Come Together: Through Purpose We Thrive

At the risk of stating the obvious, 2020 was hard. It was a moment in time like no other. Yet, as I sit contemplating a year that demanded so much from us, I find myself thinking about the many proverbs and famous quotes that tell us our challenges will lead to transformation and growth. Although it’s sometimes hard to look back on 2020 with positivity, I do believe it gave us a newfound purpose that has made us more agile, more resilient, and more dedicated to building a better future. As we officially kick off 2021, I’m looking at the year ahead with an optimistic eye and taking stock of the many lessons that 2020 taught us.  

We’re All in This Together

One resounding theme we heard over and over throughout 2020 was, “we’re all in this together.” It was the mantra of the year and a symbol of our shared perseverance. As we move forward, I hope it continues to propel us. To rebuild, we need to keep channeling the collective strength we found early on and focus it on our guiding purpose as we move towards recovery and growth. Only by acting in solidarity can we build the framework that will support resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economies and societies for the long haul.

Purpose will Guide Us

The world has been inexorably changed due to the events of the last year and there’s no going back to the way things once were – but why would we want to? 2020 didn’t delay us on our path to a better tomorrow. It showed us how to vault over challenges as we contemplate a future where we are not merely surviving, but thriving. This year has shown us the power of purpose as a driving force and the new heights it can help us reach for the greater good. Purpose encourages us to be our best, our most creative, and our most empathetic.

The purpose we’ve found this year has brought us together and given us not just the will but the ability to adapt and reimagine a million different aspects of our lives. That same motivation will drive us as we embark on this once-in-a-generation opportunity to redesign the future of work, business, community, technology, society and so much more. Change of this scale calls for leaders and organizations that understand the enormity of the responsibility and recognize we all have the opportunity to champion growth and prosperity across business and society.

Leaders, Are You Up to the Task?

The traditional roles and rules of leadership have changed. In the wake of the disruption of 2020, leaders are being challenged to demonstrate their value beyond the scope of their job and truly embrace their role as guardians of social responsibility. A call to action such as this can’t be answered alone. It will require leadership and collaboration for the greater good. One example is how Deloitte and Salesforce came together to host a dialogue among some of the world’s best-known scenario thinkers to consider the societal and business impact of uncertain futures and reflect on what it will take to thrive in a world remade. This thought leadership is helping organizations plan and prepare for what comes next and forge a path towards a successful future. A sense of community and greater purpose is perhaps the most significant guiding principle any leader should embrace when laying out a vision for the days ahead. Leaders who can lead with purpose will find a more engaged and effective workforce – one that believes in the mission and actively steers the organization towards growth and prosperity.

Business Growth Redefined

Businesses that lead with purpose can create deeper connections with customers, do more for their communities, attract and retain talent, and in the process, achieve greater results and impact. These businesses understand profit and growth won’t be enough to succeed in the days ahead and recognize the need to collaborate with other organizations and leaders to benefit the broader community and ecosystem where they exist. I saw this sentiment come to life when The Franklin Institute of Philadelphia (TFI), in the wake of closing and social-distancing mandates due to COVID-19, reopened both physically and virtually. A pro bono team from Deloitte Consulting LLP came together with the executive corporate board of TFI to rethink the museum’s operations and create a more resilient business strategy. Since then they’ve redoubled efforts to spark interest in STEM education by connecting with underserved communities, in person, and online through such programs as "Be a chemist at home." This new model of community, collaboration, and innovation is exactly what we need to fuel growth in the next normal and to ultimately reimagine a better world.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is Fundamental to Success

The events of 2020 magnified the connection between business and society. Being a purpose-driven organization means having a responsibility to act intentionally and make choices that focus on inclusion and equity. Inclusion drives growth and competitive advantage and focusing on it is some of the most powerful and transformative work we can do as we redesign our future. It’s one of the reasons I am proud to support Deloitte’s efforts to take action against systemic bias, racism, and unequal treatment. Two such efforts are the creation of the Black Action Council (BAC) and our talent recruitment and development practices. The BAC was developed to thoughtfully architect, execute, and accelerate our transformational strategy to better enable Black professionals at Deloitte and sustain an antiracist culture for our people and organization. When it comes to finding talent, Deloitte is committed to reimagining each step of the process from early identification to recruitment to career development and succession with a focus on removing barriers. I truly hope the actions we are taking today, both big and small, will contribute to a thriving new tomorrow.

Where There is Disruption, There is Opportunity

If “hindsight is 20/20,” what does 2020 hindsight teach us? A lot, actually. Overall, 2020 taught us that where there is disruption, there is also opportunity. 2021 is here and how we move forward is up to us. If we can come together with purpose, we can change from an “I” to a “we” mentality and find opportunities to thrive. As we reflect on all that has happened and all we managed to accomplish, let’s resolve to embark on 2021 with purpose – taking lessons from the past, and summoning the resilience that has been awakened within us to build a more successful, hopeful, and inclusive future. Let’s let purpose guide us in making an impact that matters.

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