Today on CauseTalk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Phil Haid, Co-Founder and CEO of Toronto-based Public Inc. about Starbucks controversial cause campaign: Race Together. While aimed at starting a conversation around race issues in America, the campaign has drawn a lot of criticism.
Naysayers call Race Together ill-timed and self-serving. But our guest Phil Haid has a different perspective. He describes the campaign as a bold and ambitious effort by Starbucks that while not perfectly executed is unflinching and a great example of a company “walking the talk.”
On today’s episode, Megan, Phil and Joe discuss:
- The breakdown of the Race Together campaign from beginning to execution to backlash.
- The sincerity, authenticity and effort behind the campaign – both from Howard Schultz and Starbucks partners.
- Starbucks waded into a serious issue and we need to respond to it with serious, thoughtful conversation and not impulsive and short-sighted tweets and social media updates.
- Starbucks stores are made for conversation so the Race Together campaign fits – but not with busy baristas.
- Why the teaser campaign for Race Together overcharged the issue and Starbucks should have rolled out the whole campaign at once.
- Starbucks had the right strategy, but not the right tactics. They should correct these and continue the campaign.
- How does the Starbucks Race Together campaign compare to Uber’s partnership with the United Nations, which has also come under fire.
Mentioned In The Podcast
Starbucks’s Race Together: Why The Naysayers Have It All Wrong
UN Women Cancels Partnership With Uber to Create 1 Million Jobs
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