PurposeDriven
How Marketing Is Quietly Evolving
One of the privileges of publishing The Internationalist is seeing remarkable marketing from around the world before anyone has labeled it a trend. At first, it’s simply an interesting campaign. And another. Eventually, patterns emerge. Across the work we’ve been reviewing lately—from World Cup activations, Cannes conversations, AI innovation, discussions with marketing leaders, to past […]
Marketing Makes a World of Difference: Where Purpose Becomes Practice
For years, purpose has been one of marketing’s most discussed—and often debated—ideas. But as expectations rise, the conversation is shifting. The question is no longer whether brands care.It’s whether that care is built into how they operate. The most effective partnerships between companies and nonprofits don’t sit alongside the business. They integrate capabilities, systems, and […]
From Performance to Protection: How ROCKWOOL Is Reframing Marketing in a Changing World
In a market defined by pressure on costs, on supply chains, and on expectations, brand performance remains essential. But increasingly, marketing is being asked to do more than communicate performance; it must clarify what it enables and why it matters now. At ROCKWOOL, that shift is taking shape in a deliberate and meaningful way. With […]
Signals | When Effectiveness Meets Democracy
Effie’s new “Democracy” category suggests marketing is no longer just influencing consumers—it’s being asked to influence society itself. There are moments when an industry quietly redraws its boundaries.This may be one of them. At its Spring Conference in Lisbon, the European Association of Communications Agencies (EACA), together with Effie Awards Europe, introduced a new category: […]
The Evolution of Purpose: Ten Years of Marketing Signals Under Pressure
An INSIGHTS analysis from The Internationalist. For more than a decade, the marketing industry has debated the role of purpose. At times the concept has been celebrated as the future of brand building. At other moments it has been criticized as performative, political, or unsustainable. Both interpretations miss a more important reality. Purpose has never […]
Reinventing the Familiar: How Fujifilm Is Turning Transformation Into Belief
When Anthony Farina talks about joining the Fujifilm Corporation, he doesn’t describe it as a career move. He calls it, “Stepping into one of the most compelling transformation stories in modern business.” For decades, Fujifilm was synonymous with photography. Today, it is a diversified global company spanning healthcare, life sciences, advanced materials, and imaging technologies […]
How Mattel’s Nancy Molenda Is Turning 80 Years Into 80 Moments of Purpose …
Celebrating 80 Years of Philanthropy, Play, and Global Impact As Mattel commemorates its 80th anniversary, the company isn’t just reflecting on a storied past of iconic toys—it’s doubling down on a bold vision of purpose. The “80 Moments for 80 Years” campaign is a global philanthropic initiative that brings Mattel’s belief in the power of […]
Breaking Barriers: Bridget Sponsky on Ally’s Bold Play for Equity and Innovation
Few brands in financial services are known for cultural relevance. But Ally Financial, under the brand leadership of Bridget Sponsky, is rewriting that narrative. In 2022, Ally stunned the marketing world by announcing its 50/50 Pledge: a promise to invest equally in men’s and women’s sports media within five years. For decades, women’s sports received […]
EACA’s Charley Stoney on #Campaign4Good: Protecting Children Online and Redefining Purpose
The EACA CEO discusses how a pan-European competition—created in collaboration with the 5Rights Foundation and supported by EU leaders—empowers young creatives to safeguard a digital future for children. Children’s online safety has become one of the most urgent issues of our digital age. The European Association of Communications Agencies (EACA), in partnership with the pioneering […]
Marketing’s New Promise: 20 Campaigns That Make a World of Difference
Marketing Makes a World of Difference™: From Promise to Proof The 2025 Marketing Makes a World of Difference™ Awards highlight something profound: while the word purpose may be debated, its power in marketing is far from dead. Across industries, countries, and causes, brands are showing that when purpose evolves into promise—and promises are proven through […]