The Corporate Social Mind

“More and more companies are debating what constitutes a good purpose in a complex world. This book provides practical help in anchoring these debates in a systemic view of corporate responsibility towards society. Studying the cases in the book and following the authors' framework of traits of companies with a corporate social mind will add depth to these debate and will help avoid the trap of corporate social responsibility activities that are unconnected to the core of the business.”

—Professor Johannes Meier, PhD, board member, NEW WORK SE, Mercator Foundation, and Unicef Germany

“An important subject, the right authors, a great book.”

—Dr. Knut Bergmann, Head of Communications and Head of Berlin Office, German Economic Institute

"An invaluable tool for companies awakening to a higher purpose. The Corporate Social Mind offers a unique, multidisciplinary perspective on delivering social impact authentic to your brand and values."

—Katie Hunt-Morr, Director, Virgin Unite

“The Corporate Social Mind is timely, refreshing, and actionable. Derrick Feldmann and Michael Alberg-Seberich ask the relevant questions and give voice to those who start to act. A must-read for everyone who decides to do and not just talk about social impact.”

—Johanna Mair, PhD, Professor of Organization, Strategy, and Leadership, Hertie School; Hewlett Foundation Visiting Scholar, Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society; Academic Editor, Stanford Social Innovation Review

“Given today’s challenges, we all need to take a hard look at what it’s going to take to scale impact and drive true change. Derrick’s and Michaels’ book inspires today’s leaders to take a fresh and holistic look at current approaches to social impact. At the Ad Council, we see firsthand how this formula—integrating corporate philanthropy, innovation and marketing, and communications—can create powerful ways to engage the public but also drive employee engagement and business results. This book will inspire and motivate all of us to do more.”

—Lisa Sherman, President and CEO, Ad Council

“The Corporate Social Mind is a timely contribution to an important debate about the responsibility of business. Its examples are engaging, the management practices it presents are inspiring, and the questions it raises are important for the future role of business in society.”

—Johannes Huth, Partner and Head of KKR Europe, Middle East, and Africa

“For 20 years, Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP) has been empowering leading companies to build a better world through business. With The Corporate Social Mind, Derrick Feldmann and Michael Alberg-Seberich have crafted a must-read guidebook, enhanced by powerful case studies, for anyone interested in clarifying the often murky space between social challenges and corporate strategy.”

—Daryl Brewster, CEO, Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose

“An increasing number of people expect private businesses to not only maximize shareholder value but also to take over a broader, quasi-governmental responsibility. Some companies are already adopting this new role by leading social change and thereby shaping the future of our human civilization. This book is a brilliant collection of best practices and an excellent summary of the state of the art of the field. At the same time, the book opens up a space for a critical discussion about these recent developments and stresses the importance of collective reflection. A must-read for every conscious individual in our economies, regardless of management level.”

—Laura Marie Edinger-Schons, PhD, Professor of Corporate Social Responsibility, University of Mannheim Business School; Cofounder, Digital Social Innovation Lab

"The Corporate Social Mind is a perfect primer for companies looking to reimagine their social purpose and engage meaningfully with movement organisations. I highly recommend this book for any leader seeking to better understand how to survive and thrive in a world where new economic systems are emerging."

—Charmian Love, Cofounder and Chair, B Lab UK

“For many years we suffered from the social effects of the American shareholder value doctrine. Now, we have Greta. For all these reasons, this book comes as an important handbook with recipes and illustrations of responsible behavior in small and large enterprise at a time of massive challenges for society and companies that should be significant contributors to our sustainability at large.”

—Dr. Stephan Goetz, Managing Partner, goetzpartners Corporate Finance

“My philosophy has always been to link sustainability to business issues in order to create value (social, environmental, economic) for everyone. This can only succeed with perfect alignment between who you are, what you say, and what you effectively do. This book is an incredible demonstration of this. An inspiring reading to take action!"

—Fanny Fremont, Executive Director, Responsible Mica Initiative

“Derrick and Michael have presented a thoughtful, easy-to-consume guide for how business leaders can approach not just incorporating social impact into their companies, but how they can make it central to their strategies. The Corporate Social Mind broadens the focus on how business delivers societal impact beyond the critical CSR function and makes it an imperative for all leaders.”

—Rachel Hutchisson, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy, Blackbaud, Inc.

“In family enterprises, nurturing social minds is part of our DNA across generational boundaries. As the world accelerates and inequality rises, we need to integrate new KPIs to provide society with a more virtuous and better-balanced economic model. Derrick and Michael are providing us with an invaluable toolset of lived experiences and best practices to stretch our minds and provoke ‘social change from the inside out.’ Their book is a must-read for every learning family.”

—Olivier de Richoufftz, President, Business Families Foundation

“The Corporate Social Mind is clear, in language and content, filled with sound advice and practical guidance. The call to action is also very timely and urgent: corporate social values should require companies to be present, be practiced, be supportive of society, and be authentic. It provides good guidance for companies to identify the right assets to contribute to addressing societal issues. It offers a mindset shift for effective leaders.”

—Maria Serena Porcari, Managing Director, Dynamo Academy Social Enterprise

“The management of a company’s purpose and social engagement is a crucial leadership task these days. Derrick’s and Michael’s book is a good repository for concrete examples of this kind of leadership on various levels of management. Their nine traits should be part of the toolbox of modern day businesses.”

—Brigitte Lammers, Partner, Egon Zehnder

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