Elephants for Africa (EfA), a charity dedicated to safeguarding the endangered African savannah elephant through research and education, faced critical challenges in expanding its sponsorship, reaching diverse stakeholders, amplifying social media and marketing campaigns, and identifying potential corporate partnerships.

The ReThinkHow Approach

We began by gaining a comprehensive understanding of EfA’s mission, team dynamics, and current outreach efforts. Engaging with various team members, we worked to identify key stakeholder groups and priorities. Using a "Know-Feel-Do" framework, we crafted targeted activation ideas to effectively engage these groups and align with EfA's goals.

Outcomes

This collaboration brought the EfA team together, strengthening their focus and unity as a cohesive unit. We introduced fresh ideas, transforming complex tasks into manageable steps, and empowering EfA to move forward with renewed confidence and strategic direction. The project provided EfA with a structured roadmap to amplify their impact in the conservation sector.

Feedback

“We are incredibly grateful to ReThinkHow for their support with Elephants for Africa (EfA)'s marketing efforts. Jess has been instrumental in organizing our team, bringing us together, and helping us focus as a cohesive unit. She consistently brought fresh ideas to the table and helped break down daunting tasks into manageable steps, enabling us to move forward with confidence in our planning. Her assistance has made a real difference, and she will always be welcomed as a part of the EfA family. Thank you, Jess!”

Stephanie Kong, Managing Director, Elephants for Africa

At Elephants for Africa, we recognized the need to make our communications efforts with different stakeholders more purposeful, more impactful. We have been absolutely thrilled with the support that ReThinkHow has offered us to achieve this. Jess brought deep expertise in communication and stakeholder management. Even more importantly, she came with a very inclusive, collaborative approach, involving and enabling our talented team to develop their own solutions.

Raoul Bollen, Trustee, Elephants for Africa

Daarnhouwer, an international commodity trading company specialising in cocoa, coffee, and tree nuts, recognised the importance of sustainability and sought clarity on the best path forward.

The RethinkHow Approach

We engaged openly and in depth with the management team, assessing their readiness for change. This also involved conducting internal interviews. We designed and facilitated an interactive workshop to explore external trends, legislative shifts, stakeholder expectations and impacts of the business. This dynamic process resulted in the identification and mapping of sustainability risks and opportunities.

Outcomes

This collaborative effort fostered internal alignment, broke down internal silos, promoted knowledge sharing, and prioritized key areas of attention. We outlined a foundational roadmap leading to 2025, along with recommendations on governance and the way forward.

Feedback

“Jess at RethinkHow was, for me personally and the team, a source of inspiration. With dedication and conviction the leadership team was guided in a structured way towards formulating a vision and define sustainability priorities. The Process contained workshops, one-on-one sessions, presentations and spot on advice.

She brings analytical thinking, process, enthusiasm and dedication with her. A rare but great combination.”

Robert Hansen, Managing Director, Daarnhouwer

At Shell, I led the communications and engagement strategy aimed at positioning the company as a thought leader in the energy transition to drive collective action.

The approach

I developed a comprehensive communications strategy, collaborating with content experts and internal stakeholders, while also overseeing the project management of creative production.

Leveraging the 50-year credibility of the Scenarios brand, I launched global and country content focused on net-zero emissions and sustainable transformation, with a particular emphasis on India, China, the EU, and the US. This involved adapting and localising global approaches to ensure relevance and resonance within each region. Working closely with local teams, I ensured that messaging and imagery were appropriate and aligned with local cultures and sensitivities, while maintaining a cohesive overall approach.

Outcomes

Through innovative engagements, we successfully reached over 10,000 key stakeholders annually, influencing the energy transition dialogue and inspiring action.

The feedback

“I was a high-profile leader of Shell strategy and our work steadily reformed the mindsets of the Executive Team and Board of the company and significantly shifted its direction towards energy transitions. Jessica is an excellent project manager, communications manager and event organiser who is completely dedicated to getting things done and absolutely committed to the cause of sustainability. Her friendly nature, intelligence, sensitivity and personal skills are phenomenal as she gently, but firmly, ensures the delivery of complex outcomes requiring contributions from multiple parties and regular shifts in requirements. Given her humility, it is sometimes possible to miss just how significant her abilities are, but she is utterly reliable and a great person to have at your side or on your team.”

Jeremy Bentham, Former Vice President Shell Scenarios

Jones the Dance is currently in a phase of transition and evaluation. As part of this process, they are considering their impact from a social and environmental perspective. They aim to support the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) 2015 Act. They are dedicated to achieving net-zero emissions by 2030.

The ReThinkHow approach

Leveraging the expertise of the Board and other key members of Jones the Dance, we conducted a workshop with the following objectives:

• To align the group in addressing environmental impact by exploring a shared vision.

• To develop an approach to embed sustainability into the organisation.

• To generate ideas and establish commitments aimed at reducing their environmental footprint and develop an action plan.

Outcomes

As a result of the workshop, the leadership of Jones the Dance is committed to making sustainable choices throughout the entire project cycle. Building on their experience of integrating accessibility and the Welsh language into decision-making and work, sustainability will not be an add-on; it is an integral part of the organisation's DNA and informing the entire conduct of their company.

Their ambition is to become an inspiring exemplar to other companies.

Jessica Whysall is now a proud Board member.