we’re over 40% diverse. It was an AHA moment that initiated my wish to transform my culture to be a better place to work and to be”

— Elizabeth Harrison

Why Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Will Not Be Enough to Save Corporate America

America and Corporate America is at a cultural crossroads in the midst of two pandemics afflicting our nation: COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter.  There is an urgency for Corporate America to not only integrate racially, but also culturally.  

Inspired by our white paper entitled “Why Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Will Not Be Enough to Save Corporate America,” watch a recent discussion, moderated by H&S CEO and Co-Founder, Elizabeth Harrison alongside H&S SVP of Brand Engagement, Veronica Rodriguez, Ketchum VP + DE&I Advocate, Lindsay Wagner. and our partner, Reframe CEO and Co-Founder, Jeffrey L. Bowman.

Interested in learning more about ways to help your organization culturally transform from the inside, out? Contact us today and get started on your journey!

Real Talk from the Boss Lady

Special thanks to Aliza Licht for highlighting the H&S + Reframe partnership in your new piece on Forbes, ‘How to Transform a Corporate Culture.’ We are beyond proud to be featured amongst true trail blazers, such as Mindy Grossman, Kim Seymour, and Whitney Johnson, as we strive to ensure workplace culture reflects the world we live in today!

An exerpt from the Forbes

"How To Transform A Corporate Culture:":

Reframe is an enterprise software as a service technology company that helps companies build better employee experiences. Cofounded by Jeffrey L. Bowman, a 2x award-winning Wiley published author and former Madison Avenue advertising executive turned tech entrepreneur, Reframe aims to transform culture. Clients include Verizon, Restaurant Associates, Prudential, and MolsonCoors. Bowman has now joined forces with Elizabeth Harrison, cofounder, and CEO of award-winning integrated marketing communications firm: Harrison & Shriftman (H&S), to modernize corporate America to reflect the new America. The collaboration was created through a provocative co-authored White Paper  titled "Why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Will Not Be Enough To Save Corporate America." 

“Because of COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter, America and Corporate America are at a cultural crossroads," said Bowman. "As People Leaders look to navigate the growing social climate and the ongoing racial inequalities, inequities, and micro-aggressions faced by the Black and Brown workforce, they are also faced with the growing challenges of managing employees remotely. CEOs now have the opportunity to reframe the workplace and close the cultural gap between Corporate America and America."

Starting with their Cultural Maturity Model©, Reframe develops bespoke strategies (with software) to help close cultural gaps that span across the employee lifecycle. While DEI, is a strong focus, Reframe's transformation is broader.

Introducing: H&S + Reframe

Two Culturally Transformative Companies Converge in Collaboration: Remaking Corporate America To Reflect the New America

The Dual Partnership Aims to Drive Awareness that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Is Not Enough To Save Current Corporations

Corporate America and America are at a cultural crossroads as a result of a “Perfect Storm”: the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter.

We’ve been here before. However, this time feels different.

Now is the time to introduce a new approach that culturally transforms Corporate America and closes the gap between Corporate America and America.

This week, we’re thrilled to announce that H&S is joining forces with Reframe, an enterprise software as a service technology company, to steer Corporate America toward a transformation that accurately reflects the cultural reality of New America. 

Elizabeth Harrison, our fearless CEO and co-founder and Jeffrey L. Bowman, a former Madison Avenue advertising executive turned tech entrepreneur who is co-founder and CEO of Reframe, formed the partnership created through a co-authored White Paper written primarily by Bowman through his research, pre COVID-19, that uncovered why this integral change is so difficult for organizations.

We sat down with Elizabeth and Jeffrey to discuss why now is the right time for transformation, what success looks like, and what’s exciting about this new partnership:

Why is now the right time for a cultural transformation in Corporate America?

We find ourselves amidst a powerful and necessary conversation around race, ethnicity, gender, culture, and equality that requires expert precision. As a collective group, we have a long history of viewing our trade through a cultural lens and being champions for justice, self-expression, fairness, and diversity. We strongly believe it is our responsibility to share our knowledge with Corporate America across this nation in order to effect meaningful change.

What does this transformation look like to be successful and sustainable?

The traditional approach of the last half century of diversity, equity, and inclusion has missed the mark when it comes to an effective way of integrating Corporate America.  While on the surface, it may seem like the appropriate solution with many adherents pointing to positive anecdotal developments, however, what it leaves out is the endemic structural underpinnings of our culture that require a radical reordering.   As Americans throughout the nation come to grips with how we move forward together in a positive and meaningful direction, it is our aim to assist Corporate America in what happens behind closed door.   By introducing a change management approach to build a workplace for cultural inclusion, early adopters will certainly be on the vanguard of how we move broader society toward outcomes that are both sustainable and scalable.

What excites you most about the Harrison & Shriftman / Reframe partnership?

Finding the exact words.  Striking a genuine tone.  Setting the right example.  Striding toward a better shared future. By joining forces in this effort, H&S and Reframe has forged an incredibly unique community where our shared integral values are welcomed, heard, supported, and implemented.  This cultural lens of championing these human truths have successfully created impactful solutions and award-winning programs on behalf of our partners and throughout our communities that bridge the divide between Corporate America and diverse audiences across the nation.

To learn more about how to do it, and to download the report, visit www.iamapeopleleader.com and contact us.

Real Talk from the Boss Lady

Excerpts from the PR Net,

"On today's approach to client work:":

“

One of the elements of our agency’s approach has always been agility: we are able to rapidly reset, retool, rejigger based on what we perceive as the client’s best interest and opportunity as culture changes.

”

Elizabeth Harrison, CEO & Co-Founder, H&S

One of the elements of our agency’s approach has always been agility: we are able to rapidly reset, retool, rejigger based on what we perceive as the client’s best interest and opportunity as culture changes. Wow, that has certainly been tested more than I could ever have imagined during this period of constant upheaval. Yes, some of our clients have gone on hiatus and others have cut their spend—particularly in the hard-hit hospitality and F&B spaces. Our biggest cut has been in experiential—as you might imagine—but we are working closely with our best vendors to create new technology capabilities for clients allowing them to launch products and keep brands top of mind virtually. It’s a work in progress that I’m excited about. Fortunately, we work with primarily Fortune 500 companies that trust our counsel and have effectively planned for the future.

What I find particularly interesting is the type of new business opportunities that have proactively approached us in certain categories that frankly surprised me, including beverages and consumer products. Americans, and consumers globally, have sharply cut back on many items that are now considered luxuries, but these brands wanted to think ahead and show up in a way that conveys to people: ‘We’re here for you, but when you’re ready.’ I find that forethought incredibly smart.  

We’re truly in a unique situation as a boutique agency within a larger global consultancy, which brings us a healthier pipeline than many smaller independent firms. The rulebook brands traditionally used to source agencies has certainly been thrown out in 2020. Brands are realizing that this is an ideal opportunity to review new agencies with new thinking that they haven’t seen before. This absolutely puts us in a strong position.

Real Talk from the Boss Lady

“Sometimes it takes a few tries to find your passion. Do not be afraid to try different internships, experiences or starting positions to figure out what is best for you.”

— Elizabeth Harrison, CEO & Co-Founder, H&S

Excerpts from the PENCIL Communications Career Panel

During the PENCIL Communications Career Panel, Elizabeth provided high school students from the New York City boroughs with advice on furthering their careers as they prepare for college, as well as a few insights on working in the public relations field and the challenges she faces on a daily basis.

“Sometimes it takes a few tries to find your passion. Do not be afraid to try different internships, experiences or starting positions to figure out what is best for you. Your first, second, or third job may not be the career of your dreams, but they will surely help you to find what is.” - Elizabeth Harrison, CEO & Co-Founder, H&S

Real Talk from the Boss Lady

Excerpts from PRovoke Media Q&A,

"Covid-19: What It Means For Entertainment PR":

“We haven’t faced something like this in our lifetimes, so as communications professionals, we’ll need to shift our approaches and think more creatively than ever.”

Elizabeth Harrison, CEO & Co-Founder, H&S

The shutdown of movie theaters, live events and sports has left the entertainment industry reeling, leaving communicators having to change not only what they are pitching but how they are doing so.

“It’s critical for publicists who are managing talent and influencers to think very carefully about how their actions will be perceived. While some celebrities and influencers may think they are lending support or showing people “we're just like you,” that’s not always how it comes across.”

“We’ve made monitoring the content and tone of media coverage a top priority, and we’ve adopted the practice of checking in with journalists and editors before sending any entertainment and lifestyle pitches..”

"There are many examples of brands that are stepping up, showing resilience and providing impactful support in response to COVID-19. BACARDI is one of our longest-standing clients, and they wasted no time identifying opportunities to help combat the crisis in a meaningful way."

"We need to consider that the quarantine mindset may not go away immediately, so we will have to find ways of marrying virtual experiences with opportunities to bring people together again."

"We need to continue closely monitoring the news cycle and be mindful of the limited resources within the editorial community during this time."

Real Talk from the Boss Lady

Excerpts from a PR Net panel discussion,

"Using Digital Tools to Conduct Business When IRL Isn't Available Anymore":

“We are storytellers and we know how to help people and tell them to navigate through tough times”

Elizabeth Harrison, CEO & Co-Founder, H&S

“I think we are actually positioned right now to be so helpful to our clients, and what I am loving is the amount of CEOs and CMOs from big companies that we work with, as well as, the smaller ones, who are really relying on us to tell them how to communicate their message.”

“Try to keep your spirits up, its really hard, its unchartered territory, we don’t know what’s going to happen so all we can do is prepare and try to support each other.”

Best practices for keeping yourself and colleagues engaged while working remotely:

• Conduct business as usual – make staff meetings digital, share work, and congratulate each other for jobs well done

• Create a virtual cocktail hour and invite kids, pets and spouses to join

• Carve out time for virtual dance parties to get up and move around together

• Coordinate for 1 on 1 check-ins to ensure everyone is connected

• Find ways to create engaging content – TikTok contests, workout videos, home décor tips, or make-up tutorials

• Share all pertinent updates and news stories with clients