Founder Brand or Company Brand? Why the Best VCs Invest in Both
In venture capital, the founder is often the face of the company. And for good reason: bold, visionary leaders are what make early-stage investing exciting and high-stakes. They tell the story. They drive the funding. They shape the culture. But over time, the same founder-centric narrative that propelled a company forward can become its most […]
How to avoid reputational pitfalls
By Elie Jacobs Reputation crises don’t come out of nowhere—they follow patterns. For board directors and senior management, recognising these patterns isn’t just helpful—it’s a strategic imperative. Each phase of a company’s growth brings with it distinct reputational risks. “Crisis pattern recognition”—the ability to anticipate and mitigate reputational threats before they escalate—is based on common […]
When Watchdogs Sleep: Navigating Fintech’s New Reputational Minefield
The Trump administration’s deregulatory push is reshaping the terrain for fintech companies—but not necessarily for the better. While some in the industry welcome looser oversight as a growth catalyst, the reputational risks of these policy shifts are already casting a long shadow. Fintechs now find themselves in the uneasy position of appearing to benefit from […]
A.I.’s Limits: Where Human Judgment Outshines in Critical Decisions
by Elie Jacobs In the final moments of the Apollo 11 crew’s descent to the lunar surface, an unexpected warning light flashed: “1202.” Neither Neil Armstrong nor Buzz Aldrin recognized the error code. With only minutes of fuel remaining, they faced a critical choice—abort or continue. Back in Houston, Mission Control guidance officer Steve Bales […]
Mastering U.S. Expansion: Reputation Protection Strategies for Foreign Companies
Any foreign company wanting to make progress in the United States will need cast-iron strategies to protect its reputation. The Founding Fathers were unusually prescient, but even they may not have had President Donald J Trump in mind for the future of the United States market. What was once the world’s most predictable, business and […]
Reputation Management Expert and Communications Strategist Danielle Leach Joins Purposeful Advisors as Senior Advisor
London-based strategist strengthens Purposeful’s global advisory network NEW YORK, NY and LONDON, UK, March 10, 2025 – Purposeful Advisors, a strategic communications and public affairs firm specializing in reputation and issues management, has added Danielle Leach as an independent senior advisor, providing international counsel to clients. Based in London, with her own agency, ReputationRise, Leach […]
Navigating the Tightrope: Building Resiliency in the Trump Era
By Frank DeMaria and Elie Jacobs.Read the article on O’Dwyers here. If you’re reading this, the world hasn’t ended, and the freedom of the press remains sacrosanct—if damaged. That’s the good news. The bad news is that we are in a state of permacrisis—a world where instability is the norm, not the exception. As communications […]
Navigating Reputation Under the New Administration: What Scaling Businesses Need to Know
As businesses look to scale in the U.S., the Trump Administration’s policies will shape how companies anticipate, identify and manage risk, respond to crises, and communicate with stakeholders. Whether it’s shifting regulatory priorities, changes in enforcement actions, or evolving public expectations, firms must reassess their issues and crisis management strategies to stay ahead. This is […]
The Investor’s Secret Weapon: Prioritizing Reputation Risk in Due Diligence
What if we told you that In the calculus of investment decisions, something that can change the entire valuation of a target is often entirely ignored? Usual due diligence includes financial performance and growth potential, among other metrics. Yet, one critical factor is frequently overlooked or underestimated: reputation risk. What the outside world thinks of […]
Trump’s Communication Playbook: Redefining Leadership Language?
Donald Trump’s unique communication style is unlike anything America has seen in politics, and this unconventional approach has led him to the White House for a second time. Having received more votes this time than in either of his previous runs, and despite the distastefulness of much of what he says, it would be malpractice […]