Power Shifts

Societal Alignment is the strategic power derived from a company’s ability to align its goals, values, and operations with the broader needs and priorities of society, and to actively engage with citizens and communities/ Here's why it matters.

Public Trust  is about building a strong, trustworthy reputation that enhances public confidence and influences regulatory perceptions and decisions. When you have public trust, you earn the benefit of the doubt. You earn a wider permission space. It’s like the grease between the gears, and without it, you can’t be effective. And here’s why it’s so powerful: A well-known and respected brand is dif...

Regulatory adaptability and ecosystem control  is the strategic power derived from a company’s ability to control critical components of its industry ecosystem, enabling it to influence regulatory environments, shape regulatory standards, and quickly adapt to regulatory changes. Here's why it matters.

Next up in my draft framework for regulatory success: Coalition building. Now, this sounds like a pretty standard play, but uniting competitors behind a shared industry goal is something near impossible. It involves herding cats and getting competitors to work collaboratively. This can be especially tough in emerging sectors or emerging policy areas. When it works though, it works well and can oft...

Here's how effectively advocating for favourable regulatory conditions through strategic lobbying efforts and mobilizing citizens can create a hell of a moat.

We’ve covered off the first two powers, 1) Regulatory Foresight, and 2) Government Engagement. Next up, the Power of Compliance Leadership. Which is simply setting industry benchmarks by exceeding standard regulatory compliance requirements.

I’m experimenting with a new framework for multinational brands navigating complex political and regulatory landscapes. Last week I explored the power of Regulatory Foresight. Today, we look at the power of Government Engagement, with an eye to securing exclusive regulatory partnerships.

I’m experimenting with a new framework for multinational brands navigating complex political and regulatory landscapes. I’m still fleshing this out, but I have a v.01 of 7 Regulatory Powers that the most successful businesses leverage to manage political risk, regulatory challenges, influence policy, and build a strategic advantage in diverse markets. Here are my 8 Regulatory Powers: Regulatory Fo...

Boeing is in trouble. 17,000 jobs are being cut. The 777X jet is delayed. But there’s more to this story.

Every government is becoming more interventionist. Every business faces more regulation. And small businesses should the burden of increasing regulation. But every small business carries political influence.

Every business needs to do politics. To do politics, you need a plan. Specifically, a campaign plan. Not for the output, for the  input . Because, let’s be honest: most plans are useless.

Every business is in the business of politics. Today’s example? Nintendo. How can a video game producer become a political target? Oh, the possibilities are endless. political content in games portrayal of violence in games patent infringements. But today, let’s take a look at conflict minerals sourcing.

Joseph Lavoie, Jason Craik, and Hunter Knifton discuss the evolving political landscape in British Columbia, focusing on the upcoming election. They analyze the significance of electoral maps, demographic shifts, and the impact of voter turnout on the election outcome. The discussion highlights the importance of businesses understanding these dynamics to engage effectively in the political process...

In this episode, Jason Craig uses the example of a forest company to illustrate how maps overlay with political issues.

It's not enough to understand electoral maps at a riding or constituency level, you need to understand poll by poll, or house by house. But that has its own challenges.

This week I have two colleagues join to talk about electoral maps, with British Columbia serving as a real-time example of why these maps matter. Today's focus: demographic shifts.

Here’s the reality of securing a political win: You can’t do it unless you get a large market share. Which means, at some point, what you campaign on, and what you present as your vision to voters needs to be practical.

Geopolitics can completely upend your business. Case in point: The US department of commerce announced this week that it wants the US to ban Chinese software and hardware for vehicles with a built-in internet connection, a move that would effectively ban Chinese vehicles in the US market. Why does it matter, especially if you’re not in the automotive sector? Because it serves as a live example of...

I used to say that public affairs and public relations were different. I was wrong: Public affairs and public relations are no longer separate fields. They are the same. Here's why.

This week, Prime Minister Trudeau lost two by-elections, one of which is in the fortress of Montreal, the second time he has lost a Liberal stronghold in the last three months. Losing like this always hurts, even when the writing is on the wall, as it has been for some time now. But the PM’s response is one that surprised me, because it’s one I’m used to hearing from corporate leaders, not elected...

Spoiler alert: Big crowds don’t create change. Small, focused groups do. I once had a client sheepishly tell me their event “only” had 15 people show up. My response?  Be proud. It’s not about the numbers—it’s about the purpose. I’ve seen this firsthand

Forget competitors or market downturns—politics is the real disruptor. In this episode, we unpack how New York’s Local Law 18 blindsided Airbnb, gutting its short-term rental market and handing hotels a massive win. Politicians, driven by optics and emotions, went after short-term rentals to fix housing affordability. The result? Hosts were decimated, rents skyrocketed, and surprise—housing supply...

The first 100 days are critical for any new leader, but did you know they should also be a key focus for your public affairs strategy? In this video, I explore the origins of the “first 100 days” concept, from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s ambitious start as president, and how it has since become a powerful benchmark for political leaders. But this isn’t just about politics. It’s about how YOU can seize...

Advocacy is important—but it’s not enough. If you want to thrive in today’s business landscape, you need to be more than just an advocate. You need to think like a  campaigner . What’s the difference? An advocate speaks up, but a  campaigner  does something even more powerful: they build movements. They’re unrelenting, engaging, and—most importantly—they don’t stop until they win. Think about it....

Most CEOs think they can sit back and let their public affairs or corporate affairs teams world shape their regulatory strategy.  Wrong . The leaders who win are the ones who think like advocates. What separates the winners from the also-rans?