Industry veteran Bill Novelli grabs coffee with PRWeek reporter Aleda Stam to chat about PR’s shift toward corporate purpose and the topics of his upcoming book, Good Business.
He also discusses his cofounding of iconic PR firm Porter Novelli in the 1970s, and the ways in which purpose and PR have evolved in the decades since.
“There’s much more focus on policy and advocating for issues. In our day, we started out just focusing on the consumer,” he said. “But now you’ve got to change social norms as well.”
Novelli notes that what hasn’t changed is the drive and energy of the industry’s creatives. He also believes the focus of purpose by corporations and Gen Z can bring about great social change.
“PR people today can really make a difference, can really help with social impact,” he added.
Coffee Break is a weekly 15-minute intermission in your working day to discover more about PR pros who occupy interesting roles across the industry, live each Wednesday morning by 11 a.m. ET.
