New feature: Author interviews

A new feature on the CSR-books blog will be author interviews. I have two great interviews lined up and will be interviewing more CSR authors so that we can get real insight into what goes into the making of a great CSR book. To get things rolling, I thought I would interview a CSR author I know quite well, haha, ME! (but don't worry, the future ones will be a little more serious!)

Snapshot:

Age:  30-something (a lot of something)

Born in: Mancheseter, England, home of United

Married: Happily to Jay (or Judah, or Yehuda, whichever name you prefer)
Kids: Two wonderful, noisy, creative, confident kids: Eden (girl) aged 12 and Amit (boy) aged 8
Live in: physically, Herzliya, Israel, mentally, the global village
Educated at: Bradford University but that was AGES ago
Favourite CSR Book: Business as Unusual by Anita Roddick
Favourite non CSR book:  The Number One Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Favourite movie: The Way We Were. Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford. What a dream.
Favourite musician: Elkie Brooks, a Manchester lass
Favourite CSR report:  Depends on the year, but I like Vodafone most years, Danisco 2009/2010 (but then, I helped write it), Central Textiles, AHA!, Verizon, Kesko, Ford, HP, Marks and Spencer, Telefonica, Unilever, GSK...
Favourite flavor ice cream: Chunky Monkey. What a surprise.
If I could, I would ………: Invent a washing machine that doesn't lose socks.


Bibliography
CSR for HR: A necessary partnership for advancing responsible business practices 
Greenleaf, 2010
but watch out for more ....

Elaine, you refer to CSR for HR as a wake up call for the HR profession. Wouldn't it be easier to recommend they buy an alarm clock?

CSR for HR is actually an HR alarm clock.It's the kind that makes you wake up even though you didnt know you were asleep. The HR function lives in blissful ignorance of the potential of CSR to advance HR strategy, business objectives and HR's own positioning at the decision-making tables. This book should encourage a new perspective for HR professionals. 

  

Elaine, what qualifies you to write about the HR function? After all, your main expertise is Sustainability Strategy and Reporting.

By the time you get to my age (30 plus a lot of something), you may well have experienced several professions. Indeed, I worked for many years as a Supply Chain Manager with P&G, and for many years as a country VP for HR with Unilever, and for years as a Division Manager in a private trading company. This was prior to me moving my focus to sustainability strategy and reporting. Over 8 years managing HR in a sustainability-minded company like Unilever is more than enough to provide a strong appreciation of the HR-CSR issues that arise. Also, I did lead the local Human Resources Society for some years, including work on defining the HR body of knowledge for HR professional certification, which involved me in much discussion with HR functional leaders. Finaly, as a consultant , I work with many HR managers. I think that cuts it. 

Elaine, who do you want to read CSR for HR? 

You. Haha. HR practitioners, CSR practitioners, academics, business managers. I deliberately wrote the book in story-telling style so as not to make it too burdensome for busy people. What is more important, though , is that those who read it will make or influence change in the way the HR function works in businesses. That's my message. Change the way HR contributes.

Elaine, why is CSR for HR unique?
I believe CSR for HR is the only book to have been published on this subject. There has been much written about engaging employees in environmental issues, and several papers about HR and CSR, but I believe this is the first book that covers this subject so comrehensively. It is also written from the standpoint of an HR Manager, through her eyes, addressing the questions, doubts, occasional cynicism, struggles and uncertainties that HR managers have when thinking about CSR. I hope that HR Managers will be able to identify with this.

Elaine, how much Chunky Monkey did you consume whilst writing this book?
Hmm, doesn't that count as a trade secret ? Let's put it this way. When I write another book, I will consider intra-veinous supply of Chunky Monkey.

Elaine, when will we be seeing your next book?
Great question! Glad you asked that! Yes, I have many books that I want to write, now that I have a taste for it. I have one which I have started mapping out and hope to work on this during 2011.

Elaine, thank you so much for this interview. I hope EVERYBODY reads your book!


elaine cohen, CSR consultant, Sustainabilty Reporter, HR Professional, Ice Cream Addict. Author of CSR for HR: A necessary partnership for advancing responsible business practices  Contact me via www.twitter.com/elainecohen  on Twitter or via my website www.b-yond.biz/en