I’ve seen many different but similar corporate values. You can always find words like integrity, diversity, transparency or sustainability, most of which always mean much but at the same time mean nothing. There is actually quite weak connection, standing from the perspective of a normal audience, between their values that the corporate presented and their business that the public observed.

There are some better ones but the most impressive one I have ever seen and actually have just seen, is from VISA, an everyone-knows but always neglected fortune 500 company. VISA’s corporate value is Empowering People, Empowering Businesses and Empowering Economies; this is powerful through clearly demonstrating the strong connection of what they say and what they actually do.

At the individual level, VISA empowers many people by allowing them to connect to their resources in as many ways as possible, all in one credit card. Their community investment program is also much based on their value by helping the less advantaged communities through microfinance and financial literacy education program.

At the organizational level, Visa is helping to empower businesses with payment products and services that help boost revenue and drive down costs, extending the benefits of better money to the bottom line. Not just large enterprises, but also a large number of small and medium enterprises would benefit from their service. In its website, it gives a persuasive example of how VISA helps a baker to evolve from a wholesale-based retailer to a direct seller through provideing the necessary cash engine and managing his receipts and expenses more efficiently.

At the society level, VISA indeed plays an important role in increasing efficiency and stimulating economic growth. With VISA, every one of us would like to spend more and more money, on things beyond our control! But it is definitely good for the macro economy.

You can find more information from their website: http://corporate.visa.com/av/about_visa/vov/main.jsp