Partner with Purpose: Solving 21st Century Business Problems Through Cross-Sector Collaboration

by Steve Schmida

Overview

In the 21st century, businesses are increasingly faced with complex, "wicked" problems--challenges with social and environmental dimensions they cannot solve on their own. This is especially common in the frontier markets of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the former Soviet bloc. In many cases, the best solution is to create cross-sector partnerships with organizations from outside the business world--foundations, nonprofits, government agencies, and more. The resulting partnerships can generate business value as well positive social impact, thereby benefiting companies and communities alike. PARTNER WITH PURPOSE by Steve Schmida is a step-by-step guide to planning, launching, and successfully maintaining cross-sector partnerships, illustrated with vivid real-life stories from the author's work with companies around the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781733914123
Publisher:	Rivertowns Books
Publication date:	06/02/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Steve Schmida is the Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Resonance, an award-winning global development and corporate sustainability consulting firm with more than 100 consultants worldwide and offices in Vermont, Washington, D.C., Seattle, and Manila. Resonance clients include Fortune 500 companies, international donor agencies, and leading nonprofits and foundations. Steve has been at the forefront of corporate sustainability and global development for more than two decades, focusing on developing cross-sector partnerships that enable clients to tackle "wicked problems" from climate change to human trafficking in supply chains. His writing has appeared in the Huffington Post, Stanford Social Innovation Review, and the Moscow Times. He sits on the Leadership Group of the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE) and on the Sustainable Innovation Executive Council of the Grossman School of Business at the University of Vermont. Prior to founding Resonance, Steve lived and worked for eight years in Russia and Central Asia, where he established and led programs to support entrepreneurs and civic activists for the Eurasia Foundation and the National Democratic Institute. Fluent in Russian, he holds an M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He lives in Vermont with his wife, Nazgul (who is CEO of Resonance), and their two children.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Smallholder Farmer and the Fortune 500 CEO

1. Cross-Sector Partnerships and Why They Matter

2. To Partner or Not? Questions You Need to Ask

3. Models for Cross-Sector Partnerships

4. The Arc of a Partnership: The LABS Framework

5. From Problem to Partnership

6. Internal Alignment and Buy-In

7. Closing the Deal

8. Implementation: How to Get Things Done Through Partnerships

9. Measurement Matters

10. Moving Up or Moving Out

11. The Essentials of an Effective Partnership Team

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

Appendixes

Source Notes

Index

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

“Schmida does a superb job of covering all aspects of partnerships: examining types, identifying high-potential ones, forging and managing a collaboration (including a seven-step process), securing commitments, effectively structuring an alliance, negotiating, and writing agreements. Authoritative, all-encompassing, and richly detailed; a highly valuable partnership playbook.”—Kirkus Reviews

"Unlike many business books, this one isn't selling a method, a service, or other products; it is simply a thorough and practical work that knows its audience very well. This valuable guide is both a spirited entreaty and practical road map for powerful collaborations between businesses and mission-driven organizations. Takeaway: This highly practical guide will light the way for business owners and corporate executives seeking cross-sector partnerships."—BookLife Reviews (Editor's Pick)

“Partner with Purpose is a very practical and readable guidebook for business professionals looking to solve big problems through collaboration with NGOs, governments, academics, and communities. The book combines useful tools with the real-life experiences of those on the front lines of sustainable business.”—Christine Daugherty, Vice President, Global Sustainable Agriculture and Responsible Sourcing, PepsiCo

“An indispensable guide for corporate intrapreneurs. If you want to achieve progress in dealing with today’s and tomorrow’s complex challenges, and recognize that you need to engage with partners, but are not sure how, then this book is for you. A practical, personal, step-by-step guide to go about achieving change at scale, with plenty of learned-by-doing guidance as to the pitfalls and how to avoid them.”—Simon Winter, Executive Director, Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture

"Partner with Purpose is brilliant, ingeniously combining rich case studies with practical frameworks. Steve Schmida’s book should be required reading for anyone looking to develop strong and mutually beneficial partnerships."—Efosa Ojomo, Senior Fellow, Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, and co-author of The Prosperity Paradox

From the Publisher