The Edelman Trust Institute is Edelman’s in-house think tank that aims to advance the study and measurement of trust in institutions and their leaders. Its flagship research, the Edelman Trust Barometer, is an annual global survey that studies a range of timely and important societal indicators of trust among business, media, government, and NGOs.

Now in its 26th year, the Edelman Trust Barometer reveals a world retreating towards insularity. As economic anxiety, geopolitical tension, and technological disruption intensify, people are narrowing their world to smaller, familiar circles that reflect their views, and this hinders economic and societal progress. However, trust across deep divisions can be rebuilt when institutions embrace trust brokering: Working within people’s lived realities to create shared experiences and convene dialogue across differences. Trust brokering leverages common purpose over persuasion: rather than an explicit goal of trying to change people’s beliefs, it aims instead to surface shared goals, translate realities across differences, and establish mutual stakes.

In this masterclass, leaders from the Edelman Trust Institute will share insights on the state of trust in society and its institutions and how trust brokering can drive progress and forward momentum. These learnings will aim to equip NECE Festival attendees with strategies to bridge divides, find shared understanding, and build trust in an insular world.