A New Age of Reason: Larry Weber, Communications & the Future of Technology

At a time when many see a dark future for technology, Larry Weber, chairman and CEO of Racepoint Global, and founder of Weber Shandwick, is an optimist. In his new book, “A New Age of Reason: Harnessing the Power of Tech for Good”, he outlines his vision for technology driving greater productivity in agriculture, addressing climate change, and better health.

Weber has long been an advocate for the idea that all companies are technology companies. He’s served as a counselor to a “who’s who” of technology innovators.

As I wrote in a review for CommPRO, his book is far more than a Panglossian homage to technology. He makes it clear that realizing the opportunity new technologies provide, with generative AI an example, will require business, communications and agency leaders to make moral and ethical choices.

In the book, Weber advocates for what he calls “moral corporations” guided by ethics and a culture of doing the right thing as the basis for responsible innovation. He outlines the importance of the three E’s – ethics, engagement, and evolution – as a guiding mantra for decision making and success.   

There’s a lot for communicators to reflect on – especially given the increasing use of technology in the industry. He brings his communicators’ perspective to the importance of engaging with audiences, especially adversaries; creating platforms for communicating at scale; and building trust through authenticity. 

Among the many insights Weber shares is the concept of “storydoing” - the idea that companies need to tell their stories in ways that showcase the positive impact they are having across all channels.    

He also lists a number of questions leaders should ask, the first of which is “What do you want your legacy to be?” Others questions help get companies to the heart of how technology can accelerate and augment that vision, and whether they have the technology ecosystem to realize it.   

The new book provides a framework for communications as well as business leaders to think about ways in technology can be used for good.

Weber is donating all proceeds from the book to Boston-area charities.          

Simon Erskine Locke is founder & CEO of communications agency and professional search and services platform, CommunicationsMatch™, a CommPRO partner. He is vice president of the Foreign Press Association, agency founder, and has held head of communications roles at Morgan Stanley, Prudential Financial, and Deutsche Bank. CommunicationsMatch’ s technology helps clients search, shortlist, and hire agencies and professionals by industry and communications expertise, location, size, diversity, and designations. CommunicationsMatch developed the industry’s first integrated agency search and RFP tools, Agency Select™, with RFP Associates. CommunicationsMatch™ powers PRSA’s Find a Firm agency search tools.