GEO AWARD WINNERS

Created to celebrate Telefónica's centenary, Plan100 exemplifies creativity, inclusivity, and forward-thinking. The communication strategy, anchored by the slogan "Yo creo, yo me apunto" ("I believe, I'm in"), engaged employees through four distinct phases. By making employees the protagonists of the campaign, Telefónica fostered a sense of belonging and pride.

A standout feature of Plan100 was the innovative use of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), designed by an employee, as exclusive digital assets commemorating the company's history. This modern approach appealed to younger generations, adding excitement and exclusivity to the plan. Despite the challenges posed by a remote working environment, Telefónica successfully reached its global workforce of 100,000 employees, showcasing the plan in multiple languages and engaging senior leaders from various locations.

The judges applauded Telefónica for its inspirational campaign, revitalizing a mature plan to mark a significant company milestone. They praised the engaging communication strategy, highlighting the involvement of employees in the design process and the use of NFTs to inspire younger generations. Overall, Telefónica's Plan100 stands out as a shining example of effective communication and employee engagement in share plan initiatives.

DoorDash's innovative approach to equity compensation communication has garnered recognition for its creativity, effectiveness, and impact. Facing the challenge of educating a diverse, global workforce on equity and taxation, DoorDash's equity team embraced creativity and innovation, revamping its entire communications program.

Simplifying language and adopting a friendly, relatable tone ensured maximum engagement across different employee lifecycle stages, from new hires to RSU vesting events. Targeted campaigns with creative headlines and eye-catching visuals reduced confusion and led to a significant decline in inquiries. DoorDash provided easily accessible resources, including interactive wiki pages, engaging ‘RS(YOU)Tube’ video playlists, live webinars, and informative tax guides, enhancing employee understanding and engagement.

Judges were impressed by the company's comprehensive approach, innovative digital assets, and impactful engagement strategies. With success in engaging employees across 35 countries and providing personalized learning experiences, DoorDash stands out as a leader in effective communication strategies, setting a new standard for equity plan communication excellence.

Coca-Cola's "KO Shares" plan’s innovative approach to employee engagement strategy went beyond information dissemination, aiming to create an immersive experience for employees worldwide.

With its catchy tagline ‘Buy 1, Get 1’ and alignment with the NYSE stock symbol (KO), the branding demonstrated creativity and consistency. Clear goals of boldness, employee focus, and simplicity guided the communication efforts, which included extensive materials like brochures, presentations, videos, FAQs, and digital assets, all translated into multiple languages.

Personalization played a crucial role, with targeted email strategies tailored to individual employees. Ground teams further supported the rollout through daily interactions, town hall meetings, and virtual sessions.

KO Shares saw high enrollment rates, strong engagement metrics, and an impressive 90% renewal rate for the following year. Judges commended the campaign's engaging branding, comprehensive approach, and employee-friendly communication materials, such as the upbeat video and detailed how-to guides.

Overall, KO Shares illustrates how effective communication can foster employee participation and a culture of ownership globally. It reflects Coca-Cola's commitment to empowering its workforce and promoting inclusivity.

The judges praised the campaign for its engaging branding, clever tie-ins with the Coca-Cola brand, and comprehensive communication strategy, highlighting its success in driving participation and fostering a sense of ownership among employees.

SThree’s outstanding communications initiative was meticulously designed to align employees' interests with the company's success and enhance financial literacy among its workforce.

Through clear communication channels such as emails and an intuitive intranet platform, SThree ensured that employees could easily access comprehensive information about the share plan, fostering informed decision-making. The plan was made accessible to all employees, regardless of jurisdiction or financial literacy levels, promoting a sense of belonging and engagement.

By framing participation as an opportunity to invest in the company's long-term success and employing innovative communication methods including videos from the CEO and regional champions' support, SThree achieved a remarkable 38% uptake globally, surpassing the targeted 20-25%.

The judges commended SThree's comprehensive communication strategy, noting its informative and easy-to-follow approach. They appreciated the added incentive of free shares and the absence of a waiting period to join, indicating a commitment to inclusivity. While the basic elements were well-executed, they suggested stronger analysis and follow-up on underserved groups for future improvements. Notably, the microsite was highlighted as an impressive feature of the communication program.