According to BCW, BCW Nexus is a complete reinvention of the old public affairs model and is 'based on a deep understanding of global, systemic trends that have been accelerated in 2020'.

To build a new model for public affairs — one that serves both business objectives as well as social purpose — BCW's team produced a set of insights about the way influencing decision-making in society is being revolutionised. The key findings include:
  • Due to the global pandemic, governments are playing a bigger role in the economy and society than any time since 1945; but that role will also face challenges unlike before.
  • In place of the old hierarchies and top-down decision making, power is being dispersed throughout society. Leaders are being confronted at all levels by grassroots movements and individual citizens.
  • Technology allows even the smallest groups to mobilise very quickly, act, influence and change society in a way that has never been possible before, and
  • New partnerships between government, business and civil society are emerging that can unlock change with tremendous speed.
To navigate this complexity, BCW Nexus aims to offer a networked approach to public affairs that combines bottom-up with top-down engagement, which creates real impact on decision-makers. It begins with a set of strategic questions being put forward to address the new realities. Among those questions are:
  • How does the rise of national government intervention impact your organisation and how can you positively contribute by working with or influencing the role of government moving forward?
  • How will the rise of nationalism, protectionism and global power shifts impact your organisation?
  • What is your view on global challenges such as inequality and climate change, in addition to the disruptive impacts of technologies and automation in the coming years? and
  • Have new pressure groups and NGOs risen to prominence, and can you collaborate with them in partnerships and coalitions to address local and global challenges in a post-COVID-19 'new normal'?
According to BCW, its offering provides a new way of thinking and a set of tools for effective engagement and advocacy in a reinvented world of public affairs. Data science, emotional storytelling and sharable content can create a continuous sphere of engagement that leads to business and social impact, says BCW. 

"Any business or society leader who wants to advocate for change has to understand the seismic shift in world affairs that has been building for several years, and now accelerated dramatically by the global pandemic," says Robyn de Villiers, chairperson and CEO of BCW Africa.

"The traditional 'top down' model of decision making in public affairs is no longer the solution. In its place is a 'top down' combined with a 'bottom up' model where change can occur suddenly, spontaneously and dramatically," adds de Villiers.

"BCW has built BCW Nexus to bring influence with impact on decision-makers in this world that remains full of opportunity for those who can understand and change it for the better, and make public affairs at a c-suite level even more important than ever before," de Villiers concludes.

For more information, visit www.bcw-global.com. You can also follow BCW on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.