Susan McPherson

For those tired of tech-driven, transactional networking, a guide to reclaiming the power of human contact―and a new approach for developing lasting and fulfilling personal connections. Today, people have hundreds of "friends" on Facebook and countless "contacts" on LinkedIn, so why do so many of us feel disconnected? In The Lost Art of Connecting, Susan McPherson presents a paradigm shift for the way we make meaningful connections in business and in life.

While social media platforms… Show more

For those tired of tech-driven, transactional networking, a guide to reclaiming the power of human contact―and a new approach for developing lasting and fulfilling personal connections. Today, people have hundreds of "friends" on Facebook and countless "contacts" on LinkedIn, so why do so many of us feel disconnected? In The Lost Art of Connecting, Susan McPherson presents a paradigm shift for the way we make meaningful connections in business and in life.

While social media platforms make it easier for people to connect with those they want to reach, these interactions are often dehumanizing, feel transactional, and agenda-driven. McPherson explains that we need to go back to basics and connect in an entirely new way, using technology as a tool and not a means to an end. We need a paradigm shift: one in which we look for ways to answer “how can I help?” as well as an opportunity to shine the light on others. Her methodology is broken down into three simple steps: Gather, Ask, Do.

Shot through with equal doses of humor, humility, and encouragement, The Lost Art of Connecting is the handbook everyone needs to catapult their way to success through relationships. McPherson draws on her own experience starting a communications firm and cites stories of experts like Baratunde Thurston, Tiffany Dufu, Whitney Johnson and Adam Grant, who have spent their careers building meaningful connections into successful enterprises. Show less

From a national day of giving back to an inspiring show of corporate support after Hurricane Sandy, 2012 was a remarkable year for social innovation, philanthropy and corporate responsibility. Below, I share my picks for this year’s social innovation highlights and best-in-show campaigns. I’d love to hear your top picks too, so please share in the comments section.

From Chick-fil-A to Apple, more and more major companies are taking policy positions on gay marriage. Arguably, there's a business case for supporting it. Google, Starbucks, Nike, General Mills, and other big brands have all opened themselves up to both the potential risk and opportunity of supporting LGBT equality. Even Lloyd Blankfein, CEO of Goldman Sachs, announced his support in a Human Rights Campaign public service announcement: "America's corporations learned long ago that equality is… Show more

From Chick-fil-A to Apple, more and more major companies are taking policy positions on gay marriage. Arguably, there's a business case for supporting it. Google, Starbucks, Nike, General Mills, and other big brands have all opened themselves up to both the potential risk and opportunity of supporting LGBT equality. Even Lloyd Blankfein, CEO of Goldman Sachs, announced his support in a Human Rights Campaign public service announcement: "America's corporations learned long ago that equality is just good business and it's the right thing to do." Show less

As Afghan-U.S. relations continue to deteriorate, it's hard to imagine that the two nations can find political common ground. But the language of business is a common one. Stronger business (coupled with innovation) is a powerful driver for peace.

More and more, companies are building long-term commitments to corporate social responsibility (CSR). In 2012 the rise in consumer activism and mobility, the Occupy movement, 24-hour accountability (thanks to social media), and global resource depletion will force every enterprise, large and small, to make CSR a focal point. Four particular areas stand out among many.