Beyond Our Selves: Corporate Social Responsibility for 2021 and Beyond

When people ask what I like most about my work, something I often say is my career has offered me a front-row seat to witness the evolution of sustainability in business. Now, in a new role in a new job, I’m similarly situated to be part of what is shaping up to be the next chapter in corporate social responsibility (CSR).

This next big leap is deeply needed in our world. It also has soaring potential to improve billions of lives—but more on that in a minute. Before we discuss the future, we need talk about the past.

From in   Our Bodies to on   Our Bodies

Southern California in the 90s: That’s where, as a water polo-playing university student, I began to gain an appreciation for the link between the natural world, capitalism, and our own lives.

In picturesque Santa Barbara, California, what people put in their bodies was for some a topic nearing obsession. Organics were in; processed foods were out. But the connection between our shopping and our future remained largely abstract beyond the idea that organic food was good for you and the planet.

I went on to serve as a Congressional Aide in Washington, DC, with the idealized hope that public policy would help to change the world. After some time, I realized that, while public policy is critically important, the business world plays another critical role in helping drive positive social and environmental change.

In 2006, I started what would become a 14-year career with Gap Inc. focused largely on environmental affairs, sustainability, and CSR. There, I played a role in a new awakening as conscious consumerism expanded from what people put in their bodies to what they put on their bodies. Organic cotton was the new organic produce; Fair Trade was the new free-range.

Through my experience I learned that connecting with consumers and constituents on common ground that matters to all of us is integral and possible. Clean air and water, access to the outdoors, and vibrant communities are ideals most people can agree on. Building on these common values provides a foundation for lasting change.

Fast-forward 14 years; Gap Inc. and other leading clothing brands now have some of the apparel industry’s most ambitious, comprehensive, and transparent social and environmental sustainability targets.

More broadly, sustainability is increasingly a mainstream cause. Groups like 1% for the Planet connect commerce and sustainability; they marshal the power of our shopping dollars to improve conditions for both people and the planet. It feels like another wave is beginning to crest in conscious capitalism, an important piece to this puzzle. Again, I’m eager to play a role.

Sustainable Finance as the Next Frontier

Over the past few years, I took note from afar as Bank of the West began to lead a new movement in the financial services sector. I was struck by how this direction further evolved my own experience in sustainability.

No longer is it enough to consider what we buy to put in our bodies—or on our bodies. Our money impacts the planet even when we think it’s “just sitting in the bank.” How? Some 90 percent of customer deposits are sent back into the world to finance new business. Whether that new business includes electric vehicles, solar panels, or other projects accelerating the renewable energy transition depends on who you bank with.

In Bank of the West, I saw an institution committed to sustainable finance. That’s a big part of what attracted me to my new role as Head of Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability at the bank.

Another pull factor: The bank recently folded its CSR team into its Growth & Transformation department. CSR now resides alongside core operations such as Customer Experience and Digital. The big idea embedded in this organizational change? Entering 2021 and beyond, CSR is much more than a nice-to-have; it’s essential for any business, and for society at large. That my position is tied to a profit-and-loss statement further proves that, at this bank, CSR is not just for show.

A new movement is afoot, one that builds on prior collective realizations about what we put in and on our bodies.

Mapping the Road Ahead

To be clear, transforming a major company isn’t accomplished just by making an organizational change. But it is a start. I genuinely believe we can serve as an example to other organizations, in finance and other industries, seeking to transform their own organizations to focus on sustainability.

• Accelerating the energy transition: Experts agree humanity’s only viable way forward is through transitioning to a net-zero economy by 2050. We are already channeling $1 billion toward this transition; further steps include building out frameworks for measuring standards and tracking results while supporting innovation.
• Internal sustainability: Bank of the West knows sustainability must be central to our own daily operations as well.
• Supporting local communities: Building a sustainable future involves supporting the communities we serve. That’s why we work to support women entrepreneurs, foster financial health and wellness, and promote climate resilience through partnerships with organizations such as GRID Alternatives and Grameen America.
• The company we keep: We are grateful for mutually supportive alliances with groups such as 1% for the Planet that are inspiring and empowering the outdoor community to be agents for change.

There’s a lot of work ahead to get to where we want to be. And I know we will face plenty of bumps along the way. But above all, I feel energized to be at the forefront of the next evolution in CSR, a collective realization that your money in the bank has the power to make a positive impact.