Mark R. Kramer

Mark Kramer is a leading researcher, writer, speaker and consultant on strategies for social impact.  He is best known as the co-author of seminal articles on Creating Shared Value, Collective Impact, and Catalytic Philanthropy.

Together with Professor Michael Porter, Mark co-founded FSG, a 160-person global consulting firm with offices in the US, Europe and Asia.  FSG helps develop social impact strategies for many of the world’s largest foundations, corporations and nonprofit organizations.  FSG also operates and supports two communities of practice: the Shared Value Initiative and the Collective Impact Forum.  Porter and Kramer also co-founded the Center for Effective Philanthropy, a 30-person nonprofit dedicated to improving foundation performance.

Mark also serves as a Senior Fellow in the CSR Initiative of the Center for Business and Government at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and a Visiting Lecturer at Harvard Business School. He has served on the jury of the annual Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award and the planning committee for the Clinton Global Initiative, and is a member of the Aspen Philanthropy Group and the Kimberly-Clark Sustainability Advisory Board.

Prior to founding FSG, Mark served as President of the private equity firm Kramer Capital Management, and as an Associate at the law firm of Ropes & Gray.   He is a summa cum laude graduate of Brandeis University, The Wharton School, and the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Harvard Business Review Articles

• Kramer, Mark R., and Marc W. Pfitzer. "The Essential Link Between ESG Targets and Financial Performance." Harvard Business Review 100, no. 5 (September–October 2022). View Details
• Porter, Michael E., and Mark R. Kramer. "Creating Shared Value." Harvard Business Review 89, nos. 1-2 (January–February 2011): 62–77. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., and Marc W. Pfitzer. "The Ecosystem of Shared Value." Harvard Business Review 94, no. 10 (October 2016): 80–89. View Details
• Porter, Michael E., and Mark R. Kramer. "Strategy and Society: The Link between Competitive Advantage and Corporate Social Responsibility." Harvard Business Review 84, no. 12 (December 2006): 78–92. View Details
• Porter, Michael E., and Mark R. Kramer. "The Competitive Advantage of Corporate Philanthropy." Harvard Business Review 80, no. 12 (December 2002): 56–69. View Details
• Porter, Michael E., and Mark R. Kramer. "Philanthropy's New Agenda: Creating Value." Harvard Business Review 77, no. 6 (November–December 1999): 121–130. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "The 10 Commitments Companies Must Make to Advance Racial Justice." Harvard Business Review (website) (January 4, 2020). View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "Larry Fink Isn't Going to Read Your Sustainability Report." Harvard Business Review Digital Articles (January 20, 2020). View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "Coronavirus Is Putting Corporate Social Responsibility to the Test." Harvard Business Review Digital Articles (April 1, 2020). View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., Marc W. Pfitzer, and Helge Mahne. "How Global Leaders Should Think About Solving Our Biggest Problems." Harvard Business Review Digital Articles (January 16, 2020). View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "The Backlash to Larry Fink's Letter Shows How Far Business Has to Go on Social Responsibility." Harvard Business Review Digital Articles (January 31, 2019). View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "The Right Way for Companies to Publicize Their Social Responsibility Efforts." Harvard Business Review Digital Articles (April 2, 2018). View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., and John Pontillo. "End the Corporate Health Care Tax." Harvard Business Review Digital Articles (October 24, 2018). View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "How Big Business Created the Politics of Anger." Harvard Business Review Digital Articles (March 8, 2016). View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., Rishi Agarwal, and Aditi Srivinas. "Business as Usual Will Not Save the Planet." Harvard Business Review Digital Articles (June 12, 2019). View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "CEOs Need to See Through Walls." Harvard Business Review (website) (October 5, 2011). (Part of the HBR Online Forum “The CEO's Role in Fixing the System.") View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "How Olympic Sponsors Can Be Socially Responsible." Harvard Business Review Digital Articles (April 11, 2008). View Details

Stanford Social Innovation Review Articles

• Kania, John, and Mark Kramer. "Collective Impact." Stanford Social Innovation Review 9, no. 1 (Winter 2011): 36–41. (Most downloaded article in SSIR's history.) View Details
• Kania, John, Mark R. Kramer, and Patty Russell. "Strategic Philanthropy for a Complex World." Stanford Social Innovation Review 12, no. 3 (Summer 2014): 26–33. View Details
• Heifetz, Ronald A., John V. Kania, and Mark R. Kramer. "Leading Boldly." Stanford Social Innovation Review 2, no. 3 (Winter 2004): 20–31. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "Catalytic Philanthropy." Stanford Social Innovation Review 7, no. 4 (Fall 2009): 29–35. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "Systems Change in a Polarized Country." Stanford Social Innovation Review (website) (April 11, 2017). View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., and John Kania. "The Equity Imperative in Collective Impact." Stanford Social Innovation Review (website) (October 6, 2015). View Details
• Kania, John, and Mark R. Kramer. "Embracing Emergence: How Collective Impact Addresses Complexity." Stanford Social Innovation Review (website) (January 21, 2013). View Details
• Hanleybrown, Fay, John Kania, and Mark Kramer. "Channeling Change: Making Collective Impact Work." Stanford Social Innovation Review (website) (January 26, 2012). View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., and Kate Tallant. "Roundtable on Shared Value in Education." Stanford Social Innovation Review (website) (March 24, 2014). View Details
• "Roundtable on Shared Value." Stanford Social Innovation Review 9, no. 3 (Summer 2011). (Roundtable discussion led by John Kania and Mark Kramer.) View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., and Sarah E. Cooch. "The Power of Strategic Mission Investing." Stanford Social Innovation Review 5, no. 4 (Fall 2007): 42–51. View Details
• Kramer, Mark, and John Kania. "Changing the Game: Leading Corporations Switch from Defense to Offense in Solving Global Problems." Stanford Social Innovation Review 4, no. 1 (Spring 2006): 22–29. View Details

Institutional Investor Articles

• Porter, Michael E., George Serafeim, and Mark Kramer. "Where ESG Fails." Institutional Investor (October 16, 2019). View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., Nina Jais, Erin E. Sullivan, Carina Wendell, Kerry Rodriguez, Carlo Papa, Carlo Napoli, and Filippo Forti. "Where ESG Ratings Fail: The Case for New Metrics." Institutional Investor (September 7, 2020). View Details

Cases and Teaching Materials

• Kramer, Mark R. "Engine No.1: An Impact Investing Firm Engages with ExxonMobil." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 223-016, August 2022. View Details
• Kramer, Mark. "Engine No. 1: An Activist Hedge Fund Pursues Stakeholder Capitalism (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 222-038, October 2021. View Details
• Kramer, Mark, Shawn Cole, Vikram S. Gandhi, and T. Robert Zochowski. "Engine No. 1: An Impact Investing Firm Engages with ExxonMobil." Harvard Business School Case 222-028, October 2021. (Revised July 2022.) View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "Participant Media: Social Impact in Hollywood." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 722-359, July 2021. View Details
• Kramer, Mark. "PayPal: The Next Chapter." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 721-482, May 2021. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "Dove and Real Beauty: Building a Brand with Purpose." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 721-478, June 2021. View Details
• Porter, Michael, Mark Kramer, and Annelena Lobb. "PayPal: The Next Chapter." Harvard Business School Case 721-378, August 2020. (Revised May 2021.) View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., and Brooke D. Biederman. "Participant Media: Social Impact in Hollywood." Harvard Business School Case 720-364, August 2019. (Revised July 2020.) View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., Myriam Sidibe, and Gunjan Veda. "Dove and Real Beauty: Building a Brand with Purpose." Harvard Business School Case 720-361, September 2019. (Revised June 2021.) View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., Thijs Geradts, and Bhanuteja Nadella. "Philips Lighting: Light-as-a-Service." Harvard Business School Case 719-446, March 2019. (Revised May 2019.) View Details
• Kramer, Mark. "Creating Shared Value: Competitive Advantage through Social Impact." Harvard Business School Module Note 718-480, February 2018. (Revised November 2018.) (Register to read this module note here.) View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., and Hugh Foley. "National Australia Bank: Looking Out for the Customer." Harvard Business School Case 719-417, September 2018. (Revised March 2019.) View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., and Bhanuteja Nadella. "Enel: The Future of Energy." Harvard Business School Case 718-414, August 2017. (Revised January 2023.) View Details
• Porter, Michael E., Mark R. Kramer, and Aldo Sesia. "Discovery Limited." Harvard Business School Case 715-423, December 2014. (Revised July 2021.) View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "Discovery Limited." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 719-444, November 2018. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., and Sarah Mehta. "Becton Dickinson: Global Health Strategy." Harvard Business School Case 718-406, September 2017. (Revised February 2018.) View Details
• Porter, Michael E., Mark R. Kramer, Kerry Herman, and Sarah McAra. "Nestlé's Creating Shared Value Strategy." Harvard Business School Case 716-422, November 2015. (Revised October 2017.) View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "Nestlé's Creating Shared Value Strategy." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 719-460, January 2019. View Details
• Porter, Michael, Mark Kramer, and Pamela Sud. "Walmart: Segmenting Social Impact." Harvard Business School Exercise 715-435, November 2014. (Revised March 2017.) View Details
• Porter, Michael E., Mark R. Kramer, and Pamela Sud. "Walmart: Segmenting Social Impact." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 715-436, May 2015. View Details
• Porter, Michael E., Mark R. Kramer, and Annelena Lobb. "Dow: Breakthroughs to World Challenges." Harvard Business School Case 715-403, December 2014. (Revised October 2017.) View Details
• Cole, Shawn, Mark Kramer, Tony L. He, Anshul Maudar, and T. Robert Zochowski. "DBL Partners: Double Bottom Line Venture Capital." Harvard Business School Case 217-022, September 2016. (Revised March 2021.) View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., Shawn A. Cole, and Caitlin Reimers Brumme. "DBL Partners: Double Bottom Line Venture Capital." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 219-048, October 2018. View Details
• Porter, Michael E., Mark R. Kramer, and David Lane. "Social Business at Novartis: Arogya Parivar." Harvard Business School Case 715-411, December 2014. (Revised October 2017.) View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., and Michael E. Porter. "Social Business at Novartis: Arogya Parivar." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 719-426, October 2018. View Details

Books

• Crutchfield, Leslie, John Kania, and Mark R. Kramer. Do More Than Give: The Six Practices of Donors Who Change the World. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2011. View Details

Book Chapters

• Porter, Michael E., and Mark R. Kramer. "Corporate Philanthropy: Taking the High Ground." In The Accountable Corporation, Vol. 3: Corporate Social Responsibility, edited by Marc J. Epstein and Kirk O. Hanson. Praeger, 2006. View Details

Book Reviews

• Kramer, Mark R. Book Review of "How to Change the World," by David Bornstein, Oxford University Press, 2004. Stanford Social Innovation Review 2, no. 1 (Summer 2004): 77. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "Big Structural Change: Review of Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire, by Rebecca Henderson." Stanford Social Innovation Review 18, no. 3 (Summer 2020): 67–69. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "Are the Elite Hijacking Social Change? Review of Winners Take All, by Anand Giridharadas." Stanford Social Innovation Review 16, no. 4 (Fall 2018): 68–70. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "Collaborative Cues: Review of Conscious Collaboration: Re-thinking the Way We Work Together, for Good, by Ben Emmens." Stanford Social Innovation Review 15, no. 2 (Spring 2017). View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "Review of How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas, by David Bornstein." Stanford Social Innovation Review 2, no. 1 (Summer 2004). View Details

Presentations

• Kramer, Mark R. "Shared Value Africa Initiative: Celebrating 10 Years of Creating Shared Value." Shared Value Initiative, July 2021. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "Creating Shared Value: Competitive Advantage Through Social Impact." Shared Value Initiative, July 23, 2019. View Details
• Porter, Michael E., and Mark R. Kramer. "Creating Shared Value: Becoming a Movement." Shared Value Leadership Summit, FSG, New York, NY, May 13, 2014. View Details
• Porter, Michael E., Mark R. Kramer, and Jane Nelson. "Creating Shared Value: Connecting Business, Societal Value and Opportunity." FSG, 2011. View Details

FSG Publications

• Kramer, Mark R., John Kania, and Peter Senge. "The Water of Systems Change." Report, FSG, May 2018. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., Angela Glover Blackwell, Lalitha Vaidyanathan, Lakshmi Iyer, and Josh Kirschenbaum. "The Competitive Advantage of Racial Equity." Report, FSG, October 2017. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., Kate Tallant, Amanda Oudin Goldberger, and Flynn Lebus. "The Global STEM Paradox." Report, FSG, 2015. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., Greg Hills, Kate Tallant, Matt Wilka, and Anjali Bhatt. "The New Role of Business in Global Education." Report, FSG, 2016. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., Kyle Peterson, Matthew Rehrig, Mike Stamp, and Samuel Kim. "Competing by Saving Lives: How Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Companies Create Shared Value in Global Health." Report, FSG, 2012. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "Better Outcomes, Lower Costs: A Conversation with Dr. Atul Gawande." Report, FSG, 2012. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., Marcie Parkhurst, and Lalitha Vaidyanathan. "Breakthroughs in Shared Measurement." Report, FSG, July 2009. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., Rebecca W. Graves, Jason Hirschhorn, and Leigh Fiske. "From Insight to Action: New Directions in Foundation Evaluation." Report, FSG, April 2007. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., and Sarah E. Cooch. "Aggregating Impact: A Funder's Guide to Mission Investment Intermediaries." Report, FSG, November 2007. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R., and Sarah E. Cooch. "Compounding Impact: Mission Investing by U.S. Foundations." Report, FSG, March 2007. View Details
• Kramer, Mark R. "Measuring Innovation: Evaluation in the Field of Social Entrepreneurship." Report, April 2005. View Details

Other Publications and Materials

• Porter, Michael E., and Mark R. Kramer. "The Pluses in Corporate Philanthropy." Boston Globe (January 13, 2003). View Details

Journal Articles

• Kramer, Mark R., and Marc W. Pfitzer. "The Essential Link Between ESG Targets and Financial Performance." Harvard Business Review 100, no. 5 (September–October 2022). View Details

Awards & Honors

Winner of the 2014 CSR Prize from the Danish Corporate Social Responsibility Foundation with Michael E. Porter for their work on shared value and corporate social responsibility.

Won the first place 2011 McKinsey Award for the best article in Harvard Business Review for “Creating Shared Value” with Michael E. Porter.

Won the first place 2006 McKinsey Award for the best article in Harvard Business Review for “Strategy and Society: The Link Between Competitive Advantage and Corporate Social Responsibility” with Michael E. Porter.