PageViews Monthly: Issue 10

Insights from 3 Continents

It has been an exceptionally fast start to the year for members of the Page community, with members shaping critical conversations at major global forums.

From Page presenting new research and hosting several events at the World Economic Forum in Davos, to leading discussions at the Page + Yale School of Management Stakeholder Executive Certificate program in New Haven, Connecticut, Page has been at the forefront of key dialogues. Meanwhile, members engaging at the World Governments Summit in Dubai and other global gatherings have brought back invaluable insights for communicators. Here are some of the key takeaways.

Trust and the Global Confidence Gap

According to joint research that Page and Harris Poll presented at Davos, the public believes businesses are not doing enough, nor communicating enough, about the issues most pertinent to them. When both the action and communication around that action exists, consumers are far more confident in business’ ability to affect meaningful change.

That confidence is notably shaped by generational and geographical dynamics. Younger generations, particularly Gen Z, demonstrate higher expectations of business, prioritizing issues like mental health, gender equality, and racial equity. In contrast, Boomers focus more on corruption and economic stability. These differences underscore the need for tailored engagement strategies that resonate with diverse audiences as communicators operate in multigenerational workforces more than ever.

To get a deeper understanding of the research, read our CEO, Dr. Rochelle Ford APR’s analysis, or download the report.

Optimizing Outcomes, Avoiding Trade-offs

At this year’s Page + Yale School of Management Stakeholder Executive Certificate program, CCOs discussed the challenge of avoiding trade-offs among stakeholder interests, which may be competing or conflicting. The program explored solving multistakeholder complexity through design—identifying stakeholder constraints and innovating within them. As one CEO interviewed by Yale put it: “The obsession with maximizing value for a single stakeholder knocks everything out of balance. Companies that design for multiple stakeholders—that’s where the magic happens.” 

The program introduced a structured framework for stakeholder design, encouraging organizations to:

1. Identify the real constraints that define different stakeholder needs. 
2. Map areas of overlap to develop solutions that meet multiple priorities.
3. Apply an iterative, data-driven approach to balance stakeholder expectations with business outcomes.

Reframe Disinformation as “Data Pollution” or “Cognitive Security”

Page member Bob Pearson attended the World Governments Summit in Dubai and presented his case on the future of technology and AI. His presentation also included recommendations for government leaders to prepare. One of his salient points includes changing our mindset around mis- and disinformation. Bob explains that:

• We have become too accepting of mis- and disinformation as a problem that exists without addressing. That type of growing acceptance of a bad status quo is a signal that we must reframe the issue. 
• Like pollution of the air and waterways, the pollution of our data is a concern not only for consumers, but governments as well.
• The term data pollution helps people visualize the concern, because governments have a responsibility to improve the cognitive security of their citizens.