22Squared, the independent creative and media company that pushes brands to be more, has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2021.
The list honors the businesses that have not only found a way to be resilient in the past year, but also turned those challenges into impact-making processes. These companies did more than survive, they thrived—making an impact on their industries and culture as a whole. This year’s MIC list features 463 businesses from 29 countries.
“We set a challenge for ourselves and all companies to be more,” said Erica Hoholick, president of 22squared. “For us that means solving social issues, business problems and helping Brands identify a bigger role to play in the future. As an agency, we always try to put the audience first, understand their varied perspectives and create more human and meaningful solutions.
In today’s world, it is not enough to just talk, we must act. Being a performative ally during standardized holiday months like Black History Month or LGBTQ Pride Month isn’t enough to enact positive change. As communicators who creatively interpret brand messages to large audiences, it became increasingly obvious to the 300+ person 22Squared team that the power to influence should create actionable positive behaviors.
In 2020, 22Squared, in partnership with the NAACP Atlanta chapter, released their social justice education platform, Invisible Hate, to push for the removal of Confederate monuments across the country. This digital platform allows users to geo-locate where these hate symbols still stand, cross-reference verified racist/violent historical documentation associated with said person, allow users to digitally and visually document their own expressions about said symbols themselves, and offer easily customized templates to contact your local representative demanding its removal. Most importantly to convert observance into action, Invisible Hate allows people who want to do more to petition for the removal of Confederate Monuments all over the country with a single click. This project has gone national with numerous nonprofit partnerships and potential change to even public school education in the truth that has whitewashed the country.
As the creative company helping bring to life the humanity in household brands and nonprofits alike. 22Squared has created deeply impactful campaigns for AdventHealth with its Sound of Healing and nonprofit work with organizations like The AdCouncil and other NAACP initiatives. We have also created a platform to give our employees a bigger megaphone to talk about issues that impact them with our Hear Me Now series.
Fast Company’s editors and writers sought out the most groundbreaking businesses across the globe and industries. They also judged nominations received through their application process.
The World’s Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company’s signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides both a snapshot and a road map for the future of innovation across the most dynamic sectors of the economy.
“In a year of unprecedented challenges, the companies on this list exhibit fearlessness, ingenuity, and creativity in the face of crisis,” said Fast Company Deputy Editor David Lidsky, who oversaw the issue with Senior Editor Amy Farley.
To coincide with the issue launch, Fast Company will host its first-ever Most Innovative Companies Summit on March 9and 10. This virtual, multiday summit will celebrate the Most Innovative Companies in business, provide an early look at major business trends, and offer the inspiration and practical insights on what it takes to innovate in 2021.
Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies issue (March/April 2021) is now available online here, as well as in app form via iTunes and on newsstands beginning March 16, 2021. The hashtag is #FCMostInnovative.
About 22Squared
22Squared is an integrated creative & media company who uses creativity to grow business. We’re 319 brand builders, cultural instigators and do gooders whose job is to help brands find their conviction and turn it into action for people. And over the last 98 years, we’ve done so for some of the most iconic brands including The AdCouncil, AdventHealth, Amazon Studios, Baskin-Robbins, Columbia Care, CDC, McGraw-Hill, NAACP, Netflix, Paramount, Publix Super Markets, SunTrust (now TRUIST) and Southeast Toyota Distributors. For more information about 22Squared, please visit www.22Squared.com. You can also follow the agency’s goings-on on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
ABOUT FAST COMPANY
Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. The editor-in-chief is Stephanie Mehta. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com.
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