What is "The Brock Method"?
The Brock Method is a problem-solving approach that addresses business development challenges using socially-minded solutions. Whether leveraging corporate resources to solve social problems, or scaling a mission-driven business venture using strategic partnerships, The Brock Method facilitates connections that increase company profits while improving social outcomes.
How did The Brock Method come to exist?
During her final semester at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, after months of research and interviews for an independent study, Alison Brock identified three best practices for creating durable partnerships in the social impact space. Years later, she used these pillars to start her own consulting and advising firm for organizations across the social impact landscape.
What did the research reveal?
Alison's independent study on the intersectionality of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and marketing communications revealed three key things. To start, when a smart company decides to invest its time and resources into any CSR activity, it needs to be strategic; there needs to be a clear business case to justify the activity. Upon identifying said business value, companies often seek to partner with a nonprofit organization where natural synergies were at play. Moreover, companies recognize that there needs to be alignment between their own value proposition and the nonprofit partner's mission statement. (In cases where synergies were non-existent, companies found their nonprofit partnerships to be unsustainable.) Finally, once a strategy is in place and synergies are activated, companies and nonprofits work together to socialize the message and highlight the benefits of their new relationship. Business leaders across sectors agree that having a social component to any socially responsible business initiative is key. Companies need their employees to embrace the CSR campaign or cause-marketing activity in such a way that they become champions of the program and ambassadors for the cause. Similarly, nonprofits amplify the impact of the partnership by sharing stories with their donors, beneficiaries and stakeholders--creating priceless brand equity and social capital for the partnering company. Without the social component (which, to be clear, extends beyond mere social media), whereby company employees and nonprofit staffers are essentially evangelizing for the partnership itself, the process is incomplete. The most effective, most enduring, most sustainable social impact partnerships are those that embody all three pillars--strategy, synergy and social.
What's next?
In the months ahead, Alison is shifting her attention from the corporate side of partnerships and focusing more on mission-driven organizations. The Brock Method will apply its problem-solving approach to challenges faced by nonprofits, social enterprises and small businesses. With over fifteen years of experience leading various NGOs, creating and developing small business ventures, managing CSR programs at two major corporations, and organizing countless employee engagement initiatives, The Brock Method is well-equipped to help its clients thrive. Marrying her professional experience with her academic research and personal passion, The Brock Method will specifically work with enterprises that are owned, operated and in service to minorities, women and marginalized communities. In this niche space, we will empower clients with growth and development strategies that are anchored in connections and that ultimately catalyze change.