First-month Scorecards for Companies Under Trump

In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll discuss the evolving landscape of corporate reputation management under the Trump administration. They explore and rate how companies are navigating challenges such as tariffs, the impact of political affiliations on brand perception, and the ongoing debate around diversity initiatives. The conversation also introduces the concept of 'Relationates' as a more nuanced approach to stakeholder engagement, emphasizing the importance of understanding various audience dynamics in corporate communication.Buy Sally Susman's book, Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World hereTakeawaysTariffs are creating significant challenges for the auto industry.Tesla's alignment with political figures is harming its reputation.Diversity initiatives are under scrutiny but still hold public support.Silence from companies can be a risky strategy.The chaos tension triangle helps companies balance risks.The term 'relationates' offers a broader understanding of stakeholder dynamics.Topics Mentionedcorporate reputation, Trump administration, tech industry, tariffs, Tesla, diversity initiatives, stakeholder engagement, communication strategyCompanies MentionedGoogle, Meta, Amazon, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, CVS, Chipotle, American Airlines, Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter, Target, Disney, Goldman SachsChapters00:00 Introduction to Corporate Reputation Strategies07:07 Tech Companies and Their Strategies Under Trump13:43 The Auto Industry's Response to Tariffs14:12 Diversity Initiatives in Corporate America22:40 Reframing Stakeholders as RelationatesHashtags#CorporateReputation, #Trump, #TechIndustry, #Tariffs, #Tesla, #diversity, #DEI, #StakeholderEngagement, #CommunicationStrategy