Strategy

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Annemarie du LeBohn

You wouldn’t race a triathlon without building up your endurance levels to swim, cycle and run the full distance. There is a clear strategy to training.

The same is true for engaging in CSR – campaigns need a strategy to make sense.

For example: I recently spoke to a real estate broker loved the idea of using his business resources to support breast cancer – a worthy cause. His initial reaction was to donate “x” amount to a national breast cancer non-profit and be done with it. What a waste.

Instead, the Broker needed to create a strategic cause related marketing campaign. First, define three business goals: (1) recruit new agents. (2) Develop sales skills for the new agent. (3) Strengthen relationships with his agents.

Then, use that insight, to leverage a cause marketing campaign that also supports his business goals.

For example, he could promise to donate money to the charity when a new agent joins his team and with each closing. He could organize team building volunteer days to help a family battling breast cancer by doing various household projects: paint a room, build a garden, fix a computer, cook a weeks worth of food, or change the oil in the family car.

That strategy could show the Broker’s stakeholders how he uses his real estate resources to support his community, that he wasn’t in business to focus just on the financial bottom line, and that he wanted to build a supportive team. Ultimately that strategic commitment could attract like-minded, loyal agents who could help the Broker build his business.

Many company leaders let their compassionate emotions screw up their strategy. They support causes without strategizing how the support could create a triple bottom line helping people, the planet and their profits thrive.

Focus on the strategic connections and build relationships with all your stakeholders.

Success Defined

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Annemarie du LeBohn

The last 10 days, after speaking at two conferences, I feel positive about life.

In Vegas I moderated a CSR panel for the Women in Default Services conference. Four amazing companies sat on the panel – Freddie Mac, PEMCO, U.S. Bank and Microsoft.

First, to innovate the panel I organized a tour of Zappos Downtown Project, where $350 million is being spent to revitalize the city.

Why that tour? Because Zappos is so innovative. They’re developing a creative, community minded downtown Las Vegas by asking their employees a basic, common sense question, “If you could develop a city, what would it be like?” Answers: A dog park. It’d include a family owned hot dog stand, barber shop, and bakery. There would be a place for entrepreneurs to meet and to listen to innovative thinkers. The city would be walking friendly. They city would care about environmental issues. We’d live in sustainable buildings and recycle.

Thanks to those unlikely master developers, Vegas is creating that environment. Congratulations. New schools are being built. There are community events, a speakers series, a TechFund to seed tech companies, a monthly arts programs. In September the recycled Container Park will open and many small family owned business have opened their door. Bravo.

I hoped the tour would inspire my CSR panel to thrive with out-of-the-box community-minded thinking, and it worked. During the panel discussion we reminded the audience that one person can positively change the world, that their business can thrive (like Zappos) by providing great customer service and community engagement programs.

The highlights: interacting with the audience, discovering 90% of them volunteer, and sharing community engagement ideas. The room was alive with infectious positive energy.

I left Vegas, a city hit hard by the mortgage crisis, feeling hopeful especially after I met people willing to create a more positive world.

Last Friday I spoke at the Women’s Business conference, hosted by SCORE, SBDC and IWE where I was featured as a success for racing Ironman and for developing my CSR business. Throughout the day many ladies spoke about success. It gave me pause. What defines success? Here are four elements I shared:

Embracing fear.
Disciplining the mind to eliminate negative thoughts.
Forgiveness.
Doing what makes your heart sing.

Sing loud and proud.
Don’t stop. Always Tri.

CSR Workshop and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Annemarie du LeBohn

So excited to interview the VP, Education and Community for the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Talena Mara. She’ll be speaking at my CSR Workshop at Microsoft Store, South Coast Plaza. It’s happening this Thursday morning from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

If you’re studying any elements of CSR that incorporate community engagement, arts, or education, then you’ll want to attend. Just read Talena Mara’s impeccable bio.

Talena Mara joined the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in fall of 2008 as the Vice President, Education. She is the first person to hold the newly-created position with this nationally recognized arts organization. Mara is an accomplished, visionary, innovative leader with over twenty years of national and international experience in education, arts administration and urban community building.

Mara is a noted speaker and was invited earlier this year to do presentations on cultural diplomacy and its effect on community building at United Nations events held in both New York City and in Washington. She has served as teacher and advisor to students from elementary through graduate level conservatory and served for 14 years as department chair and faculty member at The Juilliard School’s Music Advancement Program. As director of education and audience development for New York City Opera, she developed a comprehensive education program to accompany City Opera’s tour to Japan, among other noted accomplishments. Mara has provided leadership for public school reform projects in conjunction with Yale University, and she served as director of educational outreach at Manhattan School of Music, where she was also a member of the conservatory’s faculty. Under her direction, Manhattan School of Music led the way in developing distance learning through the use of video conferencing technology.

Mara has served as advisor for a variety of educators, including teaching artists, classroom teachers, curriculum specialists, principals and school superintendents, all of whom shared an interest in building stronger academic connections between music and other subject areas. She was a consultant in the Education Through Music program in New York City and a faculty member at the City University of New York. Mara has also worked with many other arts organizations, both in New York City and across the United States, helping these groups better understand the powerful influence the arts have on learning. Mara has participated as a panellist for Opera America Conferences, at the Kennedy Center’s Partners in Education annual meeting and Education Through Music Leadership Conference.

Mara holds a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Louisiana State University and a Bachelor of Music in Education and Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Abilene Christian University. She is currently working toward a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership.

CSR Workshop

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Annemarie du LeBohn

Tomorrow morning I’ll host the first of six CSR Workshops at the Microsoft Store Costa Mesa, and it will focus on Cause Related Marketing. It’ll be from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. RSVP via Meetup.

During the workshop CSR advocates will share their insights on the benefits to both nonprofits and to corporations. Plus, we’ll explore how Cause Related Marketing is different from corporate philanthropy and we’ll share tips on how to create a successful CRM campaign.

To learn more about the featured speakers, keep reading.

Megan Harless
Working Wardrobes
VP Business Development

Megan began her career working for elite luxury retailers St. John Knits and Giorgio Armani. There, Megan learned the tools necessary to succeed as a woman in business.

She then took her passion for non-profit work to Working Wardrobes where she provides oversight and direction for donor & corporate engagement.

Megan holds a bachelor’s degree from University of California, San Diego and is currently working on obtaining her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Southern California.

Allison Hollstegge
U.S. Bank
Branch Manager

Allison Hollstegge graduated with a degree in Business from The Ohio State University and has been in the banking industry for the past 10 years.

She is a Branch Manager with US Bank and focuses her efforts on helping small business’ grow and developing a knowledgeable and customer service oriented team. She stays active building lasting relationships within her company and community.

Allison sits on the board of the Orange County Development Network for US Bank. The Development Network plans and coordinates opportunities for US Bank employees to participate in meaningful projects that enrich our communities. She devotes her time to many local non- profits such as Working Wardrobes, KidWorks, Junior Achievements, Families Forward and Mary’s Kitchen to provide volunteers and raise money to these organizations and many others in the Orange County area.

Keiko Nakao
Mary Kay
Independent Senior Sales Director

Keiko Nakao has been building her Mary Kay career for 19 years. She was attracted by the company’s philosophy: God first, Family second, Career third. Her passion is to enrich women’s lives by raising their self-esteem by offering and teaching them how to use the best selling skin care products and color cosmetics to enhance their own beauty, and by offering them a fabulous career opportunity to attain their financial independence.

She was born and raised in Japan, and came to the US for her college education to become the first woman diplomat. She met her husband Gary and started working for a big trading company after her graduation. Working as a sales manager she enjoyed her work for several years, but after having a baby, she chose to stay home

Currently Keiko motivates and leads over 250 consultants all over the United States, and she is very happy about having her own United Nations. She has been training a sales force of thousands to achieve their goals.

Mary Kay Cosmetics is in over 35 countries, and it has the most number of women who make over $100,000 a year of any other company in America. She has been an official makeup artist, including Miss Orange County Pageant, Miss Long Beach, Mrs. Globe, and PGA (Producers Guild of America Awards), Pre-Grammy awards in Hollywood. Yes, she won the Grand prize on Mary Kay Nationwide Makeup contest out of 11,000 entries in 2011. She has been married to Gary for 33 years, has two children: Jeffrey who graduated from UC Berkeley and Loyola Law School, is an attorney, married and recently made Keiko the hottest Grandma, and Jessica just graduated from UCLA. Keiko loves being with her family & friends, reading good books, and traveling. Her key to success is to surround herself with positive people.

She has a bachelor’s degree in International marketing, and has 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do (She claims that she does not use martial arts in her Mary Kay career!) She has just earned her 12th free car from Mary Kay, and her 5th Pink Cadillac!
www.marykay.com/knakao
(562)882-2899