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drive21, Van Wagner Collaborate to Elevate In-Venue Branding and Fan Engagement Across College Athletics

drive21

drive21, a leader in experiential design and marketing solutions, today announced a strategic relationship with leading collegiate athletics marketing agency, Van Wagner to become a preferred experiential graphic design and implementation provider for Van Wagner. Van Wagner is recognized for its expertise in collegiate sponsorship sales and multi-media rights and will collaborate with drive21 to redefine branding strategies, drive revenue growth, and create Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) execution opportunities in the collegiate sports industry. Through this relationship, Van Wagner’s collegiate clients will be afforded advantageous pricing and access to drive21’s suite of services to provide innovative branding and design solutions across their venues; driving innovative solutions that bridge the gap between brand aspirations and reality, creating immersive environments that resonate with audiences and drive tangible business results. "This relationship represents a significant step forward in our mission to transform sports and entertainment venues into impactful environments that are also powerful marketing tools," said Warren Godridge, drive21 Founder and President. "By collaborating with Van Wagner, we can leverage our creativity and expertise to deliver a consistent brand experience across all venues, enhancing the value for brands, universities, and fans alike." “Traditional approaches often focus solely on aesthetics and overlook the potential to maximize partnership, sponsorship and NIL opportunities, leaving untapped value on the table” said John Libro, Head of Sports and Entertainment at drive21. “Working with Van Wagner College will allow us to push the boundaries of experiential design and transform collegiate athletic facilities into dynamic revenue-generating tools that engage fans and drive real business growth.” This relationship may also offer an even more comprehensive solution to collegiate clients by providing new NIL revenue streams. Through this collaboration with drive21, a portion of the facility’s expenditure can be reallocated to the universities’ NIL efforts. This allows universities to offer a more engaging experience for athletes and fans while creating dynamic environments supporting athletic performance, fan engagement and brand partnerships. "drive21’s ability to seamlessly integrate brand experiences into our facilities is a game-changer for our clients,” said Mark Donley, Chief Revenue Officer at Van Wagner College. “Through our arrangement with drive21, our university clients have an opportunity to access the expertise of drive21 to not only enhance their facilities but also ensure a consistent and high-quality experience for a variety of initiatives at an advantageous rate. It's truly a win-win-win scenario." The first major joint effort was a collaboration at Florida International University for the brand implementation of the newly named Pitbull Stadium. drive21 and Van Wagner played a key role in creating cohesive branding for the first college athletic venue named after a musician, exampling the transformative potential of experiential design and strategic branding. To learn more about the partnership, or drive21’s sports, entertainment and hospitality solutions, please visit www.drive21.com. About drive21 drive21 elevates the sports, entertainment, and hospitality industries by delivering one-of-a-kind branded venue experiences. A leader in experiential design and marketing solutions, drive21 bridges the gap between imagination and reality to deliver functional and impactful environments through design, fabrication, implementation, and holistic project management. Servicing organizations including MLB, MLS and NCAA institutions, drive21 helps its clients maximize partnership and sponsorship revenue and turns ordinary environments into extraordinary works of art. For more information, visit www.drive21.com. About Van Wagner Van Wagner is a leading sports advertising and entertainment agency with global expertise in filmed and live entertainment, sponsorship sales, multi-media rights, and aerial advertising. Van Wagner creates, advises, and sells for world-class teams, leagues, brands, and properties. An innovator in the sports and media business, Van Wagner is a global leader in high-impact broadcast visible signage throughout the MLB, NBA, NCAA, and international soccer, sponsorships sales, college multi-media rights, and in-venue content production at the world’s biggest sporting events. For more information, visit www.vanwagner.com. Contact Details Hot Paper Lantern Jackson Gaskins jgaskins@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://drive21.com

September 25, 2024 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Vertical IQ Selected as NC State Master of Science in Analytics Practicum Sponsor

Vertical IQ

Vertical IQ, a leader in Industry Intelligence, is proud to announce its selection as a sponsor of the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) Practicum at North Carolina State University’s Institute for Advanced Analytics. This partnership will connect NC State MSA students with Vertical IQ’s team to collaborate on a range of data-driven projects that will contribute to the company’s ongoing commitment to real-time data and the support of aspiring data professionals. Vertical IQ joins an impressive roster of 18 organizations sponsoring projects for the university’s MSA Class of 2025. As part of the collaboration, student teams will work with Vertical IQ to apply their advanced analytics skills to real-world challenges over the next eight months, all while gaining valuable hands-on experience in the Industry Intelligence space. The MSA practicum, a core component of the MSA program at NC State, challenges students to solve real-world problems for sponsor organizations, helping them to develop critical skills in analytics, data science, and teamwork. Since 2007, over 150 organizations have participated in the practicum, providing students with invaluable experience in tackling complex, data-driven challenges. “We are excited to support NC State’s MSA program and to provide students with the opportunity to collaborate on innovative projects that will ultimately benefit our Vertical IQ end users as well,” said Matt Redding, chief technology officer at Vertical IQ. “The practicum aligns perfectly with our mission to leverage data to empower businesses, and we’re thrilled to contribute to their professional development.” This marks Vertical IQ’s first sponsorship of the MSA practicum, and the collaboration will focus on projects that sync with the company’s data-centric approach, driving new insights and opportunities for growth within its platform. For more information on Vertical IQ or to request a demo, please visit https://verticaliq.com/demo/ ABOUT VERTICAL IQ Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., Vertical IQ is a nationally recognized leader in Industry Intelligence. Whether they’re pitching a local brewery or a national biotech company, successful sales, marketing and customer success teams use Vertical IQ to better understand a prospect’s or client’s business challenges before, during and after meetings. Covering more than 560 distinct industries, 3,400 local economies and more than 97 percent of the U.S. economy and Canada, Vertical IQ equips users with the confidence and credibility to make memorable first impressions and sustain enduring relationships. Contact Details Vertical IQ Jessica Teal +1 919-787-4600 jteal@verticaliq.com Company Website https://verticaliq.com/

September 24, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

How NurseMagic Helps Patients Recieve The Care They Deserve

Benzinga

By Johnny Rice, Benzinga Dr. Ann Marie Sastry, CEO & Founder of Amesite Inc. (NASDAQ: AMST), was recently interviewed by Benzinga. Amesite specializes in the development and marketing of B2C and B2B AI-driven solutions. Harnessing the power of AI to build better educational platforms, Amesite empowers clients in higher education, businesses, medicine and government. The company creates custom solutions tailored to the specific needs of its clients. Dr. Sastry spoke about the incredible new app the company recently rolled out called NurseMagic which will help medical providers across the industry. Watch the full interview here: Featured photo by Piron Guillaume on Unsplash. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

September 20, 2024 09:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Join Benchmark International's Exclusive Webinar "Seller Motivation: What Goes Into the Decision to Sell?"

Benchmark International

Are you considering selling your business? Deciding when and why to sell is one of the most significant decisions you’ll ever make as a business owner. While maximizing financial proceeds is often at the forefront of these decisions, it’s essential to recognize that it’s not the only factor. Life circumstances, time with family, and other qualitative considerations can often outweigh financial gain. To help you navigate this complex process, we invite you to join our upcoming webinar: Seller Motivation: What Goes Into The Decision To Sell? Space is filling up fast, so register today! Why You Should Register Selling a business is about more than just crunching the numbers. In this exclusive webinar, you’ll gain valuable insights into the full spectrum of motivations that drive business owners to sell. Understanding these motivations can help you make a well-rounded and informed decision about your business’s future. This webinar is a must-attend for business owners contemplating the sale of their business, particularly in today’s strong but disciplined market. By attending, you’ll be better equipped to evaluate both the financial and personal factors that play a crucial role in this life-changing decision. Whether you’re focused on securing a comfortable financial future or prioritizing time with loved ones, the information presented will help you weigh these considerations effectively. Spots are limited, so don’t miss this opportunity to secure your spot. What You’ll Learn This webinar offers actionable insights into the decision-making process for business owners. Here’s what you can expect to learn: The wide range of reasons why business owners choose to sell, beyond just financial incentives How personal life events, such as family needs and future aspirations, can influence your decision A look at the current M&A market and how buyers are approaching valuations How to balance personal and financial goals using the concept of indifference curves, which help weigh non-monetary values like time with family against financial returns By attending, you’ll gain the tools to make a decision that aligns with your long-term vision—both personally and financially. Spots Are Filling Fast – Register Now! If you’re ready to gain clarity on your motivations for selling and align your decision with both your personal and financial goals, this is the webinar for you. Don’t miss out—register now and take the first step toward making a well-informed, strategic decision about the future of your business. ABOUT BENCHMARK INTERNATIONAL: Benchmark International is a global M&A firm that provides business owners with creative, value-maximizing solutions for growing and exiting their businesses. Benchmark International has handled over $11 billion in transaction value across various industries from offices across the world. With decades of M&A experience, Benchmark International’s transaction teams have assisted business owners with achieving their objectives and ensuring the continued growth of their businesses. The firm has also been named the Investment Banking Firm of the Year by The M&A Advisor and the Global M&A Network as well as the #1 Sell-side Exclusive Privately-held M&A Advisor in the World by Pitchbook and Refinitiv's Global League Tables. Contact Details Brittney Zoeller +1 813-898-2350 zoeller@benchmarkintl.com Company Website https://www.benchmarkintl.com/

September 16, 2024 09:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Release

Babson College Enhances the Student Experience with AI-Powered Tools and Grants for AI Experimentation

Babson College

As a new academic year begins, Babson College is empowering its students with new AI-driven tools and opportunities. The College has introduced the MathBot, developed jointly with Microsoft and Terawe, to support student learning across various academic backgrounds. Additionally, Babson has committed $250,000 in AI-focused student grants to provide additional financial support to explore innovative AI solutions. All students will also have access to Microsoft Copilot, further enhancing their educational experience. Babson empowers students to harness AI technology's potential and pair it with an entrepreneurial mindset, enabling them to act as purposeful, innovative entrepreneurial leaders who transform ideas into reality and make a lasting impact on their careers and the world. Flagship courses including Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship and Foundations of Business Analytics prepare students to immediately impact business decision-making regardless of industry. However, under a national concern for math literacy and the course’s heavy reliance on probability and statistics, Babson faculty recognized an academic gap that AI could help solve. Babson partnered with Terawe and Microsoft’s Azure Services to create the MathBot, an innovative solution and a significant leap forward in educational technology. The MathBot pairs academic material with generative AI capabilities to streamline the learning process, meet the unique needs of each individual student through customized learning pace and style, and provide opportunities for future learning by offering additional online resources. “Babson College is dedicated to fostering student success by actively identifying and addressing the obstacles they face,” said Patty Patria, CIO of Babson College. “Our educators are constantly sourcing state-of-the-art tools and innovative solutions to accelerate learning and ensure student success. The rise of AI provided a perfect opportunity to bring individualized learning to students and better equip the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders.” Babson has also dedicated a total of $250,000 in grants to be awarded to students for AI implementation in educational or entrepreneurial endeavors. Up to 250 students will be granted $1,000 each, after application and approval, to meet these needs. In addition, all students will be granted access to various Generative AI models that will help build innovative solutions for real-world problems. “Babson College has a long history of embracing new and innovative approaches to the entrepreneurial process that has positioned us as the flagship institution for entrepreneurship education,” said President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD. “Our community’s embrace of generative AI provides the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders with important access to crucial resources and emerging technologies. These valuable initiatives, which represent a portion of Babson’s greater strategy related to AI, will position us well to remain a global leader operating at the intersection of entrepreneurship and technological innovation in academia.” About Babson College College Babson College prepares and empowers entrepreneurial leaders who create, grow, and steward sustainable economic and social value everywhere. We shape the entrepreneurial leaders our world needs most: those with strong functional knowledge, skills, and vision to navigate change, accommodate ambiguity, surmount complexity, and motivate teams in organizations of all types and sizes. An international leader in entrepreneurship education recognized globally by U.S. News & World Report, our undergraduate, graduate, executive programs, and partnership opportunities are tailored to the needs of our world. Contact Details Kate Chaney Manager, External Communications kchaney@babson.edu

September 16, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Flash Transforms Parking at Denver International Airport

Flash

Flash, the leading end-to-end parking technology platform, announced today it has completed an overhaul of public and employee parking at Denver International Airport (DEN) through a contract the City and County of Denver awarded in August 2024. In just 22 days, Flash deployed its platform across the airport’s nine public and employee parking garages and lots, bringing a state-of-the-art parking experience to DEN’s 40,000 employees and the 77.8 million passengers they serve annually. "Flash’s commitment to DEN has been tremendous and we look forward to a bright future that provides innovative solutions to improve the customer experience," said Mark Nagel, Senior Vice President of Parking and Commercial Transportation, Denver International Airport. In its first few weeks of deployment, DEN reports improved traffic flow and reduced wait times for vehicles entering and exiting the airport’s parking facilities. DEN’s deployment of Flash’s platform spans 144 lanes and features 137 kiosks, 97 license plate recognition (LPR) lanes, and 49 automatic vehicle identification (AVI) lanes. With the new AVI lanes, employees can enter and exit automatically in seconds via vehicle-mounted passes that require no interaction with their phones or kiosks. “DEN is the sixth busiest airport in the world and sees millions of parking transactions each year, requiring the highest service level,” said Flash CEO Dan Sharplin. “Our technology breadth and industry-leading scale, plus our maniacal focus on the driver experience, made us confident we could support DEN’s traffic volumes and service levels while getting passengers and employees through parking transactions quickly, and it’s hugely gratifying to see it live.” DEN also benefits from the Flash platform’s design as an enhanced cloud-based parking solution. In the event of an internet, payment processor, network or cloud disruption, the platform maintains continuous operations and critical payment processing capabilities so the airport’s parking facilities stay up and running. About Flash Flash is a pioneering technology company bringing seamless parking and EV charging experiences to drivers through a first-of-its-kind digital ecosystem. Flash’s platform connects reservable parking and charging in the apps drivers use every day with garage, surface lot, event, and valet parking locations—connected and controlled via a cloud-based operating system with unrivaled intelligence. Customer-obsessed brands partner with Flash to deliver digital, easy-to-use, reliable, and increasingly frictionless experiences to drivers eager to pay for a solution that eliminates wasted time, excess emissions, and stress. The solution has arrived.. Visit www.flashparking.com to learn more. Contact Details Ray Young +1 512-694-6097 ray@razorsharppr.com Company Website https://www.flashparking.com/

September 12, 2024 09:00 AM Central Daylight Time

AI Software Company Amesite Posts Its Largest Win In Community College Deal And Makes Natural Pivot To On-The-Job AI Support For Healthcare

Benzinga

By Meg Flippin, Benzinga Education is getting an overhaul thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) and companies like Amesite (NASDAQ: AMST). The Detroit-based AI software company develops products and platforms to improve online learning. Leveraging GPT-4, the AI system powering Bing and ChatGPT Plus, Amesite says that online courses can be added quickly, programs are adaptable and users stay engaged. That approach to learning is getting attention from educators, particularly with community colleges around the country. Maricopa Corporate College (MCOR) is part of the Maricopa Community College District (MCCCD), Arizona’s largest workforce developer. MCOR recently signed an agreement with Amesite. Expanding Its College Reach Amesite just inked a multiyear deal to provide programs through MCOR, to provide AI-based online training and development. With roughly 140,000 students, MCCCD is Arizona’s largest workforce developer, playing a central role in charting the future of the Greater Phoenix region. The school system produces the second-largest number of college graduates in Arizona and creates one out of every 28 jobs in Maricopa County, adding $7.9 billion to the economy. This exclusive agreement marks the biggest customer yet for the AI software company. It's exactly the type of enterprise Amesite is targeting. With a focus on community colleges, the company now counts seven institutions as customers offering students and faculty the Amesite LCE platform. Installations span the United States, with colleges in Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and now, Arizona. Collectively, colleges that have chosen Amesite train over 200,000 learners each year, reports the company. "Our AI-powered solution enables professional learners to get information – and support – in real-time,” said Dr. Ann Marie Sastry, CEO of Amesite, in a press release announcing the deal with Maricopa. “We have long believed that AI-assisted professional training would replace traditional training and are pleased to see our solutions gaining acceptance, now with larger colleges. We are especially pleased to be the first to provide the right tools in this market." In Amesite’s vision for education and upskilling, learners aren’t taught in isolated silos but rather are part of a larger learning community. V6, the latest version of its learning platform, is the fruition of that AI-driven vision. It offers capabilities such as learning and creative assistants, and supports educational games, interactive learning experiences and other learning incentives to keep students engaged. V6 can integrate thousands of application programming interfaces (API), which means it works with most companies’ and schools’ programs. Setting Its Sights On Larger Markets But educating the workforce of tomorrow through community colleges isn’t the only thing Amesite is doing with its advanced AI. The company’s infrastructure and capabilities in AI programming can be easily deployed to provide on-the-job apps for different industries, including healthcare – specifically, the 5.2 million nurses in the U.S. who could benefit from some AI technology. In the spring, Amesite launched NurseMagic™, a proprietary AI app designed for nurses. With it, nurses can write nursing notes instantly, quickly translate medical terms into easy-to-understand language, create work emails, assist nurses in talking to patients with compassion, coach nurses on taking effective breaks during the day, provide key information about medications and collect instant feedback. It makes sense that Amesite would want to set its sights on nurses. Despite the over five million of them in the workforce, America is facing a shortage that’s projected to grow, not to mention the high burnout rate for this profession. Introducing technology that makes their lives easier not only improves their careers but saves hospitals and healthcare systems money. After all, burnout can cost a hospital $16,736 per nurse per year through retention challenges, sick days and training new replacement nurses. “Launching apps enables us to directly reach much larger audiences. We want to equip every nurse on the planet with tools that deliver immediate, qualified information and address the demands on their time while leveraging their expertise,” said Sastry at the time. A Continued Focus On Innovation Not one to rest on its laurels, since rolling out NurseMagic, Amesite has been adding to the app’s capabilities, working hard to ensure it maintains its competitive lead and becomes the leading app for nurses. Some of those enhancements include the ability to build and update a resume, write cover letters for job applications, create text that improves a nurse’s social profile on LinkedIn and other sites and create replies to employers that highlight the applicant’s strengths. With those enhancements, Amesite says it’s helping the 35% of nurses who indicate they may look for a new job in the next year. The app is also capable of creating nursing notes, a requirement for professionals ranging from CNAs and LPNs to APRN-CNPs and NPs which Amesite says takes up 40% of nurses’ time. The company also recently added the ability to upload and store study materials – including pdfs and video and audio files – to instantly create transcripts, summaries and even quizzes and flashcards, based on the material. Proof Is In The Accuracy All these enhancements to NurseMagic are only as good as the AI behind it and Amesite has that covered as well. The company reports the foundational model that powers NurseMagic achieved a 93% accuracy rate when tested with questions from two leading NCLEX prep providers’ test banks. The NCLEX exam is a standardized exam developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) that nursing graduates must pass to obtain their nursing licenses in the United States and Canada. Accuracy is essential for the growing number of nurses using the app. In June, the app was released in beta. Within a week of the release, close to 1,200 individuals completed an onboarding survey and registered as users of NurseMagic. Since then, usage has continued to gain momentum. At last check, NurseMagic has users from all 50 U.S. states and six nations. User growth continued to expand rapidly after launch, up 830% month-over-month from June to July. It also has the support of some popular influencers in the nursing community, including Paige Slayton, a nurse influencer engaged by Amesite, with over 900,000 followers. "This is the fastest growth in usership that we have ever seen with any of our products,” said Sastry. “We are excited to be delivering a vital and useful tool to the largest segment of healthcare professionals and believe that NurseMagic TM will create a positive impact in healthcare and strong, sustainable revenue growth for Amesite." From education to healthcare, Amesite's AI-powered learning platform is empowering countless people and making professionals’ lives much easier. With a model that can be replicated for different industries and markets, Amesite is carving out its path to stand out in the AI-powered learning of tomorrow. Featured photo by Hush Naidoo Jade Photography on Unsplash. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

September 11, 2024 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Flash Secures $85 Million to Back Special Purpose Vehicle to Propel Growth and Provide Flexible Payment Options

Flash

Flash, the industry-leading end-to-end parking technology platform, today announced that it has closed on $85 million in debt financing for a newly formed special purpose vehicle (“SPV”) to accelerate platform adoption and offer Flash clients an expanded range of flexible payment options. The debt capital, which can be increased up to $100 million, was provided by Vantage Infrastructure (“Vantage”), a leading independent specialist infrastructure credit fund. “Asset owners and operators have a myriad of budgetary and deployment preferences – the payment options we can now extend through the SPV will allow customers to join the Flash platform on terms that work best for them," said Chris Donus, President of Flash. “Innovation in payment options is as critical as platform innovation in pursuit of our vision for the parking industry’s transformation in light of the scale and momentum we're on pace to achieve." Flash’s payment options allow clients to select amongst flexible monthly payment plans that suit their budgets, regardless of scale, asset type, or configuration. This includes EV charging infrastructure and other advanced parking technologies offered by Flash. Flash anticipates extending the SPV structure and partnership with Vantage in future financings. ”We’re pleased to support Flash with a tailored financing solution that enables their team to continue to meet and exceed their clients’ need for better transport related infrastructure,” said Nick Cleary, Senior Partner at Vantage. “This is a great example of the opportunity to upgrade and transform proven traditional infrastructure that saves time and costs for drivers and help build out the EV charging network.” Evercore acted as Flash’s exclusive financial advisor, and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP provided legal counsel to Flash. Steptoe LLP acted as counsel to Vantage. About Flash Flash is a pioneering technology company bringing seamless parking and EV charging experiences to drivers through a first-of-its-kind digital ecosystem. Flash’s platform connects reservable parking and charging in the apps drivers use every day with garage, surface lot, event, and valet parking locations — connected and controlled via a cloud-based operating system with unrivaled intelligence. Customer-obsessed brands partner with Flash to deliver digital, easy-to-use, reliable, and increasingly frictionless experiences to drivers eager to pay for a solution that eliminates wasted time, excess emissions, and stress from driving. The solution has arrived. Visit www.flashparking.com to learn more. About Vantage Infrastructure Vantage Infrastructure is an independent infrastructure specialist manager committed to delivering sustainable investment solutions with an equity and debt infrastructure investment portfolio of over US $4 billion invested in infrastructure assets across Europe, North America, and Australia on behalf of global clients. Contact Details Razor Sharp PR Ray Young +1 512-694-6097 ray@razorsharppr.com Company Website https://www.flashparking.com/

September 09, 2024 09:00 AM Central Daylight Time

What If Your Most Profitable Strategy Also Made the World a Better Place?

Fordham Gabelli

As the world grapples with complex challenges such as climate change, poverty, and human rights issues, organizations are uniquely positioned to drive positive change. A new study titled “Social Profit Orientation: Lessons from Organizations Committed to Building a Better World,” recently published in the Journal of Marketing, explores how companies can simultaneously generate profit and foster societal well-being. The research, conducted by a team of esteemed academics, including Leonard L. Berry (Texas A&M), Tracey S. Danaher (Monash University), Timothy Keiningham (St. John's University), Lerzan Aksoy (Fordham University), and Tor W. Andreassen (Norwegian School of Economics), examines the benefits of adopting a social profit orientation to benefit both the organization and society. This approach encourages organizations to invest resources purposefully to enhance the common good. The study, based on 62 in-depth executive interviews across 21 organizations worldwide, reveals the significant benefits of embracing a social profit orientation. These organizations develop new approaches and strategies that address critical problems, thereby driving business innovation and improving societal outcomes. What is Social Profit Orientation? Social Profit Orientation is an organization-wide perspective where organizations embrace in their core mission the creation of sustainable, positive social and environmental impacts on individuals, communities, and society at large. Organizations with this orientation proactively invest resources such as knowledge, infrastructure, labor, reputation, money, and time to enhance the common good, especially improving the well-being of people and safeguarding the health of the planet. It reflects a deliberate, conscious effort to address systemic social or environmental challenges, rather than being merely a by-product of making financial profits. Examples from the Study Oportun tackles financial exclusion by providing affordable credit to underserved communities, offering an alternative to payday lenders. With significant investments in technology, Oportun has successfully issued millions of loans, enabling its customers to avoid exorbitant interest rates and fees. CEO Raul Vazquez highlights their challenge: “50% of customers who come to us have no FICO [credit] score, and other folks we serve may have a score based on limited history.” Despite these obstacles, Oportun has managed to provide more than $18.2 billion in credit by year-end 2023, saving its customers $2.4 billion in interest and fees. Gundersen Health System (renamed Emplify Health) exemplifies how a holistic approach to sustainability can be woven into the fabric of an organization. Under the leadership of Dr. Jeff Thompson, Gundersen became the first U.S. health system to offset 100% of its fossil-fuel use with self-produced energy. Their initiatives include harnessing solar and wind power and transforming landfill biogas into electricity and heat. Dr. Thompson remarks, “We are not just a ‘fix-it’ shop. Our mindset was: how do we protect the environment so it is a part of how we work, how we live, and how we work with our communities.” By adopting a social profit orientation, organizations not only drive meaningful societal impact but also experience enhanced legitimacy, stronger stakeholder relationships, improved employee engagement, and increased innovation. These benefits contribute to long-term business success and sustainability. Best Practices for Building a Social Profit Orientation Align employee and organizational values to create a unified mission. Ensure organizational resources and governance structures maximize societal benefits. Inspire executive and board leadership to deeply commit to social profit goals. Make informed investment decisions that focus on initiatives with the greatest social impact. Measure and evaluate social impact rigorously to ensure meaningful contributions. Foster external partnerships and communicate purpose through compelling storytelling. “Organizations today are at a crossroads where they can choose to be mere profit-generating entities or become catalysts for global change. Our study shows that the most profitable strategy might also be the one that makes the world a better place. By embracing a social profit orientation, organizations can lead their sectors, drive innovation, and make significant societal impacts,” said Lerzan Aksoy, Dean at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business. To attain a full copy of the research and download the associated teaching guides click here. To interview any of the authors of the paper, please reach out to the press contacts above. About Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business Founded in 1920, the mission of Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business is to inspire and empower positive global change, developing students into compassionate business leaders and supporting faculty members and students in the ongoing generation of new knowledge. The Gabelli School has become a driver of social innovation by equipping graduates to be business leaders who understand and meet the need for sustainability in business and who are able to harness the power of social responsibility for both financial success and societal impact. Through its many graduate and undergraduate degree programs and a diverse range of faculty research initiatives, the Gabelli School of Business works collectively to redesign business as a sustainable force for prosperity. Contact Details Fordham Gabelli School of Business Paola Curcio-Kleinman +1 212-636-6311 pcurciokleinman@fordham.edu Marino Taryn Schofield +1 973-919-4377 fordhamgabelli@marinopr.com Company Website https://www.fordham.edu/gabelli-school-of-business/

September 04, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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