Written by Cari Guittard, Principal, Global Engagement Partners; Professor of Global Management, Hult International Business School. Republished from the Huffington Post, original article can be found here. 

Re-Framing and Re-Imagining the American Brand Abroad

In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, there was much discussion in the U.S. Government as well as the private sector with regards to the state of America’s image and brand abroad. Much of this began when then-Secretary of State Colin Powell appointed Charlotte Beers, an advertising legend, as Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. I remember well the historic meeting of advertising veterans Charlotte convened at Main State days after the attack. For two and a half days — running only on a constant flow of coffee and adrenaline — this collective of some of the best creative minds in America delved deeply into how the U.S. could repair, reframe and reset the American brand abroad. This incredible brainstorming session wasn’t about selling the U.S. or putting new slogans in airports — it was an honest discussion about how we were viewed and then what we can try to do about it while marshaling the power of the private sector.

Unfortunately, and like many meetings that disappear into the hallowed halls of Foggy Bottom, the results from this historic gathering never saw life. In part, this was due to the tenuous nature of our foreign policy directives at the time, lack of respect for public diplomacy and the advertising community at large, and our near constant state of crisis response with a small staff and even smaller budget. The seeds though had been planted and the private sector — especially those who manage many of the global iconic American brands that have stood the test of time, war, and economic hardship — stepped up. And so in early 2003, this was in part why Business for Diplomatic Action (BDA) came to be. BDA was the first non-partisan, apolitical, non-profit dedicated to building new bridges to the world. With many of the top global creative leaders at the helm, for nearly eight years we researched, monitored and dissected the American brand abroad. From comprehensive and on-going listening efforts we developed programs where the private sector could work in parallel to U.S.G. efforts to help shore up those areas of the American brand that fell short of our ideals. During those years that BDA was focused on the American brand, the U.S. Government and several non-profits also came together launching a variety of unique partnerships and initiatives to expand public diplomacy efforts and re-imagine the American brand through a citizen diplomacy focused lens. Throughout the BDA era leading up to President Obama’s first election, it would seem our country’s soft power reserves were growing steadily. The American brand was further buoyed by the Obama brand and we appeared to go up in almost every global poll. Keith Reinhard, founder of Business for Diplomatic Action and Chairman Emeritus of DDB Worldwide, remarked in a piece for Fast Company, The Brand Called Obama : “Barack Obama is three things you want in a brand… new, different and attractive. That’s as good as it gets.”

That Was Then… This is Now