McPherson Strategies

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” McPherson Strategies Founder and CEO, Susan McPherson, and Vice President, Ilena Parker, recently attended our client New Profit’s impact-driven conference, The Well, In Baltimore! The gathering brought together an inspiring multiracial, intergenerational, cross-sector (M.I.C.?) community and provided a refreshing space for connection. In the words of New Profit CEO, Tulaine M., it was an “incredible experience that centered the healing power of community.”

We are delighted to share that three of McPherson Strategies’ remarkable clients were recognized at this year’s The Anthem Awards last week! ?? Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative) earned Silver in their category for their groundbreaking scientific achievement—revealing the first-ever sperm whale phonetic alphabet and advancing our understanding of whale communication. See their award here: https://bit.ly/anthemCETI ?? Don't Ban Equality received Bronze for their fearless advocacy for reproductive rights, including their Times Square billboard campaign during the U.S. Supreme Court abortion hearings. See their award here: https://bit.ly/anthemDBE ?? Leadership Now Project was also awarded Bronze for their vital work supporting election administrators in Wisconsin and mobilizing business leaders to oppose Ohio’s Issue 1, protecting the integrity of citizen-led initiatives. See their award here: https://bit.ly/anthemLNP Congratulations to these incredible organizations for their dedication to creating lasting impact. We are honored to partner with you and amplify your efforts. #AnthemAwards #CommunityVoice #SocialImpact #McPhersonStrategies

This week, Vice President, Strategy and Culture Ilena Parker brings us The Blue Sky Ahead Edition of the McPherson Strategies Memo! She covers climate finance reform as COP29 comes to a close, how nonprofits are fighting back against HR 9495, and the evolving media landscape.

Businesses Driving Impact: Purpose Meets Profit In a recent Forbes article, McPherson Strategies’ founder Susan McPherson highlighted how companies addressing social issues are finding success by attracting conscious consumers and expanding into underserved markets. From PayPal to Amalgamated Bank, these companies prove that aligning purpose with profit isn’t just good for society—it’s a smart business strategy. CEO Daniella Ballou-Aares from our client, Leadership Now Project, also shared critical insights: “CEOs who avoid engaging with democracy-related issues risk undermining the stability that enables businesses to thrive.” Business and democracy are deeply intertwined, and protecting democratic institutions is vital for sustainable economic growth. We’re inspired by these leaders showing that businesses can lead on social and civic issues while driving success. #LeadershipNowProject #PurposeAndProfit #SocialImpact #BusinessForGood #Democracy

#ElectionDay is finally here, and let’s not forget access to reproductive healthcare is an economic issue. That’s exactly what DBE signers, McPherson Strategies founder and CEO Susan McPherson and StitchCrew founder Erika Lucas, advocate in an article published in Fast Company today. Written alongside Leadership Now Project senior advisor, Michelle Greene, they highlight the important role business leaders can play in helping to protect access to reproductive care. It’s estimated that restrictive reproductive healthcare policies cost the U.S. economy $68 billion each year. Access to reproductive health care is vital to the health of our economy overall. Read their piece here: https://lnkd.in/eMCZcPWf #DontBanEquality #AbortionAccess #Economy #ReproductiveHealthcare #2024Election

???Tomorrow is Election Day! ??? McPherson Strategies client Leadership Now Project has been working to inform and ready business leaders to combat threats to democracy, protect and reform elections, and support qualified candidates in critical races. Leadership Now's CEO, Daniella Ballou-Aares, recently wrote a letter to The New York Times highlighting how business leaders are taking a stand to protect democracy. It is our collective responsibility to work together to protect, advance and improve democracy, and business leaders nationwide play an important role. This election will shape the future of free speech, the rights of historically marginalized communities, women’s health and reproductive rights, climate action and so much more — casting your vote is a vital way to ensure that your voice is heard. Business leaders can cultivate meaningful civic engagement in the workplace by ensuring employees have time to vote, encouraging workers to volunteer at their local polls and directing them to voting resources.? Visit vote.org to check your registration, find your polling place, and see what’s on your ballot. Make a plan to vote tomorrow, and join us in supporting initiatives that strengthen our democracy! #ElectionDay #Vote #Democracy #LeadershipNowProject

???Tomorrow is Election Day! ??? McPherson Strategies client Leadership Now Project has been working to inform and ready business leaders to combat threats to democracy, protect and reform elections, and support qualified candidates in critical races. Leadership Now's CEO, Daniella Ballou-Aares, recently wrote a letter to The New York Times highlighting how business leaders are taking a stand to protect democracy. It is our collective responsibility to work together to protect, advance and improve democracy, and business leaders nationwide play an important role. This election will shape the future of free speech, the rights of historically marginalized communities, women’s health and reproductive rights, climate action and so much more — casting your vote is a vital way to ensure that your voice is heard. Business leaders can cultivate meaningful civic engagement in the workplace by ensuring employees have time to vote, encouraging workers to volunteer at their local polls and directing them to voting resources.? Visit vote.org to check your registration, find your polling place, and see what’s on your ballot. Make a plan to vote tomorrow, and join us in supporting initiatives that strengthen our democracy! #ElectionDay #Vote #Democracy #LeadershipNowProject

?? Exciting Progress from Project CETI in Decoding Whale Communication! ?? Our client, Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative), has made a major breakthrough in their mission to understand how sperm whales communicate. Published in Science Robotics, their latest research reveals a new AI framework that allows drones to predict where whales will surface, helping researchers capture more of their vocalizations and dive deeper into understanding their language. This innovation combines advanced tracking tech with smart algorithms. “This research brings us closer to understanding the complex communication of sperm whales,” says Dr. David Gruber, Founder & Lead of Project CETI. We’re honored to support CETI’s pioneering work in marine science and conservation! ? #ProjectCETI #Innovation #AI #WhaleCommunication #MarineScience

We’re excited to share that a few of McPherson Strategies’ clients are finalists for this year’s The Anthem Awards. Their impactful work is in the running for a #CommunityVoiceAward, and we’d love your support. Here’s a bit about what they’ve accomplished: Don't Ban Equality: In the face of continuous ad rejections, they secured a Times Square billboard advocating for reproductive rights during the U.S. Supreme Court abortion hearings earlier this year. ?? Vote Here! https://lnkd.in/gai2XNd3 Leadership Now Project: They rallied business leaders to successfully oppose Ohio’s Issue 1, a proposed amendment aimed at limiting citizen-led initiatives like those supporting abortion rights. ?? Vote Here! https://lnkd.in/gv-EnACm Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative): They made a scientific breakthrough by revealing a sperm whale phonetic alphabet for the first time, bringing us closer to understanding whale communication. ?? Vote Here! https://lnkd.in/gmUiASAy Please take a moment to vote for their work by October 31! #AnthemAwards #CommunityVoice #SocialImpact

Way to go, Ellie Rogalinski!! ?? ??