Each year Larry Fink, the chairman and 2022 letter: “It’s never been more essential for CEOs to have a consistent voice, a clear purpose, a coherent academic research paper about what brand purpose means for the consumers who actually buy and use those brands.
Dr. Williams met with a group of Wharton Global Youth Program students visiting Wharton’s campus in Philadelphia, to discuss the concept of brand purpose and how it is changing the way companies strategize and connect with their customers. For one, it is sitting more at the center of own research and questions from the high school students in her session, offered 10 truths about brand purpose and why marketers (1️⃣ First, a definition. Much like human purpose, brand purpose is aspirational. It looks to connect people with each other and the larger world and make consumers feel happy, satisfied and aligned with their personal goals. Dr. Williams and her co-authors define it like this: “A brand’s purpose is a long-term, central aim that is a predominant component of its identity, meaning structure, and strategy, which leads to productive engagement with some aspect of the world that transcends the brand’s profits.”
4️⃣ People feel closer to companies these days and have direct brand influence. “All of these brands have social 5️⃣ But…are companies truly purpose-driven or are they just purpose-washing? That is the question on the minds of consumers. “As much as I’m going to tell you that consumers want brands to have an authentic purpose, consumers are incredibly skeptical,” noted Williams. “When brands say they have it, we don’t necessarily believe them. Is this just a marketing message?”
6️⃣ Brand purpose in organizations comes with a range of authenticity. “It’s easy to say you have a purpose and then not ever do anything, or have that purpose be a little bit on the side,” said Williams. “It might be easier when you’re starting a new company. A young, visionary 7️⃣ Companies can do a few things to build more effective brand purpose. “First, articulate a purpose that is meaningful, true and unique. If you want it to be part of your value proposition, then it has to be a compelling differentiator in the marketplace,” noted Williams. “Second, does this purpose just live in advertising, or are the CEO, the 8️⃣ For some companies, purpose is the whole reason their brand exists. “There are a handful of companies that are on a mission to actually infuse their purpose across the world,” said Dr. Williams. “Patagonia is in the business to save the planet; it is at the top of what they’re doing. They are also amplifying their purpose. They want you to come and join the movement. They will tell you not to buy new. They will sell you something used. They also do advocacy, creating tools for grassroots activists to try to get them involved in the broader mission of saving the planet.”
9️⃣ Not all brands are created equal when it comes to purpose – and implementation at the organization level can be challenging. “Not every country cares about brand purpose as much as others, which might depend on the state of development of the country,” said Williams. “Young people care about it more than older adults, but not exclusively. And not every ecosystem is ready. It’s easier to articulate a purpose than to change the culture. If everybody doesn’t buy in, or there aren’t incentives aligned with it, it’s going to be hard to do anything, even if you have really good intentions.”
🔟 Brands need to think beyond articulating purpose and spreading it throughout the organization. “How will they measure that purpose?” asked Williams. “PayPal became concerned when they realized that a significant portion of their employees, particularly at the lowest levels of the organization, were struggling to make ends meet, despite the fact that the company was paying what they thought were wages at market rate. They believed their purpose was to improve the financial health of their customers. If they couldn’t improve the financial health of their employees, were they living up to that purpose? Now they have a net disposable income calculator for each of their employees. They might lower the costs of their internal medical benefits, raise wages, help people engage in financial planning, so that their net disposable income gets improved.”
Professor Williams is already thinking about new directions for her brand-purpose research. For example, do brands with clear purpose become more profitable? And, do consumers believe that when they buy from a brand with purpose, they are aligning with their own personal values and influencing their own sense of purpose? You can check on the progress of her latest research HERE. In the meantime, how will you apply lessons in brand purpose to your future in marketing and business?
Conversation Starters
What’s your purpose statement? If you’re still trying to figure out the essence of what drives you, this article is proof that you are not alone. In a past Global Youth interview, CEO Sesha Dhanyamraju talks about writing his first purpose statement in his early 20s. “I still vividly remember that purpose statement. It was to live my life in such a way that I would help each and every person in my sphere of influence realize their full potential. When I’m in doubt, I go back to that purpose statement and basically ask myself the question: ‘Am I living that purpose or not?’ Can you write your own purpose statement in one sentence? Share your statement and why you chose it in the comment section of this article.
How does buying products from a company with deep purpose, like Patagonia, make you feel about your own sense of purpose? Do you seek out companies that align with your core values and your personal beliefs?
What is your favorite purpose-driven brand and why?
