Marian Salzman, one of the most-awarded female public relations executives in the world, has an articls published in Forbes magazine around the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Dong Nai Weekly, would like to briefly this article.
Marian Salzman, one of the most-awarded female public relations executives in the world, has an articls published in Forbes magazine around the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Dong Nai Weekly, would like to briefly this article.
 |
| Marian Salzman |
Times of crisis bring out the worst and best in humanity. I am heartened to see that—toilet paper hoarders aside—COVID-19 has been bringing out the latter in most people. Neighbors are pulling together, communities are rallying around local businesses, and corporations of all kinds are mobilizing to ease isolation. Random acts of kindness, thankfully, no longer seem quite so random. They’re everywhere.
I hadn’t seen this level of communal camaraderie since 9/11 and the days that followed, when those of us living in and around New York City came together, seeking comfort and consolation like never before. It connected us, and we were all better for it. I’m feeling this sense of unity again, and not just from individuals. Companies such as Louis Vuitton (which is using its perfume factory to make hand sanitizer to help with the shortage) are stepping in to fill the gap where overloaded governments fall short. Expect many more to follow suit in coming days.
|
Marian Salzman leads Global Communications at Philip Morris International (PMI) as it embarks on its transformation to a smoke-free future. Named one of the world’s top five trendspotters, Marian was CEO of Havas PR North America from 2009 to 2018. She was chief marketing officer at PR firm Porter Novelli from 2008 to 2009… Marian is the author or co-author of 16 books, including Buzz, the first big business book on buzz marketing, and her latest, Agile PR: Expert Messaging in a Hyper-Connected, Always-on World (2017; AMACOM). Marian graduated with honors from Brown University with a degree in sociology. She lives in Lutry, Switzerland; South Kingstown, Rhode Island; Tucson, Arizona - and mostly in the cloud. |
An essential difference between the days post-9/11 and now is that back then we were encouraged to go about our daily lives as usual to support the economy (President Bush explicitly exhorted us to shop) and to show that we were undeterred in protecting our freedoms and way of life. In the current crisis, we’re being told to isolate ourselves for the protection of our families and others. That is making this crisis unlike any I’ve experienced before.
Humans are social animals. As I wrote in my “20 Trends for 2020” report, people crave not just emotional but physical contact. Deprived of touch, we grow anxious and hopeless. We need to know we’re loved and valued. That’s why efforts such as the Quarantine Academy are so vital. They create solidarity amid the distance and disconnect. They allow isolated people to step back into some form of togetherness. They also allow people like Aaron and Adam to give back to the broader community in a way that is deeply meaningful.
No one is going to be heading out to a charitable gala or other in-person fundraiser anytime soon. Why not give some thought to how you can contribute in more creative and personal ways? Maybe our enforced isolation is exactly what was needed to bring our divided society back together.
(Let’s) be equipped and ready to deal with whatever the universe throws at us—today, tomorrow, this spring and summer, and beyond. I feel such enormous respect and gratitude for this company and the role we are playing in broader society.
Marian Salzman
