Lauren Kelly has worked for Dell and PepsiCo... now CMO at crowdsourcing platform ThoughtExchange, she reminds us activists aren't brands, they're people — and people create movements.

​Powered by digital and bolstered by countless brave voices, #MeToo and #TimesUp

... crashed into North American mainstream consciousness, propelling forth a freshly-charged gender equality movement for our current era. Next came #BLM, catalyzed by the unfortunate tragedy of George Floyd’s murder. It’s heartening that even amidst a global pandemic, this arrived at the forefront of the global news cycle, highlighting humanity’s enduring desire to protect thy neighbor, and fight for dignity, equality and justice. A slew of other equally important movements have continued to enter the scene, including on topics such as sexuality and identity, toxic workplace culture, and so on.

If we were to take these recent movements and activities and classify them as “Activism 1.0,” an inevitable question surfaces: What comes next—and are we prepared to take it to its next stage of evolution? Critically, how do business leaders like myself ensure our brands do...