Purpose 360 with Carol Cone

Sustainability Didn’t Die in 2025 with Andrew Winston

TruStory FM — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0700

Sustainability is at a pivotal moment. Amid political backlash, greenhushing, and growing scrutiny of ESG and DEI, many have questioned whether the movement has lost momentum. We invited Andrew Winston, globally respected sustainability advisor, bestselling author, and recently named #1 management thinker in the world with Paul Polman by Thinkers50, to share his perspective on where sustainability truly stands. Drawing on his recent Fortune article, “2025: The Year Sustainability Didn’t Die,” Andrew explains why critics have misread the signals. While companies may be quieter publicly, the underlying drivers of climate impacts, demographic shifts, market forces, and technological innovation continue to accelerate action across sectors and geographies.

This conversation explores where meaningful progress is unfolding, from China’s rapid expansion in clean energy and electric vehicles to investments in decarbonization and electrification. Andrew examines why sustainability is often held to a higher ROI standard than other business investments, how leaders can better articulate long-term value creation, and what courage looks like in today’s climate of uncertainty. This conversation ultimately centers on a deeper question facing every executive: Is the world better off because your business is in it?

Listen for insights on:

Why sustainability continues despite political backlash
Making a stronger ROI case for sustainability
Balancing AI innovation with decarbonization goals

Resources + Links:

Watch this conversation on YouTube
Andrew Winston’s Website
Fortune: 2025: the year sustainability didn’t die
Net Positive
Andrew Winston's Books

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Meet Andrew Winston, Winston Eco-Strategies
(05:07) - Andrew’s Background
(07:05) - Evolution of Sustainability
(09:16) - Purpose and Sustainability
(10:18) - Fortune Article
(12:02) - CEO Characteristics
(14:33) - Flourishing
(15:20) - AI and Energy Demand
(19:10) - ROI Metrics
(21:31) - Courage Is Critical
(24:02) - Health and Sustainability
(25:00) - Deciding Where to Invest
(26:16) - Truly at Risk
(28:45) - One Non-Negotiable
(29:42) - Last Word
(30:48) - Wrap Up

What CEOs Are Thinking Today with Alan Murray

TruStory FM — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0800

In a moment defined by disruption and accelerating change, Carol Cone sits down with one of the world’s most seasoned CEO observers to decode what’s really keeping leaders up at night. Alan Murray, journalist, former CEO of Fortune, and now Founding President of the WSJ Leadership Institute, has spent decades in candid conversation with the heads of the world’s largest organizations. What emerges from this exchange is a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how today’s CEOs are navigating geopolitical instability, AI transformation, cultural division, and fragile trust. Drawing on insights from hundreds of top executives, Murray makes a compelling case: the greatest challenges facing CEOs are no longer purely strategic or technological but are profoundly human.

At the heart of the discussion is a powerful tension shaping the C-suite: while AI dominates boardroom agendas, the real work lies in culture, trust, and human alignment. Murray also shares why empathy has emerged as a defining leadership competency, how purpose and moral clarity are becoming competitive differentiators, and why organizations that successfully engage and inspire their people will outpace those that rely solely on technological advantage. This is a deeply strategic dialogue about leading through volatility, humanizing organizations in an AI-driven era, and building cultures resilient enough to thrive amid constant change.

Listen for insights on:

Turning AI ambition into measurable value
Differentiating through talent and not just tech
Reframing empathy as strategic leadership
Preparing young leaders for human-centered work

Resources + Links:

Watch the full conversation on YouTube
Alan Murray’s LinkedIn
The WSJ Leadership Institute
Podcast: WSJ Leadership Institute Presents: Leaders

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:06) - Alan Murray
(03:03) - Alan’s CEO Leadership Title
(05:19) - Leadership Institute Backstory
(06:07) - Shape of the Institute
(08:55) - Conversation with CEOs Today
(10:30) - The AI Revolution
(12:16) - Balancing This New World
(15:22) - Empathy
(18:40) - Balancing Humanity with Technology
(19:50) - Moral Leadership
(21:39) - Becoming More Human and Humanized
(22:48) - Reinforcing the People Part
(24:38) - Evolving the Culture
(25:20) - Most Presing Social Issues
(27:27) - Advice for Young People
(29:28) - Last Word
(30:15) - Wrap Up

Just Ice Tea is Brewing with Seth Goldman

TruStory FM — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0800

JUST Ice Tea was born from a refusal to let a company’s purpose and impact disappear. JUST Ice Tea’s roots trace back to Honest Tea, a pioneering brand built on the idea that beverages could be better for people and the planet. But when Honest Tea was ultimately discontinued after being sold, something incredible happened. The founders and long-standing partners across the supply chain came together with a shared resolve that fair trade and environmentally responsible tea would not end with Honest Tea. In just 90 days, their commitment brought the newly created JUST Ice Tea to consumers. And only two years later, JUST Ice Tea has surpassed the revenues of Honest Tea.

We invited Seth Goldman, Co-Founder and CEO of JUST Ice Tea—as well as Board Member for Beyond Meat and PLNT Burger—to share the lessons, setbacks, and mindset that shaped his journey. Seth reflects on resilience in the face of loss, the power of long-term relationships, and why impact must be built directly into the product, supply chain, and culture of a company. He offers insights on stakeholder capitalism, the responsibility of boards and investors, and the importance of finding hope where it isn’t obvious. His story is an invitation to believe that business can scale purpose, deliver justice, and create profit—one bottle at a time.

Listen for insights on:

Outperforming traditional growth strategies through resilience and values
Embedding impact directly into products, not just marketing
The power of stakeholder relationships in moments of change

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Seth Goldman, Just Ice Tea
(02:28) - Seth’s Backgrouna dn Commitment to Socially Responsible Business
(05:36) - What’s Changed About the Movement
(07:51) - Frustrations
(08:39) - Framework for Embedding Purpose
(11:11) - No Downside
(11:38) - Learning from Honest Tea
(17:57) - Impact to Stakeholders
(20:06) - Mission in a Bottle
(22:53) - Recommendations for Boards
(24:09) - Creating Alignment
(24:40) - Purpose Pledge
(26:10) - Rapid Fire Questions
(27:46) - Last Words
(28:24) - Wrap Up

The Company That Chose the Planet with Vincent Stanley

TruStory FM — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0800

Patagonia has long stood as the north star for companies striving to create meaningful impact and proving that business can thrive with purpose. Today, Patagonia stands alone in its ownership model: it has one shareholder—the planet. Instead of “going public,” Patagonia famously “went purpose,” restructuring in 2022 so that 100% of its voting stock flows into the Patagonia Purpose Trust to guard its values, and 100% of its non-voting stock now supports the Holdfast Collective, a nonprofit fighting the environmental crisis. Each year, every dollar not needed to run the business moves directly to protecting nature. It’s a business that invites people into the beauty of the outdoors while safeguarding the planet that makes those adventures possible.

We invited Vincent Stanley, Director of Philosophy at Patagonia—and one of its very first employees—to reflect on the decades of learning, experimentation, humility, and courage that shaped Patagonia’s journey. Vincent explores topics from the company’s early fiber-to-farm revelations and culture-defining philosophy classes, to its iconic “Don’t Buy This Jacket” campaign, industry-shaping activism, and bold ownership redesign. For any leader or organization seeking to deepen its impact, Vincent offers rare insights into what it truly takes to build a business where profit becomes a byproduct of purpose.

Listen for insights on:

Transforming harm discovery into long-term environmental innovation
Challenging consumerism through bold, values-led storytelling
Building company culture through shared responsibility and lived values
Collaborating across industries to advance standards and certifications

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Meet Vincent Stanley, Patagonia
(04:26) - Vincent’s Background
(07:55) - Director of Philosophy
(10:37) - Company Ethos
(11:57) - If Nature Could Talk
(13:15) - Pivot Points
(15:58) - Seeing the Fields
(17:32) - Role as Storyteller
(21:10) - Black Friday
(24:50) - Quality Is an Environmental Issue
(27:03) - Fair Trade and Culture
(31:12) - Showing Authenticity
(32:45) - Patagonia Action Works
(33:42) - Change in Ownership
(36:32) - Feelings at the Time
(37:22) - Message to Future Leaders
(39:40) - Last Words
(41:07) - Wrap Up

2026 Purpose Predictions

TruStory FM — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 04:00:00 -0800

Purpose 360 convenes leading voices in social impact, business, and philanthropy at the start of every year and asks them to share their predictions for what lies ahead. As we enter 2026, purpose leaders are navigating rapid advances in AI, growing pressure on social sector funding, shifting workforce expectations, and a renewed focus on culture, leadership, and human connection. Together, these experts offer perspectives on how purpose-driven work is evolving and what it will require next.

This year, we invited Artis Stevens, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America; Kevin Martinez, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship at ESPN; Alexandra Amouyel, President and CEO of Newman’s Own Foundation; and Alan Murray, Founding President of the Wall Street Journal Leadership Institute and former CEO of Fortune Media, to share their predictions for 2026. Drawing on backgrounds that span nonprofits, philanthropy, corporate leadership, and media, they explore both the opportunities and tensions shaping the future of purpose.

Listen for insights on:

AI as a powerful opportunity and a critical responsibility
Why human connection, leadership, and values matter more than ever
The growing need for focus, clarity, and authentic activation of purpose inside organizations
Practical advice for early- and mid-career professionals

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(03:29) - Artis Stevens from Big Brothers Big Sisters
(04:23) - BBBS’s Purpose
(05:16) - 2026 Predictions re: Function and Activations of Purpose
(06:59) - Opportunities
(08:19) - Advice for Young People
(09:56) - The Future of Purpose 2026
(11:06) - Kevin Martinez from ESPN
(11:19) - ESPN’s Purpose
(11:38) - Take Back Sports Initiative
(12:25) - Purpose in 2026
(14:43) - Barriers and Challenges
(15:39) - Discuss, Debate, Decide, Align
(16:27) - Advice for Young People
(18:04) - Mental Health
(20:26) - Alex Amouyel from Newman's Own
(20:50) - Newman’s Own Purpose
(22:01) - Purpose in 2026
(25:17) - Advice for Young People
(27:46) - Hit the Ground Running
(28:50) - Alan Murray from The Wall Street Journal Leadership Institute
(29:19) - Alan’s Title
(30:23) - What CEOs Are Saying
(32:15) - Humanizing Factors
(33:17) - Purpose’s Evolution
(34:47) - Opportunities
(35:22) - Challenges
(36:26) - Advice for Young People
(38:09) - Exciting Time
(38:50) - Wrap Up

Why Great Leaders Need Coaches with Scott Osman

TruStory FM — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0800

Leadership coaching has the power to unlock profound personal and organizational transformation. That belief lies at the heart of 100 Coaches. Founded by executive coach Marshall Goldsmith, 100 Coaches began with a bold experiment: Marshall offered to teach 15 people everything he knew for free, in gratitude for the teachers and leaders who helped shape him. As those first 15 committed to “pay it forward,” the idea resonated deeply. More than 16,000 applicants were interested, and so the initiative grew into a community of more than 100 coaches from top leadership, academia, non-profits, healthcare, and beyond.

We invited Scott Osman, CEO of 100 Coaches, to reflect on how that founding vision has flourished. Scott shares how 100 Coaches functions as a curated network that matches each leader with the right coach at the right moment, grounded in deep expertise across organizational psychology, leadership development, and human behavior. He underscores how coaching can shift organizational trajectories: when leaders evolve, their teams, culture, and long-term outcomes evolve with them. For those wondering if coaching is a luxury or necessity, this conversation makes a compelling case for the power of investing in people.

Listen for insights on:

What leadership coaching looks like from the start
What leaders today struggle with the most
Top leadership myths we need to move away from

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Meet Scott Osman, 100 Coaches
(02:52) - Early Influencers
(03:59) - Leadership Coaching
(05:16) - Services
(06:38) - Match Craft
(09:19) - What He’s Learned From Both Sides of the Equation
(11:01) - Generosity
(12:13) - Defining Leadership
(13:07) - Flavors of Success
(15:37) - Role of Humility
(17:46) - Role of Corporate Purpose Today
(18:56) - Creating the Richest Cultures
(20:03) - Leadership Myth
(21:22) - Next Frontier for Leadership Growth
(22:57) - The Last Word
(23:31) - Wrap Up

Nike Is Coaching the Dream with Vanessa Garcia-Brito

TruStory FM — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0800

Sport has always been central to Nike’s identity, not just as a business, but as a force for human potential. This commitment extends to the social issues at the heart of youth athletics today, particularly surrounding keeping youth in sports and connected to physical activity and elevating the role of caring, well-equipped coaches. With young people today navigating unprecedented levels of stress and lack of physical activity, coaches play an invaluable role in providing community, restorative power, and safe spaces. Nike has been at the center of this work for decades, stemming from its belief that if you have a body, you’re an athlete—and that every athlete deserves access and the opportunity to thrive.

We invited Vanessa Garcia-Brito, Vice President and Chief Impact Officer at Nike, to share how Nike is reimagining the landscape of youth athletics and building purpose-driven programs. Vanessa unpacked the insights behind Nike’s “Coach the Dream” initiative, the importance of caring and culturally aware coaches, and why investing in girls’ coaching is non-negotiable for long-term impact. She also emphasized the role of partnerships, with organizations like Dove and Spotify, and in meeting girls where they are to dismantle barriers to participation. This episode offers a powerful blueprint for how a long-established, trusted brand has integrated purpose, community relevance, and business value to drive meaningful change.

Listen for insights on:

Building impact programs around what your company uniquely does best
Designing scalable tools for global activation
Establishing clear long-term goals with flexibility for real-time adaptation
Advice for young professionals looking to work in social impact

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Vanessa Garcia-Brito, Nike
(03:47) - About Vanessa
(04:51) - Early Influences
(07:02) - Chief Impact Officer
(07:53) - Superpower
(09:10) - Nike’s Purpose
(11:02) - Key Campaigns
(13:16) - If You Can See It, She Can Be It
(17:26) - Partnerships
(19:01) - Coaches
(19:53) - Coaching Girls Guide
(23:02) - Inspirational Story
(25:22) - Measurements
(27:53) - Advice for Colleagues
(29:27) - Advice for Young People
(31:10) - Last Word
(32:12) - Wrap Up

The Evolution of Goodvertising with Thomas Kolster

TruStory FM — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0800

Only a handful of companies were bold enough to connect their business to a deeper societal or environmental issue in the early days of purpose branding. These companies stood out precisely because they believed that brands could and should stand for more than profit. But the tide has shifted over the past two decades. Purpose became not just acceptable but expected, and suddenly everyone has a stance on the climate and community. But as this movement accelerated, so did its risks. In recent years, increasingly more prominent companies have taken a step back from their purpose commitments, leading consumers to wonder how purposeful they were to begin with. How can we know who to trust?

We invited Thomas Kolster, founder of Goodvertising and author of Goodvertising and The Hero Trap, to speak about how brands can navigate this increasingly complex landscape. He explores how purpose has evolved from a differentiator to a crowded and sometimes performative space. Thomas also shares personal reflections on authenticity, the dangers of purpose-washing, the pressure on legacy brands, and the growing backlash against woke messaging. This conversation is a provocative, clarifying conversation for leaders seeking to build and communicate their company’s purpose and impact efforts.

Listen for insights on:

Why bravery, and not perfection, is the most important brand trait today
Why companies should not position themselves as heroes
Building trust by enabling people to become better versions of themselves

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Thomas Kolster, Goodvertising
(04:17) - Early Influences
(06:52) - Epiphany
(09:23) - Which Came First?
(09:33) - His First Book
(13:16) - Act Responsible
(15:42) - State of Purpose Today
(18:41) - Consistency
(21:44) - Going Back to What Makes a Brand Loved
(23:58) - Ben & Jerry’s
(26:43) - Today’s Political Climate
(31:40) - Bravery
(34:36) - What’s Next?
(35:19) - AI in Purpose
(36:37) - Last Word
(37:26) - Wrap Up

The ROI of Purpose with Steve Rochlin

TruStory FM — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0800

The most prominent argument against purpose is that doing good doesn’t actually pay off at the bottom line. For decades, and throughout Carol Cone’s career, skeptics have dismissed purpose as a “soft” strategy that is good for reputation but not for financial returns. That misconception is what Impact ROI set out to challenge. Impact ROI’s Project ROI reports have published research that links purpose to profit. And with the release of the newest edition, there is now fresh data connecting purpose to financial value.

We invited Steve Rochlin, CEO of Impact ROI, to walk us through this new research and how it can be used to make the case to leaders focused on financial returns. From revealing how sustainability leaders can see up to a 36% boost in market value and a 57% reduction in employee turnover, to outlining the “Fit, Commit, Manage, and Connect” framework that defines high-performing purpose strategies, Rochlin offers a key strategies for organizations looking to align impact with performance.

Listen for insights on:

How to convince your CFO to champion purpose
How purpose-driven firms outperform peers in profitability and growth
Why doing good is the smartest growth strategy today

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Meet Steve Rochlin, Impact ROI
(03:23) - Steve’s Background
(05:33) - Project ROI 2015
(07:03) - Project ROI 2025
(09:52) - Key Findings and Data Points
(15:44) - Two to Three Key Points
(17:19) - Changing Minds
(19:17) - Fit, Commit, Manage, and Connect: Fit
(20:08) - Fit, Commit, Manage, and Connect: Commit
(21:42) - Fit, Commit, Manage, and Connect: Manage
(22:38) - Fit, Commit, Manage, and Connect: Connect
(24:25) - What to Do Next
(27:02) - Last Words
(29:14) - Wrap Up

The Power of Employee-Led Philanthropy with Lauren Coape-Arnold

TruStory FM — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Employee engagement is rapidly becoming one of the most powerful forces shaping corporate philanthropy today. And skilled volunteerism—where employees contribute their professional expertise to nonprofits—can transform both the organizations served and the employees themselves.

We invited Lauren Coape-Arnold, Executive Director of the Apollo Opportunity Foundation (AOF) and Global Head of Citizenship at Apollo Global Management, to speak about how AOF built a model that puts employees at the very heart of the company’s philanthropy. It empowers employees to nominate, evaluate, and partner with grantees, ensuring that they are engaged throughout the entire relationship—not just at the funding stage. Through cross-functional “deal teams,” employees apply their analytical, financial, and strategic skills to help nonprofits thrive, all while cultivating collaboration and leadership within Apollo’s culture. By structuring philanthropy around its people, AOF creates a cycle of giving and growth that benefits communities, strengthens performance, and deepens employees’ sense of meaning at work.

Listen for insights on:

Establishing relationships with grantees that go beyond check-writing
Building skilled volunteer programs employees actively want to join
Creating successful grant councils that bolster nonprofits and engage employees

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Lauren Coape-Arnold and Apollo Opportunity Foundation
(03:55) - Lauren’s Background
(06:33) - Apollo
(07:22) - Creating the Foundation
(09:32) - The Guardrails
(11:05) - Picking the Focus
(14:17) - Employee Focus
(17:04) - How It’s Done
(20:03) - Skills-Based
(20:47) - Deal Teams
(22:21) - Impact
(23:56) - Logistics
(24:56) - GAIN UK
(27:45) - Advice
(29:40) - Review Process
(30:44) - Integrating AI
(32:44) - Last Word
(33:53) - Wrap Up

Net Positive: The Courage to Lead for People and Planet with Paul Polman

TruStory FM — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0700

There are only five years until the 2030 deadline for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and the urgency for bold action has never been greater. Many companies are struggling to truly address the mounting crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequity. Now is the time for leaders and organizations to chart a path forward, ensuring their strategies and actions rise to meet the scale of the increasing challenges ahead.

In this special episode of Purpose 360, we revisit a powerful 2021 conversation with Paul Polman—former CEO of Unilever, UN SDG Advocate Emeritus, and co-author of the game-changing book, Net Positive. This re-edited version highlights timeless insights from Net Positive, which remains profoundly relevant today. Paul explores the qualities of courageous leaders, the importance of partnerships that drive systemic change, and how purpose-driven companies can outperform competitors while creating a better future for all. Whether you’re a CEO, a sustainability professional, or a changemaker at heart, this episode offers inspiration and practical guidance to help you lead with impact in today’s rapidly evolving world.

Listen for insights on:

Making the business case for sustainability when the moral argument isn’t enough
Engaging employees, partners, and your value chain in delivering on bold sustainability commitments
Becoming the courageous, purpose-driven leader needed to build and lead a net positive company

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Net Positive with Paul Polman
(03:56) - Paul’s Purpose
(06:03) - Net Positive Company
(06:56) - Leadership Traits
(08:46) - Starting with Team’s Personal Purpose
(10:20) - Partner to Win
(12:23) - Measurement
(15:12) - Employees
(16:36) - Return Equity
(18:09) - Embedding and Building Off Purpose
(20:40) - Three Important Things
(22:19) - Last Thoughts
(24:43) - Wrap Up

Defining and Shaping JUST AI With Martin Whittaker

TruStory FM — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Artificial intelligence has the power to reshape economies, societies, and our daily lives. But with its rapid rise comes an important question: how can we ensure AI is developed and applied ethically so that it serves humanity instead of harming it? Responsible use requires transparency, accountability, and inclusivity—but defining and implementing these is complex. JUST Capital, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing just business practices, is addressing this challenge by exploring what “just AI” looks like, while also giving both the public and companies a voice in shaping its future.

We invited Martin Whittaker, CEO of JUST Capital, to speak about how companies can responsibly navigate the opportunities and risks of AI. He highlighted the importance of aligning AI strategies with company values, building strong governance, and listening to stakeholders to guide ethical decision-making. Martin also shared insights from JUST Capital’s new research, which reveals a gap between companies acknowledging AI and those taking meaningful steps, such as workforce training and transparency. He ultimately challenges business leaders to reflect on what it means to be a truly human company in an AI-driven world while assuming the responsibility that comes with this technology.

Listen for insights on:

How AI layoffs may require new ethical standards and practices
Why company culture determines success in AI adoption and use
Lessons from early leaders like IBM and Boston Scientific
The growing role of investors in shaping AI accountability

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Martin Whittaker, JUST Capital, and AI
(03:33) - Who Is JUST Capital?
(04:26) - Describing Justness
(05:37) - Responsible AI
(09:18) - Early Measure of Just AI
(12:05) - Martin’s AI Usage
(13:42) - AI Use Principles
(15:51) - AI Study
(17:57) - What Stood Out
(22:37) - Adding AI Methodology
(25:20) - Advice for Companies Slow to Adopt AI
(27:31) - Last Thoughts
(29:08) - Can AI Replace Humanity in Business?
(30:50) - Wrap Up

Tackling Hunger Today, Preventing Hunger Tomorrow with Eric Bebernitz

TruStory FM — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Hunger is one of the most pressing challenges of our time—driven not only by a lack of food, but by inequality, conflict, climate change, and health crises. For more than 45 years, Action Against Hunger has been on the frontlines of addressing these interconnected issues. The organization works in nearly 60 countries, reaching over 21 million people annually through lifesaving nutrition programs, sustainable farming solutions, clean water systems, and innovations that help communities withstand future crises. Action Against Hunger is pioneering solutions that save lives today while tackling the root causes of hunger for tomorrow.

We invited Eric Bebernitz, Director of External Relations for Action Against Hunger, to elaborate on this critical work. With more than two decades of experience in humanitarian and social justice organizations, Eric brings a powerful perspective on what it takes to fight hunger in the most difficult contexts. Eric is joined by ~9,000 colleagues worldwide—95% of whom are from the countries where they work—ensuring that every effort is grounded in local knowledge and built for long-term resilience. They embody the belief that ending hunger isn’t just possible; it is one of the smartest investments we can make in a better future for all.

Listen for insights on:

Approaches to sustaining impact amid political and funding shifts
How to balance emergency aid with long-term change
Building trust and resilience in fragile communities through local leadership

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Action Against Hunger
(03:01) - Eric’s Background
(06:29) - World’s State of Hunger Today
(09:08) - Origin Story
(10:37) - Structure
(13:12) - Plumpy’Nut
(15:10) - Innovations
(20:35) - Addressing USAID Cuts
(26:00) - Personal Stories
(30:09) - Career Path
(32:25) - Last Word
(34:33) - Wrap Up

Mastercard Strive USA Is Strengthening Small Businesses

TruStory FM — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0700

In the years following the pandemic, the U.S. saw a historic surge in small business creation—a promising sign of entrepreneurial spirit and economic resilience. Yet, if historical trends continue, nearly half of these new businesses will fail within five years. Small businesses in rural communities face even steeper challenges, from lack of access to capital to limited digital tools and networks. And yet, the promise of small businesses is immense: they are powerful engines for economic mobility, creating pathways for families and individuals to build lasting financial stability and opportunity.

We invited Jonathan Fantini-Porter, Senior Vice President for the Americas at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, to talk about how the Center is working to change the trajectory for small business owners through Mastercard Strive USA. This bold initiative aims to unlock $50 billion in lending capital, reach five million small businesses, and strengthen ecosystems that enable them to thrive. With more than $46 billion in capital already unlocked and millions of businesses reached, Mastercard Strive USA is proving that when small businesses grow, communities grow with them.

Listen for insights on:

Designing scalable, systems-level solutions that align with business strategy
The power of data, technology, and AI in advancing inclusive economic development
Advice for early-career professionals seeking to grow in social impact and corporate sustainability roles

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Mastercard
(02:16) - Jonathan’s Background
(03:58) - Moving to Mastercard
(05:33) - Lessons from Parents
(08:58) - Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth
(10:47) - Setting the Goal
(13:06) - Strive USA
(15:45) - Rural America
(18:16) - Small Businesses
(20:12) - Integrating AI
(23:15) - Advice
(26:17) - Last Words
(29:54) - Wrap Up

Navigating CSR in a Time of Change

TruStory FM — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) professionals are facing unprecedented challenges—from the politicization of ESG, to executive orders targeting DE&I, to dramatic shifts in federal funding. The landscape is turbulent, the language is shifting, and the pressure to prove business value has never been higher. Yet, in this moment of uncertainty, many CSR professionals are finding the most value by turning to the CSR community for support and guidance. It’s organizations like the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP) where CSR professionals are finding a space to connect with peers, share practical tools and data, and stay focused on delivering impact in a rapidly changing environment.

We invited Andrea Wood, President and CEO of ACCP, to join Carol Cone for a wide-ranging conversation about the current and future state of CSR. Together, they unpacked key findings from ACCP’s sixth Annual CSR Insights Report, including how companies are reframing their language, refocusing on long-term strategies, and leaning into AI for both productivity and impact measurement. This conversation is a powerful reminder of how CSR leaders can evolve through adversity, and how ACCP is helping them chart the course today.

Listen for insights on:

Advice for rising and mid-career CSR professionals
Reframing strategies and language to align with evolving internal and external expectations
Connecting business priorities to community impact work for long-term success and continued funding

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Meet Andrea Wood from ACCP
(03:48) - Andrea’s Background
(06:33) - Working with Hubert Joly
(08:48) - Andrea’s Personal Purpose
(09:42) - Listening to Members
(10:39) - Members’ Concern
(14:23) - DEI and ESG
(17:29) - Issues Prioritized
(18:38) - The Use of AI
(20:40) - Best Buy Teen Tech Center
(22:31) - Measurement
(25:22) - Career Advice
(26:27) - Insights for Career Growth
(28:05) - Last Words
(29:20) - Wrap Up

Ford Philanthropy’s Roadmap for Greater Mobility

TruStory FM — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0700

From the moment Henry Ford put the world on wheels, Ford has stood for not just cars, but mobility. More than just helping people move from one place to another, Ford gives people the opportunity to reach and achieve more. That same ethos drives Ford Philanthropy today. Rebranded from the “Ford Fund” to reflect a deeper, more holistic commitment, Ford Philanthropy is using the company’s global reach and core strength of mobility to help people move forward not just in life—but on the road.

We invited Mary Culler, President of Ford Philanthropy, to share how her team is redefining what corporate giving looks like. From co-creating community centers to launching the “Building Together” initiative that connects Ford’s 3,000+ dealers and employee volunteers with national nonprofits, Ford is uniting its assets to deliver impact at scale. Whether through mobile health clinics or restoring Detroit’s historic Michigan Central Station as a beacon of innovation and equity, Ford Philanthropy is tackling one of the greatest barriers to equity: access. For any purpose-driven leader, the message is clear: legacy, when aligned with innovation and humility, can be one of the most powerful tools for change.

Listen for insights on:

Identifying philanthropic solutions in local communities
Mobilizing corporate assets beyond dollars
Evolve a legacy program into a modern philanthropy platform

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Mary Culler from Ford Philanthropy
(03:09) - Mary’s Background
(04:40) - Their Focus
(06:33) - Rebranding
(07:46) - Committed to America ad
(09:19) - The Stanton Story
(11:18) - Michigan Central Station
(13:42) - Building Together Initiative
(17:14) - Volunteerism
(18:27) - Building Together
(18:59) - Transportation Gap
(20:41) - Mobile Health
(21:14) - Deciding Where the Money Goes
(21:54) - Future of Philanthropy
(22:42) - Proving You’re Having an Impact
(23:47) - The Station
(24:30) - Last Word
(25:29) - Wrap Up

It’s Time to End Youth Homelessness

TruStory FM — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Bill Bedrossian was set on becoming a stockbroker. With a job lined up in Chicago’s financial district, he was focused on financial and professional success. But one afternoon, while walking to lunch, he stepped over a man experiencing homelessness without even noticing him. The man shouted after him, calling Bill out for his fancy suit and “little problems” while the homeless man was unable to get something to eat. Faced with another human just fighting to survive, Bill realized he had been preoccupied by things that, in the end, didn’t really matter. The encounter shook him. Weeks later, he left his career behind and enrolled in graduate school for social work.

Now CEO of Covenant House, Bill leads one of the most impactful organizations supporting youth experiencing homelessness. Founded in 1972, Covenant House provides shelter, support, and essential services to young people who have no safe place to call home—whether they’re aging out of foster care, escaping trafficking, navigating life as young parents, or surviving on the streets. Through powerful partnerships and programming, the organization serves tens of thousands of youth every year—helping them heal, gain stability, and build a future full of possibility.

Listen for insights on:

The impact of the affordable housing crisis
What it takes to end youth homelessness
Creating visceral experiences for donors

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Covenant House
(02:31) - Bill Bedrossian’s Background
(05:31) - Formative Moment
(08:09) - Covenant House Origins and Mission
(10:25) - Services Provided
(12:21) - Volunteers
(14:07) - The Scope
(14:51) - Insights for a Large Non-Profit
(16:05) - Guiding Principles
(19:57) - The Journey Home
(22:17) - Linden Commons
(25:14) - The Sleep Out
(27:15) - Partnerships
(29:09) - Favorite Story
(31:56) - Integrating AI
(33:05) - Last Word
(34:33) - Wrap Up

The Purpose Reset

TruStory FM — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0700

In The Purpose Reset, authors Rich Fernandez, Carolina Lasso, and Steph Stern offer a timely and refreshing approach to this show’s favorite topic: purpose. Drawing from decades of experience across the corporate, nonprofit, and coaching worlds, they reinforce an important way of thinking—that purpose isn’t a one-time discovery, but an evolving and continuous process.

We invited the authors to explore how this layered view of purpose creates resonance and alignment with employees and, ultimately, organizational success. They share practical tools, like mapping your “what, why, and who,” and creating shared team purpose statements that connect personal motivations to organizational goals. With examples ranging from courageous individuals to organizational leaders, the conversation reinforces that purpose isn’t about grandeur—it’s about small, continuous resets that keep us aligned with what matters. For anyone navigating change, leading teams, or just looking to reconnect with meaning in their work, The Purpose Reset offers a path forward grounded in curiosity, compassion, and clarity.

Listen for key insights on:

How to identify your personal purpose and true alignment
Creating a team purpose statement
Assessing your personal impact and opportunities
Reconnecting with purpose through small shifts, not big leaps

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - The Purpose Reset
(03:05) - Meet the Authors
(06:43) - Why ‘The Purpose Reset’?
(08:51) - The Napkin Story
(10:06) - Personal Purpose
(14:11) - The What, the Why, and the Who
(17:01) - Mindfulness
(18:14) - Silvia’s Story
(19:57) - Where We Are in the Movement
(22:49) - Purpose and Teams
(24:17) - Building the Culture
(27:37) - One Word
(28:15) - Last Word
(31:15) - Wrap Up

Packaging + Purpose + Profit Does Exist

TruStory FM — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Packaging is an undeniable part of daily life—from containers that store the food we eat and the products we use to the packages that arrive on our doorstep. This necessity plays a major role in one of the planet’s most pressing challenges: pollution. Packaging waste is clogging ecosystems and contributing to a health crisis that affects both people and the planet. As consumer demand for sustainable solutions grows, the packaging industry stands at a crossroads—one that calls for innovation, long-term thinking, and moral responsibility.

We invited Wes Carter, President of Atlantic Packaging, to explain how his family-owned company is creating a more sustainable future. Atlantic Packaging is proving that packaging, purpose, and profit can go hand in hand through initiatives like A New Earth Project and the company’s state-of-the-art Packaging Solution Center, where the company partners with major brands to design custom sustainable packaging for products. Equally committed to employee wellbeing, Atlantic Packaging embeds health into its employee culture through biometric screenings and holistic wellness programs, recognizing that human and environmental health are deeply connected.

In rethinking both packaging and purpose, Atlantic Packaging is building a legacy not just of innovation, but of stewardship, responsibility, and opportunity.

Listen for key insights on:

Building packaging solutions that are both brand-enhancing and planet-friendly
Embedding sustainability into business strategy through innovation and education
Creating holistic employee wellness programs rooted in physical, mental, and emotional health
How purpose, legacy, and personal values shape leadership and drive long-term impact

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Meet Wes Carter, Atlantic Packaging
(03:31) - Atlantic Packaging
(08:22) - Wes’ Purpose
(11:12) - Packaging Solution Center
(14:03) - Fishbone C-Clip
(15:15) - Health
(18:07) - A New Earth Project
(20:36) - Storytelling
(22:05) - Connections
(24:16) - Recommendations
(26:09) - Last Thoughts
(28:29) - Wrap Up

Giving It All Away for Good with Newman’s Own Foundation

TruStory FM — Tue, 20 May 2025 03:00:00 -0700

If you’ve ever put a Newman's Own salad dressing into your grocery cart, congratulations! You’ve made a charitable donation. That’s because Newman's Own Foundation owns the food company outright and directs 100% of profits to the foundation’s philanthropic initiatives. What began as actor Paul Newman’s holiday gift—homemade dressing in old wine bottles—has grown into a $600 million force for good. Guided by the late actor’s generosity, the foundation continues to give it all away, staying true to its founding mission to nourish and transform the lives of children who face adversity.

We invited Alex Amouyel, President and CEO of Newman’s Own Foundation, to talk about the foundation’s success and how it’s sharpening its focus, building strategic partnerships, and doubling down on impact measurement. She shares how Newman's Own Foundation is not only nourishing children but helping the entire philanthropic ecosystem thrive by funding resilience-building camps through the SeriousFun Children's Network, fighting for food justice in schools via grantees like FoodCorps, and launching initiatives like the “100% for Purpose Club.” This work goes far beyond philanthropy: “When you get the intersection right of aligning to your mission and to your superpowers, you are living your purpose.”

Listen for key insights on:

Impact measurement, monitoring, and evaluation
Leveraging influence and partnerships to multiply donation impact
Focusing philanthropic investments on a core mission to achieve greater success

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Meet Alex Amouyel, Newman's Own
(03:12) - Alex’s Background
(06:24) - Origins
(09:38) - Stories About Paul
(13:40) - SeriousFun Network
(16:28) - Response
(16:57) - Taking Stock
(19:35) - Measurement
(21:30) - Food Corps
(24:18) - Paul’s Hundredth Birthday
(25:06) - Other Programs
(27:40) - Living Your Purpose
(29:10) - In Three Years
(29:37) - Last Thoughts
(30:00) - Wrap Up

The Heart of Sustainable Business with Paul Polman

TruStory FM — Tue, 06 May 2025 03:00:00 -0700

In turbulent times marked by economic volatility, environmental breakdowns, and widespread distrust, what we’re experiencing may feel unprecedented—but we’ve been here before. And as Paul Polman reminds us in his milestone conversation with Carol Cone, we are not without a compass. Paul, the former CEO of Unilever, is one of today’s most respected voices in sustainable leadership. He joined the 200th episode of Purpose 360 not to sugarcoat the challenges, but to ground us in enduring truths.

Paul’s insights are rooted both in strategy and humanity. He speaks of sustainability as the “heart of business,” where values like dignity, compassion, and the Golden Rule are guiding principles. He urges leaders to develop their own “inner core” to build resilient businesses but also resilient selves—emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. And he reminds us that real leadership today means moving from “human doings” back to human beings. Business, he says, must be structured to serve—anchored in long-term purpose and in solidarity with both people and planet.

At its core, Paul’s message to leaders and companies is both visionary and deeply grounded. He challenges companies to stop whispering behind closed doors and instead step forward together with clarity, courage, and moral conviction. The future, he believes, belongs to those who act with heart. And in a world that often feels fractured, Paul’s voice is a steady reminder that it’s our shared humanity—and our willingness to serve others—that will lead us through.

Listen for key insights on why:

“Soft” values are the most strategic and essential
Business must serve humanity (not the other way around)
Successful leadership starts from within
Silence to political changes is not a neutral position

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Episode 200 with Paul Polman
(03:33) - About Paul
(05:56) - Personal Purpose
(08:13) - POV on What’s Happening Today
(11:08) - Optimistic Outlook
(13:34) - Being Authentic to Values
(15:12) - Pope Francis
(18:08) - Leaders
(22:15) - What to Do When Attacked on DEI or ESG
(25:21) - Moving the Boundaries
(28:16) - Role of Employees
(29:29) - Conscious Quitting Results
(30:57) - Role of Humanity
(33:22) - Last Thoughts
(35:39) - Wrap Up

Powering Resilience in the Face of Disasters

TruStory FM — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 03:00:00 -0700

With the frequency and intensity of natural disasters rising, companies are increasingly stepping up to play a role in relief and recovery. But while any financial aid is beneficial to and appreciated by responders and impacted communities, lengthy grant approvals, short-term funding, and rigid spending restrictions can unintentionally hinder responders instead of helping them.

We invited Amy Strecker, President of Duke Energy Foundation, to discuss how corporate foundations can best serve impacted communities after a disaster. Duke Energy Foundation is a leader in disaster response, prioritizing rapid aid, sustained recovery, and employee engagement. By fostering strong partnerships with local organizations and prioritizing both immediate relief and long-term rebuilding, Duke Energy Foundation ensures that communities are not just recovering—but emerging stronger and more resilient.

Disasters test the strength of communities, but they also reveal the power of collective action. Duke Energy Foundation’s approach demonstrates that when businesses step up with urgency, flexibility, and a long-term vision, they don’t just help communities rebuild—they help them thrive.

Listen for key insights on:

Grantmaking strategies for disaster response
Barriers a grant can create to a nonprofit organization and how to avoid creating them
Mobilizing employees—regardless of their role—in disasters
Building strong partnerships before disaster strikes

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Meet Amy Strecker from Duke Energy
(05:24) - The Foundation and Duke’s Purpose
(07:31) - Leadership During Hurricane Season
(10:39) - Supporting Grantees
(12:20) - Story
(14:30) - Working as a Whole Team
(16:49) - Line Worker Program
(18:54) - Integration
(20:33) - Hyperlocal
(21:40) - Wins Together
(22:40) - Being More Effective
(24:45) - Rural
(26:05) - Last Thoughts
(28:00) - Younger Generations
(29:07) - Wrap Up

A Defining Moment for Inclusion

TruStory FM — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 03:00:00 -0700

The momentum behind diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) came to an abrupt halt at the start of the year. DE&I initiatives once championed as a force for workplace equity and growth are now being condemned, sidelined, and stripped of their visibility—at least until political winds shift again. But at what cost?

We invited Margaret Spence, an expert and advocate for transformative and inclusive change, to discuss the cost of these reduced investments and what organizations can do to respond. Margaret motivates leaders to not focus on the term “DE&I,” but on what inclusion truly means for a culture, a workplace, and our collective future. Companies must shift from performative actions to unshakable and deeply embedded commitments that are designed to withstand political and economic turbulence.

Margaret reminds us that the next generation deserves better than what we are willing to give it today. It is up to all of us—companies, employees, and communities—to ensure that the workplaces of tomorrow do not regress but instead rise to meet the promise of true inclusion. The question is not whether DE&I will survive, but whether we are willing to fight for the future it represents.

Listen for key insights on:

Shifting language away from traditional DEI terms
How individuals—and not just corporations—can advance inclusion
The threat of AI to workplace equity

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Margaret Spence on DEI
(03:33) - Margaret’s Background
(05:24) - Her Purpose
(06:48) - Passion, Purpose, and Value
(08:23) - Challenges in Diversity
(11:41) - Fad with Shallow Roots
(13:06) - Current Landscape
(15:11) - Major Impacts
(16:17) - 25%
(18:15) - NYT Report
(20:27) - What Language to Use
(24:15) - What You Can Do
(25:46) - Those Standing Up
(27:35) - Dismantling Contracts
(28:09) - Last Thoughts
(31:39) - Wrap Up

Rapid Response When Disaster Strikes with Truist Foundation

TruStory FM — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0700

In 2020, the newly founded Truist Foundation was defining its philanthropic priorities when the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. The Foundation quickly pivoted to provide rapid response support, setting up an open grant application portal and deploying an initial $25 million—which later doubled to $50 million—to provide critical relief to communities hit the hardest. This approach not only solidified Truist Foundation’s commitment to community care but also laid the groundwork for how it would address future crises with urgency, empathy, and impact.

This strategy became crucial when Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina in 2024, leaving 250,000 homes impacted across 39 counties. Truist Foundation, alongside the broader company, responded with a $700 million commitment to long-term recovery in the region. From immediate essentials like water and supplies to innovative support like mobile showers for impacted residents, Truist ensured aid went beyond financial assistance.

We invited Lynette Bell, President of Truist Foundation, to discuss how Truist’s commitment to disaster relief has evolved since the pandemic, the lessons learned along the way, and how their work continues to uplift communities with care, dignity, and long-term support.

Listen for key insights on:

The benefit of rapid response philanthropy when disasters hit
How to adapt philanthropic strategy in real time to meet urgent community needs
How Truist Foundation’s work generates business value

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Truist Foundation's Lynette Bell
(02:45) - Lynette’s Background
(06:49) - The Name ‘Truist’
(08:16) - Developing Purpose
(09:04) - Heritage and Culture
(11:43) - Grant Focus
(14:32) - Humanity and Grace
(17:52) - Long-Term Commitment
(19:18) - Center for Disaster Philanthropy
(20:39) - Inspire Awards
(24:29) - ACCP 2023 Trailblazer Purpose Award
(24:57) - Creating Business Value
(25:38) - Last Words
(26:16) - Wrap Up

Investing in Sustainability-First Consumer Brands with The Craftory

TruStory FM — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Changemakers from One Young World Series

Host Carol Cone interviews Elio Leoni Sceti, co-founder of The Craftory, a mission-driven investment firm focused on responsible consumer packaged goods (CPG). Elio shares insights into The Craftory’s approach to funding purpose-led brands that embed sustainability and social impact at their core. He discusses the evolution of consumer consciousness, the challenges of scaling ethical brands, and the importance of integrating responsible practices into a company's DNA rather than treating them as a marketing afterthought. For young changemakers, he emphasizes the power of bold thinking, strategic focus, and perseverance in building businesses that drive meaningful impact.

This episode is part of our multi-episode series featuring some of the world’s most influential changemakers who attended the 2024 One Young World Summit, a global forum that brings together young leaders from 190+ countries to accelerate social impact.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - One Young World Series
(02:23) - Meet Elio Leoni Sceti
(03:39) - The Craftory
(06:31) - Purpose or Sustainability on the Label
(07:56) - Authenticity
(08:39) - Connecting
(10:09) - Categories
(12:00) - Identifying Potential
(13:15) - Great Examples
(14:43) - Consumers Today
(17:06) - Plastics Issue
(19:14) - Searching at One Young World
(19:53) - Providing Counsel
(21:58) - Last Word
(22:53) - Wrap Up

From Gold Medals to Championing Change with The Beast Foundation

TruStory FM — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0800

Changemakers from One Young World Series

Host Carol Cone interviews Tendai Mtawarira, also known as "The Beast," a renowned rugby player and gold medalist from South Africa. Tendai shares insights from his illustrious rugby career and his inspiring work with The Beast Foundation, which he founded to give back to the next generation. He discusses his commitment to empowering youth across Africa through education, sports, and leadership development, highlighting programs like "Lead Like a Girl," aimed at supporting young girls from marginalized communities.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(02:23) - Meet Tendai Mtawarira
(03:17) - Tendai’s Career
(04:37) - The Beast Foundation
(06:02) - Favorite Moments in the Foundation
(06:31) - Lead Like a Girl
(07:55) - For Sponsors
(08:58) - Current Partners
(10:00) - Advice and Reception
(11:02) - Lessons from Rugby
(13:47) - Suggestions for Young Listeners
(15:07) - Suggestions for Leaders
(16:33) - Last Thoughts
(17:28) - Wrap Up

Thorn’s Mission to End Online Child Exploitation

TruStory FM — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0800

Child sexual abuse online is a devastating global health crisis that has grown exponentially over the last decade. Thorn, a nonprofit focused on combating this crisis, reveals that the number of reported child sexual abuse files in the U.S. alone surged from 450,000 in 2004 to more than 90 million by 2022. This alarming increase highlights the urgency to address the pervasive and harmful impact of online predators, which will affect nearly 70% of youth by the time they finish high school. The need for robust technological interventions and awareness is more critical than ever to safeguard children in the digital age.

We invited Julie Cordua, CEO of Thorn, to discuss the nonprofit’s innovative approach, which combines technology and social research to create solutions that help detect and mitigate online child abuse. Julie emphasizes the importance of collaboration with tech platforms and the critical role of parental guidance in fostering safe online environments for children. Her insights shed light on the multifaceted efforts required by companies and parents to tackle this issue.

Listen for insights on:

How technological solutions are empowering tech companies to detect and combat online child sexual abuse
Practical advice on how to have open, non-judgmental conversations with children about online safety
Importance of collaboration between nonprofits, tech companies, policymakers, and communities to create a safer online environment for children

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Thorn
(02:28) - Julie Cordua’s Background
(04:28) - What Thorn Does
(06:58) - The Numbers
(08:32) - Example Story
(12:25) - Thorn’s Tools
(13:48) - Response
(15:42) - Advice for Parents
(19:21) - Practice Conversation
(22:32) - Regulatory Actions
(23:51) - Youth Innovation Council
(25:24) - NoFiltr
(26:37) - AI’s Impact
(29:42) - What’s Next
(31:51) - Staying Motivated
(34:19) - Last Thoughts
(36:14) - Wrap Up

The JUST 100 and What Americans Want from Business

TruStory FM — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0800

In today’s business landscape, companies are judged not just by their financial performance but by how well they meet the expectations of the public. People want businesses to pay fair wages, invest in their employees, support communities, and act with integrity. JUST Capital has spent the past decade tracking these expectations and measuring how well companies live up to them, ultimately creating a powerful framework for evaluating responsible business practices.

We invited Martin Whittaker, CEO of JUST Capital, to speak about the organization’s Americans’ Views on Business survey and the 2025 JUST 100 rankings. This year’s survey findings reveal that, despite political polarization, Americans agree that companies should create value for all stakeholders, including workers, customers, communities, and the environment. And with the JUST 100, Hewlett Packard Enterprise topped the JUST 100 list for the second year in a row, serving as a reminder that companies that prioritize stakeholder value are performing better in the market.

Listen for key insights on:

What to learn from the companies topping the 2025 JUST 100 list
Key trends on the growing demand for transparency, ethical decision-making, and worker investment
How corporate leadership is evolving in response to public expectations

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - JUST Capital
(03:42) - Martin’s and JUST Capital’s Background
(07:15) - Getting Feedback
(10:34) - 2025 JUST 100 Winner
(11:44) - Top 3
(13:02) - Leadership and Culture
(15:42) - Navigating Today’s Complex World Justly
(18:31) - Working Hard on Purpose
(21:03) - Surprisingly Robust
(21:36) - Just Investments
(25:13) - Last Word
(28:21) - Wrap Up

Corporate Purpose in a Post-Election U.S.

TruStory FM — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0800

In today’s polarized political climate, companies are facing an increasingly complex challenge: how to navigate Americans’ diverse and contrasting beliefs. With a new presidential administration now in place, businesses are grappling with whether to step up involvement, stay quiet about social impact initiatives, or even scale back. The latest research from Carol Cone ON PURPOSE and The Harris Poll offers insights into the American public’s evolving expectations for corporate purpose.

We invited Wendy Salomon and Charlie Spinale from The Harris Poll to discuss the new research alongside host Carol Cone. With nearly half of Americans saying companies should take a larger role in social issues under the new administration, Salomon, Spinale, and Cone share recommendations for how companies can advance progress for authentic social issues. With these research insights, companies can navigate the fine line between action and overreach, fostering trust and driving societal impact in a way that unites rather than divides.

Listen for key insights on:

Why mental health is a top priority, and the role companies can play through policies, resources, and supportive workplace cultures.
Why caring for seniors is a key issue for employees, consumers, and communities and how companies can address these concerns.
The importance of engaging thoughtfully and how to avoid generic proclamations and instead focus on actionable initiatives that reflect a company’s values.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Harris Poll and CCOP Research
(02:48) - Meet Wendy and Charlie
(03:37) - Wendy’s Background
(04:26) - Charlie’s Background
(05:26) - Methodology
(07:21) - First Major Finding
(09:02) - Breaking Down Segmentation
(11:41) - What to Support
(13:59) - Health and Wellbeing
(19:03) - Political Gap
(21:31) - A Longer View
(22:52) - Other Recommendations
(26:53) - Last Thoughts
(29:54) - Wrap Up

2025 Purpose Predictions

TruStory FM — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0800

Every year, we consult with the leading voices in social impact, purpose, and sustainability and ask that they share their predictions for what lies ahead in 2025. From technological advancements and evolving corporate responsibilities to a new U.S. presidential administration and cut-backs in DEI investments, these experts share their perspectives on the future of purposeful work.

We invited Justina Nixon-Saintil, Chief Impact Officer at IBM; Martin Whittaker, CEO of JUST Capital; Caryl Stern, Managing Director at LionTree; and Jennifer Lawson, CEO of Keep America Beautiful, to share their predictions for 2025. Each brings a unique perspective shaped by their experience in social impact, corporate responsibility, and sustainability. Together, they explore the challenges and opportunities ahead, including how purpose-driven organizations can create meaningful change in the new year.

Listen for insights on:

AI’s transformative potential to improve education, community engagement, and nonprofit work
Why it’s urgent that businesses move beyond superficial commitments
Disability inclusion as a critical aspect of DEI
How collective action can help address environmental issues

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - 2025 Purpose Predictions
(01:55) - Justina Nixon-Saintil
(03:29) - AI and Purpose
(06:53) - Advice
(08:43) - Important Social Issues
(11:01) - Last Word
(11:59) - Martin Whittaker
(12:13) - Social Issues in a Trump Administration
(14:28) - Advice
(16:07) - Going Backward?
(18:40) - Engagement
(20:42) - Last Word
(22:25) - Caryl Stern
(23:41) - People with Disabilities
(25:23) - Advice
(27:56) - Challenges
(29:21) - Last Word
(30:51) - Jenny Lawson
(32:28) - Opportunities
(33:47) - Advice
(35:00) - Hands-On Volunteerism
(36:09) - Important Social Issues
(37:19) - Roles in a Trump Administration
(38:13) - Last Word
(39:10) - Wrap Up

A Call to Action for Global Changemakers with United Way Worldwide

TruStory FM — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0800

Changemakers from One Young World Series

Host Carol Cone interviews Angela F. Williams, President and CEO of United Way Worldwide, at the One Young World Summit in Montreal. Angela shares her dynamic career journey, spanning roles as an Air Force Judge Advocate, federal prosecutor, and nonprofit leader. She highlights United Way's transformative efforts, including its new global app, thrHIVEr, aimed at mobilizing young professionals to drive community impact. Angela discusses her vision for empowering changemakers, addressing urgent global issues like education and period poverty, and preparing the next generation of leaders through initiatives like the Next Gen Leaders program.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(02:24) - Meet Angela F. Williams, United Way Worldwide
(02:46) - Angela’s Background
(04:30) - Why at OYW
(08:31) - Where the Funds Go
(11:38) - Time to Develop
(12:30) - Advice for Young Leaders
(13:16) - Advice for Leaders
(15:15) - Important Social Issues
(17:34) - 5 Year Goals
(19:20) - AI in a Purpose-Driven World
(20:47) - Last Word
(21:49) - Wrap Up

Tackling Preventable Health Crises with Project Oscar

TruStory FM — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0800

Changemakers from One Young World Series

Host Carol Cone delves into the inspiring story of Project Oscar, a transformative initiative combating neonatal jaundice to prevent life-altering conditions. We invited Oscar Anderson, disability activist and the project’s inspiration, and strategic partners Patty O’Hayer from Reckitt and Her Excellency Toyin Saraki of The Wellbeing Foundation Africa. They discuss the project's global impact, including providing phototherapy lightboxes to rural hospitals in Vietnam and launching an inspiring program in Nigeria to combat jaundice. Listeners will gain insights into the power of purpose-driven partnerships, the importance of disability rights, and actionable steps to address preventable healthcare issues worldwide.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(02:23) - Project Oscar
(04:06) - Jaundice
(14:49) - It’s Evolution
(20:07) - Developing the Relationship
(24:33) - Advice
(25:19) - Finding Something Special
(32:18) - Light for Life
(33:02) - Wrap Up

Mentorship that Matters with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

TruStory FM — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0800

Every day mentorship transforms lives by opening doors for young people to reach their full potential. Yet, many overlook the profound impact that just one positive adult connection can have in empowering youth and strengthening communities. This is where Big Brothers Big Sisters of America steps in—bringing mentorship to the forefront of social change.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America connects youth nationwide with caring adult mentors who guide and inspire them. Through intentional matching and strong partnerships, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America supports mentorship programs in over 5,000 communities across the U.S., creating real opportunities for youth to thrive.

We invited Artis Stevens, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, to share his journey, from leading the organization to how he leverages partnerships to expand mentorship’s impact. Through collaborations with organizations like Macy's and the NFL, Artis is bringing national attention to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America’s mission and creating new avenues for people to get involved in mentorship.

Listen for insights on:

Distributing large philanthropic gifts to drive lasting, organization-wide impact
Fostering partnerships that generate widespread awareness and support for the organization’s mission
The transformational value of and growing need for more mentors

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Big Brothers Big Sisters
(02:04) - What Artis is passionate about
(04:45) - Mentoring
(08:28) - Littles and Bigs
(11:20) - Results
(13:29) - Being a Catalyst
(20:10) - Partners
(24:51) - Favorite Story
(28:09) - Purpose in an AI-Driven World
(29:56) - Last Thoughts
(31:32) - Wrap Up

Personal Purpose in the Fight for Climate and Health Equity with One Young World Ambassadors

TruStory FM — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0800

Changemakers from One Young World Series

Host Carol Cone talks with Katie Hodgetts and Dr. Adewumi Babatunde Enoch, two impactful leaders from the One Young World Summit, to discuss how personal purpose drives meaningful environmental and social change. Katie, founder of The Resilience Project, shares her journey in climate activism, emphasizing the need to support young leaders in addressing climate anxiety and burnout. Adewumi, a public health advocate from Nigeria, discusses his work with Quinta Healthcare, focusing on women’s health equity through cancer screenings and education. Together, they explore how personal motivations fuel resilience and how cultivating purpose can address pressing global challenges in both health and climate action.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:06) - One Young World Series
(02:25) - Katie Hodgetts
(03:12) - Climate Change
(05:21) - Resilience Project
(08:27) - Finding and Engaging
(10:03) - Mental Health Anxiety Around the World
(10:49) - Social Media Exacerbation
(12:00) - Workshops
(13:45) - The Idea
(15:25) - Personal Purpose
(16:52) - Fueled by Anger
(17:27) - The Power of Social Connectedness
(18:45) - Have More Climate Anxiety
(20:03) - Dr. Adewumi Babatunde Enoch
(21:34) - The Summit
(23:06) - Quinta Healthcare’s Focus
(25:10) - Scaling the Work
(26:26) - The Summit
(27:56) - Sponsors
(29:39) - Advice
(31:03) - Wrap Up

Tackling the Roots of the Refugee Crisis with Per Heggenes

TruStory FM — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0800

Changemakers from One Young World Series

Host Carol Cone interviews Per Heggenes, former CEO of the IKEA Foundation, on his commitment to empowering refugees and addressing the global issues causing an increase in refugees, such as climate change and poverty. Per shares insights from his tenure, highlighting successful organizational and governmental programs and policies. Per also encourages young leaders to push for impactful change, asserting that businesses can be both profitable and purpose-driven, aligning with the values of today’s conscious consumers.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Per Heggenes
(02:22) - Per Heggenes’ Background
(04:00) - Per’s Time at IKEA
(05:40) - Foundation’s Focus
(08:43) - Programs
(11:19) - One Young World Board
(12:51) - Refugees
(18:12) - Canada’s Success
(20:51) - Applying AI
(23:00) - Advice for Young People
(25:08) - Advice to Leaders
(27:01) - Wrap Up

Safeguarding Water through Youth-Driven Solutions with One Young World Ambassadors

TruStory FM — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 03:00:00 -0700

Changemakers from One Young World Series

Host Carol Cone speaks with two inspiring changemakers: Annie Lu, co-founder of H2Ok Innovations, and Rebecca Daniel, founder of The Marine Diaries. Annie discusses how her company uses AI and sensor technology to make manufacturing more sustainable by optimizing processes and reducing waste, water, and energy consumption. Rebecca highlights critical issues like climate change and overfishing and discusses how The Marine Diaries connects people with ocean science through storytelling and immersive experiences. Together, they offer valuable insights into the intersection of technology, environmental sustainability, and youth-driven solutions.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Annie Lu
(02:24) - About Annie
(03:12) - H2Ok
(05:24) - The Client
(05:58) - Example
(08:06) - Savings
(08:45) - Germination
(11:53) - Youth in This Space
(14:02) - Advice
(15:58) - Rebecca Daniel
(16:13) - About Rebecca
(16:58) - Marine Diaries
(19:05) - Ocean Issues
(19:33) - Coral Bleaching
(22:35) - Other Ocean Challenges
(24:10) - Awards
(25:58) - Mentors
(27:48) - Getting Into Conservation
(29:06) - Connecting with Rebecca
(29:30) - Sponsorship
(30:28) - Last Word

Global Challenges and AI Solutions with One Young World Ambassadors

TruStory FM — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0700

Changemakers from One Young World Series

Host Carol Cone speaks with three inspiring young leaders—Abideen Olasupo, Lillian Olivia Orero, and Gitanjali Rao—about their impactful work in harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence for social innovation. Abideen, co-founder of FactCheckAfrica, talks about combating misinformation in Nigeria through community engagement and fact-checking. Lillian, a gender and technology lawyer and founder, discusses her work with SafeOnline Women Kenya addressing online safety for women and girls. Gitanjali, an MIT student and innovator, shares her efforts in empowering students globally through innovation workshops. The conversation highlights the role of AI in advancing their missions and the importance of collaboration and empathy in driving positive social change.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - One Young World
(02:22) - Artificial Intelligence
(02:50) - Introductions
(08:54) - Audiences
(19:32) - Reaching Out
(22:52) - Entrepreneurial Advice
(25:23) - Finding Partners
(27:18) - Wrap Up

Courageous Leadership for a Net Positive Future with Paul Polman

TruStory FM — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0700

Changemakers from One Young World Series

In this debut episode, the first in an exclusive series from the One Young World Summit, Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever and co-author of Net Positive, joins host Carol Cone to discuss the urgent need for courageous leadership in today’s world. Paul shares insights on how businesses must adopt regenerative, restorative practices to address climate change and inequality, and how young leaders are key to driving this transformation. He also explores how companies can move beyond corporate social responsibility to embrace a "net positive" approach, where they give back more than they take.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - One Young World • Paul Polman
(03:04) - Book Update
(04:59) - Most Important Question Asked at Conference
(06:03) - Purpose Progress
(07:48) - Being More Courageous
(09:58) - Gen Z Leaders
(11:25) - Wrap Up

20 Years of Inspiring Better Futures with PNC

TruStory FM — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0700

In 2004, the PNC Foundation was faced with a challenge: it had focused grantmaking on meeting the unique needs of the communities in the company’s 12 markets. While this enabled custom solutions to local challenges, the PNC Foundation struggled to clearly articulate the impact its philanthropy was driving.

Recognizing the need to align grantmaking with one cause, the PNC Foundation first turned to employees for input. Overwhelmingly, employees expressed a passion for early childhood education. This led to the launch of PNC Grow Up Great, a $500 million, multi-year, bilingual initiative aimed at preparing children from birth to age five for success in school and life. Fast forward to today, Grow Up Great is celebrating its 20th anniversary, having positively impacted more than 10 million children through grants and educational programs across the U.S.

We invited Sally McCrady, Chair and President of the PNC Foundation, to share how Grow Up Great has sustained lasting impact over two decades. She highlighted the program’s strategic direction, driven by strong leadership engagement, active employee volunteerism, and a commitment to asking, “Is this going to help children?” By staying true to this mission and fostering a culture of service, Grow Up Great has become a powerful force for early childhood education, inspiring long-term success both within PNC and in the communities it serves.

Listen for insights on:

Managing a philanthropic initiative so it remains relevant and impactful
Working alongside and supporting partners in growing their capabilities and offerings
Engaging employees through skills-based volunteerism

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - PNC • Sally McCrady
(02:41) - About Sally and PNC
(04:57) - Genesis of PNC Grow Up Great
(09:59) - Volunteerism
(13:19) - Structure
(16:05) - Recruiting
(17:24) - What’s Next?
(20:44) - Long Term
(22:40) - Structural Elements
(26:16) - Flash Funding
(26:59) - Purpose in an AI-Driven World
(28:24) - Last Thoughts
(29:29) - Wrap Up

The Secret to Lasting Philanthropy with the My Special Aflac Duck®

TruStory FM — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0700

Aflac is proving that a well-crafted philanthropic initiative can thrive by continuously adapting to the evolving needs of those it serves. Launched in 2018 as part of Aflac’s Childhood Cancer Campaign, My Special Aflac Duck® is a soft and cuddly companion that was designed to support children undergoing cancer treatment by helping them prepare for medical procedures, express their emotions, and engage in distraction therapy. Created with input from child life specialists and psychologists, My Special Aflac Duck® offers a range of interactive features—from medical play accessories to calming Soundscapes—all aimed at making a child’s journey through treatment more manageable.

Aflac’s commitment to My Special Aflac Duck® has not waned since the initiative’s launch. Instead, Aflac has continued to distribute the medical companion to pediatric cancer patients (at no cost to them) and has evolved it to support children with sickle cell disease, another population facing long, difficult treatments.

We invited two Aflac executives who worked on the duck’s development to speak to the program’s success and evolution: Jon Sullivan, Director of Corporate Communications, and Buffy Swinehart, Senior Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility. They share insights on how companies can sustain and grow their social impact efforts and remain true to their mission while making a real difference.

Listen for insights on:

How to pitch philanthropic opportunities to a CEO
Developing a public and philanthropic initiative that can stand up to scrutiny in public relations
The importance of grounding philanthropic initiatives in data and research

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Aflac
(02:02) - Meet Jon and Buffy
(06:01) - MSAD's Origin Story
(10:12) - Describing the Duck
(15:28) - Initial Rollouts
(19:53) - Sickle Cell Duck
(21:23) - Other Innovations
(22:44) - Research and Credibility
(24:43) - Stories
(27:50) - Advice for Authentic Ideas
(33:23) - Purpose in an AI-Driven World
(34:10) - Last Thoughts
(36:05) - Wrap Up

A Match Made from a Shared Vision with Whirlpool Foundation and The Washing Machine Project

TruStory FM — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0700

Sixty percent of the global population handwashes their clothing in rivers, streams, and buckets. While living and volunteering in a remote village in India, Nav Sawhney witnessed firsthand the immense burden this chore placed on women like his neighbor Divya. Determined to find a solution, Nav returned to the UK, founded The Washing Machine Project (TWMP), and created the manual "Divya" washing machine. However, TWMP faced challenges scaling its impact to reach more people who desperately needed it.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the Whirlpool Foundation had developed a similar off-grid manual washing machine, recognizing that this same laborious task deepens social inequities and stunts personal advancement. With the vast resources of Whirlpool engineers, the Foundation was well-equipped to produce these machines yet struggled to find an effective distribution method.

The subsequent, serendipitous collaboration between TWMP and the Whirlpool Foundation is yielding incredible impact at scale. We invited Nav Sawhney, Founder of TWMP, and Deb O'Connor, Managing Director of the Whirlpool Foundation, to speak about the origin of their "one plus one equals three" relationship, their human-centric approach to Whirlpool employee engagement, and the significant “unlock” their work together will have on women and girls worldwide, including Nav’s friend Divya and her family.

Listen for insights on:

The “Washing Divide” and its impact on inhibiting economic growth and social inequality
Introducing employees to a social issue and inviting them to be part of the solution
Balancing empathy and action when working directly with beneficiaries

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Whirlpool
(02:55) - Meet Deb and Nav
(05:44) - Washing Machine Project
(06:41) - First Reaction
(09:04) - Global Washing Divide
(10:22) - Design
(12:37) - The Name
(16:37) - Kolams
(17:39) - Insights to These Relationships
(18:44) - Employee Involvement
(19:53) - Committment
(21:13) - Reception
(23:27) - Number of Machines
(24:35) - Purpose in an AI-Driven World
(25:56) - Final Thoughts
(27:42) - Wrap Up

Banking on a Sustainable Future with Walden Mutual Bank

TruStory FM — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0700

Every day, we make small decisions to lead more sustainable lives. These choices reflect a growing awareness of the impact humans have on the planet. Yet when it comes to banking, many overlook the influence our choice of financial institution can have on the environment and in our communities. Where we choose to save and invest our money can align with—or work against—our personal values. This is where Walden Mutual Bank comes in, offering an opportunity to make a more conscious and positive impact through everyday financial choices.

Walden Mutual Bank is driven by a mission to support the sustainable growth of local communities. The bank offers consumer savings accounts, grow local accounts, and CDs which fund loans for local sustainable food, farm, and community businesses across New England and New York, enabling customers to contribute to a healthier, more resilient regional economy.

We invited Charley Cummings, Founder and CEO of Walden Mutual Bank, to share his insights on building a reputable banking institution in a mutual structure and how it has successfully funded underrepresented borrowers—all while supporting a sustainable regional economy.

Listen for insights on:

How traditional business can implement a mutual structure
How this funding approach enables businesses with distinct ecological priorities to secure specialized loans
Serving underrepresented businesses and borrowers

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Walden Mutual Bank with Charley Cummings
(02:33) - Charley’s Background
(06:23) - Investors
(12:02) - Stories of Beneficiaries
(17:42) - Risk and Relationships
(22:02) - More Loan Data
(23:59) - Depositors
(26:17) - Long-Term Vision
(29:11) - Customer Base
(29:47) - The Banking Industry
(31:31) - Last Thoughts
(33:53) - Wrap Up

You’re Invited to the Greatest American Cleanup with Keep America Beautiful

TruStory FM — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0700

In 2026—two years from now—the United States will celebrate its 250th birthday, making it the perfect time to show America some love by sprucing up neighborhoods across the country. Since 1953, the nonprofit Keep America Beautiful has been inspiring and working alongside people nationwide to beautify their communities.

Keep America Beautiful is inviting everyone to join the Greatest American Cleanup. In addition to calling upon individuals, families, clubs, and community groups, Keep America Beautiful is rallying 25,000 local governments and leaders across the country to commit to a declaration of independence from litter, calling on everyone to plant trees, clean up litter, and improve recycling practices. Importantly, this effort transcends party lines, bringing people together in a time of political divisiveness to pursue a common goal.

We invited Jennifer Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, to introduce the Greatest American Cleanup and share how the organization will inspire people to contribute to a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful country.

Listen for insights on:

How you can get involved in the Greatest American Cleanup
Maintaining relevance and impact as a nonprofit for 70+ years
Positioning and leading an organization that transcends partisan divides

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Keep America Beautiful
(04:08) - Jenny Lawson’s Back Story
(05:48) - KAB’s Purpose and Legacy
(06:49) - Misperceptions
(08:39) - Vision
(09:40) - Being Purple
(11:13) - Getting Outside
(12:42) - America’s 250th Birthday Plans
(15:29) - Companies Involved
(17:10) - MLK Corridors
(18:55) - Overall Drivers
(21:20) - Keeping It Relevant Over Time
(25:17) - Looking Forward
(26:15) - Action Steps
(28:13) - AI and Purpose
(28:52) - Last Thoughts
(29:25) - Wrap Up

The New Face of Sports is Embracing Purpose

TruStory FM — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0700

The COVID-19 pandemic forced a reevaluation of many aspects of society, and the sports industry was no exception. Deemed "non-essential," professional sports and recreational activities ground to a halt — in one instance, in the middle of a professional game. This classification served as a wake-up call: if sports wanted to remain relevant, it would need to evolve and adapt.

We invited Neill Duffy, Chief Executive & Founder at 17 Sport, the world’s first sports impact company operating at the intersection of sport, business, and purpose, to discuss this necessary evolution and how industry leaders have driven progress. Neill highlights the transformative potential of the sports industry, noting examples of how athletes, sporting goods companies, and events like the Olympics and Paralympics are driving social and environmental progress. From breaking barriers for underrepresented groups to incorporating sustainable practices at major events, the industry is showing that it can be a catalyst for positive change.

Listen for insights on:

Progress and impact from the International Olympic Committee’s Agenda 2020+5
Sustainability planning ahead of the Paris Olympics
The evolution of storytelling in sports activation
Specific examples of sporting events and companies embracing social and environmental strategies

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - 17 Sport • Neill Duffy
(02:42) - Neill’s Background
(04:28) - Why 17 Sport?
(05:05) - Definition of Purpose
(05:40) - Olympics
(07:51) - Purpose and the IOC
(12:46) - Accelerating the Shift
(14:40) - Who’s Leading
(16:42) - SuperBowl
(21:19) - 17 Sports Initiatives
(26:36) - The Athletes
(28:57) - Behind the Athletes
(30:44) - Lightning Round
(32:31) - Last Thoughts
(33:14) - Wrap Up

Making a Difference On and Off the Field with ESPN

TruStory FM — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0700

Countries around the world are anticipating the start of the Paris Olympics, a celebration of the unifying power of sports.

For many, an introduction to sports begins at a young age. From participating in a sport to watching games with family, sports plays a pivotal role in shaping youth, teaching invaluable life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and resilience and encouraging healthy lifestyles through active play. But unfortunately, children are dropping out of sports at alarming rates. Not only does this impact their lifelong health, but it influences whether children will grow up to become sports fans.

We invited Kevin Martinez, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship at ESPN, to highlight programs central to ESPN’s mission to serve sport fans anytime, anywhere. Kevin discusses several of ESPN’s programs, including Don't Retire, Kid; Foundation V; and ESPN’s partnership with Special Olympics, and highlights ESPN’s aim to support and nurture both athletes and fans, reinforcing the idea that sports are for everyone.

Listen for insights on:

The business and community value of investing in sports
Business areas that corporate citizenship professionals need to be aware of to expand their impact and make the business case for social impact
Maintaining connections and communication with other corporate citizenship professionals to drive greater overall impact

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - ESPN's Kevin Martinez
(02:02) - Kevin’s Background
(05:07) - Intuition
(07:47) - Sports
(08:59) - ESPN’s Purpose
(10:23) - Programmatic Work
(13:41) - Kids in Sports
(17:33) - Equity in Sports
(21:21) - Olympics
(23:16) - Last Thoughts
(25:56) - Purpose and AI
(28:50) - Wrap Up

Mobilizing the Power of Purpose with StrawberryFrog

TruStory FM — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0700

What does purpose have to do with movements? StrawberryFrog, a movement marketing agency, were faced with this question when clients came to them with a purpose statement but were unsure how to activate it. This led to a pivotal realization: purpose activation is essentially a movement, where a group of people rally around a shared purpose to drive change.

Inspired, StrawberryFrog decided to enter the purpose field, focusing on mobilizing employees and consumers around a purpose, in addition to conducting innovative research. Their primary research tool, the first-of-its-kind Purpose Power Index (PPI), empirically measures how well companies activate purpose at the core of their business. The PPI reveals key insights, from what drives purpose to how it enhances employee engagement and retention.

We invited Chip Walker, Head of Strategy, to share key insights from StrawberryFrog’s work and research with purpose, highlighting the transformative power of purpose and showing that, when companies move beyond merely defining their purpose to actively living it, they can ignite powerful internal and external change.

Listen for insights on:

The primary drivers of purpose
Purpose’s role on an employee’s hierarchy of needs
Key purpose gaps at organizations
Strategies for measuring purpose internally and externally

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - StrawberryFrog
(02:47) - Chip’s Background
(05:04) - Movement Marketing
(07:22) - Relationship with Work
(07:42) - Favorite Client
(10:51) - Purpose, Merger, and New Brand
(12:51) - Internal Activation
(16:55) - Purpose Power Index
(22:05) - Metrics
(25:38) - Purpose Gap
(27:20) - Measurement
(29:31) - Convincing the C-Suite
(30:43) - Purpose in an AI World
(32:35) - Last Word
(34:33) - Wrap Up

Unlocking Workforce Neurodiversity with Ultranauts

TruStory FM — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0700

Even with a supportive family and access to quality education, opportunities for meaningful and inclusive work can be scarce for people with disabilities once they reach adulthood. The transition from school to the workforce is often overlooked, exposing a systemic failure to provide equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of cognitive or physical ability.

Ultranauts, a company born from a recognition that cognitive diversity could lead to strategic business success, embodies the transformative power of leveraging neurodiversity in the workforce. The company’s approach defies conventional hiring practices by prioritizing abilities over society’s perceived limitations. By recognizing the unique talents inherent in neurodiverse individuals, Ultranauts not only addresses a glaring market gap and conducts a profitable technology company (with a Net Promoter Score of 100), but has also pioneered a model of inclusive employment for other companies to implement.

We invited Rajesh Anandan, Co-Founder of Ultranauts, to discuss the company’s founding and how its model has proven to be effective for both employees and customers, proving that inclusion isn't just a buzzword, but a strategic imperative for business success.

Listen for insights on:

The business value of cognitive diversity in work teams
Misconceptions that burden neurodiverse adults
Strategies to drive greater inclusion between employees, regardless of cognitive diversity

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Ultranauts • Rajesh Anandan
(03:14) - Meet Rajesh
(10:03) - Mission
(11:01) - What Is Neurodivergent?
(12:13) - Hiring Using Cognitive Diversity
(13:33) - Key Benefits
(15:50) - Customers
(17:40) - Why Hire Neurodivergent Persons?
(19:16) - Universal Workplace
(27:39) - Last Word
(32:00) - Wrap Up

The Value of Values with Daniel Aronson

TruStory FM — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0700

Does acting on values hurt the bottom line? According to Daniel Aronson, Founder and CEO of Valutus, the answer is no—in fact, the converse is true. In his new book, The Value of Values, Daniel shows that making ethical choices can actually increase a company's profits and competitive advantage, often without much extra cost or risk.

Using research and real-world examples, Daniel explains that the true business value of ethical actions—like taking strong steps to fight climate change, supporting job seekers, or creating an inclusive workplace—is higher than most people think. He finds that these actions can bring returns four to ten times greater than expected.

Daniel joins host Carol Cone to talk about The Value of Values and how the book can help business leaders improve profits, gain customers, and advance their careers by making ethical choices. This book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to lead with integrity in today’s business world.

Listen for insights on:

Three primary perceived obstacles to investing in values
Quantifying values-driven investments for customers, operations, risk reduction, and employees
Steps to take as a sustainability employee to bring concrete and relevant data to the CFO

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Value of Values Book with Daniel Aronson
(02:36) - Daniel and Valutus
(04:28) - Why Write It?
(07:13) - Eureka Moment
(08:32) - Showing There Was Value
(10:18) - Submerged Value
(12:12) - List of Submerged Values
(14:30) - Proving the Submerged Value
(15:29) - Financial Outcomes
(17:54) - The Values Are Left Off Spreadsheets
(20:00) - Why Quantify Values
(21:29) - Daniel’s Favorite Case
(24:49) - Response
(25:36) - Making the Case for Values
(28:10) - Optimism / Pessimism
(30:01) - Last Thoughts
(31:14) - Purpose and AI

“The Profiteers” with Christopher Marquis

TruStory FM — Tue, 21 May 2024 02:00:00 -0700

We are facing a tragedy of the commons — and have been for a while. At worst, businesses are taking advantage of the planet and society and aren’t holding themselves fully responsible for the damage they are doing. When companies release excessive carbon into the air or keep wages low, the resulting environmental damage and societal burdens are paid for by the average citizen and the taxpayer.

Christopher Marquis explores this reality in his new book, The Profiteers. He explains the systemic issues underlying today's most pressing global challenges, from climate change to inequality, shedding light on the ways in which businesses privatize gains while socializing costs. But at the heart of Marquis's work lies a call to action for leaders across sectors to embrace a new vision of business. The Profiteers serves not only as a wake-up call to the inherent flaws of our current system but provides a roadmap for a more sustainable and equitable future.

We invited Christopher Marquis, Cambridge University professor and author of other books (including Mao and Markets: The Communist Roots of Chinese Enterprise and Better Business: How the B Corp Movement Is Remaking Capitalism), to discuss how The Profiteers exposes the hidden toll of environmental damage, low wages, and systemic discrimination, calling for a paradigm shift in business practices.

Listen for insights on:

The exploitation of the “the commons” by businesses
How governance alignment can help corporate sustainability efforts succeed
Examples of creative thinking that led to social and environmental innovation

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:05) - The Profiteers Book
(03:09) - Chris’ Background
(06:09) - Book’s Genesis
(09:27) - The Problem
(14:28) - Public Commons – Who Pays the Costs?
(16:20) - Regulation
(17:41) - Danone
(20:08) - Employees as Lever
(21:23) - Other Stand Outs
(28:20) - The Playbook to Recreate Our Economic System
(31:46) - Purpose and AI
(33:01) - Why Buy This Book?
(34:05) - Last Thoughts
(34:23) - Wrap Up

You Need Gen Z at the Table with Ziad Ahmed

TruStory FM — Tue, 07 May 2024 02:00:00 -0700

Gen Z is an important stakeholder for companies: they're powerful consumers, passionate activists, and many are already part of the workforce. But when it comes to engaging Gen Z, older generations are the ones studying them—and deciding what will work best.

This felt counterproductive to 16-year-old Ziad Ahmed, who questioned why decisions about his generation were being made without them. And so Ziad founded JUV Consulting in 2016—when he and his co-founders were still teenagers—to help companies make decisions and create campaigns with diverse Gen Zers at the table.

We invited Ziad to speak about how, eight years later, JUV Consulting has created purpose-driven and inclusive campaigns for top companies, driven by the belief that the future revolves around co-creation, community, and challenging conventions.

Since this conversation was recorded, JUV Consulting was acquired by United Talent Agency.

Listen for insights on:

The fundamental topics and methods to engage Gen Z
Finding common ground across generations
Investing in and engaging Gen Z influencers

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - JUV Consulting's Ziad Ahmed
(03:41) - Who is Ziad?
(05:14) - Getting Gen Z in the Room
(07:39) - JUV Consulting
(09:39) - Their Purpose
(11:11) - Key Issues
(13:10) - Impact
(14:59) - Convincing Their Teams
(16:16) - Coachtopia
(19:23) - Developing Strong Relationships
(19:55) - Z Confrontation
(20:38) - Another Example
(21:25) - Influencers
(24:45) - Saying ‘No’
(24:54) - Pro-Living
(28:10) - Messaging in a Political Year
(29:36) - Last Word
(31:07) - Wrap Up

Good for the Great Outdoors with Johnson Outdoors

TruStory FM — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0700

"If a check would fix the problem, I would've written that check already," said Sam Johnson, founder of Johnson Outdoors. These words embody the company's ethos founded with a reverence for nature and a commitment to its preservation. Since its inception, Johnson Outdoors has steadfastly safeguarded the outdoors while nurturing consumers’ passion for outdoor adventure and enjoyment.

At the heart of Johnson Outdoors' success lies an unwavering commitment to its founding principles. As a family company, its leadership understands and protects the company’s values and purpose. As an employer, the company hires individuals who share this deep-rooted respect for nature, helping foster a culture united in environmental stewardship and a love for spending time outdoors.

We invited Connor Leipold, Johnson Outdoors Spokesman and SCUBAPRO Brand Manager, to share his insights. This initiative continues to inspire and empower outdoor enthusiasts worldwide, demonstrating our collective commitment to preserving the natural wonders that serve as our playground.

Listen for insights on:

How tapping into employee passions can inspire innovation
Surpassing goals in the consumer and employee-driven Clean Earth Challenge
Identifying like-minded partnerships and creating innovative preservation solutions

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Johnson Outdoors • Connor Leipold
(03:36) - Meet Connor
(05:17) - Brands and Divisions
(06:37) - Innovation in Products and Programs
(08:32) - Their Purpose
(10:13) - Legacy and Environment
(12:27) - Superior Design, Low Environmental Impact
(13:58) - Clean Earth Challenge
(17:33) - Success Stories
(20:10) - Partnerships
(22:26) - Lessons Learned
(25:53) - Sustainability Pillars
(27:22) - Relationship with Mote
(30:33) - Advice for Listeners
(32:03) - Last Word
(33:39) - Wrap Up

Saving Lives Beyond Medicine with Eli Lilly

TruStory FM — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0700

At the heart of Eli Lilly's purpose lies a deep understanding: their insulin is more than just a product—it’s essential for peoples’ health and survival.

This purpose, to unite caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world, is embedded deeply within the organization. The company focuses on ensuring their medicines are inclusive to all patients by investing in clinical testing diversity and removing obstacles that might prevent patients from accessing their medicine—both at and beyond the pharmacy counter. And, to ensure patients have reliable access to life-saving medications for years to come, Eli Lilly has invested $100 million towards achieving climate goals by 2030. Through this commitment, Eli Lilly is not only safeguarding the planet but reaffirming the company’s dedication to the well-being of every individual who relies on their medicines.

We invited Jim Greffet, Head of ESG Strategy at Eli Lilly, to explain how the company’s environmental and social commitments are grounded in purpose strategy, as well as how the company helps its employees lead purposeful careers.

Listen for insights on:

Purpose’s role in long-term strategy
Improving health outcomes through philanthropic investments
Understanding equity and inclusion at your company through the “employee journey”
Inspiring employees to identify environmental solutions and investing in them

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Eli Lilly
(03:00) - Meet Jim Greffet
(04:53) - A Day in the Life
(07:47) - Purpose Statement
(09:13) - Diabetes
(09:57) - Living the Value of Accessibility
(14:28) - Measuring and Scaling
(15:15) - Local Investment
(16:36) - DEI
(18:24) - Level Up
(21:27) - Societal Changes to DEI
(22:51) - DEI and Supply Chain
(23:53) - Environment
(27:32) - Lightning Questions
(29:40) - Last Words
(30:48) - Wrap Up

Caryl Stern’s Path to Creating a Better World

TruStory FM — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 02:00:00 -0700

Caryl Stern's remarkable journey spans more than 30 countries and several high-impact roles, including former CEO of UNICEF USA, former Executive Director of the Walton Family Foundation, and present Chief Impact Officer at LionTree, an independent investment and merchant bank for creativity, community, and capital. From her inspirational upbringing (shaped by her mother who survived the Holocaust) to her innovative work at UNICEF, Caryl offers invaluable insights for navigating the complexity of a changing world. She shares poignant stories about the importance of urgency in helping children globally and how storytelling can mobilize support for essential causes.

Caryl also discusses her work at LionTree to drive social impact through innovative, for-profit solutions. Caryl’s journey illustrates how a sense of responsibility to create a better world can accelerate impact.

Listen for insights on:

Mobilizing support and awareness for critical causes
Transitioning to new opportunities and career paths
Evolving as a leader to meet the needs of your organization

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Lion Tree • Caryl Stern
(03:20) - Caryl’s Background
(07:45) - Leadership
(10:55) - Listening and Learning
(12:47) - UNICEF
(19:48) - Balancing Heritage with New Ideas
(22:49) - Walton Family Foundation
(25:37) - LionTree
(28:00) - Advice
(29:52) - Wrap Up

IBM is Making the World Work Better

TruStory FM — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 02:00:00 -0700

As technology continues to redefine industries and jobs, IBM is a beacon of progress, driven by a purpose to be a catalyst that makes the world work better. Through flagship initiatives like the SkillsBuild program, IBM is arming both internal and external workers with the tools and knowledge necessary to thrive in today's economy. By fostering opportunities for upskilling and reskilling, IBM not only bolsters individual employability but also empowers individuals to pursue career paths previously out of reach.

Justina Nixon-Saintil is one example of the transformative power of continuous learning. Initially an engineer and then an educator, Justina today serves as IBM's Vice President and Chief Impact Officer — so she knows a thing or two about reskilling and adaptation. We invited Justina to share how IBM is setting a standard for corporate responsibility through employee volunteering, skills development, and the Sustainability Accelerator, which has been heralded as a blueprint for corporate responsibility.

Listen for insights on:

Activating employee volunteers through their skills and passions
Advancing in or getting started with your sustainability career
Creating an infrastructure that evaluates the internal and external ethical use of AI

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - IBM's Justina Nixon-Saintil
(03:16) - Justina’s Background
(06:30) - Engineer to CIO
(09:18) - Insights with Gap Time
(11:30) - IBM’s Purpose Statement
(12:39) - Volunteerism
(14:50) - SkillsBuild
(19:04) - IBM Sustainability Accelerator
(27:05) - Impact Measurement
(28:18) - Future of AI for Social Impact
(31:56) - Suggestions for Careers in Social Impact
(34:14) - Recommendations
(35:35) - Last Word
(36:58) - Wrap Up

Exploring the 2024 JUST 100 Rankings

TruStory FM — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 02:00:00 -0800

How do we identify the companies that are truly "good?” We might look through their sustainability reports or tally up the awards they've received, but finding an answer is rarely simple—and it can depend on a range of factors, from how companies treat their employees to whether they practice sound governance.

JUST Capital is at the forefront of this work. A non-profit organization dedicated to aligning corporate behavior with the values of the American public, JUST Capital releases its highly anticipated "100 Most JUST Companies" list each year to spotlight the businesses that prioritize their workers, communities, customers, the environment, and shareholders and governance over profit alone.

Martin Whittaker, CEO of JUST Capital, returns to Purpose 360 to explore the recently released 2024 rankings, shedding light on what matters most to Americans today and what distinguishes the most “just” companies from all the rest.

Listen for insights on:

The American public’s three most important issues
Why “just” companies lead in financial performance
The methodology behind the JUST 100

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Just Capital • Martin Whittaker
(02:43) - Martin’s Background
(04:22) - The JUST 100
(08:24) - Query Numbers
(09:42) - Core Issues
(12:03) - Governance
(13:00) - HPE
(14:59) - CEO Leadership
(16:15) - Hard Results
(18:09) - Surprises
(18:46) - Other Stories
(19:46) - Best Practices
(21:31) - Responsible Business
(23:01) - 5 Years
(26:04) - Last Words
(27:19) - Wrap Up

Challenging the DEI Status Quo with Margaret Spence

TruStory FM — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 02:00:00 -0800

Having a diverse and inclusive workplace makes good business sense, but the truth is that we're stuck at an impasse. Companies are so focused on how many people from different backgrounds they employ that they’re missing the point. It’s not about the numbers. It's about ensuring that every individual is equitably woven into the fabric of the organization and has opportunities to advance and thrive.

We invited Margaret Spence, an advocate for transformative change in the DEI landscape, to elaborate on where companies currently stand with DEI and what needs to change. With a commitment to challenging the status quo, questioning barriers, and leading inclusively, Margaret offers a compelling vision. Her expertise extends beyond rhetoric, by proving that DEI is not just a checkbox but an ongoing commitment.

Listen for insights on:

Recommended data points for tracking DEI success and impact
How being entrenched in the status quo can obstruct inclusion
Navigating bias and inclusion challenges as a person of color

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Margaret Spence
(03:40) - Margaret’s Background
(07:21) - Personal Purpose
(09:23) - Inclusion Lab
(12:23) - DEI
(17:35) - Examples Doing DEI Well
(19:00) - Growth and Barriers
(25:08) - Employee to CEO Project
(26:51) - Inclusion Lab
(29:07) - Cohorts
(29:54) - Measurement
(32:00) - Recommendations
(34:44) - Looking to the Future of DEI
(38:29) - Last Thoughts

Designing a Sustainable Fashion Future with Rothy’s

TruStory FM — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 02:00:00 -0800

The fashion industry is continuing to undergo crucial transformations. With the environmental toll of fast fashion evident, consumers are demanding more from the brands they love: top-notch quality, enduring designs, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability.

Rothy’s, a direct-to-consumer shoes and accessories brand, is leader in this shift. At the heart of Rothy's success is a revolutionary approach to sustainability that combines innovative materials, a zero-waste factory, and no-waste manufacturing practices. Each pair of shoes is crafted not only for style and comfort but designed to minimize its ecological footprint. Rothy's takes it a step further by prioritizing longevity, ensuring their products are designed for long-term use. For products that do reach their end-of-life point, Rothy’s encourages a sustainable life cycle through a recycling program, using well-worn shoes to create new products.

We invited Dayna Quanbeck, President of Rothy’s—but Chief Operating Officer and Chief Finance Officer at the time of recording—to explain how the company is helping consumers understand the harmony between fashion and environmental responsibility. As we step into a future that demands both, Rothy's will continue the way with style and sustainability.

Listen for insights on:

Revolutionizing the use of unconventional materials like plastic bottles and algae
Challenging consumer perceptions of eco-friendly materials
Making consumers your product champions
Incorporating advocacy into a company’s impact

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Rothy's
(02:11) - Dayna’s Backstory
(06:38) - Shifting Toward Stylish and Comfortable
(07:57) - Three Pillars of Sustainability
(12:04) - Production Journey
(14:52) - Learning from Feedback
(15:47) - Programs
(18:17) - Give a Dime About Plastic
(20:20) - Plastic Innovation
(21:49) - Sustainability Council
(22:41) - Future of Circular Fashion
(23:52) - Customer Stories
(27:01) - Recommendations
(28:45) - Wrap Up

“We Aren’t Waiting to Inherit the World” Part 2

TruStory FM — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 02:00:00 -0800

COP is a pivotal moment for United Nations members, politicians, and business leaders to gauge progress in tackling climate change and chart a course for action. At COP 28 this past December, a new group came to the forefront. Youth from around the world finally secured a seat at the decision-making table and were embraced more prominently than ever before.

This generation sets itself apart through a commitment to causes that matter, as well as its emergence as leaders that look beyond the needs of just their organizations or cause, focusing on impact for the world as a whole.

Four remarkable One Young World Ambassadors are part of this transformative group of young leaders. In the second half of this two-part series, host Carol Cone welcomes Kehkashan Basu of Green Hope Foundation and Mavis Durowaa Mainu of OAK Foundation, who both deliver a clear message: that the youth of today are not waiting for change, they are propelling it.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - One Young World Ambassadors Part 2
(02:55) - Mavis’s Background
(06:23) - Kehkashan’s Background
(10:15) - COP 28
(30:00) - Last Thoughts
(32:27) - Wrap Up

“We Aren’t Waiting to Inherit the World” Part 1

TruStory FM — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 02:00:00 -0800

Four remarkable One Young World Ambassadors are part of this transformative group of young leaders. In the first half of this two-part series, host Carol Cone welcomes Anna Stanley-Radière of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and Enkhuun Byambadorj of Breathe Mongolia—Clean Air Coalition, who both deliver a clear message: that the youth of today are not waiting for change, they are propelling it.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - COP 28: One Young World Ambassadors (Environment)
(03:47) - Backgrounds
(07:26) - Initial Spark
(09:46) - One Young World
(12:37) - Secret Sauce
(14:20) - COP 28
(21:59) - Dubai
(27:55) - Last Thoughts
(33:25) - Wrap Up

Predicting Purpose in 2024

TruStory FM — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 02:00:00 -0800

In the ever-evolving business landscape, the state of purpose has faced significant challenges over the past year, many that have led to troubling ramifications. The politicization of the term “ESG” has caused companies to scale back their sustainability investments; an increasing number of DEI commitments and positions have also been reduced; and tensions between countries and political groups around the world continue to grow.

And yet, the desperate needs of our planet and society are only intensifying and demanding more urgent action. And so, a pressing question arises: How can businesses continue to balance their commitment to purpose?

We invited three purpose leaders to shed light on this crucial topic as we enter 2024. David Casey, Chief Inclusion and Social Impact Officer at Tapestry; Caryl Stern, Chief Impact Officer at LionTree and former Executive Director of the Walton Family Foundation and President & CEO of UNICEF USA; and Andy Pharoah, Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Mars, provide key insights into the needs of purpose in 2024 and offer valuable advice on how businesses can continue advancing purposeful impact despite barriers on the horizon.

Resources + Links:

Previous Episodes:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Purpose Predictions 2024
(03:58) - David Casey
(10:51) - Caryl Stern
(18:21) - Andy Pharaoh
(27:12) - Wrap Up

Building a “Future Ready” World with WSP

TruStory FM — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 02:00:00 -0800

WSP, a leading engineering advisory and consulting firm, is paving the way to a sustainable and resilient future with its cutting-edge global innovation program, Future Ready. The program analyzes future trends through four lenses—Climate, Society, Technology, and Resources—to shape WSP’s approach to projects. From reviewing the evolving social and cultural norms influencing city design to rethinking resource utilization for a more efficient and sustainable economy, WSP is shaping a world that is not only functional, but sustainable and prosperous.

We invited Alastair (Aly) MacGregor, Senior Vice President and Executive Business Line Leader for Property and Buildings at WSP USA, to speak about his recently released book Future Ready: Your Organization's Guide to Rethinking Climate, Resilience, and Sustainability. Aly shares insights on how other companies can redesign their sustainability plans to put climate and resiliency at the forefront of strategy and execution.

Listen for insights on:

Personalizing brand-specific sustainability initiatives to engage a broad audience
Developing and implementing climate resilience strategies
Helping stakeholders understand the importance of climate, resiliency, and sustainability

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - WSP
(03:14) - Aly's Background
(04:52) - Range of Services
(06:10) - Built Environment
(06:39) - Smart Building
(07:23) - WSP’s Purpose
(11:52) - Projects
(15:03) - Future Ready Philosophy
(17:10) - The Book
(21:25) - Why Personal?
(23:04) - Resiliency
(25:05) - Future Ready Mindset
(27:46) - Gavin Newsom’s Laws
(30:01) - Leadership Secrets
(31:24) - Last Comment
(32:36) - Wrap Up

Protecting Children Across Borders with Save the Children

TruStory FM — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 02:00:00 -0800

As we revel in the joy of the holiday season, it's important to remember that 2.3 billion of the world’s children are ensnared in the harsh realities of conflict, both in distant regions and right within our own communities.

Save the Children stands as a beacon of hope for children worldwide, working to alleviate suffering and build brighter futures for vulnerable young lives. The organization’s work extends across a spectrum of services ranging from healthcare and education to protection, emergency response, policy advocacy, and local empowerment programs.

In 2023, Save the Children has been at the forefront of some of the world's most pressing conflicts. From providing aid in the aftermath of the Turkey-Syria earthquake to offering support in the war-torn regions of Ukraine and addressing the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, the organization has demonstrated unwavering commitment to children caught in the crossfires.

We invited Perry Yeatman, Head of Corporate at Save the Children, to speak about the organization's remarkable century-long impact and how it is forging partnerships to create positive change for the children of the world.

Listen for insights on:

Five considerations for companies partnering with an NGO
Guidelines for respectful and effective on-the-ground support (in conflict zones)
Insights on collecting stories from beneficiaries
Moving away from the “savior mentality” in communications

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Save the Children’s Perry Yeatman
(03:20) - Head of Corporate
(04:04) - Background
(06:46) - Save the Children’s History
(07:50) - Their Purpose
(08:15) - UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
(09:26) - Supply Chain
(11:47) - Partner Program
(14:01) - Wartime
(16:46) - Mental Health Support
(19:14) - Ukraine
(21:33) - Partnering with Them
(24:13) - Communications
(26:37) - Capturing Stories
(27:43) - Impactful Outreach
(28:38) - Last Word
(29:52) - Wrap Up

We Want You ‘ToGetThere’ Safely This Holiday Season with Mothers Against Drunk Driving

TruStory FM — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 02:00:00 -0800

Every 79 seconds, someone is killed or injured in a drunk or impaired driving crash in the United States. As we near the holiday season, this risk increases to approximately 21 million chances of encountering an accident between November 1 and January 1.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is the foremost non-profit leading the fight to prevent the devastating consequences of impaired driving. The organization has played a crucial role since its inception, reducing crashes by 50% through advocacy efforts, influencing federal policy, leading education initiatives, and providing support services to victims.

Ultimately, the power to reduce drunk driving lies not with any organization but with the people who make the decision to drive impaired. So this holiday season, MADD is introducing its new year-end campaign and cause platform, ToGetThere, with the aim of increasing everyone’s chances to get home safely.

We invited Stacey Stewart, CEO, and Kim Pucci, Senior Director of Marketing and Engagement, to speak to MADD’s impact, how you can make a plan to drive safely this holiday season, and how they plan to get “there”— to a world in which impairment puts no lives at risk.

Listen for insights on:

Rebranding cause initiatives to align with the digital media age
Helping stakeholders understand the true impact of a statistic
Engaging multi-stakeholder groups
Staying true to purpose during periods of change

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - MADD
(02:45) - Meet Stacey Stewart
(04:25) - Meet Kim Pucci
(05:41) - Initiatives
(10:42) - Relevance
(12:57) - Effective and Impactful
(15:33) - To Get There
(20:01) - Core Insights
(22:02) - Changing Behaviors
(23:20) - Other Trends
(25:36) - Leadership
(27:03) - Shared Insights
(34:02) - Wrap Up

Ringing in a New Era of Purposeful Giving with Macy’s, Inc.

TruStory FM — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 02:00:00 -0800

Macy's Inc., inclusive of companies Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury, is setting the stage for a remarkable new era of purpose with their new statement, "Mission Every One." This commitment to creating a brighter, more equitable future set the stage for significant changes across the enterprise, including the revitalization of their annual holiday season campaign.

With Mission Every One at its core, Macy's took a critical look at existing programs and partnerships to ensure alignment with its new purpose. This led to the conclusion of a beloved long-term cause partnership and a search for a new nonprofit partner. The search culminated in 2022 when Macy's announced Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mentorship and youth development, as its new signature partner. The first year’s partnership results were astounding, with Macy’s raising $4.78 million for the nonprofit.

We invited Bobby Amirshahi, Senior Vice President and Head of Communications, and Sam Di Scipio, Senior Director of Social Impact, to walk us through how they are continuing to put Mission Every One into action to create a brighter future with bold representation for all.

Listen for insights on:

Evaluating partnerships and programs through the lens of a new purpose
Ending long-term partnerships in order to align with new priorities
Identifying new partners and opportunities to align with a new purpose
Staying true to purpose during periods of change

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Macy's
(03:35) - Backgrounds
(05:51) - Construction of Team
(06:50) - Evolving to New Retail Environment
(08:28) - Cause and Community Engagement
(09:58) - Mission Everyone
(13:36) - Programs and Initiatives
(15:26) - Feedback
(17:15) - Believe
(21:32) - Finding New Partner
(26:17) - The New Partner
(27:41) - BBBS Stories
(29:53) - This Season's Plans
(31:21) - KPIs
(33:16) - SPUR Pathways
(34:52) - How It Feels
(36:48) - Last Words
(38:20) - Wrap Up

Making “Her Promise” Possible with Organon

TruStory FM — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 02:00:00 -0700

What kind of company would you create if you could start from a blank slate?

Despite being spun off from 130+-year-old Merck, Organon had this unique opportunity. The women’s health, biosimilars, and established medicines company started from the beginning, defining a new mission, establishing a board of directors, and unifying their impact around a commitment to the global health of women and girls.

Nearly half of the world’s pregnancies are unintended. Organon is working to change that by ensuring women around the world have the power to decide when and whether they will start a family, enabling them to live their promises. Through the Her Promise Access Initiative, Organon collaborates with organizations in the world's least developed regions to offer education, training, and affordable contraceptive options. Central to this effort is "Her Plan is Her Power," which empowers women to manage their reproductive health, reducing unplanned pregnancies and disparities in high-need areas.

We invited Geralyn Ritter, EVP of Corporate Affairs, Sustainability & ESG, to explain how Organon was structured to create meaningful change and empower women to live their promise.

Listen for insights on:

How Organon established the most gender diverse Board in the S&P 500
Articulate values to influence behavior
Expanding internal benefits to be more inclusive of women’s health needs

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Geralyn Ritter from Organon
(03:21) - Geralyn's Background
(07:06) - Merck for Mothers
(08:29) - The Name
(10:10) - Board Members
(13:08) - Their Purpose
(15:48) - Values
(17:16) - Innovation
(21:06) - Her Promise Initiative
(24:34) - Partners
(27:04) - Measurement
(29:33) - Recruiting Actions
(30:43) - Recognition
(31:44) - Last Insights
(33:46) - 2030
(35:43) - Wrap Up

Navigating Challenges on the Path to Purpose with PwC

TruStory FM — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 02:00:00 -0700

Operating a successful purpose-led company comes with its share of challenges — even to the companies that excel at it. Driving meaningful impact, investing in a sustainable future, and fostering employee engagement all require strategic decision making and often significant internal transformations.

So how are the best companies navigating these challenges? An unwavering commitment and a well-defined strategic approach set purpose-driven champions apart from their peers. At PwC, this is brought to light through “Positive Equation,” the company’s purpose strategy, as well as its values, which are ingrained in day-to-day operations.

We invited Shannon Schuyler, Chief Purpose & Inclusion Officer at PwC, to return to Purpose 360 to speak about the nuances and challenges of maintaining a purpose-driven approach through the lens of her work, challenges, and progress at PwC.

Listen for insights on:

Using values as a driving force to support your organization’s purpose
How PwC reorganized internally to align with its purpose strategy
Engaging employees through their personal purpose
Early predictions for 2024

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - PwC's Shannon Schuyler
(02:17) - Shannon's Role
(04:38) - Shifting Purpose and Integrating It
(07:05) - My Story, Your Story
(10:27) - Shared Assets
(11:14) - New Equation and Challenges
(13:12) - Coaching
(14:21) - Chief Culture Officer
(14:57) - Values in Embedding Purpose
(19:53) - Externally
(23:57) - Longer Shutdowns
(26:34) - 2023 Predictions
(28:41) - 2024 Predictions
(29:31) - Last Thoughts
(30:54) - Wrap Up

Setting the Gold Standard for Corporate Citizenship with the Civic 50

TruStory FM — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 02:00:00 -0700

Welcome to the forefront of corporate citizenship, where the Civic 50, an initiative by Points of Light, stands as a beacon for businesses. For the past 11 years, Points of Light has recognized the 50 most community-minded companies through a rigorous annual survey. Only a few companies, including Citi and Hasbro, have been honored every year.

For honorees, it's not just a badge of recognition but a strategic advantage, offering insights into where they stand relative to competitors and how to enhance their social impact. And for those businesses yet to participate, it serves as a blueprint for how to align their time, talent, and resources for impactful social change within both their operations and communities.

We invited Kevin Colman, Senior Director of Global Philanthropy and Social Impact at Hasbro and President of the Hasbro Foundation, and Brandee McHale, Head of Community Investing and Development at Citi and President of Citi Foundation, to share practical advice and examples for how leading companies embed social responsibility and community impact into their business strategies and cultures.

Listen for insights on:

Connecting highly innovative social impact initiatives to business values
Supporting grantees in the impact data collection process
Completing the Civic 50 survey — and what you have to gain from submitting it

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Hasbro and Citi – The Civic 50 Award
(04:10) - Kevin and Hasbro
(05:34) - Brandee and Citi
(06:54) - What Drives Your Passion?
(10:54) - Importance of Civic 50
(13:19) - Influencing Behaviors
(14:47) - Volunteering
(17:19) - Citi Initiatives
(20:38) - Bridge Built by Citi Platform
(23:02) - Hasbro Initiatives
(24:32) - Play as Principle
(25:41) - Measurement Tools
(30:01) - Considerations to Entering
(32:57) - Communication
(34:35) - Last Thoughts
(36:59) - Wrap Up

Gen Z is Penning a New Golden Age of Journalism

TruStory FM — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 02:00:00 -0700

Journalism’s “Golden Age” was very different from the profession today. It’s no longer about getting the big interview or capturing the nation’s attention with a blockbuster story. Now, anyone can simply go online to report their own news.

The field is far from dying though. Gen Z’s entrance into the workforce highlights how the generation's values, combined with technological shifts, are shaping a different yet equally impactful era for journalism.

We invited Gen Z’er Alexa Mikhail, reporter at Fortune Magazine, to share her journey from the classroom to the newsroom. Alexa also delves deep into her generation, exploring their resolute pursuit of authenticity, purpose, and work-life balance.

Listen for insights on:

How to attract and retain Gen-Z employees
The mental health crisis and its impact on employees and work
Navigating fields that traditionally value experience as a young professional

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - FORTUNE Gen Z Reporter
(03:10) - Meet Alexa
(07:14) - CNN
(09:35) - Fortune Media
(14:15) - Barbie
(15:14) - Silicon Valley Bank
(16:23) - Story Prep
(18:44) - Advice for Those Interested in Journalism
(21:00) - Mentors
(21:49) - Future of Journalism
(23:19) - Work Style
(25:48) - Gen Z and Purpose
(27:26) - Pitching Alexa
(27:54) - Final Advice
(29:59) - Wrap Up

Revolutionizing Sustainable Retail with Recurate

TruStory FM — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 02:00:00 -0700

From designer fashion to sports equipment, the resale market is experiencing a renaissance like never before. In fact, the resale market has grown so exponentially that it is projected to reach $77 billion within the next few years.

This is a big victory for sustainability, especially given the carbon footprint of the fashion industry. Keeping a t-shirt or pair of shoes in circulation longer is one of the greatest ways to counteract the impacts of fast fashion.

With this rise in resale, there is a golden opportunity for the brands behind the products to get involved. This idea led Adam Siegel, now CEO, to co-found Recurate. Recurate is a platform that empowers clothing brands to embrace the circular economy through the potential of resale, offering tools to allow customers to buy resale and secondhand products seamlessly. By facilitating the transition to a circular business model, Recurate not only helps brands make a positive impact on the planet but also opens up new revenue streams and enhances their brand image in an increasingly conscious marketplace.

Listen for insights on:

The consumer data supporting the resale model for individuals and brands
How to help consumers balance their desires for sustainability, convenience, and price — and how Recurate satisfies all three
Recurate’s vision for a fully integrated resale experience
Ways you can buy and sell through Recurate’s brands — and how to become one!

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Recurate
(04:02) - Meet Adam Siegel
(05:43) - Founding Recurate
(07:44) - Circularity
(09:18) - How They Work
(10:32) - Resale Models
(13:48) - Doing the Research
(16:05) - Brand Loyalty with Recommerce Options
(18:09) - The Terms
(19:56) - Motivations
(21:56) - Successful Business
(23:09) - Examples
(26:19) - Challenges
(28:38) - Death to Fast Fashion in EU?
(30:17) - Measurement
(31:47) - By 2030...
(32:48) - Recommendations
(34:20) - Last Comments
(35:02) - Wrap Up

Rooted in Tomorrow at Land O’Lakes

TruStory FM — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 02:00:00 -0700

Food security is now a worldwide issue. To keep up with a rising population, the global agriculture sector will need to produce more food by 2050 than was produced in the last 8,000 years combined. Yet, the agricultural sector is confronted with growing challenges, ranging from less arable land and water to a lack of broadband access in rural America, which impedes innovation and growth.

Land O’Lakes, one of America’s premier agribusiness and food companies, is a farmer- and retailer-owned cooperative that is inextricably linked to the success of the people producing and growing our food. Driven by their purpose, Rooted in Tomorrow, the organization is actively advancing solutions to build a sustainable future for farmers and a safe and reliable food supply. Land O’Lakes’ initiatives support farmers globally through grantmaking, leveraging the latest tools to help farmers profitably transition to more sustainable agriculture practices, and increasing the representation of women in agriculture.

We invited Kim Olson, Chief Communications Officer, to share how Land O’Lakes is strengthening its role as a leader in sustainable production while building on sustainable practices that farmers have been implementing for generations.

Listen for insights on:

Driving strategic and substantial impact as a company that serves all stakeholders
Creating resonant and inspirational communications that educate consumers about the journey of food from farm to table
Collaborating with stakeholders to identify the right solutions
Advice for the C-Suite related to remaining authentic and developing a strong relationship with your CEO

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Kim Olson • Land O' Lakes
(03:56) - Meet Kim
(06:58) - Being a Steward
(07:53) - Rural America Today
(12:17) - Engaging Stakeholders
(16:11) - CEO Beth Ford
(17:42) - American Connection Project
(23:48) - Innovation and Truterra
(28:11) - Packaging
(29:33) - The Foundation
(31:41) - What's Next?
(32:28) - Insights
(35:00) - Last Word
(36:23) - Wrap Up

A CEO’s Perspective: Harmonizing Legacy and Innovation with Campbell Soup Company

TruStory FM — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 02:00:00 -0700

Mark Clouse entered Campbell Soup Company in 2019 as its 14th CEO in the company’s 153-year history. Recognizing the upheaval that the food industry has been undergoing for the last decade and the need for a fresh strategic direction in a rapidly evolving business landscape, Mark sought to define a new, resonant purpose that would guide the company's decisions and inspire employees, customers, and stakeholders alike.

But as a long-lived company, it was vital for the purpose to evoke Campbell’s legacy while shaping a new chapter of the iconic company’s story.

We invited Mark Clouse to share the journey behind Campbell’s purpose: “Connecting people through the food they love.” Accompanied by a set of new and compelling values, the purpose has become the driving force behind the company’s recent transformation – from their steadfast commitment to their hometown in Camden to its new employee value proposition. Through this lens, Campbell has embarked on a transformative journey that builds off the company’s impact over the last 150+ years.

Listen for C-level insights on:

Being a steward for a legacy company
Absolutes and direction for re-shaping a purpose
How purpose enables a company to simultaneously create sustainable shareholder value and better society and the environment
AI and its role in business today

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Campbell's
(02:39) - Meet Mark Clouse
(05:54) - Being a Steward
(07:50) - Campbell's Purpose
(10:54) - 'Through Food', Not 'To Food'
(12:16) - Purpose vs. Mission vs. Vision
(14:16) - Absolutes for Purpose
(16:00) - The Five Cs
(18:54) - Camden and Full Futures
(24:18) - Volunteerism
(25:06) - New Employee Value Proposition
(27:23) - E, S, and G Pillars
(30:08) - Accountability
(31:43) - Integrating AI
(33:46) - Mark's Last Word
(35:29) - Wrap Up

Stretching What’s Possible with Tapestry

TruStory FM — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 02:00:00 -0700

“A tapestry is made of many threads woven into one story. So are we.”

Tapestry, the parent company of renowned brands Kate Spade, Coach, and Stuart Weitzman, plays the vital role of seamlessly integrating the distinctive narratives, products, missions, values, and focus areas of each brand into a single tapestry. All three brands are united under Tapestry’s purpose – Stretch What’s Possible – which provides both cohesion and autonomy to each organization.

We invited David Casey, Chief Inclusion and Social Impact Officer, to unveil the company’s comprehensive approach to one of its most valuable stakeholders: its employees. In his first year, David immersed himself in the experiences of employees, gaining valuable insights into their realities, particularly with store associates. Equipped with this knowledge, Tapestry developed a framework focused on four core objectives to promote equity, inclusion, and diversity (EI&D).

Tapestry is also weaving new environmental practices into the way they source and sell, from embedding circularity into designer fashion through Coachtopia to supporting the World Wildlife Fund for responsible leather sourcing.

Listen for insights on:

Uniting brands with unique social impact focuses under a parent company’s purpose
Embracing circularity through second-generation designer products
Advice to the C-Suite on prioritizing equity as a company

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - David Casey at Tapestry
(02:44) - David's Role
(05:01) - Active Listening
(06:39) - The Front Line
(07:59) - Calling It E, I, and D
(08:45) - How Tapestry Was Formed
(10:58) - To Stretch What's Possible
(12:09) - Each Brand's Approach
(14:48) - Circularity
(17:35) - Global Nature of Brands
(22:10) - Keeping Your Commitments
(25:16) - Employee Resource Groups
(27:02) - Partnership with WWF
(28:48) - Marine Background and Its Influences
(29:44) - Advice to Take to Heart
(31:04) - Last Word
(31:43) - Wrap Up

Bridging the Digital Divide with AT&T

TruStory FM — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 02:00:00 -0700

In a world where connectivity is increasingly essential, the digital divide stands as a formidable obstacle. Millions of Americans are denied opportunities to improve their daily lives, succeed in work and school, and have a fair chance in the global economy, all of which come from broadband and digital connectivity.

AT&T is deeply committed to bridging this digital divide. With a comprehensive $2 billion commitment, AT&T aims to bring the life-changing benefits of internet access to underserved communities. The commitment’s approach goes beyond access to and affordability of high-speed internet to encompass digital skills education and essential community resources to ensure the safe and successful adoption of technology.

We invited Mylayna Albright, Assistant Vice President of CSR, to explain how AT&T’s work to bridge the digital divide has opened doors, empowered communities, and led to meaningful social and economic progress.

Listen for insights on:

What the digital divide looks like now and AT&T’s threefold approach to addressing it
Selecting and maintaining local community partnerships
Remaining nimble as a large organization executing a nation-wide program
Inviting employees to participate in and live the corporate purpose

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Mylayna Albright • AT&T
(03:09) - Meet Mylayna
(03:58) - Explaining AT&T's Purpose
(05:24) - Access, Affordability, Adoption
(06:09) - COVID and the Digital Divide
(07:40) - Connected Learning Initiative
(10:05) - Connected Learning Centers
(13:26) - Selecting Local Partners
(14:23) - Coalition and Collaboration
(16:26) - Vulnerable Communities
(18:21) - Family Example
(20:08) - Employee Engagement
(24:38) - Insights
(27:39) - Last Word
(28:20) - Wrap Up

The EPiQ Unlock to Your Organization’s Purpose

TruStory FM — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 02:00:00 -0700

What is your organization’s employee purpose iQ?

Host Carol Cone is joined by Wendy Salomon, Managing Director of Reputation & Corporate Strategy at The Harris Poll, to walk you through this first-of-its-kind tool to measure the success of your organization’s purpose. EPiQ, or Employee Purpose iQ, is an analysis of strengths and opportunities to activate your company's purpose with employees—backed by a custom roadmap to drive growth.

Based on a survey of an organization’s employees and using a succinct set of targeted metrics exploring Credibility, Talent, and Activation, EPiQ helps organizations understand and diagnose where purpose is not optimized while identifying efficient strategies to move the organization forward.

Listen for insights on:

The EPiQ score and how it’s measured
The specific areas for growth the EPiQ dashboard pinpoints
How the EPiQ dashboard can inform investment and strategy decisions
The long-term impact of knowing and advancing your employee purpose iQ

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - EPiQ: Employee Purpose IQ
(03:21) - Meet Wendy Salomon
(05:24) - Essential Ingredient
(06:20) - The Impetus
(07:40) - Broader Sense of Why to Measure the Purpose Investment
(09:40) - How We Work With the Company
(10:53) - Where the Need Is Greatest
(12:22) - National Survey
(15:00) - Three Core Dimensions
(16:48) - Identifying Who's Bought In
(17:34) - The Deliverable
(19:10) - What Is Our Company's Purpose?
(20:12) - Closing Comments
(21:26) - Wrap Up

Revolutionizing the Tequila Industry with CEO Michael Dolan

TruStory FM — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 02:00:00 -0700

What job would you take after being the CEO of a 160-year-old, multi-billion-dollar international company?

Foreseeing tequila’s imminent rise, as well as its impact on ecosystems and communities in Jalisco, Michael Dolan, former Bacardi CEO, is on a mission to hold the spirits industry accountable for its carbon and community footprint. He’s leaned into sustainability to create a new company and category in the luxury market that promotes “premium with a purpose.” The company, Mijenta, is an exceptional award-winning artisanal liquor and the first and only B Corp tequila producer on the market.

We invited Michael Dolan, CEO of Mijenta, to share why he created Mijenta and how he is demonstrating to businesses and their leaders that it’s possible to pursue premium quality, purpose, and profit all at the same time.

Listen for insights on:

The three most important pieces of advice for starting an ESG-focused company
How a CEO recognizes value in business-driven environmental and social sustainability
Educating and building ESG-minded boards
Inviting industry outsiders to collaborate

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Mijenta Tequila
(03:10) - Mike's History
(05:56) - Origins of Mijenta
(09:19) - Why It's Important
(11:38) - Shaking Things Up
(12:59) - Being a B Corp
(15:06) - What Mijenta Means
(16:29) - The Purpose
(18:07) - Consumers' Reactions
(19:34) - Certification
(23:19) - Partnerships
(25:07) - Being Purposeful
(26:07) - Purposeful Value Creation
(29:04) - Marketing to the Consumer
(31:20) - Three Tips
(33:21) - In Closing
(35:34) - Wrap Up

Better Care for a Better World with Kimberly-Clark

TruStory FM — Tue, 23 May 2023 02:00:00 -0700

Each of Kimberly-Clark’s brands has a brilliant purpose that guides everything they do. From focusing on environmental impact to supporting and enabling women to break down barriers to opportunity, Kimberly-Clark equips its brands to provide Better Care for a Better World.

One way is through Kotex’s She Can Initiative. While the brand focuses on raising awareness around Menstrual Hygiene Day each year, it also champions women’s progress year-round by fighting period stigmas and the barriers they cause. Projects have included producing a film depicting how period stigma nearly stopped the first woman soccer referee, creating a “She Can Anthem,” and changing the color of the fluid used in product marketing.

We invited Alison Lewis, Chief Growth Officer, to discuss how Kimberly-Clark operates with its purpose-led, performance-driven approach and how it ultimately influences culture through its purpose.

Listen for insights on:

Inspiring innovation with purpose
Activating brand purpose to challenge stigmas
Opening social impact work to other collaborators
Creating and maintaining a purpose-led, performance-driven culture

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Kimberly-Clark
(02:19) - Meet Alison Lewis, Chief Growth Officer
(03:39) - The Importance of Purpose
(06:34) - Doing Better, Reinventing, Reimagining
(08:42) - Social Impact Strategies
(11:39) - Innovation From Purpose
(13:14) - Menstrual Hygiene Day
(15:04) - Kotex She Can Initiative
(17:39) - Changing Fluid
(18:38) - From the Core
(20:27) - Culture Compass
(22:27) - Linking Company Purpose to Personal Purpose
(24:41) - Toilets Change Lives
(25:53) - Measurements
(26:33) - Bringing Others In
(28:06) - Pearls of Wisdom
(30:47) - ESG
(32:32) - Last Word
(35:38) - Wrap Up

How Hormel Applies Cultural Anthropology to Fuel Inclusive Innovation

TruStory FM — Tue, 09 May 2023 02:00:00 -0700

When you think of cultural anthropologists, do you picture them working for a food company?

It makes perfect sense once you meet Tanya Rodriguez of Hormel Foods. Tanya, whose official title is Senior Human Experience Research Manager, uses ethnography and storytelling to uncover diverse consumer insights. By identifying product pain points and uncovering consumer's desires, she guides Hormel teams on renovating existing products or creating new ones to improve consumer food experiences. As a former social worker, Tanya is also a fierce advocate for food equity and food sovereignty.

We invited Tanya to speak about the nature of her role and how learning directly from consumers impacts Hormel’s food while ensuring products reflect equity and representation.

Listen for insights on how a cultural anthropologist:

Evokes understanding of and improves equity to lower-income consumers
Inspires product innovation that drives inclusion
Advocates for the emerging needs of consumers

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Hormel
(02:30) - Meet Tanya Rodriguez
(05:00) - Hormel's History
(06:43) - Our Food Journey
(08:45) - Skippy
(10:07) - A Day in the Life
(11:34) - Driving Authenticity Forward
(15:23) - De-Colonizing Food
(16:56) - Equity
(19:27) - Examples
(20:36) - Future Goals
(21:50) - Advice for Young People
(23:56) - Food Deserts
(24:43) - Global
(25:44) - Publicly Held
(26:33) - Cultivating Unicorns
(29:17) - Last Word
(30:12) - Wrap Up

Building a Just and Regenerative Tomorrow with Forum for the Future

TruStory FM — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 02:00:00 -0700

What does a sustainable future look like?

Leading international sustainability nonprofit Forum for the Future works to tackle this very question. Their answer: a just and regenerative future where the capacity of all living systems is strengthened to adapt, replenish, and regenerate; everyone’s human rights and potential to thrive is respected; and our economies and societies are rewired to serve both people and the planet.

But how do we get there?

We invite Sally Uren, Chief Executive at Forum for the Future, to walk us through how businesses can lead the way to create a just and regenerative future where both people and the planet thrive and what to do along the way.

Listen for insights on:

Why procurement is a critical opportunity for value creation
How to build and maintain a successful partnership
How to shape the C-suite and Board’s mindsets to be open to social and environmental sustainability

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Forum for the Future • Sally Uren
(02:26) - Sally's Role
(03:54) - What Does a Sustainable Future Look Like?
(06:22) - Vision of Collaboration
(10:36) - Business Transformation Compass
(12:07) - Just and Regenerative
(13:50) - Procurement as Value Creation
(19:22) - Partnerships
(22:19) - Next Steps
(23:47) - Convincing CEOs
(26:54) - Workshops
(28:58) - What She's Proud Of
(30:14) - What's Important
(33:20) - Wrap Up

What is happening with ESG?

TruStory FM — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 02:00:00 -0700

ESG — which stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance — has become increasingly important as businesses recognize their responsibility to prioritize environmental and social investments.

Over the past few months, ESG has come under fire as politicians challenge whether ESG factors should be considered by investment managers and state pension funds. With the threat of being labeled “woke,” companies are looking for counsel on how they can maintain their commitments to environmental and social impact without being brought into the ESG fray.

We invited two business leaders to explain the ESG controversy and provide their insight to business leaders: Judy Samuelson, VP, Founder, and Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s Business and Society Program; and David Young, Managing Director and Senior Partner of Boston Consulting Group.

Listen for insights on:

Why the ESG controversy is happening now
How the industry can shift the conversation away from politics and to better business
How businesses can hold themselves accountable with no single, accepted standard for ESG reporting
Why Boards are critical to advance ESG

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - State of ESG
(02:04) - Judy's Background
(03:44) - David's Background
(04:56) - What Is ESG?
(08:42) - No One Single Set of Metrics
(10:45) - Telling Your Authentic Story
(13:06) - How Did We Lose Control?
(17:09) - Shifting Away from Politics
(19:21) - What Is a Term?
(23:14) - Talking to DeSantis
(25:03) - Boards
(29:29) - Last Word
(31:10) - Wrap Up

Open Hiring for Wide Open Dreams with Greyston

TruStory FM — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 02:00:00 -0700

“We don’t hire people to bake brownies. We bake brownies to hire people.”

Greyston, a for-profit benefit corporation, is committed to unlocking the power of human potential through inclusive employment, one person at a time. Founder Bernie Glassman built Greyston bakery to hire people who faced barriers to employment. His solution was simple: Anyone with a desire to work would be added to a list and called when there was a position available. No interviews, no background checks, and no resumes required.

More than 40 years later, Greyston has benefited thousands of workers, their families, and communities through open hiring. And the company isn’t stopping there. Its new ten-year vision is to impact 100,000 people by helping other organizations implement inclusive hiring practices.

We invited Joseph Kenner, President and CEO, to speak to the present and future of Greyston and how inclusive hiring can benefit your organization.

Listen for insights on:

Why open and inclusive hiring won’t compromise professionalism and efficiency
Organizations that have successfully adopted open and inclusive hiring practices
The business impact of open and inclusive hiring

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Joseph Kenner • Greyston Bakery
(02:25) - What Drives Joe
(03:34) - What Does Greyston Do?
(04:45) - Open Hiring
(05:58) - Founder Bernie Glassman
(08:00) - Numbers
(08:43) - Why Open Hiring
(11:02) - Feeling
(11:48) - Example
(13:43) - Creating Awareness
(14:40) - Starting at Greyston
(16:10) - Pandemic Protocols
(17:48) - The Foundation
(20:53) - Advancing the Movement
(22:03) - Progress
(22:54) - 2030 Vision
(23:21) - Social Innovator of the Year
(24:23) - Exportability
(25:00) - Challenges
(25:43) - Fears
(27:10) - Barriers and Points
(28:33) - Buy, Donate, Replicate
(29:57) - Next Steps
(30:24) - Last Words
(31:11) - Wrap Up

To B or Not To B (Lab)

TruStory FM — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 02:00:00 -0700

Today, the idea that business can be a force for good is mainstream…but it wasn’t always that way. The early pioneers, including host Carol Cone, invested and contributed to the creation of Business for Social Responsibility, a sustainable business network and consultancy focused on creating a world in which all people can thrive on a healthy planet, in 1992. Fourteen years later, three college friends launched a new movement: one that would transform the global economy through a standards and certification process designed to benefit all stakeholders.

This was the launch of B Lab, the nonprofit organization that sets the standards for and certifies businesses driving an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. These businesses make up the B Corporation movement – distinguished by their special “B” logo.

We invited Eleanor Allen, B Lab’s new Lead Executive, who has taken the reins from its original founders to speak to the present and future of both B Lab and B Corps.

Listen for insights on:

What B Corp certification is and why your company should pursue it
The future for B Corp certification standards
Why large, publicly traded companies are becoming B Corps
How B Lab’s tools can help companies evaluate their ESG performance without applying for certification

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:06) - B Lab • Eleanor Allen
(03:55) - Eleanor's Background
(05:34) - Advice
(07:21) - What Is a B Corp
(08:46) - B Corp Community
(09:39) - Mainstream?
(10:35) - B Impact Assessment
(12:19) - Benefits
(14:10) - Best Practice Sharing in the Community
(15:31) - Common Questions
(16:13) - Standouts
(18:53) - Demand
(20:05) - Rollout Duration
(21:03) - Response
(23:10) - Evolution
(23:55) - 10 Year Vision
(25:33) - Advice
(27:25) - Why Become a B Corp?
(29:03) - Wrap Up

Once a Warrior, Now a Social Entrepreneur

TruStory FM — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 02:00:00 -0800

“You have to have a bias for action in the world if you want to do your part to make it a better place.”

—Jake Wood

Jake Wood’s “bias for action” is indisputable: after graduating from college, he joined the Marine Corps and served two years overseas. His return to civilian life wasn’t easy. Like many veterans, Jake was faced with a loss in structure, purpose, and sense of impact. After a close friend and fellow veteran committed suicide, Jake founded non-profit Team Rubicon with a dual purpose: (1) to serve global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises, and (2) to reintegrate veterans into civilian life through opportunities to utilize military training for communities in need.

Ten years later, Jake welcomed his second daughter, who required surgery shortly after she was born, into the world. The experience sparked a new idea to empower more people to have a greater impact and sense of purpose. In 2021, Jake co-founded Groundswell, a corporate philanthropy platform that allows you to “give like Gates, be taxed like Warren Buffet, and be recognized like Rockefeller.”

We invited Jake to lead us through his purpose journey, from creating social entrepreneurship ventures to the impact your company can make through them.

Listen for insights on:

What to expect from venture investors
How companies can support and enable employees in their philanthropic giving
How employee-driven corporate donations drive better business outcomes
Advice for pursuing greater impact through social entrepreneurism

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Jake Wood • Groundswell
(02:23) - Jake's Personal Purpose
(03:25) - Evolving Purpose
(04:53) - Team Rubicon
(07:42) - Helping Veterans
(10:12) - Creating Groundswell
(13:05) - Structure
(14:30) - Elements of Groundswell
(18:12) - Response
(19:10) - Example
(20:45) - Philanthropy Trends
(21:34) - Inspiration
(22:26) - Insights
(23:54) - Empathy and Love in Leadership
(24:56) - Last Word
(25:38) - Wrap Up

Extending the ESG and CSR Strategy with ACCP

TruStory FM — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 02:00:00 -0800

As the economy pressures companies to tighten their budgets, more ESG and CSR leaders are having to prove why their initiatives should remain a priority. Claims of “woke capitalism” from political leaders and a lack of internal consensus on ESG’s importance only complicate the situation.

ESG and CSR leaders are not alone, though. For 18 years, the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP) has provided a network of support and resources to help professionals advocate for investment in ESG/CSR initiatives. ACCP cultivates inclusive peer communities to help members create a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous society through corporate commitments.

To share more about ACCP’s work – and the state of ESG and CSR today – we invited Carolyn Berkowitz, President and CEO at ACCP, to the show.

Listen for insights on:

The difference between ESG and CSR
How to help educate colleagues in different departments about the importance of ESG/CSR
How to measure the “S” in ESG and extend it to corporate strategy
When companies should publicly engage in ESG issues
The skills needed for CSR employees today

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Carolyn Berkowitz • ACCP
(02:09) - Carolyn's Background
(02:53) - Who Is ACCP?
(03:19) - Generosity
(04:27) - Why Become a Member?
(06:14) - CSR and ESG
(09:40) - Who's Doing It Well
(15:09) - Challenges
(17:06) - Dealing With 2023
(21:13) - Measure the S
(23:27) - Employee Turnover Metrics
(25:28) - DEI
(28:30) - Dealing with Woke Capitalism
(31:28) - Communication Practices
(32:36) - Skills
(34:46) - Last Thoughts
(35:34) - Wrap Up

A Look at ESG Post-Davos with Martin Whittaker

TruStory FM — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 02:00:00 -0800

“The world today is at a critical inflection point. The sheer number of ongoing crises calls for bold collective action.”

The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting at Davos convened CEOs from around the world to discuss global business challenges and identify forward-looking strategies for the years ahead. With the week-long convening over, it’s time for the real work to commence: putting what was discussed into action.

We invited Martin Whittaker, CEO of JUST Capital, to address what conversations from Davos will mean for ESG in 2023.

Listen for insights on:

Why ESG measurement will be critical for business success and growth
What AI and machine learning mean fo the future of work
How ESG and politics will come into play in 2023

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:06) - Martin Whittaker Post Davos
(03:15) - Martin and Just Capital
(04:37) - Davos Then and Now
(07:20) - Just Capital on Site
(08:52) - Major Changes
(10:01) - How Do You Know the Plan Is Working?
(11:53) - Key Discussion Points
(14:20) - Environment
(17:36) - Technology and AI
(19:19) - The Mood
(20:38) - Global Standards
(23:33) - Last Thoughts on Davos
(24:30) - Just Capital in 2023
(26:06) - Wrap Up

A Force for Growth and Good with P&G

TruStory FM — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 02:00:00 -0800

Traditional advertising is transactional. But that’s not the case at Procter & Gamble.

At P&G, advertising goes beyond presenting a product and its benefits to consumers. Instead, P&G uses advertising as a medium for mass storytelling, with the objective of both deepening the public’s understanding of social issues and informing them on the role they can play. This supports transformative change: broadening perspectives and igniting a drive to make change. Don’t believe us? Watch “It’s Our Home.” These stories don’t (just) sell products – they build relationships and spark change.

We invited Damon Jones, Chief Communications Officer at Procter & Gamble, back to Purpose 360 to talk about how P&G leverages storytelling to drive change for the environment and society. Behind the ads are programs that invest in underrepresented communities, products that enable consumers to create positive change, and platforms that foster empathy and understanding.

Listen for more insights on:

The difference between investing in research and consumer understanding.
How to respond to current events with meaningful, substantive, and measured commitments.
How to authentically integrate products into issue-driven marketing and advertising campaigns.
Why a company’s actions matter more than headlines.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Damon Jones • P&G
(04:39) - Meet Damon
(06:02) - His Role and Team
(07:15) - Leading During Covid
(10:59) - Partnership Pivots
(12:43) - Consumer Understanding (Research)
(15:06) - The Talk
(18:24) - Fullness of Their Humanity
(19:30) - New Initiatives
(22:02) - Working Relationship with Mark
(24:22) - Moving to Purpose
(26:01) - Other Brands
(29:23) - Selling a Relationship
(30:17) - Innovation
(33:19) - Period Poverty
(36:28) - Citizenship Report
(38:08) - Damon's "Why"
(39:07) - Recruiting
(40:48) - Sources of Inspiration
(42:05) - Final Thoughts
(43:17) - Wrap Up

In Pursuit of Purpose at Kerry Group

TruStory FM — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 02:00:00 -0800

Developing a corporate purpose is often compared to a journey. Like journeys, purpose requires precise planning, situational awareness, team coordination, and a steadfast commitment to reaching the destination. Often, the most challenging part is determining where to start.

Kerry Group – global nutrition and ingredients company with billions in annual revenue and 22,000 employees – began its purpose journey in 2018. Now, the company’s purpose is embedded throughout the organization, supporting portfolio growth, new partners and acquisitions, improved recruiting and retention, and a new strategic direction.

We invited Edmond Scanlon, CEO, and Catherine Keogh, Chief Corporate Affairs and Brand Officer, of Kerry Group to take you through each step of the process to the “center of Kerry’s soul.”

Listen for more insights on:

Scanlon’s “absolutes” for the purpose discovery process.
How to ensure purpose is unique and holistic.
Which roles senior leaders should take throughout the discovery and embedding process.
How to ensure company buy-in and avoid purpose being interpreted as a top-down exercise.
How to launch purpose so it resonates with employees.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - The Kerry Group
(01:40) - Evolving the Purpose
(03:09) - Katherine's Perspective
(04:03) - Absolutes
(05:43) - Not a Top-Down Exercise
(07:09) - Intimacy
(08:08) - Giving Time to the Process
(09:53) - Kerry Group's Purpose
(13:28) - Embedding the Purpose
(17:47) - Intuitive
(18:45) - Social Impact
(19:48) - Product
(21:43) - Examples
(24:20) - Insights
(26:15) - Last Thoughts
(27:41) - Wrap Up

2023 Purpose Predictions

TruStory FM — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 02:00:00 -0800

Purpose is under pressure.

Last year, we said 2022 would bring a “great reckoning” for corporate purpose – and it did. ESG made headlines and came under fire. Urgency around climate action accelerated, as progress failed to cool our planet. Employees shuffled between companies in search of greater meaning, pay, and balance. Twelve months later, we’re left feeling unsettled, but sure of one thing: When a strategy like purpose causes this much tension and change throughout the global economy, it’s for a good reason.

It is now a new year, bringing new opportunities for change, commitments, and action. But what challenges will purpose face this year? And how will purpose guide us to transformative change and progress?

We invited four great minds and leaders in purpose to answer these questions. Damon Jones, Chief Communications Officer at P&G; Shannon Schuyler, Chief Purpose and Inclusion Officer at PwC; Artis Stevens, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America; and Martin Whittaker, CEO of JUST Capital have joined Carol to share their insight, predictions, and advice for acting with purpose and succeeding in 2023.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Purpose Predictions 2023
(03:00) - Shannon Schuyler
(14:34) - Damon Jones
(22:30) - Martin Whittaker
(38:31) - Artis Stevens
(56:30) - Wrap Up

An Act of Grace with Geralyn Ritter

TruStory FM — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 02:00:00 -0800

On May 12, 2015, Geralyn Ritter, Senior Vice President at pharmaceutical company Merck, was flung from her train car in Amtrak’s deadliest train derailment since 1987. Of 238 passengers, over 200 people were injured and eight were tragically killed. Geralyn was the most critically injured of those who survived.

It took just seconds for Geralyn to go from being a senior executive at one of America’s largest companies to an immobilized ICU patient facing an uncertain future. Despite intense pain, years of recovery, and a continuing struggle with trauma, Geralyn came to view her situation as an act of grace – an undeserved, unmerited gift – that empowered her to rebuild her body and re-establish her career, “bone by bone.”

We invited Geralyn Ritter, now Executive Vice President of External Affairs, ESG, and Sustainability at Organon, a new women’s health organization and spinoff from Merck, to talk about her recovery and return to work through the lens of gratitude, grief, resilience, and, of course, purpose.

Listen for more insights on:

Servant leadership and its transformative impact on employees.
How to balance realism and optimism – both at work and in life.
Why being open to new solutions and opportunities can improve your resilience in new and challenging situations.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Geralyn Ritter
(04:06) - Meet Geralyn
(06:35) - Scale and Impact
(07:17) - Her Role at Merck
(12:43) - Outcomes
(14:13) - The Crash
(17:03) - The Book
(18:47) - Reslience
(21:43) - Dealing With the Pain
(25:27) - Applying Lessons to Work
(30:18) - Organon
(35:23) - God's Reason
(36:49) - New Purpose Perspective
(37:50) - Goals for Organon
(39:43) - Servant Leadership
(42:01) - Advice for Leaders
(43:36) - Advice When Going Through Trauma
(46:03) - Final Thoughts
(46:35) - Wrap Up

Love Means Being More Than a Car Company with Subaru

TruStory FM — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 03:07:00 -0800

What does it mean to be a car company? At Subaru, it’s about showing love and respect to every person at every interaction. But more than that, it’s about improving lives.

This is the Subaru Love Promise: a far-reaching commitment which is embedded in the company’s culture, retailer relationships, community giving, and consumer connections. Subaru’s annual Share the Love event – now in its 15th year – supports one of five charities with the purchase of every vehicle. Underdogs, a social impact campaign, drives awareness for shelter animals that are less likely to be adopted. And Subaru continues to support its hometown community in Camden, NJ.

We invited Bridget Hanrahan, Associate Director of Marketing Operations, and Shira Haaz, Corporate Responsibility Manager, to speak about Subaru’s legacy of embedding and acting with love, leading with focus and dedication, and creating positive impact from retailers to your drive.

Listen for more insights on:

Enabling employees to share ideas and solutions when they observe change needs to happen.
Engaging in your community and building local partnerships to elevate impact.
Embedding purpose into the culture, starting on each employee’s first day.
Connecting corporate purpose and culture to consumer values and experiences.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Subaru Shares the Love
(03:45) - Introducing Bridget and Shira
(05:47) - What is it like to work for a cause-forward company?
(08:32) - The Subaru Six Stars
(11:25) - Love Promise and Share the Love
(26:31) - Dealers versus Retailers: More than a car company
(28:51) - Love in Action
(37:53) - What resources do you count on?
(40:51) - Future Insights?
(46:35) - Wrap Up

The Love That Bombas Socks Made

TruStory FM — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 02:00:00 -0800

Has a statistic ever shocked you so much you can’t forget it?

In 2011, David Heath learned the most requested item in homeless shelters was socks. For such a small and ordinary item, David couldn’t stop thinking about the impact they had on people experiencing homelessness. He began carrying extra pairs of socks with him while walking around New York City and handing them out to people he met. While it was a small expense for him, it mattered immensely to these people, some of whom had resorted to wrapping their feet with plastic bags and banana peels.

David and his friend, Randy Goldberg, wanted to do more. They began researching athletic sock technology and developed two products: one for consumers seeking top-tier socks for athletic pursuits, and one for a person experiencing homelessness. This was the start of Bombas and its buy one, give one model.

Eleven years later, Bombas employs 200+ people, generates $300+ million dollars annually, and has donated more than 75 million new clothing items. We invited David Heath, CEO and Co-Founder, to share how a desire to do good launched a multi-million-dollar business, how Bombas has evolved over time, and how it remains focused on helping the homeless.

Listen for more insights on:

Starting a business with the sole mission for impact.
Building and maintaining partnerships.
Enabling employees to drive innovation based on their passions.
Exploring new impact areas while remaining aligned with a core focus.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Dave Heath • Bombas
(04:08) - The Genesis
(13:36) - Response
(15:41) - The Name and How It Works
(21:40) - Favorite Stories
(24:29) - Giving Network
(28:16) - Real Time Needs
(30:11) - Equal Branches
(31:53) - Numbers
(32:22) - Black and Rainbow Hives
(35:38) - Finding Focus
(37:06) - Buy One Give One Model
(40:51) - The Future
(44:41) - Last Advice
(47:30) - Wrap Up

Thinking in Quarter Centuries with New York Life

TruStory FM — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 02:00:00 -0800

Legacy companies are still around today for a reason: they’ve developed exceptional products or services, nurtured their workforce, and committed to serving their communities. Take New York Life: at 177 years, the company and its Foundation have a long history of supporting family legacies and leading on the issue of child bereavement.

Recent events, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasized the importance of this work. It also highlighted how underserved communities are disproportionately impacted by many issues, including loss. Already committed to providing financial security, protection, and peace of mind, New York Life created a new pillar focused on social justice to address and drive access to generational wealth.

We invited Heather Nesle, President of New York Life Foundation and Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, to share how the Foundation launched its new pillar and continues to drive impact for families around the country.

Listen for more insights on:

How a legacy company maintains and develops philanthropic focus areas to remain relevant and impactful.
How to engage employees and stakeholders in difficult or sensitive topics.
Training your workforce to be advocates for issues that matter to your company and stakeholders.
Advice on how to approach social impact work when you’re creating a new campaign, starting a new project, or launching a new pillar.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - New York Life
(03:13) - Heather Nesle
(04:58) - Heather's Role
(06:00) - Focus and Alignment
(07:34) - Pillars of Their Focus
(09:16) - Kai's Journey
(11:07) - Defending Against Naysayers
(12:46) - Agent Training
(14:55) - Agent Experience
(16:21) - New Third Pillar
(18:46) - Supporting Generational Wealth
(19:42) - Billion Dollar Commitment and First Loss Protection
(21:13) - Mixing the Pillars
(24:04) - Being a Pleasure to Work With
(25:14) - ESG
(26:56) - Benchmarking
(29:37) - Power of Focus
(31:20) - Volunteerism
(33:32) - Last Thoughts
(34:56) - Wrap Up

Improving Life at Home with Whirlpool

TruStory FM — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 02:00:00 -0700

We use appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines daily to save time and improve our quality of life – often without recognizing their impact on our lives. Aside from noticing our monthly electric or water bills, we rarely think about the environmental impact of these appliances – but Whirlpool does.

Whirlpool and its portfolio of impressive brands like KitchenAid, Maytag, and Consul understand both the environmental and social impact of its products – and have for the past 111 years. From its net zero and energy efficiency targets to a 23-year long partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Whirlpool is committed to bettering the planet while producing quality products that improve life at home. Purpose is deeply embedded in the company’s operations, products, and community involvement so everyone – regardless of where they live or what they make – can have an improved life at home.

We invited Pam Klyn, Senior Vice President of Corporate Reputation & Sustainability, and Deb O’Connor, Director of Global Corporate Reputation and Community Relations, from Whirlpool to discuss the company’s legacy, its House + Home programs, and how Whirlpool balances environmental impact while still delivering a quality product.

Listen for more insights on:

How to bring environmental sustainability and social commitments under one umbrella.
How to communicate CSR accomplishments while maintaining humility and staying true to values.
Real challenges and lessons learned from working in and with local communities.
How to start and engage in effective internal mentoring.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Whirlpool
(04:29) - Pam's Background
(05:43) - Deb's Background
(06:41) - Learning from Dreams
(10:51) - Getting That First Job with Whirlpool
(14:29) - Historic Engagement & Sustainability
(16:54) - Corporate & Community Relations
(20:04) - Net Zero
(25:47) - Partner Relationships
(30:38) - Build Better With Whirlpool
(32:58) - Embedding
(35:38) - Generating Ideas
(36:50) - Working in Their Own Community
(41:13) - Dealing With Challenges
(43:39) - Newsroom
(45:39) - Embedding Purpose
(48:18) - Innovations in the Underdeveloped World
(51:05) - Mentoring
(54:58) - Last Words
(56:24) - Wrap Up

NFTs for Dummies … and for Good

TruStory FM — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 03:00:00 -0700

Non-fungible token. Seed phrase. Ethereum. Cryptocurrency. These are terms that have emerged in recent years and may still leave you puzzled. But what if you learned that these terms and their meta counterparts mean opportunity, inclusivity, representation, creative freedom, and, yes, financial profit?

Still a relatively new concept for many, this episode breaks down what NFTs are and illustrates the opportunity that exists for corporations, nonprofits, and individual donors who embrace NFTs.

We invited Nick Fontova, Chief Marketing Officer of the Metaverse Team at Landmark Ventures – known as MrPinkNFT – for a crash course in what NFTs are, how they can be used for good, and why you should get involved now.

Listen for more insights on:

Why NFTs are a necessary technological advancement to recognize new forms of art.
The new donation opportunities NFTs present to nonprofits.
How you can support underrepresented groups through NFTs.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - NFTs for Dummies... and for Good
(04:11) - Meet Nick
(04:59) - The Basics
(12:43) - Buying Them
(16:58) - NFTs for Good
(23:02) - FOMO
(24:59) - Saving Energy
(27:12) - Fundraising Potential
(31:14) - Using the Money and Security
(34:48) - Crypto Winter
(36:56) - Setting One Up
(40:29) - Who's Collecting?
(44:00) - Top Insights
(45:53) - Last Thoughts
(48:01) - Wrap Up

Purpose Under Pressure

TruStory FM — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 03:00:00 -0700

Purpose has proven to be a solution for a major business challenge: The Great Resignation.

The pandemic has given us a lot to think about. Employees are rearranging their priorities to pursue greater meaning (and values-alignment) in their work, placing significant new demands on their employers.

Where does purpose fit in? Purpose Under Pressure, a research collaboration between Carol Cone ON PURPOSE, The Harris Poll, and Allison + Partners, unpacks the benefits of a strong Purpose during turbulent times, its value for recruitment and retention – as well as some early red flags for Purpose practitioners – and tools to embed Purpose within organizations for maximum benefit.

Listen to host Carol Cone; Wendy Salomon, Managing Director of Corporate Reputation & Strategy (The Harris Poll); and Whitney Dailey, Executive Vice President of Purpose (Allison + Partners) for insights on:

What employees expect from employers
Why there is a disconnect between employees and leadership when it comes to purpose fulfillment
How marketing and strategy-building functions are the least “bought in” to purpose
Shifts that have occurred since the start of the pandemic

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Purpose Under Pressure
(03:30) - Meet Wendy Solomon and Whitney Dailey
(05:51) - Wendy's Background
(08:29) - Whitney's Background
(10:20) - Top Findings
(16:50) - How to Embed Purpose
(21:02) - Tools
(23:11) - Purpose in Sales, Marketing & Strategy
(27:06) - Who's Doing It Well
(31:19) - Identifying Personal Purpose
(32:57) - Transparency
(37:52) - CEOs Refining Purpose
(40:06) - Getting the Message Out
(43:45) - Next Couple Years
(46:44) - Advice
(49:22) - Wrap Up

Caring Deeply for a Healthy Climate and Healthy Lives at Biogen

TruStory FM — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 02:00:00 -0700

The climate is in crisis.

Low-income groups are disproportionately impacted in health.

Racial minority students struggle to enter the STEM field.

While these topics may appear unrelated, Biogen is at the intersection of all three. From approaching the climate crisis as a health crisis through Healthy Climate, Healthy Lives – its $250-million, 20-year commitment – to investing in STEM education and development of young students underrepresented in STEM, Biogen is at the forefront, applying its scientific expertise and resources to address health equity and STEM representation.

We invited Johanna Jobin, Global Head of Corporate Reputation & Responsibility at Biogen and Executive Director of Biogen Foundation, to discuss Biogen’s approach to CSR and ESG and the victories they’ve accomplished along the way.

Listen for Johanna’s insights on:

How to operationalize and integrate ESG across your organization.
How to develop a strategic and measurable ESG initiative – and act on it.
Why it’s vital to engage legal teams in ESG work and how to foster a relationship for long-term harmony.
What to look for when building your ESG team of do-ers.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Biogen
(03:43) - Meet Johanna
(05:38) - Lessons and Secrets
(09:07) - Inspiration
(10:33) - Healthy Climate, Healthy Lives
(14:05) - Size of Commitment
(16:23) - Innovation Challenge
(19:09) - Collaborations
(22:49) - Community Lab
(27:40) - Community Lab 2.0
(29:52) - Transparency in Reporting
(34:29) - Working With Legal
(36:39) - Insights
(39:56) - Last Thoughts
(42:12) - Wrap Up

A New Future of Work and Wealth with Ownership Works

TruStory FM — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 02:00:00 -0700

Millions of Americans lack the stability and security that wealth bestows. Even many two-income households are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to meet their basic needs and lacking financial security in case of an emergency. Strikingly, the bottom 25% of households have a medium net worth of only $300 and 26% of workers have no money saved for retirement.

Ownership Works, a nonprofit organization, is working to change that by partnering with companies to provide employees with the opportunity to build wealth at work. Through shared ownership, all employees – from management to the assembly line – become owners in the company.

We invited Pete Stavros, Founder of Ownership Works, to explain the nonprofit’s approach to broad-based employee ownership and its proven impact on company culture, financial returns, and employees’ financial security.

Listen for Pete’s insights on:

● How shared ownership directly impacts corporate performance.

● How Ownership Works uses data to track equity by level and demographics.

● What pitfalls to avoid when introducing shared ownership.

● What is necessary for shared ownership to be successful in a company.

Resources + Links:

● Pete’s LinkedIn

● Ownership Works

● Ownership Works & Ingersoll Rand Case Study

● Ownership Works & C.H.I Overhead Doors Case Study

● Employee Ownership: Wall Street Agrees That Ownership Works (Forbes)

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Pete Stavros – Ownership Works
(06:26) - Pete's Background
(10:00) - The Genesis
(14:40) - Making It a Not-for-Profit
(17:25) - Vision
(22:05) - Video Clips
(23:41) - Case Example
(28:17) - The Type of Company for This
(33:58) - How Investors Feel
(35:03) - Potholes
(38:40) - Partners
(41:06) - The Future
(43:29) - Handling Growth
(45:44) - The Name
(46:55) - The Last Word
(51:02) - Wrap Up

Ambassador of Hope with Andre Norman

TruStory FM — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Andre Norman’s early life put him on a path to prison. He worked his way up to being one of the top leaders in the Massachusetts prison system and, when presented with the opportunity to be Number One, he had an epiphany that he was the King of Nowhere.

Thus began his educational journey. Norman took classes to receive his GED, studied law to reduce his sentence, and, when he finally got out, became committed to transforming the prison system and the lives of those within it. He and his team even went to the Lee Correctional Institute shortly after it was faced with the worst riot in America’s prison system in 25 years. After their work concluded, there were zero fights, staff assaults, or use of force or weapons. No longer a King of Nowhere, Norman became an Ambassador of Hope.

Norman is a living example of how purpose can be a powerful journey. Regardless of what stage you are at (as either a company or as an individual), Norman’s story serves as a guide: recognizing a need to change, committing and acting, encouraging others to join, and refreshing purpose so it remains relevant and leads to new opportunities.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:05) - Andre Norman
(04:20) - By the Numbers
(06:45) - Growing Up
(12:46) - The Trumpet
(17:05) - The Epiphany
(20:15) - Bubble of Chaos
(22:15) - Finding a New Purpose
(24:30) - Helping People
(25:48) - Parole
(30:15) - When Your Mentor's Jealous
(31:26) - Academy of Hope
(35:30) - Demons Catch Up
(40:11) - Current Purpose
(42:28) - Advice
(47:11) - Engaging at the Corporate Level
(48:01) - Son and Dad
(49:25) - Wrap Up

Reimagining the Possible with PwC

TruStory FM — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 23:00:00 -0700

Meet Shannon Schuyler

“We are about our people, but we are a people business. That's what we do. We don't sell widgets. We are people and people have changed. What people desire has changed over the course of time. We have needed to dig into that to have an appreciation of what people wanted and the way in which they worked. And the motivations for working a hundred years ago are different than they are now.”

Shannon Schuyler, PwC’s U.S. Chief Purpose and Inclusion Officer, leads the professional services firm’s efforts to deliver and embed purpose throughout culture and operations. Her work enables employees to be stewards of organizational purpose and embrace social transformation both internally and externally through coalitions and skills development.

We invited Schuyler to share how PwC has aligned its purpose with all 295,000 employees to upskill talent for a global, digital economy; engage authentically with social issues; and have honest conversations about inclusion and diversity.

Listen for Shannon’s insights on:

How PwC approaches each employee as an individual when it comes to their purpose, experiences, background, and skills.
How PwC is building trust with stakeholders, clients, and society to deliver sustained outcomes through the New Equation strategy.
How to collaborate with competitors in order to address industry-wide issues while amplifying societal impact.
How PwC changed the way it approached topics of diversity and inclusion.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Shannon Schuyler
(05:38) - Shannon's Backstory
(10:59) - Shannon's Department
(12:44) - Adding the DE&I Role
(13:32) - Learning Constantly
(14:11) - Embedding Purpose
(17:45) - Creating the Purpose Assessment
(21:11) - The Catalyst
(23:09) - The New Equation
(27:41) - Key Advice
(29:48) - The Numbers
(32:36) - New World New Skills Program
(34:44) - CEO Action Commitment
(38:06) - Recommendations
(39:34) - Measurement
(42:26) - What Issues to Focus On
(43:53) - Social Issues
(45:50) - Empathy and Resources
(49:41) - Insights
(53:15) - Wrap Up

Stepping Into the CECP Summit

TruStory FM — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 23:00:00 -0700

Carol has been an attendee of the Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP) Summit for over 20 years, but 2022’s Summit felt different. It was the first time colleagues were reuniting since the pandemic started, infusing the Summit with excitement and eagerness to share the latest in purpose insights.

Step into the Summit with Carol as she reconnects with purpose leaders from Tata Consultancy Services and Blackbaud to explore what they learned during the past two years.

Listen for insights on:

How to introduce virtual volunteerism opportunities that both engage employees and deliver impact.
How smaller companies with fewer resources can help employees identify their personal purpose and link it to organizational opportunities.
Why investing in human connections can accelerate purpose success.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:03) - CECP
(03:43) - Short Interviews
(06:36) - A Chat With Balaji Ganapathy from TCS
(18:28) - A Chat With Rachel Hutchison from Blackbaud
(30:34) - In Closing

Finding Your Alignment with Hortense le Gentil

TruStory FM — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 23:00:00 -0700

“When you are aligned, you instinctively know what to do. You’re equipped to close the gap between the leader you are and the leader you want to be. When your professional and personal values are aligned, you lead with authenticity and everything becomes possible.”

Many guests on Purpose 360 have shared how they activate employees, collaborate in partnerships, communicate to customers, and engage in the community. It is clear that purpose work requires companies and leaders to care for and focus on many different stakeholders. But while leaders must focus on internal and external stakeholder alignment, it’s vital to also invest in yourself to maintain alignment.

Hortense le Gentil, Executive Coach and Author, defines alignment as the congruence of who you are with what you do. Much like how an organization looks to its values to define purpose, individuals must do the same to be the best version of themselves, drive change, and create impact.

Listen for Hortense’s insights on:

The most effective ways to find alignment
Why showing emotion is vital in effective leadership.
How to break down “mind traps” to unleash your potential
What leaders can learn from model CEOs, including Satya Nadella (Microsoft), John Donahoe (Nike), and Corie Barry (Best Buy)

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Hortense le Gentil
(03:46) - Her Background
(06:04) - Causes for Change in Leadership
(08:47) - Her Book 'Aligned'
(10:47) - What Does It Mean to Be Aligned?
(13:33) - Things Important to Finding Your Alignment
(15:05) - The Pause
(19:22) - Strengthening the Muscle
(21:28) - Becoming a More Human-Centered Leader
(25:15) - Reflection Moments
(28:16) - Trickle Down
(31:19) - Listen to Your Intuition
(34:41) - How It's Impacting Corporate Cultures
(35:31) - Is Leadership Changing?
(38:43) - Engaging in Social Issues
(40:36) - Who She Admires
(41:42) - Do Policies Change?
(44:12) - Insights to Finding Alignment & Impact
(47:56) - Last Thoughts
(49:06) - Wrap Up

Investing in Inclusion at Intel with Dawn Jones

TruStory FM — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 23:00:00 -0700

Many first jobs are not forever jobs, but that’s not how it worked out for Dawn Jones at Intel. Now Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer, Dawn began her career at Intel almost 25 years ago, thinking that she’d only stay for a few years. Intel’s support for her and her goals – from paying for her higher education to offering an inclusive culture – was what made the difference. The result is an incredibly committed and intelligent woman determined to advance inclusion for future Intel employees, and for the industry at large.

Intel’s purpose is to create world-changing technology that improves the life of every person on the planet. Dawn’s work directly brings this purpose to life, driving inclusion internally by embedding it in Intel’s culture and advancing inclusion externally through language in coding, bringing more girls in STEM, and providing educational support to underrepresented students in STEM at community colleges.

Listen for Dawn’s insights on:

Why listening and respecting others’ perspectives are the best mindsets when collaborating.
How to work with a diverse and representative workforce to activate them for good, whether it's in the work that they're doing or in the community.
Why it’s important for industry leaders to collaborate in standardizing goals and metrics, for the industry and world as a whole.
Why it’s important to devote time and resources to pursue awards and rankings.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Dawn Jones From Intel
(05:43) - Dawn's Role
(07:00) - Schooling
(08:10) - Foundation in Media Relations
(10:09) - Intel's Purpose
(12:25) - RISE Strategy
(15:14) - Alliance for Global Inclusion
(18:38) - Insights for Making Collaboration to Work
(20:11) - Inclusion Index
(23:15) - The Million Girl Moonshot
(24:35) - AI Incubator Network
(27:21) - Collaborating During Covid
(29:23) - Moving Together Quickly
(30:30) - Women in Leadership Roles
(33:27) - Culture
(35:51) - Shifting the Culture
(37:53) - POV on Rankings
(39:18) - Insights
(41:43) - Wrap Up

Creating a Future with More Cheers at Anheuser-Busch

TruStory FM — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 23:00:00 -0700

Anheuser-Busch has been making beer for 170 years. But even with legacy brands that have stood the test of time, like Budweiser and Stella Artois, Anheuser-Busch is a company in constant pursuit of a better, more sustainable future.

Sometimes a company’s purpose needs to be refreshed in order for it to remain relevant and meaningful both internally and externally. At the start of 2022, Anheuser-Busch launched its new purpose: We dream big to create a future with more cheers. From creation and piloting to introducing and activating, Anheuser-Busch ensured that this purpose reflected the company’s history while being meaningful to both employees and customers into the future.

We invited César Vargas, U.S. Chief External Affairs Officer, and Lindsay King, U.S. Chief People Officer, to discuss how the purpose came to be, ways internal and external stakeholders were engaged, and how they activate purpose so Anheuser-Busch will serve its beers for another 170 years.

Listen for César and Lindsay’s insights on:

How to pilot a new purpose to ensure it resonates with employees across an enterprise.
Why it’s important to create a strong foundation for internal engagement.
How to inspire employees to serve as ambassadors for your company and its purpose.
Why consistency in communicating purpose lends greater meaning.

Resources + Links:

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Anheuser Busch
(06:45) - Meet César and Lindsay
(09:19) - Why Purpose?
(13:25) - Why the Refresh?
(14:10) - The New Purpose Statement
(16:35) - Using Old and New
(18:43) - Testing and Using It
(20:14) - Personal Values & Company Values
(21:19) - How Are They Embedding It
(22:04) - Internal and External
(24:37) - Interaction
(26:30) - Activating It
(30:07) - Employees That Live the Purpose
(33:01) - Helping One Another
(36:01) - Social Justice
(43:14) - Measurements
(46:55) - The Great Resignation
(47:32) - Top Insights
(51:14) - Final Thoughts
(53:32) - Wrap Up

Searching for the Soul of Business with Alan Murray: Part 2

TruStory FM — Mon, 23 May 2022 23:00:00 -0700

For some, purpose’s integral role in business is a newer conversation topic. But others have seen the power of purpose for decades, including company founders like Ray Anderson, pioneers like host Carol Cone, and business journalists like Alan Murray.

Alan Murray has a unique perspective of the purpose movement. While Ray strategically aligned Interface with environmental commitments and Carol advises and supports companies in establishing purpose-based commitments, Alan followed CEOs from nescience to enlightenment to implementation. In his new book, Tomorrow’s Capitalist: My Search for the Soul of Business, Alan reveals how he observed corporate CEOs recognize the significance of human-centered sustainability – not just so their companies could continue to operate, but so they would thrive.

We invited Alan Murray, CEO of Fortune Media, to discuss Tomorrow’s Capitalist, his experience with the widespread cynicism of the broader public when it comes to businesses and purpose, and how companies can have both a soul and a future.

Listen for Alan’s insights on:

How leadership must change for there to be strategic, long-term success in human-centered business.
What should guide CEOs when deciding whether and how to advocate for an issue or defend an action.
How to effectively amplify communications in today's snackable, hard-to-get-anybody's-attention media landscape.
The three areas all CEOs and leaders need to think about when looking to the future of human-centered business.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Alan Murray Part II
(02:45) - Prominent Issues to Tackle
(07:42) - Fortune Modern Board 25
(09:30) - The Methodology
(11:08) - Where They're Focusing
(12:29) - Leadership Qualities
(14:33) - Empathy
(16:41) - Empowering the Workforce
(19:56) - CEOs as Activists
(22:39) - Communicating Their Efforts
(25:21) - Purpose
(27:44) - ESG
(29:10) - Human-Centered Capitalism
(29:38) - Three Areas of Focus
(32:32) - Issues to Take On
(38:05) - Last Thoughts
(38:49) - Wrap Up

Searching for the Soul of Business with Alan Murray: Part 1

TruStory FM — Mon, 09 May 2022 23:00:00 -0700

Listen for Alan’s insights on:

How leadership must change for there to be strategic, long-term success in human-centered business.
What should guide CEOs when deciding whether and how to advocate for an issue or defend an action.
How to effectively amplify communications in today's snackable, hard-to-get-anybody's-attention media landscape.
The three areas all CEOs and leaders need to think about when looking to the future of human-centered business.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Alan Murray
(03:23) - Alan's Podcast
(04:03) - Business's Soul
(04:30) - Alan's Background
(06:55) - Tomorrow's Capitalist
(12:13) - The Soul of Business
(18:02) - Meeting in the Vatican
(24:42) - Tipping Points
(28:09) - Larry Fink's Role
(30:00) - Just Capital's Role
(33:14) - Accelerating the Shift
(34:22) - Returns to People, Not Shareholders
(36:17) - What He Learned From His Parents
(39:14) - Part II Next Week

Driving Purpose From the C-Suite to the Boardroom with Dan Hesse

TruStory FM — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 23:00:00 -0700

In 2007, the recently merged Sprint Nextel was only six months away from going bankrupt. But under Dan Hesse, its new CEO, the company focused on a new strategy and internal culture that prioritized employee satisfaction to improve customer experience. This led to Sprint Nextel placing first in the wireless industry in customer satisfaction and ranking #1 in total shareholder return among all S&P 500 companies in his final two years as CEO, 2012 and 2013.

Dan believed in the power of stakeholder-based capitalism to build culture and drive business success before many of his peers. Now retired from the C-suite (he also served as President and CEO of AT&T), Dan serves on various boards to help companies build and elevate purpose-driven cultures that support ESG commitments.

We invited Dan, Board Member of JUST Capital, PNC, and Akamai Technologies, to share how purpose remains the driving force behind his leadership, business success, and counsel for companies today.

Listen for Dan’s insights on:

The three things CEOs and boards must do to advance purpose initiatives that build both stakeholder and shareholder value.
The biggest barriers to boards embracing purpose as a business strategy, and how leaders can overcome them.
The three principles of a culture that creates business success: employees, customers, and purpose.
How the role of boards in overseeing purpose has changed and what boards expect in terms of ESG today.
How employee input, company values, and culture come together to shape strategic decision-making.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Intro to Dan Hesse
(03:14) - Who Is Dan Hesse?
(04:44) - Four Topics
(05:48) - Stakeholder-Based Capitalism
(10:29) - Response
(11:18) - Senior Team
(12:42) - Joining Sprint
(20:00) - Six Months
(25:37) - Sprint's Board
(27:12) - How Boards View Purpose
(32:53) - Barriers
(34:14) - Purpose in Conversation
(35:58) - Embedding
(39:42) - Activism
(45:35) - Suggestions for C-Suite Execs
(47:49) - Last Thoughts
(50:14) - Giving Speeches
(51:29) - Wrap Up

Informing the Way Forward with Thomson Reuters

TruStory FM — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 23:00:00 -0700

After two years of a pandemic and the need for many employees to work from home, creating connections has never been more important – to your coworkers, company, and work. Thomson Reuters recognized the significance of these connections and the need to facilitate them, especially given that the company formed a new operating entity and welcomed a new CEO days before the pandemic began.

The answer was purpose – but Thomson Reuters’ purpose still needed to be defined. Knowing that an authentic purpose is driven from the inside out, Thomson Reuters embarked on a process of collecting employee insights, experiences, and stories, coupled with the power of its AI. With insights from over 800 employees and, eventually, 4,000 customers, Thomson Reuters found its purpose: Inform the Way Forward.

We invited Alex Thompson, CCO of Thomson Reuters, to share the story of uncovering Inform the Way Forward and how it has unleashed the passion, power, and unlimited potential of Thomson Reuters.

Listen for Alex’s insights on:

How to purpose can unite siloed employees and enable them to understand and appreciate each other’s contributions.
Why purpose needs time to settle so it can be fully embraced.
How to engage employees and their expertise in advancing social objectives.
Why you should invite critics to be your counselors, and how to select them.
How to communicate individual and departmental victories at a corporate level to inform and motivate colleagues.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Alex Thompson, Thomson Reuters Institute
(04:09) - Alex's Background
(06:51) - What Does Thomson Reuters Do?
(08:39) - Trust Principles
(10:33) - TR's Purpose
(13:38) - The Process
(15:04) - Interviews
(17:47) - Embedding the Purpose
(20:49) - Call to Action
(24:11) - Deeper Connections
(27:14) - Surprises
(28:41) - Global
(30:43) - Board's Role
(32:20) - Decision to Make the Shift
(35:21) - Initial Conversation
(36:56) - CEO Letter
(40:12) - Superbowl Sex Trafficking
(42:38) - Inform the Way Forward
(48:21) - West Law Edge
(51:19) - Pro Bono Work
(54:10) - Tips
(57:01) - Identifying Critics
(57:59) - Last Thoughts
(58:52) - Wrap Up

Eat, Play, Love with Ella’s Kitchen

TruStory FM — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0700

“Don’t play with your food” may be a phrase you heard as a child, or perhaps have said to your own children. As it turns out, children really should be playing with their food. Because when they do – especially with vegetables – they’re more likely to eat them later in the day and in the years to follow.

Today, 30% of UK children are classified as overweight or obese by the time they turn 5. Ella’s Kitchen, the UK’s number one baby food brand, believes intervention is coming too late. The company’s purpose–to improve children’s lives through developing healthy relationships with food–started with founder Paul Lindley in 2006 and lives on today with CEO Mark Cuddigan. Determined to raise the next generation, Ella’s Kitchen has marched on the House of Parliament with children, engaged retailers, launched new products, made healthy products more affordable, and launched informative campaigns. In addition to caring for the health of their little consumers, Ella’s Kitchen is implementing sustainable practices into operations and bringing its supply chain partners along for the journey.

We invited Mark Cuddigan, CEO of Ella’s Kitchen, to share how he advanced the company’s purpose and sustainability initiatives since taking over from Lindley.

Listen for Mark’s insights on:

How a new CEO can sustain and advance a company’s purpose while leaving their own mark after the departure of a founder.
How to maintain a values-based culture after a company has been acquired.
How to help supply chain partners adopt sustainable and purpose-driven practices.
Why it’s sometimes okay to take a financial loss if an investment advances purpose over the long term.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Mark Cuddigan from Ella's Kitchen
(06:08) - Mark's Background & Ella's Kitchen
(08:55) - Influenced by Kids
(10:52) - What Is Weaning?
(11:43) - Communicating Health
(15:58) - Hearing From Parents
(18:26) - Retaining Their Purpose After Acquisition
(21:11) - Sustainability
(22:24) - B-Corp Certification
(26:43) - Maximizing Shareholder Return
(28:01) - Advocacy
(32:22) - Supply Chain Partners
(37:11) - Balancing Sides of Your Purpose
(40:09) - Eat Play Love
(44:03) - It's Not About Profits
(46:26) - Autonomy
(52:56) - Insights
(54:21) - Last Thoughts
(55:52) - Wrap Up

Protecting What Matters Most with GAF

TruStory FM — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 23:00:00 -0700

To GAF, the roofs over the heads of the company’s customers do far more than provide shelter. Each shingle designed and produced by GAF – North America’s largest roofing manufacturer – upholds the company’s purpose: We protect what matters most. Whether those shingles sit atop family homes or small businesses, GAF works to protect the people, belongings, and memories the company serves.

In the spirit of this purpose, GAF developed Community Matters, its social impact program, to support and empower the communities in which the company operates. Community Matters unites GAF employees, partner organizations, and community members to empower, connect, and inspire the community.

We invited Andy Hilton, Chief Communications Officer and Head of CSR at GAF, for an in-depth conversation on how GAF is bringing Community Matters to life.

Listen for Andy’s insights on:

How GAF worked directly with employees and residents in Shafter, CA to refresh and expand the community’s beloved Learning Center .
How GAF partners with nonprofits like Project for Public Spaces to involve communities in the co-creation of local initiatives.
How the Build Back Better initiative has influenced GAF’s relationship with partners in addressing climate resiliency.
How to create micro volunteerism moments for employees in roles with limited flexibility, such as shift work.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Andy Hilton from GAF
(03:33) - What Is GAF?
(05:32) - Andy's Backstory
(09:43) - Importance in Standing for Something
(11:05) - Jim's Vision: Stakeholders & Employees
(15:17) - Presenting to Leadership Team
(19:44) - The Elements of 'Community Matters'
(21:47) - Learning From Hurrican Florence
(24:35) - Local Community Work
(29:57) - Project for Public Spaces
(31:51) - Dealing With the Pandemic
(35:20) - Keeping Going
(35:53) - Spreading Learning From Shafter
(37:32) - Resiliency
(40:48) - Having Good Partnerships
(42:22) - An Insight He's Learned
(43:43) - Senior Team
(46:15) - Localizing
(48:09) - Time Off
(49:56) - Last Words
(51:51) - Wrap Up

How the JUST 100 is Reshaping American Business

TruStory FM — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 23:00:00 -0800

The truly great companies of today are the ones that lead in purpose and invest in stakeholders to ensure long-term profitability. But for investors, differentiating and evaluating companies’ “goodness” can be challenging, even as more companies make and report on ESG commitments. And for business leaders, determining how to create long-term value for all stakeholders can be unclear. JUST Capital provides a solution.

JUST Capital, a nonprofit organization with a purpose to equip the market with these insights, released its annual JUST 100 rankings at the beginning of 2022. The organization’s methodology combines polling from the American public to define the issues that matter most in a given year with weighted standards that are then used to rank companies. “Just” companies are assessed based on their performance across five core categories: Workers, Communities, Shareholders & Governance, Customers, and Environment. This year, the top three concerns of the American public included paying a fair living wage, creating US jobs, and prioritizing stakeholder value creation.

To share insights on this year’s rankings, we welcomed back to the show JUST Capital’s CEO Martin Whittaker.

Listen in for Martin’s insights on:

The attributes of high-ranking companies and recommendations for companies looking to invest in the interests of the American public.
The transition from a “trust me” to a “show me” mentality with sustainability reporting.
The role of boards and how successful boards are able to put talk into action.
Why social sustainability will be the prominent focus in 2022.
What factors caused a shift in companies rising and falling on the 2022 JUST 100 rankings.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - The JUST 100 with Martin Whittaker from JUST Capital
(04:13) - Meet Martin
(05:04) - What Is JUST Capital?
(07:50) - The Genesis
(09:48) - Polling
(12:22) - This Year
(15:31) - Desired Ranking
(19:11) - Advice & Counsel
(22:06) - Surprises
(30:38) - 7 Imperatives
(36:12) - Working With Boards
(41:14) - Communication
(44:55) - Employees' Voices
(47:07) - Meaning & Flexibility
(50:43) - Three Suggestions to Become a More Just Company
(54:26) - Wrap Up
(56:43) - Last Words

Ice Cream as a Convener for Social Change at Ben & Jerry’s with Chris Miller

TruStory FM — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 23:00:00 -0800

In July 2020, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen unanimously voted to close down its workhouse jail and reinvest its operating funds into community programs. The victory was shared by members of the community, politicians, a coalition of activists, and Ben & Jerry’s.

While most associate Ben & Jerry’s first with its variety of ice cream flavors, the company’s purpose is to be an advocate for progressive social change in the world. With 66 global activism campaigns, the company uses its channels, platform, products, and fans (they don’t call them customers) to elevate messages, bring communities together, and take a stand.

We invited Chris Miller, Ben & Jerry’s Head of Global Activism Strategy, to discuss what cutting-edge corporate activism looks like today and how Ben & Jerry’s remains authentic to its values while using ice cream to change the world.

Listen for Chris’ insights on:

How to identify the right issues to engage with.
Why values-based actions are critical in activism, and how to articulate your company’s values.
How relationships with NGOs and grassroots organizations create value in amplifying a message and uniting stakeholders around a campaign.
The value of addressing controversy head-on and practicing transparency when engaging in activism.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Chris Miller • Ben & Jerry's
(04:32) - Chris' Story
(08:54) - Authenticity
(11:56) - Campaigns
(19:16) - Fan Feedback
(21:20) - Unilever
(24:55) - Candor
(28:58) - Favorite(s)
(30:21) - Values
(34:59) - Finding Values
(38:12) - New Campaigns
(42:51) - Issue Flavors
(44:59) - Activism Suggestions
(50:06) - Chris' Last Words
(51:03) - Wrap Up

Restitching the Fashion Industry with Ethical Clothing

TruStory FM — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 23:00:00 -0800

The fashion industry is facing a reckoning. Clothing production accounts for 10% of global CO2 emissions and textile dying yields 20% of global waste water. And shamefully, 85% of all textiles are disposed of each year. Additionally, some businesses are trying to convince consumers that their products are more sustainable than they are by using “greenwashing” buzzwords like “zero waste” and “organic.”

Ethical Clothing, a search engine for sustainable clothing brands and products, was founded with the goal to enable consumers to make informed purchasing decisions as they navigate the world of sustainable clothing brands. We invited Ben Heinkel, Ethical Clothing’s Co-Founder, to discuss the fashion industry crisis and their solution of directly connecting well-intentioned consumers with truly ethical fashion companies.

Listen for Ben’s insights on:

How Ethical Clothing provides consumers with the tools and knowledge to make ethical purchasing decisions.
The characteristics of ethical and sustainable brands and products.
Why it’s important to align your personal values with those of your business or project values for it to be long-lasting.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:07) - Ethical Clothing
(03:00) - What Is It?
(04:28) - Getting Started
(10:13) - Guidelines
(11:13) - The Site
(13:08) - Ethical Brands
(16:28) - Creating Awareness
(17:26) - Expanding
(18:55) - Launching During Pandemic
(20:42) - Goals
(21:14) - Company Name
(22:22) - Fighting the Fast Fashion Machine
(25:23) - Message
(27:23) - Being Sustainable
(28:23) - Range
(30:20) - Lessons Learned
(31:47) - Breaking Ties
(32:42) - Last Thoughts
(33:49) - Socials
(34:10) - Wrap Up

Living Up to the Expectations of Your Children with Alan and Elijah VanderMolen

TruStory FM — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 23:00:00 -0800

Stakeholder expectations of companies today are clear: They must serve a purpose beyond profit alone, and they must do so authentically. One stakeholder group leading the call for purpose-driven business is young professionals. Increasingly, they’re seeking out internships and then careers with organizations that align with their values and personal purpose. Today’s business leaders hoping to capture this nascent talent must ensure their organizations are operating with purpose at the core.

To better understand what the next generation of talent wants, and how companies today are responding, we invited a father-son team to Purpose 360. Alan VanderMolen, CCO of SC Johnson, the company with the purpose goal to be the planet’s most trusted, and Elijah VanderMolen, a junior at NYU studying Public Policy and Environmental Studies, joined the show to share their insights and experiences.

Listen for Alan and Elijah’s insights on:

Why we should ask how to live up to the expectations of our children.
The best ways to reach and engage Gen Z, especially when it comes to sustainability.
Cultivating a sustainability and purpose mindset at home and in the workplace.
The danger of purpose washing today and the importance of authentically acting and reporting on purpose claims.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:05) - Intro to Alan & Eli VanderMolen
(04:12) - Backgrounds
(09:15) - Importance of Sustainability
(11:32) - Values
(15:58) - Influences
(18:37) - What's Happening in SC Johnson
(23:25) - How Companies Should Reach Out
(27:24) - Getting This Type of Job
(32:23) - External Advice
(36:35) - Advice for Each Other
(38:59) - Future Plans
(39:29) - Last Thoughts
(42:34) - Wrap Up

Mobilizing a New Force for GOOD with Peter Lupoff and Max Schorr

TruStory FM — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 23:00:00 -0800

In social impact partnerships, we often talk about ‘unlikely bedfellows ’—partners with whom you may not expect to collaborate but whose collective impact is transformational. The alliance between GOOD Worldwide Inc and Net Impact, however, just makes sense: These two powerhouse organizations have long rallied and amplified some of the most important figures and voices in social impact. Now, they’ve come together with Upworthy to create the GOOD Institute, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization to address social issues, drive social action, and reimagine the possibilities of our shared future.

To share more about this new endeavor, we welcomed to the show Peter Lupoff, CEO at Net Impact and GOOD Institute, and Max Schorr, Co-founder, and CEO at GOOD Worldwide Inc. Listen for Peter and Max’s insights on:

How this groundbreaking alliance came together, and the unique strengths each organization brings to the Institute—from Net Impact’s 160,000+ members to Upworthy’s growing digital audience.
Why collaboration and ‘think tank’ style hubs are critical to solving some of the world’s most challenging social issues in innovative and inspiring ways.
How GOOD Institute is bringing together next-gen talent, global policy leaders, and some of the world’s most iconic companies to drive change.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(04:22) - Peter's Backstory
(05:58) - Max's Backstory
(08:28) - Net Impact
(10:23) - Good Worldwide
(13:57) - Building the Alliance
(17:19) - What They Do
(18:32) - Specifics
(21:37) - Partners
(22:34) - Research Directions
(25:02) - Past Case Studies
(28:16) - Measurement
(33:34) - Long Term Visions
(35:59) - Key Business Insights
(40:30) - Social Media
(41:14) - Last Thoughts

Talking About Grief with Experience Camps

TruStory FM — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 23:00:00 -0800

Joy. Wonder. Delight. Grief. These feelings are all deeply associated with the holiday season, but that last one isn’t talked about much. Talking about grief has become even more urgent during the pandemic, with 86% of Americans now saying grief should be addressed as an important mental health issue. Yet, 70% of adults don’t have the skills they need, saying they’re often unsure what to do or say when someone they care about is grieving.

Experience Camps is seeking to change that by championing the nation’s 5.3 million bereaved children running no-cost programs that help grieving children thrive. The organization focuses on kids who have gone through the death of a sibling or parent/primary caregiver, organizing week-long overnight summer camps and year-round programs to help children build the community and coping skills they need to thrive.

To hear hard-won insights from nearly 450,000 hours with grieving kids and actionable ideas for supporting others through grief, we welcomed to the show Sara Deren, founder and CEO (that’s Chief Experience Officer) of Experience Camps.

Listen for Sara’s insights on:

Why it’s important to ‘Talk About Grief,’ and how you can have hard conversations in constructive ways.
How Experience Camps is navigating a 500% increase in demand over the last five years, expanding programming and resources to meet the unprecedented need.
The lifelong impacts that healthy coping skills can provide grieving children, and how Experience Camps extends support beyond camp sessions.

If you or a loved one is struggling with grief this holiday season, or want to help someone who is, please find grief resources here. If you would like to light a virtual candle for a loved one, please click here.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:54) - Experience Camps
(04:26) - Sara Deren
(11:07) - Finding Your Purpose
(12:36) - The First Year
(19:06) - Childhood Grief
(21:35) - What Happens at Camp
(23:50) - Growth
(28:12) - By the Numbers
(32:38) - Grief
(36:21) - TAG
(39:05) - Pandemic
(41:46) - Beyond the Bunk
(43:52) - Getting Involved
(45:41) - Giving Tuesday
(47:50) - Corporate Support
(48:27) - Finding Motivation
(50:47) - Insights
(52:29) - Last Word
(54:38) - Wrap Up

Cultivating a Better Tomorrow at Chipotle with Laurie Schalow

TruStory FM — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 23:00:00 -0800

Chipotle revolutionized fast-casual dining with its fresh ingredients, open kitchens and assembly lines, and inventive menu. But Chipotle’s real innovation happens before the food gets into the hands of hungry customers. From the farms where ingredients are grown and raised to the impact of its supply chain on the environment, Chipotle is committed to sourcing and serving “food with integrity.” Its leadership in these areas and others has set a new bar for QSR and fast food, and the food system as a whole.

This is all embodied in Chipotle’s purpose to cultivate a better world. This purpose is made real through the company’s support of ventures that make responsibly sourced and sustainable food more accessible, an executive compensation structure tied to ESG goals, and support for family farms. One meal might not change the world, but the way Chipotle makes it might.

To share Chipotle’s purpose journey—including the ups and downs—we welcomed Laurie Schalow, Chief Corporate Affairs and Food Safety Officer, to Purpose 360. Listen for Laurie’s insights on:

How Chipotle identified and committed to addressing a “disruptive” issue that other organizations weren’t addressing.
Why you should continuously monitor and address the needs of your stakeholders - from your suppliers and partners to your employees and customers.
Why working on projects that haven’t been successful is a powerful way to display your leadership capability and make a mark.
Why having a small sustainability team is not a deterrent to driving impact if you embed purpose responsibility cross-functionally.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:56) - Chipotle • Laurie Schalow
(04:19) - Meet Laurie
(07:42) - Laurie's Background
(09:24) - Team Size
(09:56) - Chipotle's Purpose
(13:39) - Bringing 'Real' to Life
(16:46) - KPIs
(18:48) - Food Safety
(20:34) - Environmental Factors
(21:36) - CEO
(24:51) - Challenges
(26:47) - Debt-Free Degree Program
(27:40) - Retaining Employees
(29:44) - Addressing the Pandemic
(31:22) - Upcycling & Food Waste
(34:58) - Real Food Print
(36:05) - Measuring Success
(38:03) - Chipotle Cultivate Foundation
(40:49) - TV Spot
(44:52) - Inspirations
(47:38) - Insights
(50:17) - Last Thoughts
(51:51) - Wrapping Up

Making More Moments of Goodness with The Hershey Company

TruStory FM — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 23:00:00 -0800

The Hershey Company has a distinct purpose of “making moments of goodness. The company’s iconic brands include the much-beloved Reese’s, York, Twizzlers, Good N Plenty, Almond Joy, barkTHINS, and, of course, the Hershey’s chocolate bar. Over a century before social and nutritional concerns came to light in a transparent world, they created the Shared Goodness Promise based on the values of its founder.

The Shared Goodness Promise was born nearly 125 years ago with Milton Hershey and has grown to be The Hershey Company’s commitment to sustainably grow the business, protect the planet, enrich communities, and provide joy and opportunity to children. From monitoring and enforcing ethical supply chain management to improving childhood wellness through nutrition education and social and emotional learning support, The Hershey Company continually identifies new ways to bring its purpose to life.

To talk about creating lasting change through embedding its purpose, we welcomed Jeff King, Senior Director of Global Sustainability and Social Impact at The Hershey Company, to Purpose 360. Listen for Jeff’s insights on:

How The Hershey Company identified where and how it could create more moments of goodness across the supply chain and in its communities.
How to use the voice of stakeholders to support and bolster sustainability decisions and strategic directions.
Why small sustainability successes are important to build momentum - especially earlier in the journey.
How employees are critical to authentic purpose.

Links & Notes

Jeff King on LinkedIn
About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company’s 2020 Sustainability Report
The Shared Goodness Promise
The Hershey Company’s Sustainability Goals and Progress
Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation Systems
The Heartwarming Project
International Cocoa Initiative

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:55) - Jeff King from Hershey's
(04:39) - Jeff's Career Trajectory
(07:07) - Favorite Hershey's Candy
(07:35) - Jeff's Personal Purpose
(09:05) - Hershey's Purpose
(11:14) - Sustainability Strategy
(19:18) - Honoring Legacy
(21:16) - Measurement
(23:12) - Cocoa Sourcing & Child Labor Monitoring & Remediation Systems
(27:59) - Being in the Field
(29:39) - Nutrition
(31:07) - Brands' Response to Corporate Purpose
(33:20) - Milton Hershey School
(35:34) - The Heartwarming Project
(40:13) - Employee Matching Program & Volunteer Opportunities
(43:12) - Top Insights
(45:24) - Last Thoughts

To (Mission) Zero and Beyond with Interface

TruStory FM — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 23:00:00 -0700

Interface has some of the most ambitious climate goals in business, and is achieving them by deeply integrating purpose and sustainability throughout the organization. While Interface may not be a company you’ve heard of, you might step on its products every single day.

Founded by Ray C. Anderson in the 1970s, Interface designs and manufactures modular commercial flooring, including a revolutionary carbon-capturing carpet tile. Long before such innovative products, Interface was a “typical” company with a negative impact on the environment. In 1994, after a customer asked Anderson what his company was doing for the environment, the founder developed a task force to come up with the answer. Since then, Interface has achieved its “Mission Zero” commitment to be net zero by 2020 (and did so a year early) and has embarked on Climate Take Back, an initiative to create a climate “fit for life.”

To talk about Ray’s vision and Interface’s radical journey, we welcomed Erin Meezan, VP and Chief Sustainability Officer, to the show.

Listen for Erin’s insights on:

How Interface operationalized Ray’s original vision into strategic initiatives that have transformed the way companies approach sustainability.
Why and how Interface engages its supply chain partners in achieving sustainability goals.
How purpose-driven products and services can mobilize customers under a shared mission.
Transformational lessons learned along Interface’s sustainability journey.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:54) - Intro to Erin Meezan at Interface
(05:28) - The Numbers
(05:58) - Erin's Background
(08:06) - Impressions of Ray
(09:36) - Interface's Journey
(14:36) - Stories About Ray
(21:17) - Mission Zero
(25:22) - Climate Takeback
(27:15) - Four Goals
(29:27) - Deeply De-Carbonizing
(31:26) - Customer Response
(35:38) - Sales Team Response
(37:48) - HR and Turnover
(39:12) - Measurement
(42:17) - Climate Week
(44:02) - Advice for Future CSOs
(46:24) - Insights
(54:20) - Last Words
(56:04) - Wrapping Up
(57:03) - Ray Anderson Interview Clip

Uniting Purpose and Data to Eradicate Hunger

TruStory FM — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 23:00:00 -0700

For many of us, issues like malnutrition or access to clean water are difficult to fathom. For the team at Action Against Hunger, a global nonprofit, these issues are part of their daily work —and the lives of millions of children hinge on how successfully they carry out their purpose.

Action Against Hunger’s work has always been critical, but recent data from the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World reports that world hunger increased by roughly 10% in 2020. To talk about this age-old purpose that has troubling new relevance, we welcomed to the show Dr. Charles Owubah, CEO of Action Against Hunger.

Listen for Charles’s insights on:

How Action Against Hunger is applying bold solutions and working to scale evidence-based programs that address hunger from various angles—from combatting drought to empowering mothers to monitor their children’s nutritional wellbeing.
Why Action Against Hunger applies a business lens to achieving its mission (for example, by demonstrating how $1 invested in hunger programming returns $16 to the economy), and how they bring partners along on the journey.
The role of data in combatting humanitarian crises like hunger, and how Action Against Hunger is innovating new approaches to data and technology to improve operational efficacy and transform key parts of the humanitarian and development sector.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(02:01) - Charles Owubah – Action Against Hunger
(04:17) - Hunger Today
(05:42) - Consortium of Hunger Organizations
(08:53) - Charles' Background
(11:38) - Working Together
(13:54) - The Organization
(17:03) - Back in the Field
(20:06) - Extremes in Climate
(22:37) - New Tech Data
(25:43) - Innovative Programs
(28:30) - Staying Relevant
(32:40) - Donors
(34:28) - Other Uses of Data
(35:56) - What a Partner Looks Like
(39:42) - Impact From Being in the Field
(41:34) - Profile of Younger Donors
(43:53) - Things for NGO Leaders to Embrace in Post-COVID World
(46:04) - What Drives Charles
(48:04) - Charles' Final Words
(49:24) - Wrapping Up

Bringing Values to Life with the ‘Dauntless’ Paul Polman

TruStory FM — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 23:00:00 -0700

“We are at this crucial juncture where we really have to decide if we're going to live together in harmony and in sync with planet Earth or if we become one of the statistics of extinguished species. I know which side of history I want to be on.”

Paul Polman: influencer, business leader, campaigner, and one of the pioneers of the stakeholder capitalism movement. From creating the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) during his tenure as CEO of Unilever to supporting CEOs in their work to implement purpose, Paul believes that the true definition of a billionaire is serving billions. His new book, Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take, is a roadmap for embedding purpose into an organization. In the book—and in this episode—Paul explains how Unilever brought the USLP to life through employees and embedded it into culture, operations, innovations, supply chain, customers, consumers, and communities.

Paul joined host Carol Cone on Purpose 360 to explain what it means to be a net positive business today and why he will always be a “prisoner of hope” when it comes to solving our shared global challenges.

Listen for insights from Paul on:

How a business philosophy that supports shared prosperity creates both social impact and financial returns.
Why exercising humility and recognizing that you can’t do everything on your own is vital to creating great impact.
Why it’s important to bring in NGOs and partnerships to learn and grow.
The three lessons Paul would share with a CEO trying to be net positive.

Links & Notes

Paul Polman on LinkedIn
Buy your copy of Net Positive: Bookshop.org Barnes & Noble Apple Books Amazon
IMAGINE
[Unilever Sustainable Living Plan 2010 to 2020(https://assets.unilever.com/files/92ui5egz/production/16cb778e4d31b81509dc5937001559f1f5c863ab.pdf/USLP-summary-of-10-years-progress.pdf)

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(06:16) - Introducing Paul Polman
(09:48) - What is a "Net Positive" Company?
(14:41) - The USLP and Senior Leadership Culture
(20:49) - Partner to Win and Supplier Partnerships
(27:03) - Measurement
(30:49) - NGO Relationships
(34:41) - What does it feel like to be an employee?
(39:01) - The ESG Conversation on Wall Street
(44:15) - What are you most proud of?
(47:42) - Brand Management
(51:42) - Three Lessons to Start the Journey
(58:48) - Net Positive Lessons

Growing More Good with ScottsMiracle-Gro

TruStory FM — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 23:00:00 -0700

No one wakes up on a Saturday morning eager to purchase garden and lawn control products, and ScottsMiracle-Gro knows that. Consumers buy these products to use on something that they enjoy — their vegetable garden, their flowers, or the lawn their kids play on.

That’s why ScottsMiracle-Gro’s purpose is to bring goodness to every person and every patch of the Earth. This applies to the next generations of gardeners, too: ScottsMiracle-Gro is encouraging childrens’ love for the outdoors through gardening programs in an effort to nurture future stewards of the environment.

Jim King, EVP and CCO of ScottsMiracle-Gro, has returned to Purpose 360 to share an update on the company’s purpose commitment, GroMoreGood.

Listen for insights from Jim on:

How ScottsMiracle-Gro makes purpose “sticky” to engage employees, connect with consumers, and support future stakeholders.
Why organizations require executive leader buy-in and commitment to live their purpose.
How employee engagement and storytelling drive authenticity and trust in purpose.
If you can’t live and be your purpose, then you should move on from it.

Links & Notes

About ScottsMiracle-Gro
Jim King on LinkedIn
GroMoreGood
Associates on GroMoreGood Everywhere
[Associates on GroMoreGood for Others](https://youtu.be/wpXtmHDDVHE
ScottsMiracle-Gro Campus

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:35) - Jim King from ScottsMiracle-Gro
(06:22) - Evolved Purpose
(08:57) - Actions to Embed Their Purpose
(10:28) - Predictive Analytics
(12:16) - Feeling Good About a Brand
(14:51) - Growth
(16:41) - GroMoreGood
(18:35) - Employees
(21:54) - The Pandemic
(25:57) - Initiatives
(29:11) - Learning by Listening
(34:48) - Gro1000
(36:49) - Being Embedded
(38:53) - HeadStart
(39:38) - Partnerships
(42:09) - The Journey for Your Own Purpose
(44:17) - Insights Regarding Embedding
(45:41) - Last Thoughts & Wrap-Up

Transforming Lives via Financial Inclusion with Kiva CEO Chris Tsakalakis

TruStory FM — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 23:00:00 -0700

Many people are familiar with Kiva.org’s crowdfunded microloans, which support more than 3.5 million entrepreneurs worldwide. Fewer know the extent of Kiva’s efforts to expand financial access to help underserved communities thrive. Today, the international nonprofit promotes innovations in financial inclusion through Kiva Labs, helps countries build more inclusive financial systems with Kiva Protocol, and unlocks scalable investments via Kiva Capital.

To learn more about Kiva’s purpose-driven growth, we welcomed Chris Tsakalakis, CEO of Kiva, to the show. Chris and his team have created a cycle of impact, fostering person-to-person connections that have resulted in $1.6 billion in loans to 4 million borrowers around the world.

Listen for insights from Chris on:

How Kiva identifies and leverages gaps in the financial inclusion market to develop new solutions and scale impact.
Why making innovation a responsibility for all employees enables a mindset of continuous improvement and adaptability.
How expanding financial inclusion initiatives can help address other urgent social issues, from gender equity to human rights.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:54) - Kiva.org
(03:33) - Meet Chris Tsakalakis
(07:36) - What Drew Chris to Kiva
(09:22) - Using Kiva
(12:53) - Other Impact Lines: Kiva Capital
(16:10) - Other Impact Lines: Kiva Labs
(17:42) - Other Impact Lines: Kiva Protocol
(20:19) - Kiva's Partnership with the MasterCard Foundation
(22:50) - Strategic Partnerships Team
(24:02) - Finding the Right Borrowers' Stories
(25:07) - Relationship With HP
(27:37) - The Pandemic
(29:21) - Investing at Home
(31:41) - Reporting Impact
(34:16) - Why Corporate Listeners Should Partner With Kiva
(35:41) - Why Governments Should Partner With Kiva
(36:33) - Innovation Throughout
(39:28) - What a Great Day at Kiva Looks Like
(41:56) - Chris' Family Background
(45:45) - Three Insights
(49:30) - Wrapping Up

Doing “Immense Good” with Founders Pledge co-founder David Goldberg

TruStory FM — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 23:00:00 -0700

It’s fitting that the 100th episode of Purpose 360 features an organization helping more businesses be a force for good. Founders Pledge, a nonprofit organization with a mission to “empower entrepreneurs to do immense good,” leverages a unique model to enable founders to direct a portion of personal proceeds to vetted charities and initiatives.

To talk about Founders Pledge and the incredible impact the organization achieved in 2020, we welcomed to the show David Goldberg, Co-Founder and CEO.

Listen for David’s insights on:

How Founders Pledge harnesses the innate problem-solving nature of entrepreneurs to address some of society’s biggest challenges
Why making a commitment via Founders Pledge inspires many entrepreneurs to infuse purpose in their own companies
How the organization applies a venture capital lens to philanthropic giving efforts, and why data is vital to direct dollars to initiatives that will produce the greatest return for society

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(07:43) - Intro to David Goldberg, Founder's Pledge
(09:28) - Who is David Goldberg? What's his Purpose?
(11:20) - Where Founder's Pledge Is Today
(12:24) - How It Works
(15:42) - During COVID
(18:23) - The Pitch
(21:08) - The VC Community
(23:58) - Immense Good
(24:43) - Example
(28:39) - Climate Cohort, Events and More
(31:30) - Example
(35:10) - The Analytics
(36:06) - Member Demographics
(37:13) - Challenges Along the Way
(39:06) - Companies With Purpose at Their Core
(40:28) - Another Success Story
(44:10) - Getting on Their Radar as a Nonprofit
(46:08) - Becoming More Institutionalized
(48:09) - Becoming a Member
(49:42) - Range of Donations
(50:10) - Anyone Can Donate
(51:34) - Last Thoughts

Hey, Google: What’s your purpose?

TruStory FM — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 23:00:00 -0700

It’s hard to go a day—and for some, even an hour—without interacting with a Google product or service. The global internet company, which is best known for its flagship search console but now sells everything from education software to smart home speakers, has another, lesser-known arm: Google.org.

Google.org is aimed at bringing “the best of Google to help solve some of humanity’s biggest challenges” with a focus on leveraging Google’s people, products, funds, and world-class innovation to better our world. To learn more, we welcomed to the show Megan Wheeler, global project manager at Google.org. In her role, Megan leads global giving and volunteering campaigns across the enterprise.

Listen for Megan’s insights on:

How Google’s well-known “20% time” initiative, which has launched some of the company’s most successful products, services and solutions, enables Googlers to find their personal purpose while driving organizational impact.
The importance of localizing and humanizing opportunities to give or volunteer, especially in an organization as massive as Google, and how doing so can result in deeper employee engagement.
How to balance reactive giving campaigns (such as those in response to natural disasters) with planned campaigns—and how to develop a program framework that allows for both.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:59) - Intro to Megan Wheeler, Google.Org
(03:38) - Megan's Journey to Google
(07:56) - Three Insights
(10:00) - Mobilizing Googlers
(16:20) - How to Get Colleagues Involved
(20:11) - The 20%
(21:46) - Global Impact Challenges
(25:13) - 20 Hours of Piad Work Time for Volunteering
(25:54) - Employee Match
(26:25) - Pandemic
(30:18) - Funding Pop Up Vaccination Sites
(32:17) - India
(34:13) - Googler Ethos
(36:08) - Racial Justice
(37:42) - Getting the Message Out
(39:59) - Being Direct in Email
(41:09) - Challenges
(43:24) - Volunteering Hours
(45:56) - Upcoming Plans
(48:04) - Getting on Google's Radar
(49:02) - Wrapping Up

US Bank Invests its Heart in Communities

TruStory FM — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 23:00:00 -0700

When something happens to a US Bank customer or their community, the company takes it personally. It’s that ethos that drove US Bank and its leadership to respond to the impacts of COVID-19 and tragedies like the murder of George Floyd with heart and empathy. From caring for employees and their families to investing in minority-owned businesses, US Bank continuously puts the needs of its stakeholders first.

To talk about these initiatives, we welcomed back to Purpose 360 show Reba Dominski, Chief Social Responsibility Officer at US Bank, and President of the US Bank Foundation.

Listen for Reba’s insights on:

Why and how US Bank has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to address social and economic inequities, including initiatives to increase access to capital for Black-owned businesses
How US Bank bridged the personal impacts of the pandemic and movement for racial justice with the company’s values and culture
Why US Bank conducted an “agile sprint” to better focus and integrate its social impact efforts with overall business strategy

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:55) - Reba Dominski
(03:49) - The Impact From George Floyd's Death
(09:32) - Accelerating Previous Commitments
(11:17) - What Companies Can Do Next
(14:48) - Pullman Porters
(17:50) - Returning to Work
(22:54) - Mental Health
(27:16) - The Access Fund
(31:04) - From 'Can I' to 'Can We'
(33:50) - Dealing With Blowback
(35:50) - In the Know
(40:26) - Tulsa
(43:13) - Working With Coalitions
(51:23) - Solar
(53:05) - Juneteenth
(55:55) - Last Thoughts

Building a Better World With Sustainable Brands

TruStory FM — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 23:00:00 -0700

The pandemic has brought us face-to-face with the reality that today’s world can be volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. As a result, brands are faced with the responsibility to not only work to better understand the deep human needs we have individually, as communities, and as a society at large, but also be helpful in ways that are meaningful.

To learn more about what it takes to create a sustainable organization that is more people-, product-, and planet-oriented, Purpose 360 welcomed KoAnn Skrzyniarz, CEO and Founder of Sustainable Brands. Through Sustainable Brands, she and her team have led the global conversation about how 21st century brands can deliver new business value through innovation for environmental and social purpose.

Listen for insights from KoAnn on:

What it means and why it matters for brands to define themselves in a way that shows who they are, what they do, and how they do it.
How shifts in consumer demands are reshaping the environments brands are selling into.
Why brands need to lean into vulnerability and humility to come up with the solutions necessary for the complex environmental and social challenges we will continue to experience post-COVID-19.

Links & Notes

(00:08) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(03:02) - Meet KoAnn
(03:56) - About Sustainable Brands
(05:22) - Who Is KoAnn?
(07:04) - Vision of Inspiring, Engaging, & Equipping
(09:33) - Eureka Moment
(10:16) - Comparison to 2004-5 Sustainability Practices
(11:18) - The Numbers
(12:47) - Milestones of Forward Movement
(16:06) - The Universe of Sustainable Brands
(17:41) - Evolution of 'Sustainability'
(19:20) - The Three H's
(23:16) - Thought Leadership & The Good Life
(26:44) - Brand Transformation Roadmap
(29:32) - Brands For Good
(31:58) - Learning Library
(33:57) - Membership
(35:42) - Changes From Covid
(37:33) - Regeneration Event
(40:27) - The Concept of Regeneration
(41:43) - Webinars
(42:48) - In the Know
(45:18) - Looking Forward Five Years
(46:53) - Measurement
(48:27) - How a Company New to Sustainability Should Start Out
(50:25) - How Employees Can Influence CEO to Make Changes
(51:53) - Arming Brand Leaders
(53:15) - Communications
(56:02) - Recommendations to Those Just Starting
(57:48) - Wrapping Up

Advancing the Stakeholder Economy with Martin Whittaker

TruStory FM — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 00:00:00 -0700

From employer vaccine policies to shareholder activism, JUST Capital continues to rank and report on the companies, leaders, and trends advancing the stakeholder capitalism movement. As the leading voice in ‘just’ business behavior, JUST Capital is a nonprofit organization with a mission to equip the market with the data, tools and insights to deliver on the promise of an economy that works for all Americans.

To talk about the evolution of this movement and continued impacts of the pandemic, we spoke with Martin Whittaker, CEO of JUST Capital. On his fourth Purpose 360 appearance, Martin discussed new initiatives including the Corporate Racial Equity Tracker and how companies can better “walk the talk'' to address some of the world’s most intractable social issues.

Listen for Martin’s insights on:

How JUST Capital made strategic changes to the JUST 100 annual rankings framework, evolved based on the pandemic
Why the organization launched the Corporate Racial Equity Tracker to bring greater transparency and accountability to the corporate world through a DE&I lens
How CEOs can make authentic decisions using honest internal assessments

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(03:38) - Intro to Martin Whittaker
(05:03) - Background on JUST Capital
(08:32) - The Numbers
(12:12) - Polling During Covid & Social Unrest
(17:44) - Tracking Growth
(19:12) - Getting on the List
(23:15) - Toolkit for Companies Not Ranked
(25:25) - Impacts of Just Companies
(28:17) - ESG Equity Funds Momentum
(31:33) - Diversity & Equity Tracker
(34:42) - P&G
(36:03) - In the Know
(40:19) - Social Policy & the C-Suite
(44:32) - Big Just Issues
(51:28) - Importance of Action Vs. Talk
(54:22) - Last Thoughts
(55:59) - Wrapping Up

Building Equitable Futures with TCS

TruStory FM — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 23:05:00 -0700

Last year, the pandemic wrought disruption on workforces around the world. Now, as corporate offices welcome employees back, HR and people managers face new and unprecedented challenges. With 488,000 employees in 46 countries, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has proven to be a case study in how to navigate uncertainty, with the company experiencing its lowest attrition rate in history, employees investing 43 million hours in learning, and social impact programs meeting ambitious goals ahead of schedule.

To talk about how TCS put its employees, communities, and customers first throughout the pandemic, we welcomed back to the show Balaji Ganapathy, Chief Social Responsibility Officer at TCS.

Listen for Balaji’s insights on:

Why purpose is an anchor during trying times, and how it can allow for reinvention while maintaining long-term vision and growth
How companies of any size can adapt to “borderless” workplace models which allow for flexibility and accountability while still upholding culture, and values
Why companies must recognize the shifting roles their employees have taken on since the start of the pandemic, including the burden that caretakers will continue to shoulder even as they transition back to a “normal” work routine
The importance of recognizing employees’ mental health and providing both benefits and an environment in which employees feel empowered to invest in their mental wellbeing

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:54) - Balaji Ganapathy from TCS
(04:41) - By the Numbers
(05:58) - Being a Superbrand
(07:51) - Purpose Is the New Technology
(11:14) - India in the Pandemic
(16:59) - Lessons Learned Through COVID
(19:28) - Customer Response
(21:32) - Retention Rate
(22:42) - A Talent Cloud Model
(24:04) - In the Know
(27:05) - Returning to the Office
(32:37) - Using Employee Input
(34:01) - Early Mental Health, Women, and Listening – How Are These Coming Together?
(36:35) - Transforming the Programs
(38:16) - Integrating with HR
(40:32) - Keeping Volunteering Up During COVID
(43:05) - Employee Response
(45:24) - Vaccine Equity
(46:56) - How to Work With Employees as They Come Back
(50:32) - Predictions for Employer/Employee Relationship Moving Forward
(52:54) - Purpose as the Glue
(56:00) - Final Thoughts

Humanity at Work: Returning to the Office Part 2

TruStory FM — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 00:00:00 -0700

This fall, employees around the world will return to offices and desks they may not have seen for 18+ months. Not only will they face a physical transition—trading familiar work-from-home routines for workspaces that will either look like time capsules or be redesigned to accommodate distancing—but many will face mental and emotional barriers. Returning to offices and the human-to-human interactions they enable will be a reminder of just how much has changed since the pandemic started.

It’s important that employers get this transition right, and purpose will play an important role. To talk about the realities of returning to in-office work, and the critical need for empathy and humanity in the process, we welcomed to the show Jonathan Atwood, a former global communications head at Unilever, provocateur, and champion for the voice of employees.

Listen to this special two-part episode for Jon’s insights on:

How his personal journey led him to be radically vulnerable with colleagues, in turn providing them with the space to have honest conversations at work
How employers can navigate the return-to-office period with humility and transparency, and how purpose can act as a compass for decision-making
The watch-outs surrounding this transition, including the reality that millions of front line employees never left their essential roles
Why and how creating space for open communication and sharing can empower employees to bring their personal purpose to work, for the benefit of the entire organization

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(02:02) - Intro to Part II – The New Normal
(03:43) - Returning to the Office
(09:08) - Insights Regarding Human Resources
(12:27) - Storytelling to Reshape the Work Culture
(15:07) - Design the Future Together
(17:46) - Changing Corporate Culture and Strategy
(18:47) - Companies Doing It Well
(20:45) - The Outcome Reveals Itself
(23:00) - Exodus of Talent
(25:24) - Nurturing Talent in a Post-Covid World
(26:15) - Individual & Team
(28:56) - Team Purpose
(31:33) - Making an A Team
(32:29) - Finding Time
(35:01) - Opportunity to Be Creative
(37:34) - Having the Conversation
(39:55) - Wrapping Up

Humanity at Work: Returning to the Office with Jonathan Atwood

TruStory FM — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 -0700

Listen to this special two-part episode for Jon’s insights on:

How his personal journey led him to be radically vulnerable with colleagues, in turn providing them with the space to have honest conversations at work
How employers can navigate the return-to-office period with humility and transparency, and how purpose can act as a compass for decision-making
The watch-outs surrounding this transition, including the reality that millions of front line employees never left their essential roles
Why and how creating space for open communication and sharing can empower employees to bring their personal purpose to work, for the benefit of the entire organization

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(02:04) - Intro to Jon Atwood
(08:47) - Helping Companies Get to This Same Unlock
(11:45) - Jon and Unilever
(16:00) - The Idea of "Mattering"
(18:43) - Other Companies Setting the Bar Too Low?
(19:54) - Hellman's
(23:37) - Turning Management's No Into Yes
(26:17) - Cage-Free Eggs
(28:23) - Last Thoughts on Hellman's
(30:03) - Convincing the Team to Do the Hard Work
(32:29) - Transforming the System
(33:02) - Lifebuoy
(38:24) - Five Key Tenets of Unilever's
(43:08) - Getting Back to Office
(49:01) - Part II Next Episode

Delivering Impact with Vitamin Angels

TruStory FM — Tue, 18 May 2021 03:00:00 -0700

Vitamin Angels is a nonprofit organization that seeks to combat malnutrition by providing lifesaving vitamins to the most vulnerable and often overlooked individuals: pregnant woman, new mothers, infants and children under 5. Globally, Vitamin Angels serves 60 million mothers and children each year, in 65 countries and every U.S. state.

To talk about the organization’s genesis and growth, we welcomed to the show Howard Schiffer, President and Founder of Vitamin Angels, and Chris Hortinela, Senior Manager of CSR Partnerships.

Listen for Howard and Chris’s insights on:

The value of storytelling to amplify and advance the Vitamin Angels mission and critical work to save lives around the world
How the organization develops and evolves long-term relationships with mission-aligned corporate partners like Walgreens and SmartyPants
How Vitamin Angels developed a robust network of local program partners and national governments to deliver vitamins and nutrition resources

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:54) - Vitamin Angels
(04:17) - Definition of Purpose
(06:31) - Howard's Background
(10:09) - Creating Vitamin Angels
(11:14) - Where They Serve
(15:32) - Total Impact
(17:11) - Chris' Start With Vitamin Angels
(21:11) - The Numbers
(22:53) - Partnerships
(26:02) - Developing Walgreens' Partnership Further
(28:25) - Mining for Stories & Partners
(35:51) - Service Model
(38:55) - In the Know
(40:56) - Dealing With Covid
(46:01) - Consumers' Thoughts
(48:33) - Impact Qualitators
(51:08) - Takeaways
(54:00) - Writing His Own Obituary
(55:46) - Chris' Last Words
(55:57) - Wrap-Up

CECP Uncovers the Value of Workplace Volunteering

TruStory FM — Tue, 04 May 2021 03:00:00 -0700

CECP, or Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose, is a CEO-led coalition that believes a company’s social strategy – how it engages with key stakeholders including employees, communities, investors, and customers – determines company success. A critical component of CECP’s work involves measuring and benchmarking cutting-edge work in CSR and purpose, from overall corporate philanthropy to volunteer programs. One of the organization’s latest reports, Value Volunteering, explores the multi-layered inputs and outputs of workplace volunteer initiatives.

To learn more about volunteering and purpose within corporates today, Purpose 360 welcomed Carmen Perez, former Senior Director of Data Insights at CECP; Lalita Badinehal, former VP of Corporate Citizenship at Credit Suisse; and Matthew Nelson, AVP Corporate Responsibility at New York Life Insurance Company.

Listen for insights from Carmen, Lalita, and Matthew on:

Why corporate volunteering initiatives should be rooted in community needs, and how that grounding supports ongoing participation and program impact.
The motivations behind workplace volunteering initiatives, and the shared value generated for companies and their employees, beneficiary organizations, and communities.
How volunteering initiatives affect consumer sentiment and drive objectives around reputation and trust.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:54) - CECP
(04:00) - CECP Today
(04:56) - The Report – Why Now?
(06:15) - Lalita
(08:50) - Matthew
(10:33) - High Level Results
(12:24) - What does a successful workplace volunteering program look like?
(15:22) - Being Authentic
(16:41) - Measurement Strategies
(20:02) - In the Know
(25:03) - Communicating the Increase in Volunteering
(27:25) - Working With Agents
(30:40) - Built In & Built For
(33:32) - Volunteering vs. Training Programs
(36:04) - Changes Because of Covid
(38:59) - Other Keys in Value Volunteering
(40:55) - Three Levels of Measurement
(45:05) - Final Comments
(50:14) - Wrap Up

Learning the ‘New Rules of Business’ with Judy Samuelson

TruStory FM — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 08:14:34 -0700

“Business as usual” is no longer viable—the landscape has changed, the definition of success has shifted, and the responsibilities of a business now land far beyond merely generating profit. It’s this thesis that frames the insights in a new book called The Six New Rules of Business.

To talk about these insights and more, we welcomed to the show author Judy Samuelson, Founder and Executive Director of the The Aspen Institute Business + Society Program, and Vice President of The Aspen Institute. Beyond sharing what those six new rules are, Judy spoke about the Institute’s work to gather diverse, nonpartisan thought leaders, scholars, creatives, and members of the public to address some of the world’s most complex societal problems.

Listen for Judy’s insights on:

The forces reshaping the role of business and value creation, and what purpose-driven leaders today need to understand about those forces
Why employees are a business’s greatest “ally” and accountability mechanism, and how they are aligned with the long-term health of an enterprise
Why purpose is “ground zero” and an organizing principle for a business’s activity and growth

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(02:01) - Judy Samuelson, The Aspen Institute
(04:49) - The Aspen Institute
(06:09) - Who Is Susan Samuelson and Why Does She Does What She Does?
(07:48) - Writing the Book
(09:02) - The Six New Rules of Business
(12:41) - Chapter 2: Purpose
(16:39) - In the Know
(21:25) - Defining Stakeholders
(22:48) - Boards and Purpose
(25:11) - Rule 3: Corporate Responsibility
(29:47) - Connecting Purpose, Strategy, & Capital Allocation
(32:48) - Rule 5: Culture Is King
(36:00) - Microsoft's Culture
(38:22) - Measuring Intangibles
(43:24) - The Role of CEOs Today in Activism
(49:19) - Lessons Learned Through COVID
(53:44) - Younger Influencers on the Market
(56:02) - Last Thoughts
(01:00:04) - Top Takeaways
(01:02:28) - Wrapping Up

Bringing Purpose Home at Nextdoor with Maryam Banikarim

TruStory FM — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 03:00:00 -0700

By bringing neighbors together, we can cultivate a kinder world, where everyone has a community they can rely on. That’s the idea behind Nextdoor, the growing social network for neighborhoods and the people, businesses, and organizations that make them unique.

To talk about how Nextdoor brings purpose home, and how the platform played a critical role in COVID-19 response, we welcomed to the show Maryam Banikarim, Head of Marketing. Listen for Maryam’s insights on:

How Nextdoor built a productive platform for individuals, small businesses, nonprofits, community organizations, and local governments to connect and support one another
How Nextdoor rapidly implemented new functionality in response to the pandemic, to better support communities and mobilize resources
Why Nextdoor integrated local nonprofits and community organizations so deeply into the platform, and how it empowers neighbors to support them
How Nextdoor is taking a big-picture approach to community engagement, with neighborhoods as powerful “units of change” that can drive civil progress (and kindness) at scale

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(02:00) - Maryam Banikarim – NextDoor
(05:13) - Maryam's Background
(06:26) - Her Professional Journey & Watching Marketing Evolve
(11:21) - Why is purpose important to the world today?
(14:00) - NextDoor's Purpose
(19:16) - Stories From the Pandemic
(22:02) - In the Know
(24:52) - Partnerships
(31:38) - Different Neighborhoods
(32:46) - Going Global
(34:44) - Kind Campaign
(36:32) - Getting Through the Pandemic
(38:12) - Public Agencies
(40:06) - Advisory Boards
(44:28) - Insights for Listeners
(49:29) - Wrapping Up

Achieving More at Microsoft

TruStory FM — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0700

Since pioneering personal computing, Microsoft has continued to push the boundaries of innovation through its growing suite of products and services. With more than 75 million customers, 160,000 employees, and presence in 190 countries, Microsoft is truly a technology behemoth. So, it’s no surprise that the company has a long list of global social impact commitments, ranging from digital inclusion initiatives and rural broadband access to robust employee engagement programs.

To talk about all things “good” at Microsoft, we spoke with Kate Behncken, Vice President and Lead of Microsoft Philanthropies. Listen for Kate’s insights on:

How Microsoft focuses its far-reaching social impact efforts, ensuring every program ladders up to corporate purpose and values, while having localized, meaningful impact.
Why Microsoft places employees at the center of many of its social impact programs, and how their ideas are instrumental to the pursuit of the company’s purpose.
How Microsoft brings digital “skilling” initiatives to life around the world, for beneficiaries ranging from urban children to adults in rural areas.
The role of innovation in purpose, including examples such as Xbox’s adaptive controller for disabled gamers.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:55) - Microsoft Philanthropies • Kate Behncken
(03:37) - Reimagining a Better Future Together
(05:51) - Microsoft Philanthropies
(07:00) - Kate's Journey Through Microsoft
(10:10) - Areas of Focus
(11:55) - The Numbers
(14:21) - COVID Response
(19:27) - Making Online Collaborations Work Better
(21:31) - Programatic Focus Areas
(23:53) - TEALS
(26:26) - Sharing Ownership
(27:55) - 25 Million Initiative
(30:44) - Protecting Fundamental Rights
(33:59) - In the Know
(41:55) - Going Carbon Negative
(43:45) - Providing Meaning and Adaptive Controllers
(45:15) - Employee Giving & Matching
(48:11) - AI for Good
(49:44) - Three Insights
(54:03) - Closing Comments

Purpose Pays Off at American Express with Timothy McClimon

TruStory FM — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0800

Not many consumers know that American Express pioneered modern cause marketing. In 1983, the company launched a breakthrough campaign to support the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. (Even fewer know that American Express launched its very first employee giving campaign in 1885!)

Since then, the company has continued to evolve as an outstanding corporate citizen. To talk about American Express’s initiatives, we spoke with Timothy McClimon, Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility and President, American Express Foundation.

Listen for Tim’s insights, including:

How philanthropy, citizenship, and purpose have evolved over the company’s century-plus history
Why the company is committed to being a low-carbon organization, and how it’s working to protect the environment
How the company’s pioneering support of the Statue of Liberty—dating back to 1885—has evolved into a long-term commitment to preserving historical places
How American Express transformed its iconic Green Card to raise awareness for the ocean plastics crisis
Why employee volunteering and giving are essential to the company’s purpose efforts, and how they make American Express an employer of choice

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360 • Tim McClimon — American Express
(04:40) - AmEx's Evolution in Its Commitment to Society
(08:31) - Tim's Start
(10:58) - Getting to the Focus and Innovating
(13:17) - The Numbers
(16:04) - Leadership Academy
(21:58) - Preserving Special Places
(25:10) - Dine Small
(31:05) - Small Business Saturday
(36:32) - Partnering With Others
(38:51) - In the Know
(42:38) - Sustainability Efforts
(46:55) - Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
(52:36) - Virtual Volunteerism
(54:19) - Measurement
(57:15) - Three Key Insights
(01:00:40) - Wrapping Up

Taking the Unreasonable Path to Purpose with Daniel Epstein • Part 2

TruStory FM — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0800

At Unreasonable, impatience is a virtue. That’s because the most pressing social-global challenges of our day require immediate action, and the relentless pursuit of solutions can literally save lives.

This week, we continue our conversation with Daniel Epstein, founder of the Unreasonable Group, an organization working to solve some of the world’s toughest challenges by investing in bright ideas and early-stage social enterprises. Today, Unreasonable has a community of more than 240 companies across 180 countries, which have collectively impacted nearly 550 million lives.

Listen for Daniel’s insights on:

The value of polarities in addressing challenges—confidence vs humility, patience vs impatience, collaboration vs independence—and how balancing often opposing mindsets can accelerate progress.
How culture, especially in early-stage companies, truly does “eat strategy for breakfast,” and how to scale an authentic culture during rapid growth.
Why and how Unreasonable has partnered with big companies like Goldman Sachs to help find and scale ideas.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:46) - Part 2: Guest Danel Epstein – Unreasonable Group
(02:29) - Working With High Net Worth Family Offices
(06:15) - The Future of Capitalism
(08:58) - Access to the IP
(10:51) - In the Know
(14:29) - Unreasonable.is
(17:55) - Best Practices in Storytelling
(19:08) - Not for Profits
(20:08) - Working Through COVID
(23:17) - Lightning Round
(26:34) - Three Insights
(30:18) - What's Next
(30:55) - Wrapping Up

Taking the Unreasonable Path to Purpose with Daniel Epstein • Part 1

TruStory FM — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0800

To learn more, we spoke with Daniel Epstein, founder of the Unreasonable Group, an organization working to solve some of the world’s toughest challenges by investing in bright ideas and early-stage social enterprises. Today, Unreasonable has a community of more than 240 companies across 180 countries, which have collectively impacted nearly 550 million lives.

Listen for Daniel’s insights on:

The value of polarities in addressing challenges—confidence vs humility, patience vs impatience, collaboration vs independence—and how balancing often opposing mindsets can accelerate progress.
How culture, especially in early-stage companies, truly does “eat strategy for breakfast,” and how to scale an authentic culture during rapid growth.
Why and how Unreasonable has partnered with big companies like Goldman Sachs to help find and scale ideas.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:46) - Guest Danel Epstein
(03:51) - Being Unreasonable
(06:23) - Who Is Daniel Epstein?
(12:18) - From Institute to Group
(14:39) - Favorite Values
(17:57) - Why Are These Values Important to Success?
(20:03) - In the Know
(25:43) - Partnership with Barclay
(29:57) - Barclay's Shift
(31:42) - Other Examples of Companies Mentored & Flourishing
(34:00) - Communicating With the Bank
(36:25) - Finding Wisdom at the Bank
(37:52) - Another Partnership Example
(42:08) - Finding New Directions and Partners

Caring for Communities in the Time of COVID with PNC’s Sally McCrady

TruStory FM — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0800

As a community bank, PNC has always had a strong commitment to areas and people the company serves. That includes a strong commitment to PNC employees and their families.

Throughout COVID-19, PNC has doubled down on its efforts to support employees, customers, and communities. To talk about the company’s rapid, human-centric response to the pandemic, we welcomed back to the show Sally McCrady, President and Chair of the PNC Foundation and Director of PNC Community Affairs.

Listen for Sally’s insights on:

How PNC’s relationship-driven culture guided decision-making during COVID-19 and empowered employees
How PNC handled PPP funding and went above and beyond to support its small business customers at the height of the pandemic
How PNC’s signature early childhood education program, Grow Up Great, was adapted to continue serving beneficiaries throughout the pandemic, from employee volunteerism to partnerships and programming

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:47) - Sally McCrady
(04:02) - How PNC Adapted in 2020
(06:30) - Pivoting to Elder and Child Care
(07:16) - Responding to Employee Needs First
(08:43) - Company Culture as Lens
(10:03) - Handling LFunding
(11:49) - Relef Effort Donation
(13:00) - Helping Other Financial Institutions
(13:45) - Grow Up Great
(16:39) - Making the Shift to Help Partners
(18:06) - Virtual Volunteerism
(19:20) - Integrating Grow Up Great into Company's Brand DNA
(21:43) - Insights for 2021
(23:45) - Struggles for Kids in Online Learning
(25:49) - How Grow Up Great Helped the Company Overall
(28:06) - Last Thoughts

Taking the Organic Dream Mainstream Part 2

TruStory FM — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0800

Natural and organic foods are pantry staples for most consumers today. But the movement is taking on new meaning—and urgency—as societies better understand the link between the food we eat and the health of our planet.

Mark Retzloff is one of the pioneers of the natural, organic, and sustainable food industry. Over his 5+ decades in the industry, Mark has started, led, and managed a roster of big-name natural food and beverage brands, including Horizon Organic Dairy, Alfalfa’s Markets, Aurora Organic Dairy, and more. Today, Mark leads Flock, an organization aimed at fast-tracking innovations in regenerative agriculture through investments, a network of experts, and an accelerator program with Techstars, among other initiatives.

Listen for Mark’s insights on:

How he co-founded Horizon Organic Dairy (at a time when organic wasn’t a thing) and scaled it to be one of the nation’s leading dairy brands
Why listening to consumers is vital on a journey to disrupt big, traditional industries like agriculture and food
How the power of holding onto a dream can help innovators navigate challenges and execute on visions

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:47) - Mark Retzloff Part II
(02:54) - Advice to Young Entrepreneurs and Companies
(05:58) - Picking the Team
(08:36) - Determining Who to Give Advice to
(10:22) - In the Know
(13:46) - Flock
(16:20) - What Is Regenerative Ag?
(17:52) - Partnering With Techstars on Regenerative Ag
(26:55) - Three Things
(32:06) - In Closing

Taking the Organic Dream Mainstream Part 1

TruStory FM — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0800

Listen for Mark’s insights on:

How he co-founded Horizon Organic Dairy (at a time when organic wasn’t a thing) and scaled it to be one of the nation’s leading dairy brands
Why listening to consumers is vital on a journey to disrupt big, traditional industries like agriculture and food
How the power of holding onto a dream can help innovators navigate challenges and execute on visions

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:47) - Mark Retzloff Part I
(06:31) - Mark's Journey
(15:53) - Organic
(17:49) - Responses
(19:11) - Growing the Organic Movement
(23:06) - Pros and Cons of Retail
(24:24) - Early Feedback
(26:45) - In the Know
(28:50) - Organic Food Production Act
(40:09) - Organic Dairy
(48:45) - Selling Horizon to Dean Foods
(50:50) - Media on Organic Milk
(52:50) - Next Week: Part II

Advancing a ‘Purpose Mindset’ at Microsoft and Beyond

TruStory FM — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 03:00:00 -0800

Akhtar Badshah is an expert on social impact, CSR, philanthropy, and international development—in addition to being an author and artist. Akhtar spent a decade at Microsoft, acting as a senior director of citizenship and public affairs to lead the company’s global community investment and employee programs.

After leaving Microsoft, Akhtar founded Catalytic Innovators Group, a consulting practice focused on accelerating social impact through catalytic innovation. Additionally, he teaches at the University of Washington School of Business, and Evans School of Public Policy and Governance. His most recent book, Purpose Mindset, helps people recognize their deeper purpose in life—both in terms of who they want to become, and who they want to serve.

Listen for Akhtar’s insights on:

How Microsoft developed, evolved, and scaled its global citizenship efforts, including groundbreaking programs like YouthSpark; and how it engaged and empowered employees around the world through skilled volunteerism, gift matching, and more
How to advocate for investments and advancements in citizenship, philanthropy, and purpose within your organization
How adopting a “purpose mindset” can help both senior leaders and ground-floor employees bring personal purpose to work, and thus better invest in an organization’s purpose and the stakeholders it serves

Links & Notes

About Akhtar Badshah
Akhtar Badshah on LinkedIn
Catalytic Innovators Group
Purpose Mindset: How Microsoft Inspires Employees and Alumni to Change the World (Microsoft Alumni Network) by Akhtar Badshah

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:37) - Akhtar Badshah
(05:08) - Akhtar's Background
(06:47) - Purpose Mindset
(07:55) - The Numbers
(10:39) - Establishing Microsoft's Giving Culture
(15:42) - Why Such Incredible Generosity?
(17:24) - Journey to the Great Giving Machine
(21:19) - Most Effective Ways to Get Employees Motivated
(23:11) - Individuals Who Created Their Own Movements
(29:47) - Opening Up to Sharing
(31:00) - Room to Read
(34:09) - Growth Vs. Purpose Mindset
(35:37) - In the Know
(38:31) - 5 Principles Contributing to a Purpose Mindset
(43:57) - From Know-It-Alls to Learn-It-Alls
(46:42) - Why It's So Important Today
(48:06) - Three Key Points to Creating a Giving Engine
(51:20) - Book Recommendation
(52:16) - Dumbledore Quote
(53:31) - Wrapping Up

Evofem’s “Soul” Purpose is to Improve the Lives of Women Part 2

TruStory FM — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 08:27:24 -0800

Pioneering business and bioscience leader Saundra Pelletier embodies resilience and fortitude. Her company, Evofem Biosciences, exists to give women control over their sexual and reproductive health. It’s doing so with a first-of-its-kind hormone free, on-demand prescription birth control gel, Phexxi.

Leading, funding, and scaling a biosciences company is challenging, let along one with an unyielding commitment to social impact at its core. Saundra, who fills the role of CEO, President, and Executive Director, calls Evofem’s sole purpose its “soul” purpose—and that centers on bringing to market products that address unmet needs in women’s reproductive and sexual health. It’s been a challenging road, but one that Saundra has been proud to travel with the growing Evofem team.

Listen for Saundra’s insights on:

How social issues and user insights can guide business and product development
Why Evofem put social impact at the center of the business, and how Saundra has evolved and scaled the model, including plans to eventually distribute Phexxi in the developing world
Why focusing on “the little things”—like kindness and thoughtfulness—can make all the difference in building a successful business and empowering employees

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(02:47) - Introduction to Part 2 with Saundra Pelletier
(03:52) - Evofem's Phexxi
(06:23) - Marketplace Response
(07:31) - Distributing to the Developing World
(08:44) - Advice to Women Wanting to Go Into Bioscience
(10:58) - Composition of Investors
(12:21) - Response From Physicians
(14:25) - Social Media Reactions
(16:13) - Comparing to the Little Blue Pill
(16:41) - In the Know
(19:41) - Insights for Entrepreneurs Wanting to Advance Women's Sexual Health
(21:30) - Dealing With Cancer
(24:47) - Three Points to Share
(28:13) - Last Thoughts
(29:15) - Wrapping Up

Evofem’s “Soul” Purpose is to Improve the Lives of Women Part 1

TruStory FM — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 07:44:10 -0800

Listen for Saundra’s insights on:

How social issues and user insights can guide business and product development
Why Evofem put social impact at the center of the business, and how Saundra has evolved and scaled the model, including plans to eventually distribute Phexxi in the developing world
Why focusing on “the little things”—like kindness and thoughtfulness—can make all the difference in building a successful business and empowering employees

Links & Notes

(00:48) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(02:46) - Introduction to Saundra Pelletier
(04:41) - Saundra's Background
(07:00) - Her Work Starts
(08:41) - Her Trip to Africa
(10:11) - Shifting to Non-Profit
(13:32) - The Numbers
(15:01) - Starting Evofem
(17:29) - In the Know
(20:40) - Meeting FDA Approval While Also Empowering Women
(23:09) - The FDA Journey
(26:09) - Resilience During Challenges
(28:05) - Their Sole Purpose Is Their Soul Purpose
(30:27) - Part 2 Next Week

Scaling Activism at Patagonia

TruStory FM — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 02:00:00 -0800

Long considered the “gold standard” for purpose-driven companies, Patagonia might be considered an activist organization that happens to sell apparel and outdoor gear. This week, we continue our conversation with Corley Kenna on the organization’s move to becoming a B-Corp, scaling community activism and more.

Listen for Corley’s insights on:

How Patagonia developed and evolves key purpose-led initiatives including Patagonia Action Works, Tin Shed Ventures, Patagonia Provisions, Patagonia Films, and Worn Wear
How Patagonia enforces transparency throughout the business and supply chain, including addressing its own ills and articulating clear steps forward
Why Patagonia has thrived as a business while taking sometimes contentious, and frequently unapologetic stances based on values—such as telling customers “don’t buy this jacket” or encouraging advocates to “vote out the a**holes”
How Patagonia empowers its employees to live the company’s values—and their own—through industry-leading initiatives and benefits

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360!
(01:57) - Patagonia Part 2
(03:21) - Leadership
(05:15) - New CEO Ryan Gellert
(08:02) - Ryan's Special Question
(09:16) - Yvon's Involvement
(10:33) - Becoming a B-Corp
(12:39) - Scaling Actions Like Time to Vote
(16:10) - In the Know
(18:21) - Products
(21:35) - Patagonia's Films
(24:31) - How to Start Your Shift to Be Purpose-Focused
(27:13) - Advancing Your Purpose Further
(29:37) - Surround Sound Storytelling
(30:52) - Communicating to Every Employee
(32:35) - Parting Words
(32:56) - Wrapping Up

Patagonia is in Business to Save the Planet

TruStory FM — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0800

Long considered the “gold standard” for purpose-driven companies, Patagonia might be considered an activist organization that happens to sell apparel and outdoor gear. While founder Yvon Chouinard placed the stewardship of our Earth at the center of the business from day one, Patagonia has only deepened its foothold in environmental issues, from climate activism to the protection of public lands.

To talk about Patagonia’s radical journey and trail-blazing approach to purpose, Purpose 360 welcomed Corley Kenna, Director of Global Communications and Public Relations. Listen for Corley’s insights on:

How Patagonia developed and evolves key purpose-led initiatives including Patagonia Action Works, Tin Shed Ventures, Patagonia Provisions, Patagonia Films, and Worn Wear
How Patagonia enforces transparency throughout the business and supply chain, including addressing its own ills and articulating clear steps forward
Why Patagonia has thrived as a business while taking sometimes contentious, and frequently unapologetic stances based on values—such as telling customers “don’t buy this jacket” or encouraging advocates to “vote out the a**holes”
How Patagonia empowers its employees to live the company’s values—and their own—through industry-leading initiatives and benefits

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360!
(02:55) - The Numbers
(06:11) - Corley Kenna
(14:03) - Who Is Patagonia?
(15:29) - Yvon
(17:42) - Shifting New Mission Statement Through Co's Ecosystem
(19:18) - Scale and Call to Action
(21:10) - In the Know – The Dialogue Project
(23:32) - Sharing Best Practices
(25:17) - Time for Employees
(27:30) - COVID & BLM
(30:00) - Holistic Solutions
(32:16) - Patagonia Action Works
(35:30) - Patagonia's Public Trust Trailer

Cox Enterprises Engages Communities for Impact

TruStory FM — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0800

Cox Enterprises, parent company of Cox Communications (the nation’s third-largest cable company) and Cox Automotive (owner of well-known consumer brands like Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book) has a powerful, deeply-integrated purpose. As a company founded on hard work, respect for employees, and a penchant for bold decisions, Cox exists to “empower people today to build a better future for the next generation.” How the enterprise brings that North Star to life is incredible.

To talk about how purpose guides Cox Enterprises, we welcomed to the show Maury Wolfe, AVP Corporate Responsibility and Public Affairs, and Bob Jimenez, SVP Corporate Affairs. Listen for Maury and Bob’s insights on:

How Cox is investing in STEAM Education as part of its future
How Cox is working to fight racial inequity inside and out
Insights learned from years of engaging communities for impact

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:21) - Introduction to Cox Enterprises Part 2
(02:01) - Investments in Steam Education
(05:53) - Working With Others
(09:36) - Cox's Plans to Fight Racial Inequity
(15:11) - In the Know
(17:00) - Three Insights to Share
(20:59) - Last Thoughts
(22:35) - Stories About Sustainable Businesses
(26:55) - In Closing

Cox Enterprises Puts People and Purpose First

TruStory FM — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 03:00:00 -0700

Why Cox considers employees its most important resource, and how the company empowers them to live, iterate, and build on purpose to embed it in organizational DNA
How Cox Conserves, the company’s decade-plus national sustainability program, empowers the company, its people, and its communities to advance environmental goals and give back in meaningful ways
How purpose directs Cox Enterprises’ New Ventures arm, which invests in sustainability-minded companies in cleantech, agriculture, and other emerging sectors

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:39) - Introduction to Cox Enterprises
(03:41) - Bob's and Mauri's Roles at and Backgrounds with Cox
(07:34) - Cox's Origins and Purpose
(15:26) - How the Purpose Influenced Mauri
(16:39) - How Cox Uses Purpose to Guide Decision-Making
(18:57) - The Numbers
(20:07) - Guiding Principles
(22:33) - The Evolution of Cox
(24:20) - New Ventures
(26:58) - Social Impact Ventures
(35:52) - In the Know
(38:30) - Cox Conserves and Its Evolution
(44:08) - Measuring Success in Conservation
(46:56) - Wrapping Up Part I

Talking Leadership, Reinvention, and Entrepreneurship with Dorie Clark

TruStory FM — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 03:00:00 -0700

Dorie Clark believes the best ideas win, not the loudest voices.

Unfortunately, we live in a society where those loud voices are often the ones that come out on top. That’s why Dorie has made it her purpose to help individuals and companies find ways to get their messages heard in an increasingly noisy and crowded environment.

Dorie is an author, thought leader, and part-time professor at the business schools of Duke and Columbia universities. She’s also a believer in the power of purpose to drive reinvention and growth, both personally and professionally. (And, we might add, the #1 Communication Coach in the World and one of the Top 50 Business Thinkers in the World.)

Listen for a fascinating conversation that covers Dorie’s insights on:

What it really means to reinvent yourself—personally, professionally, or as a company—and why it’s such an important process.
How clarity in identity, messaging, and presentation are critical to reinvention—even if an individual or brand doesn’t yet have all the answers.
How to navigate today’s content ecosystems (think: social media, conferences, publications, and more) so that your or your organization’s ideas and voice break through.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:38) - Introduction to Dorie Clark
(03:31) - Who Is Dorie Clark?
(04:09) - Dorie's Purpose
(06:27) - Reinventing Herself
(08:45) - When to Reinvent
(11:24) - Investigating Potential Passions
(12:54) - Finding the Perfect Fit
(14:28) - Refining Your Skills
(16:14) - Finding a Mentor
(17:49) - Crafting Your Narrative
(19:16) - Introducing the New You
(21:18) - Leveraging the New You
(23:12) - Winning Over Previous Friends & Colleagues
(25:13) - Validators
(27:11) - Deciding on Your Content
(30:59) - Unpacking 'Interesting'
(32:48) - The Numbers
(35:36) - Benefits for an Organization to Encourage Employees to Find Their Own Purpose
(37:13) - Message to the Younger You
(39:02) - Knowing Your a Success
(39:27) - Top Three Insights
(42:27) - Wrapping Up

Rallying Leadership for Good at Levi Strauss & Co.

TruStory FM — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 21:00:11 -0700

You know those Levi’s in your closet have a storied history—but did you know about the more sustainable future they’re building?

Levi Strauss & Co., the iconic brand behind blue jeans (and now a robust catalogue of apparel, shoes, and accessories) has a pioneering approach to purpose and sustainability. Rightly so, as the apparel industry is by nature a resource-intensive one. Yet, Levi’s has leveraged purpose as a north star to revolutionize its entire supply chain, from the cotton (and now hemp) it uses to how products are reused or recycled at the end of their useful life.

To discuss purpose at Levi’s, Purpose 360 welcomes Kelly McGinnis, SVP and Chief Communications Officer at Levi Strauss & Co.

Listen for Kelly’s insights on:

How breakthrough sustainability initiatives like WATER
How Levi’s leverages its iconic brand and loyal following to advance key social issues such as voter’s rights, and how it engages employees in doing so.
Why Levi’s takes a stand on contentious social issues such as gun violence, and how it backs up its position with initiatives that enact grassroots change.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:44) - Levis 2020 Vote PSA with Hailey Bieber and Oge Egbuonu
(04:19) - Creativity in Social Activism
(10:22) - A Voice in Voting
(15:22) - Waterless
(18:51) - Blue Jeans Go Green Insulation
(21:33) - Changing Culture Leading to Innovation
(25:10) - Need to Know
(26:56) - Who Does Kelly Admire?
(28:53) - Values as a Lens for Making Decisions
(30:53) - Best Corporate Donor of 2019
(31:39) - Helping Grantees
(33:32) - Kelly's Insights
(34:43) - Wrapping Up
(36:15) - One Last Question

Pioneering an Industry with Levi Strauss & Co.

TruStory FM — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 01:00:06 -0700

You know those Levi’s in your closet have a storied history—but did you know about the more sustainable future they’re building?

Levi Strauss & Co., the iconic brand behind blue jeans (and now a robust catalog of apparel, shoes, and accessories) has a pioneering approach to purpose and sustainability. Rightly so, as the apparel industry is by nature a resource-intensive one. Yet, Levi’s has leveraged purpose as a north star to revolutionize its entire supply chain, from the cotton (and now hemp) it uses to how products are reused or recycled at the end of their useful life.

To discuss purpose at Levi’s, Purpose 360 welcomes Kelly McGinnis, SVP and Chief Communications Officer at Levi Strauss & Co.

Listen for Kelly’s insights on:

How breakthrough sustainability initiatives like WATER
How Levi’s leverages its iconic brand and loyal following to advance key social issues such as voter’s rights, and how it engages employees in doing so.
Why Levi’s takes a stand on contentious social issues such as gun violence, and how it backs up its position with initiatives that enact grassroots change.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:49) - Kelly McGinnis – Levi Strauss
(04:38) - Kelly's Background
(06:12) - How to Listen Authentically
(09:46) - Chip Getting Up to Speed
(14:33) - Insights to Transformation
(20:18) - The Numbers
(22:29) - Sustainable Innovation Built Around Values
(25:22) - History Playing Into Purpose
(27:55) - Internal Activism
(30:52) - Wrapping Up Part I
(31:26) - Levis 2020 Vote PSA with Hailey Bieber and Oge Egbuonu

Igniting the B Corp Movement with Chris Marquis

TruStory FM — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 02:00:05 -0700

On the anniversary of Milton Friedman’s prophetic—and now contentious—statement that the sole social responsibility of a business is to produce a profit, we spoke with one of the foremost champions of the B Corp movement.

B Corps, of course, are businesses built to drive returns for the “triple bottom line” by balancing

purpose and profit. To talk about the movement, the future of purpose-driven business, and how things have changed since the Friedman days, we welcome Chris Marquis, PhD, a professor at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and expert on the B Corp movement.

Be sure to pick up a copy of his newly-released book, Better Business: How the B Corp Movement is Remaking Capitalism.

Listen for Marquis insights on:

Why and how the B Corp movement started, and how it has evolved—today encompassing 3,522 companies representing 150 industries, across 74 countries
Why pursuing the triple bottom line is better for business, and how companies large and small, global and local, are focusing or refocusing operations, culture, and innovation on it
How business, capitalism, and stakeholder relationships have changed since Friedman’s statement, and what the future holds for companies that commit to serve all stakeholders—not just shareholders

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:37) - Introducing to Chris Marquis – Cornell
(03:22) - Chris' New Book
(08:18) - Chris' Background in B-Corps
(10:42) - Writing the First Case
(11:59) - The Movement's Potential
(14:29) - What Is a B-Corp?
(18:39) - Why Patagonia Is So Impressive
(21:24) - Smaller Companies
(23:59) - Natura and Acquisitions to Evolve Culture
(28:29) - Increased Accountability
(32:24) - B-Corps in China
(35:11) - The Role of Young People
(39:24) - B-Corp Lessons for Big Companies
(41:52) - The Playbook
(43:18) - Creating an Internal Shift
(45:36) - Creating a Movement
(49:20) - Movement Growth Fears
(51:39) - Citizen Voices
(54:40) - Dreams for Chris' Book
(56:06) - Three Insights
(58:04) - Wrapping Up

Uniting Impact and Creativity with Elliot Kotek

TruStory FM — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 02:00:13 -0700

Grab your tissues and put down your phone: Elliot Kotek’s films engage the heart and head in profound ways. Elliot is CEO & Founder of The Nation of Artists, a thought leader and production partner for innovative, inspirational, and wildly impactful storytelling brought to life through documentaries and docu-series, shorts, animations, VR, and more.

While the list of honors bestowed upon his teams is long, spanning Emmy nominations, 5 Cannes Lions, SxSW awards, and more, the greatest testament to his work is the impact it achieves. Elliot joined Purpose 360 to talk about the power of storytelling to engage citizens, drive progress, and touch hearts.

Be sure to catch Elliot’s new documentary Black Boys, created for Peacock.

Listen for Elliot’s insights on:

The critical importance of empathy in storytelling—whether the content is brand-sponsored or independent journalism
How he and his teams captured authentic, humanity-driven moments in situations ranging from war-torn Sudan to pediatric cancer wards
The role of collaboration between content creators, their clients, and their subjects to draw out and tell empathy-driven stories
How content creators—and their clients—can adapt to story capture and distribution in a COVID world

Links & Notes

The Nation of Artists
Elliot Kotek on LinkedIn
Elliot Kotek on IMDB
Watch Black Boys on Peacock
Suggested Viewing: Little Miss Sumo, My Special Aflac Duck, Project Daniel, Queen Mimi

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:39) - Introduction to Elliot Kotek
(03:12) - About Elliot
(04:41) - The Numbers
(07:30) - Elliot's Purpose
(08:34) - Insights About Storytelling
(08:53) - Collaboration
(12:54) - Project Daniel
(20:36) - Don's Voice
(22:38) - Being a Great Client
(27:49) - The Aflac Duck and Creating Magic With Clients
(35:09) - Working in Sensitive Situations
(40:45) - Working in the Time of Covid
(50:00) - Being Busy
(51:42) - Three Insights for Creating Branded Content
(54:46) - Three Insights for Creating Compelling Content for Employees
(56:24) - Example That Inspired Employees
(01:00:14) - Most Important Insights for Clients
(01:01:01) - Walking the Walk
(01:04:05) - Future of Video
(01:05:32) - Advertising During Covid
(01:07:28) - In Closing

3M applies science and purpose to life

TruStory FM — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 03:00:00 -0700

3M — the company behind Command Strips, Post-Its, and thousands of other consumer and industrial products — has a profound commitment to purpose and innovation. The company’s tagline “Science. Applied to Life.” captures 3M’s massive R&D investments, vibrant culture, and comprehensive community engagement efforts, including a signature focus on STEM education and equity.

Joining Purpose 360 to speak about 3M’s purpose is Gayle Schueller, PhD, VP and Chief Sustainability Officer, and Michael Stroik, VP, 3M Foundation and Director, 3Mgives Community Relations.

Listen for Gayle and Michael’s insights on:

How 3M engages its people via community engagement programs, concretely linking employee skills and roles to opportunities to help youth succeed in STEM and beyond
The role of innovation in 3M’s operations, culture, and approach to community engagement and giving
3M’s COVID-19 response, from ramping up mask, face shield, and N95 respirator production to philanthropic giving and enabling e-volunteering and engagements
How 3M inspires people to join them in creating a more positive world through science

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:37) - Introduction to 3M
(03:23) - The Numbers
(06:30) - Gayle Schueller
(08:04) - Michael Stroik
(09:12) - Bringing 3M's Purpose to Life
(13:00) - The Importance of Science
(16:49) - Differentiating Within Stem Field
(18:11) - Working Through the Pandemic
(20:32) - Sustainability and the N95 Mask
(23:01) - Making Sure Products Get to the Right People
(24:59) - Employee Engagement
(28:39) - Flexibility for Volunteering
(29:58) - 3M Impact Stories
(31:06) - Sustainability Stories
(36:26) - Science for Circular, Climate, and Community
(39:10) - Developing the Framework
(41:38) - Personal Insights in the Framework Development
(45:42) - Adding a Director of Social Justice Strategies & Initiatives
(48:14) - Located Close to Where George Floyd Was Killed
(52:39) - Living Authenticity
(55:40) - In Closing

Humanity at its Best: Adventures in Kindness with Carrie and Sophia Fox

TruStory FM — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 04:00:00 -0700

Humanity at its Best shines a light on people and organizations bringing hope and inspiration to the world amid the pandemic. COVID-19 has altered life as we know it. Yet despite uncertainty, fear, and tragedy, there are still stories of good—good deeds, acts of kindness, moments of joy.

Today, Carrie Fox and her daughter Sophia join us to share the story behind their journey to spread kindness and their book, “Adventures in Kindness”.

(00:00) - Welcome to Humanity at its Best
(01:03) - Carrie & Sophia Fox – Adventures in Kindness
(02:10) - Favorite Adventures
(02:51) - Releasing During the Pandemic and Its Importance
(05:10) - What They Hope for as Far as Reactions
(06:48) - Next Steps
(07:50) - Last Comments

Building a Better Tomorrow with Mars Inc.

TruStory FM — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 03:00:34 -0700

Mars Incorporated—the company behind some of your favorite brands, from Snickers to Seeds of Change—is guided by a simple statement: We believe the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today.

This purpose comes to life through the company’s Sustainable in a Generation Plan, which focuses on a healthy planet, thriving people, and nourishing wellbeing; through its four subsidiaries — Petcare, Mars Wrigley, Food, and Edge; and through many of its brands. To talk about Mars’ purpose, Purpose 360 welcomed Andy Pharoah, VP Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Mars.

Listen for Andy’s insights on:

The interrelationship between the Mars Compass and Five Principles, and how they jointly guide decision-making at all levels of the organization.
How Mars is putting purpose at the center of long-term business strategy and R&D to transform supply chains and operations to be more sustainable, while creating healthier products.
Why and how Mars committed $1b+ in the Sustainable Generation Plan to put its “purpose into practice” and help billions of people around the world.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360 – Andy Pharoah from Mars Inc.
(05:25) - The Numbers
(06:02) - Andy's Background & the Evolution of Purpose
(08:44) - Mars' Purpose Statement
(10:28) - Examples in Action
(13:02) - Discovery of Their Purpose Statement
(16:51) - Mars' Five Principles
(19:03) - Finding Solutions
(20:10) - Sustainability Plan
(25:59) - Mars Family Involvement
(27:43) - The Mars Compass
(32:45) - Black Lives Matter and Uncle Ben's
(37:35) - Pet Care Successes
(41:47) - Andy's Favorite Brands
(43:51) - Andy's Insights Into Purpose
(45:32) - Focus Groups
(46:55) - Last Thoughts
(48:32) - Closing

The Logistics of Purpose with Lineage Logistics

TruStory FM — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 03:00:05 -0700

Meet the food transport and storage company with a purpose to feed the world. Lineage Logistics is a $2 billion enterprise driving more than a third of the temperature-controlled food distribution in the U.S., moving 8% of the global food supply. The company is deeply purpose-driven and operates on a stakeholder-driven model, focused on transforming the food supply chain to positively impact customers, communities, and beyond.

Sean Vanderelzen, Chief Human Resources Officer, and Megan Hendricksen, VP Marketing & Communications at Lineage, joined Purpose 360 to talk about the company lives its purpose. Listen for their insights on:

How Lineage developed an authentic purpose, rooted in the journey from farms and factories to shelves and tables
How purpose helped Lineage act swiftly during COVID-19 to transport food to areas in need as well as donate $5 million and 100 million meals alongside nonprofit partners
How Lineage leverages its purpose and capabilities to tackle a massive social problem: food waste
The impact of purpose on recruiting and talent retention, as well as employee engagement

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Sean & Megan from Lineage Logistics
(05:30) - Sean's & Megan's Journey to Lineage Logistics
(11:00) - Creating a Culture
(14:52) - Finding Their Purpose
(17:21) - Employee Excitement
(20:32) - Purpose in Recruitment
(23:07) - Recognition
(24:05) - Unlocking Employee Potential
(27:53) - COVID-19 & Lineage Logistics
(35:53) - Greg's Videos
(37:54) - Servant Leadership
(40:27) - Turning the Org Chart on Its Head
(41:41) - Growing Through Acquisition
(46:30) - Key Insights About Developing Your Purpose
(52:27) - Final Words

NRG Powers Purpose

TruStory FM — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 20:31:06 -0700

Every time we switch on a light, we make an impact on the environment. While most of us have limited choice in our energy providers, NRG’s 3.7 million customers can feel good about the company powering their lives.

NRG is a publicly-held energy company with a purpose to bring the power of energy to people and organizations. The company’s social impact platform, positiveNRG, engages employees, communities, and nonprofit organizations around NRG’s purpose, to drive impact at home and around the world. Purpose 360 welcomed Jennifer Brunelle, Head of Charitable Giving at NRG, to share the company’s purpose journey.

Listen for Jennifer’s insights on:

How purpose guides NRG in transforming the energy sector through a radically customer-focused approach
How positiveNRG engages and empowers employees at all levels of the organization to mobilize them in their home communities
The evolution of charitable giving, and how purpose allows NRG to up-level giving efforts strategically to be more impactful

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome Jennifer Brunelle from NRG Energy Inc.
(05:53) - About NRG
(06:49) - The Evolution of Charitable Giving
(12:14) - Jennifer's Thoughts on This Evolution
(13:32) - Discovering NRG's Purpose
(16:28) - Creating a De-Carbonized Future
(21:17) - Positive NRG
(23:05) - Employee Response to Choice
(25:47) - Purpose Guiding Actions for Racial Justice
(31:32) - Response to COVID
(36:37) - Three Insights
(39:07) - The Last Word

Deloitte’s Michele Parmelee Shares the Power of People + Purpose

TruStory FM — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 03:00:09 -0700

Professional services powerhouse Deloitte has always believed in the power of its people to provide outstanding insights and competitive edge. Deloitte was also one of the first of the Big Four to deeply integrate purpose into its business, leading to transformational change for the organization and its clients.

To talk about the power of people and purpose, we welcomed Michele Parmelee, Deloitte Global’s aptly-titled Chief People and Purpose Officer. Michele shared Deloitte’s purpose journey, including how the organization uses purpose as a guide to reinvent itself and its services in a rapidly-changing world.

Listen for Michele’s insights on:

The role of purpose in Deloitte’s talent strategy, and why people choose to work at (and stay with) Deloitte because of its values
How purpose builds trust with clients and enables Deloitte and its people to work with integrity
Deloitte’s WorldClassambition and how the initiative empowers their people make an impact around the world
The critical importance of industry research, including the long-running industry benchmark Deloitte Millennial Survey

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Meet Michelle Parmelee, Chief People and Purpose Officer from Deloitte Global
(03:13) - The Numbers
(03:45) - Michelle's Journey With Deloitte and Her Title
(06:12) - The Structure of Deloitte
(06:52) - The Company's Leadership Position
(09:06) - Deloitte's Purpose
(11:48) - Developing the Values
(15:34) - Becoming a Great Storyteller
(17:12) - Purpose as a Magnet
(19:57) - Talent As Related to Purpose
(21:51) - World Class
(24:02) - Hands-On Opportunities – Volunteering
(26:03) - Involving Their Clients & Partners
(27:29) - Helping Clients During COVID
(33:27) - Role of Purpose in the New Normal
(36:37) - Their 2020 Survey
(39:21) - Purpose Counseling for Clients
(40:31) - Themes in Action Areas
(42:55) - Traits for People & Purpose Officer
(45:45) - Final Thoughts

Humanity At Its Best: FIRST Robotics Teams

TruStory FM — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 03:00:09 -0700

Today, conversations exploring the best of our own humanity focusing on several FIRST Robotics teams – The Iron Mosquitos from Babbit, MN, The Thunderbots from Sacramento, CA, and The Bionic Wolves from Chicago, IL.

(00:00) - Welcome to Humanity at its Best
(01:04) - First Robotics Team – The Iron Mosquitoes From Babbit MN
(13:07) - First Robotics Team – The Thunderbots From Sacramento CA
(29:23) - First Robotics Team – The Bionic Wolves From Chicago IL

New York Life Foundation’s Heather Nesle & Maria Collins on Grief and Bereavement During the COVID-19 Pandemic

TruStory FM — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 03:00:20 -0700

New York Life has a long-term commitment to a difficult issue: childhood bereavement. As a life insurance company, aligning with bereavement is entirely authentic, and the company has made great strides to provide support and comfort to grieving children and their families.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the issue of bereavement has only become more acute. Heather Nesle, President of New York Life Foundation, Vice President Corporate Responsibility and Maria Collins, Vice President of New York Life Foundation, joined Purpose 360 to talk about New York Life’s innovative efforts to give back during COVID-19.

Listen for Heather and Maria’s insights on:

How New York Life quickly scaled up The Brave of Heart Fund, a $100 million joint initiative with Cigna to provide cash and mental health resources to the family members of essential workers who have died of COVID-19.
Why New York Life created The Golden Sweater, a children’s picture book (with accompanying resources) that helps children cope with the bereavement journey.
How New York Life is going above and beyond to provide COVID-19 support services to employees, customers, and their loved ones—from expert Q&As to resources to ease social isolation.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:48) - Heather Nesle and Maria Collins – New York Life
(03:14) - Social Purpose Focus and Who New York Life Is
(05:26) - Brave of Heart Fund & Cigna Partnership
(07:26) - Pivoting to Create the Idea
(09:18) - When They'll Distribute Funds
(10:22) - Bringing Their Knowledge to Help People
(14:54) - Top Recommendations
(19:25) - Insights Into Activating Their Purpose More Powerfully
(22:25) - Grief as Integrated Part of Culture
(23:40) - The Golden Sweater

08:46

TruStory FM — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 05:45:00 -0700

The shows of RashPixel.FM, including Purpose 360, are silent this week in support of all those who stand and fight for justice, equality, and peace. Thanks to the Cult 45 Podcast team for starting up this Podcast Blackout movement with this episode.

#BlackoutTuesday #PodcastBlackout #TheShowMustBePaused

Consider lending your support to the following organizations, each working to end police violence and defend those impacted by it.

Humanity At Its Best: GroceryHero & Caregiver Support Technologies

TruStory FM — Tue, 26 May 2020 03:00:00 -0700

Today, conversations exploring the best of our own humanity. Elliott Charbonneau and Luca De Blasis deliver food and support to frontline medical heroes with GroceryHero. And Tom Masterson talks tech with Caregiver Support Technologies.

(00:00) - Welcome to Humanity at its Best
(01:03) - Elliott & Luca – GroceryHero
(13:40) - Tom Masterson – Caregiver Support Technologies

TCS’s Balaji Ganapathy on Harnessing Purpose, People, and Technology

TruStory FM — Tue, 19 May 2020 09:23:17 -0700

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), part of the Tata Group, takes its leadership position seriously. As one of the leading information technology companies in the world, TCS embraces a profound role in harnessing the power of technology to drive significant change in society.

Balaji Ganapathy, Global Head of CSR and Chief Social Responsibility Officer for TCS, joined Purpose 360 to talk about TCS’s legacy as a purpose-driven enterprise, and how the company is reinventing the role of businesses to serve and support society.

Listen for Balaji’s insights on:

Why “purpose is the new tech,” and how TCS is creating inclusive and diverse pathways for women, youth, and marginalized groups through its CSR efforts
The power of the 4C’s (intellectual capital, technology capital, human capital, and financial capital) and cross-sector partnerships to create shared solutions to business and societal problems
How purpose helped TCS act swiftly in the face of COVID-19, both to build business resilience and meet the immediate needs of employees and their communities around the world
Why Tata Group founders believed they were not in the job of building business, but in building nations, and how that translates to TCS’s commitments to uplift communities and the people who live in them today

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose360
(01:55) - Balaji Ganapathy from TCS
(06:31) - Harnessing the Power of People, Purpose, & Technology
(08:34) - Purpose Is the New Technology
(11:46) - TCS's Ethos & Values
(14:33) - The Best of TCS
(17:35) - Value in Initiatives & Employees
(24:02) - Recruiting & Retention
(29:39) - Employees as Societal Champions
(32:44) - TCS Response to the Pandemic
(38:18) - Taking On the New York Marathon
(41:45) - Employee Volunteerism
(45:22) - Community Engagement
(46:25) - Who He Admires
(48:57) - Team Size Around the Globe
(49:41) - Three Trends Shaping Our Practice in This Space
(52:21) - Wrap-Up

Humanity at its Best: NYC Together, Pearl Babies Memories, and Hospital Heroes

TruStory FM — Thu, 14 May 2020 03:00:14 -0700

Today, conversations exploring the best of our own humanity. Dana Rachlin digs deeper with NYC Together. A story of healing with Pearl's Memory Babies. And Hospital Heroes supports healthcare workers with volunteers willing to share homes, meals, and caring.

(00:00) - Welcome to Humanity at its Best
(01:01) - Dana Rachlin – NYC Together
(24:16) - Sandy & Shanon – Pear's Memory Babies
(40:59) - Keith – Hospital Heroes

Procter & Gamble is a force for good and a force for growth

TruStory FM — Tue, 12 May 2020 03:00:00 -0700

P&G has the distinct honor of being one of the oldest companies on our show, and one with a purpose that honors the organization’s legacy as much as it guides the multi-national CPG company into the future.

Damon Jones, P&G’s Chief Communications Officer, joined Purpose 360 to talk about the company’s efforts to be “a force for good and a force for growth” across a portfolio of dozens of brands, with nearly 100,000 employees around the world.

Listen for Damon’s insights on:

How P&G crafted a purpose that is “built in, not bolted on” to be truly integrated in the company’s DNA—and that of its brands
How purposes guides innovation across the organization, from global operations to brand-level improvements
Why P&G pursues advocacy efforts around issues including gender and race equality, among others, and what the company has learned about embracing issues important to citizens
The importance of authenticity and “walking the walk” of corporate purpose, and how P&G lives its purpose through commitments to fair and equal advertising, responsible supply chain, sustainability, and community engagement
How the CPG company has responded to COVID-19 to protect employees in markets around the world, as well as consumers and communities

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360 • Damon Jones, Procter & Gamble
(04:31) - The Numbers
(05:01) - Purpose as Table Stakes
(08:39) - The Social Purpose Tipping Point
(12:59) - How do you integrate communications and the brand?
(17:22) - Diversity
(22:41) - Important measures in purpose-driven work
(25:41) - On Agreement – "Keeping everyone happy has never been the goal."
(31:42) - Responding to COVID-19
(37:25) - "Returning" to Work
(40:01) - Assisted Shaving
(44:06) - Connecting mission to supply chain
(47:52) - Three Insights
(50:04) - Who are your heros?

Humanity at its Best: Anti-Corona Zone, Bas Welling, and NEST4US

TruStory FM — Mon, 11 May 2020 03:00:11 -0700

Today, conversations exploring the best of our own humanity. Natasha Danielovich brings stories from the Anti-Corona Zone. Bas Welling shares Hearts for Healthcare Heroes. And two sisters spread kindness, not the virus, with Nest4Us

(00:00) - Welcome to Humanity at its Best
(01:04) - Natasha Danielovich • Anti-Corona Zone
(10:00) - Bas Welling – Hearts for Health Care Heroes
(20:52) - NEST4US

Humanity at its Best: Asheville Strong, Shifa Free Clinic, and Karen's Third Grade Class

TruStory FM — Fri, 08 May 2020 03:00:17 -0700

Today, conversations exploring the best of our own humanity with small business care from AshevilleStrong. Dr. Reshma Khan supports the needy with quality free healthcare at Shifa Clinics. And stories from the front line of education with Karen who shares the story of adapting her third grade class — students AND parents — to the new normal with joy and enthusiasm for learning.

(00:00) - Welcome to Humanity at its Best
(01:01) - #AshevilleStrong
(09:55) - Shifa Free Clinics
(22:43) - Karen in the Third Grade

Brewing brighter futures with TRU Colors

TruStory FM — Wed, 06 May 2020 14:04:15 -0700

TRU Colors is a brewery that stands for unity across all kinds of communities—starting by breaking down racial barriers, stopping street violence, and bringing people together (often over a good beer). But this is a brewery unlike any other: TRU Colors was founded by and employs active, rival gang members who come together to do honest work and advance a shared mission to stop gun violence.

George Taylor, President and CEO of TRU Colors and founder of online beer community Untappd, joined Purpose 360 to share the TRU Colors story. The brewery is slated to open late summer 2020 in North Carolina.

Listen for George’s insights on:

Why founders opted for the brewery model as a way to employ local gang members (and why George considers TRU Colors to be “in the opportunity business”)
How the “unpitch” helped forge an authentic partnership between fledgling TRU Colors and Anheuser-Busch InBev
How Community Ambassadors and the TRU Work initiative engage gang members in their communities to advance the mission to stop gun violence

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:40) - Introducing George Taylor of TRU Colors
(04:18) - The Business Model
(05:51) - Meeting the gangs
(12:05) - The journey
(18:11) - Building trust
(19:55) - The Path to Prosperity
(26:42) - Communicating peace over Zoom... And Madden 2020
(31:23) - Finding the Social Impact investor
(32:47) - Social impact data
(39:18) - The Brand
(42:10) - The Start-up Model?

Humanity at its Best: Mental Health Care in the COVID Era at CAMH

TruStory FM — Mon, 04 May 2020 13:09:11 -0700

Today Chris Ide, CAMH VP of Corporate and Community Partnerships, joins us to talk about mental health care in the COVID era and what Canada's largest mental health teaching hospital can teach all of us about taking care of ourselves, each other, and our businesses as we look toward rebuilding.

Links & Notes

Managing your Stress and Anxiety by CAMH (iOS • Google Play)
Workplace Mental Health Playbook

(00:00) - Welcome to Humanity at its Best
(02:35) - Introducing Chris Ides
(06:47) - Scaling at the speed of pandemic
(09:42) - What the public needs: Informed Research
(11:44) - Mental health strategies
(15:08) - Strageties for the business community
(17:42) - 3 Insights

Humanity at its Best: Idealist, Maggie Stone, and Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy

TruStory FM — Fri, 01 May 2020 16:16:26 -0700

Today, conversations exploring the best of our own humanity from Ami Dar and Idealist. Maggie Stone tells us of her campaign to bring joy to senior citizens at A.G.Rhodes. And Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy is working hard to keep the uninsured healthy through the COVID-19 crisis.

(00:00) - Welcome to Humanity at its Best
(01:04) - Ami Dar – Idealist
(19:26) - Maggie Stone and A.G. Rhodes
(27:11) - Sharee – Ozenam Charitable Pharmacy

Humanity at its Best: Buddy Benches and Sending Smiles, The Maven Project, and Simms Fishing Products

TruStory FM — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 13:36:43 -0700

Today, conversations exploring the best of our own humanity from Buddy Benches and Sending Smiles with Sammie Vance, The Maven Project, and a timely pivot that keeps people working and giving back with Simms Fishing Products.

(00:00) - Welcome to Humanity at its Best
(00:59) - Buddy Benches and Sending Smiles
(07:41) - The Maven Project
(24:33) - Simms Fishing Products

Humanity at its Best: Local Support, Dining at a Distance, and US Bank

TruStory FM — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 03:00:11 -0700

Today, conversations exploring the best of our own humanity from Ireland with LocalSupport.ie, Dining at a Distance, and US Bank.

(00:00) - Welcome to Humanity at its Best
(01:01) - LocalSupport.ie
(04:29) - Dining at a Distance
(18:36) - US Bank

Responding to COVID-19: A Conversation with JUST Capital and US Bank

TruStory FM — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 11:38:15 -0700

Two previous Purpose 360 guests joined us to talk about the evolving corporate response to COVID-19. Martin Whittaker, CEO of JUST Capital, and Reba Dominski, EVP, Chief Social Responsibility Officer, and President, US Bank Foundation, shared their insights and experiences in the midst of the pandemic.

Listen for Martin and Reba’s insights on:

How JUST Capital sees COVID-19 putting the “stakeholder capitalism” movement to the test
How US Bank moved quickly to support its employees, customers, and communities—and direct a $30 million donation to relief efforts
What the business world will look like post-COVID-19, from the workplace to the communities where companies operate

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:46) - Introducing Just Capital and US Bank
(04:23) - Just-ness in the era of COVID-19
(08:38) - North Stars and the Data Behind Them
(19:12) - The Polls
(22:51) - Reopening the World
(27:25) - 3 Insights
(31:31) - How do we demonstrate purpose going forward?
(35:02) - Humanity
(36:39) - Introducing Reba Dominski
(36:54) - What is US Bank doing to respond to COVID-19?
(37:39) - Community Possible and making decisions at speed
(41:38) - Communication
(43:46) - If you're feeling behind
(45:14) - The post-COVID world

Communications in a Time of Crisis with Kith’s Bill Coletti

TruStory FM — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:29:19 -0700

Crisis communications is a practice every company needs experience in, but hopes to never have to put to use. Companies that prepare for downturns and crises are better equipped to respond with speed, empathy, and innovative solutions. Yet, even companies who haven’t invested in crisis comms planning can utilize this moment to learn and craft their crisis strategy.

To help our listeners navigate communications during the COVID-19 pandemic, we invited Kith CEO Bill Coletti to the show. Listen for Bill’s insights on:

The tenets of successful crisis communication: always be communicating, always be listening, and manage stakeholder expectations.
The importance of articulating a company’s core values during challenging times, and demonstrating how those values guide the company in standing for something bigger than itself.
Three considerations companies should balance in planning to come back from a crisis: financial, social, and moral.

Links & Notes

(00:48) - Introducing Bill Colletti
(05:07) - About Kith
(06:55) - COVID-19 Crisis Communications
(12:27) - Moving Forward
(17:49) - The Risk Matrix
(21:15) - Getting Involved on Short Notice
(23:52) - Smart Generosity
(26:33) - What can communicators do right now?
(33:52) - Major League Baseball on finding their way back to normal
(37:35) - Bringing back the most impacted industries
(42:05) - Three Key Insights

Humanity at its Best: Petr, Tom, and Oregon

TruStory FM — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 15:59:18 -0700

Humanity at its Best: Natalye Paquin, CEO, Points of Light

TruStory FM — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 08:38:53 -0700

The most powerful force in the world is the individual. This belief guides Points of Light, the world’s largest nonprofit accelerating people-powered change.

Natalye Paquin, Points of Light’s CEO, joined Purpose 360 to talk about why the organization is partnering with us to share stories of hope during the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen for her insights on the power of individual actions to drive collective change, how storytelling can connect us in times of crisis, and what is means to create a society where it’s easy to take action and no one sits on the sidelines.

Learn more at pointsoflight.org.

Quantifying the impact of COVID-19 with The Harris Poll

TruStory FM — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 03:00:06 -0700

The Harris Poll is one of the nation’s oldest and preeminent public opinion organizations. It’s no surprise the global market research and consulting firm moved quickly to quantify the public’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wendy Salomon, Managing Director Reputation & Corporate Strategy, The Harris Poll, joined Purpose 360 to talk about the trends her firm is highlighting as the pandemic continues to evolve.

Corporate purpose and reputation are at the forefront of the crisis. Beyond looking to their local and federal government, the American public is turning to big business for answers: how are you supporting your employees? How are you using your capabilities to help address critical shortages? How are you keeping the lights on and food on the shelves? Americans feel that the way all institutions respond now will chart the course for our collective future.

Listen for Wendy’s insights on:

How the wildly-changing landscape of COVID-19 is putting corporate purpose and reputation to the test, and why consumers want businesses to “do more, say less”
How companies are flexing to meet situations they may not have ever forecasted or prepared for
The changing face of the American workforce and workplace, including the impact of isolation on workers and growing role of technology in human connectivity
The critical social issues that are rising to the forefront for companies—like worker’s rights and supply chain transparency

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:36) - Introducing Wendy Solomon with The Harris Poll
(04:06) - About The Harris Poll
(07:07) - COVID-19 Research Background
(13:18) - Employers, policies, and going back to "work"
(17:10) - Corporate participation?
(19:02) - The B2B Purpose Paradox
(30:29) - Will CSR Suffer?
(35:27) - Changing behavior
(38:02) - What is the trend for civic engagement?
(41:43) - What is Gen Z up to?
(43:06) - Three Tips

Purpose 360 Introduces Humanity at its Best

TruStory FM — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 03:00:05 -0700

COVID-19 has altered life as we know it. Yet despite uncertainty, fear, and tragedy, there are still stories of good—good deeds, acts of kindness, moments of hope and joy. Purpose 360 is highlighting much-needed stories of positivity and inspiration amid the pandemic through our new series, Humanity at its Best. Please join us by sharing your story: email the team at p360podcast@gmail.com.

Mobilizing the Next Generation with DoSomething

TruStory FM — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 06:00:00 -0700

As the name suggests, DoSomething exists to give young people the inspiration, tools, and power to make change. DoSomething is the largest not-for-profit organization exclusively for young people and social change, with a community that spans every U.S. area code and more than 130 countries.

From voter registration and clothing donations to celebrating pride and neighborhood cleanups, DoSomething is a digital platform that allows any young person to catalyze IRL (in real life) change.

Aria Finger, CEO of DoSomething, joined Purpose 360 to talk about the importance of giving youth the capabilities to create change, and how brands can better connect with and empower Gen Zers. Listen for Aria’s insights on:

Why DoSomething’s youth-led approach to change is so empowering, and how the organization creates community around critical social issues
The social issues that resonate with young people today and how brands can support them authentically
Myths and keen insights surrounding how to connect with Gen Z--start from a place of service and know that this is a highly diverse generation

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to P360. What's your purpose?
(02:33) - By the Numbers
(03:16) - Introducing Aria Finger and DoSomething.org
(07:36) - Why is the youth-led movement important?
(09:07) - How does the platform work?
(13:49) - What are the most important issues to Gen Z today?
(19:56) - Should a brand take a stand?
(21:37) - Is volunteerism inspired by action?
(25:54) - DoSomething Strategic
(27:16) - What do corporations need?
(28:44) - How do you engage your team?
(33:07) - Who's doing the best job of engaging Gen Z?
(35:16) - Measurement
(39:23) - What's next?
(40:16) - Internal activation
(41:43) - Three Insights
(43:16) - The Greta Factor

Building Better Lives with Habitat for Humanity

TruStory FM — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 03:00:09 -0800

Habitat for Humanity, which started as a grassroots effort on a community farm in Southern Georgia, now works in communities across all 50 U.S. states and more than 70 countries. The organization’s astounding growth is due in part to its focused mission: help people (29 million to date) obtain a safe place to sleep at night and the stability and self-reliance to build better lives.

Colleen Finn Ridenhour, Chief Development Officer at Habitat for Humanity International, joined Purpose 360 to discuss the organization’s evolution and ongoing innovation. Listen for Colleen’s insights on:

Balancing very different needs in communities around the world, without losing focus on Habitat’s mission
How Habitat’s model integrates robust and meaningful employee volunteerism opportunities, and how corporates can supercharge efforts
How corporations can leverage their partnerships with NGOs, including Habitat.
How Habitat built an ecosystem around its core home-building model, including its retails ReStores to generate revenue

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Cause Talk Radio
(01:43) - Habitat for Humanity International
(02:53) - By The Numbers
(03:41) - Colleen Finn Ridenhour
(06:51) - Habitat's evolutions
(10:27) - Employee engagement and team-building experiences
(15:17) - Great communicators
(17:39) - ReStores
(22:22) - Defining objectives
(26:37) - Measurement
(30:23) - The Habitat ecosystem
(39:45) - The Carters
(42:23) - Three Insights
(44:59) - The B2B Purpose Paradox
(48:28) - The Affordable Housing Crisis

Davos Debrief with JUST Capital CEO Martin Whittaker

TruStory FM — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 03:00:14 -0800

As one of the leaders in the ‘stakeholder capitalism’ movement, JUST Capital was a key participant in this year’s World Economic Forum convening in Davos.

Martin Whittaker, JUST Capital’s CEO, joined Purpose 360 to talk about core themes, conversations, and ideas from Davos. Most centered on the growing call for a new system of capitalism, one which places the needs of all stakeholders—employees, customers, communities, the planet, and more—before shareholders.

Listen for Martin’s analysis of Davos, including:

How companies will approach measuring a stakeholder economy
How today’s leaders are defining and building “just” companies
Why climate and equity will be defining societal issues over the next few years

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:45) - Martin Whittaker is back from Davos
(08:23) - How do you move from aspiration to action?
(11:28) - The Financial Distress Test
(16:43) - Other areas of Davos focus?
(20:35) - Just like JUST?
(21:24) - How do you approach Davos next year?
(23:32) - Top 3 Insights
(26:43) - When will JUST look at large private companies?

Soaring into Sustainability with JetBlue

TruStory FM — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 03:00:08 -0800

The aviation industry is tough. Airlines bear one of the largest carbon footprints of any industry, and the rising threat of global climate disaster—plus trends like “flight shaming”—are challenging companies to find solutions.

JetBlue, long considered a “beloved” brand in a beleaguered industry, is putting the climate issue at the core of its business. Most recently, the airline announced that all domestic flights would be carbon neutral by mid-2020. We spoke with Sophia Mendelsohn, Head of Sustainability and Environmental Social Governance, and Sara Bogdan, Manager of Sustainability and Environmental Social Governance, about JetBlue’s efforts to tackle the climate issue.

The core insight: JetBlue treats the environmental crisis as an opportunity, not a threat. Fervor around climate issues is spurring innovation and inventive solutions across the company, from in-flight recycling efforts to new sharklets on the aircraft wings to increase fuel efficiency. Plus, JetBlue continues to invest in programs to support local communities, including Soar With Reading, in addition to inspiring small business innovation through programs like BlueBud.

Listen for Sophia and Sara’s insights on:

How JetBlue pushes for innovation across the business, with a focus on generating long-term value and impact
How transparency, honesty, and unrelenting dedication to customer service makes JetBlue a beloved brand
How JetBlue drives grassroots impact in the communities where the company operates

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:45) - Introducing Sophia Mendlesohn and Sophia Bogdan from JetBlue
(03:13) - By the numbers
(06:06) - Sophia's journey into aviation and the aviation evolution
(14:27) - Innovation in markets, innovation in equipment
(24:57) - Purpose & Culture
(31:15) - Foundation: Building a future for the aviation industry through STEM and ecological rehabilitation
(36:15) - Top 3 Insights

Talking shoes, philanthropy, and one-for-one with TOMS

TruStory FM — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 03:00:07 -0800

Consumers know TOMS, the shoe company that pioneered the one-for-one business model (spurring, by some accounts, more than 1,800 other “one-for-one” businesses). But few know what the name “TOMS” actually means: Tomorrow’s Shoes.

The name is prescient, especially considering the social, political and economic climate today compared to 2006, when TOMS was founded. While the world has changed, the TOMS promise holds fast: captured in the company’s mission (We’re in business to improve lives) and vision (Stand for a Better Tomorrow).

Purpose 360 welcomed “rebel optimist” Amy Smith, Chief Giving Officer at TOMS, to explain why TOMS is moving away from the one-for-one model to a broader focus on “building a tomorrow where everyone thrives.”

Listen for Amy’s insights on:

How TOMS expanded from a single one-for-one product—shoes—to several products, each supporting a critical social issue (vision, water, safe births, bullying, solar light)
How to smartly and authentically evolve a social impact model to remain relevant, innovative and effective in a turbulent society
Why TOMS launched a campaign to end gun violence, and how the company navigated a hotbed social issue
How TOMS works with hundreds of Giving Partners around the world to make a more meaningful and sustainable impact on local communities

Links & Resources

PNC Helps Children and Communities Grow Up Great

TruStory FM — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 03:00:07 -0800

Now in its 15th year, PNC’s Grow Up Great has served more than 5 million children in the U.S. through early childhood education grant-funded programs, educational materials and mobile engagement tours. A $500 million bilingual initiative, Grow Up Great launched in 2004 to support children birth to five, particularly the underserved, achieve success in school and life.

Sally McCrady, President of the PNC Foundation and Executive Vice President and Director of Community Affairs and CSR, joined Purpose 360 to explore how this long-term initiative has made a measurable difference in the communities where the bank operates. For the bank, supporting the issue simply made good business sense: research shows that investments in early childhood education are long-lasting, with impacts on children, society, and the economy.

Today, PNC continues to evolve Grow Up Great to remain relevant and meet the needs of today’s children and communities. The award-winning initiative helps to plant the seeds for the dynamic workforce of tomorrow.

Listen for Sally’s insights on:

How to sustain an issue focus over 15 years to scale impact and continue to deliver innovative, high-quality programming
How a commitment to employees, including a generous 40 hours paid time off to volunteer, has deeply embedded Grow Up Great into PNC’s culture, business and overall growth
How internal and external research led PNC to be a “first mover” in corporate support of early childhood education, bringing the issue to national prominence
How to identify mission-aligned partners and work together in innovative ways—such as PNC’s partnership with DonorsChoose to fund the platform’s first Pre-K and Head Start classrooms

Resources:

About PNC
A Conversation with Sally McCrady
Grow Up Great
PNC’s 2018 CSR Report
Questions for Sally? Reach out to the Purpose 360 team on Twitter @Purpose360Pod

(00:01) - Introducing PNC
(09:38) - Letting employees lead
(15:16) - The impact of early childhood education
(17:56) - The advisory board
(25:44) - Sesame Workshops, and other partners
(28:26) - Going beyond the obvious partners — Translating versus Transcreating
(32:28) - Developing support for teachers
(37:34) - Lessons of the Donor's Choose relationship
(39:03) - The Donors Choose card and celebrating greatness
(42:17) - The challenges of measurement
(49:49) - Grow Up Great as a door opener
(52:11) - Top 3 Insights

Jeff Fromm Reveals the Purpose Advantage

TruStory FM — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 02:00:15 -0800

“What matters is what you do next.”

This is the opening section in Jeff Fromm’s newest book, The Purpose Advantage. It’s an apt statement, considering the Business Roundtable’s recent proclamation that the purpose of a corporation is to serve all stakeholders—from employees to suppliers to communities. Arguably, we’re now beyond the tipping point of capitalism. Purpose is no longer a “nice-to-have.” So, what we do next matters more than ever.

In this episode, we spoke with Jeff Fromm, author, thought leader, and leader of Barkley and Futurecast, about purpose today and how Millennials and Gen Z are reshaping the role of business in society.

Listen to hear Jeff’s insights on:

Understanding today’s Millennials and Gen Z’ers and their evolving relationship with purpose—at work and as consumers
How to move past generational “myths” and unearth data to drive insights around purpose
What the “purpose advantage” can achieve for brands today, and why purpose must be baked into a company’s DNA—not tacked on
How brands leverage purpose to tell meaningful stories that move consumers to action

Links & Notes

BBMG is on a Mission to Make Sustainable Living Desirable to All

TruStory FM — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 03:00:00 -0800

BBMG was founded on the idea that branding can be a force for transformation for people and society. In the 16 years since launch, BBMG has shifted the way consumers and industry views brands: not as transactional entities, but human-centered connectors between business and people.

Raphael Bemporad, BBMG’s founding partner, joined Purpose 360 to explore insights from The Pull Factor Project, which BBMG released this fall with Sustainable Brands. The Pull Factor is aimed at helping marketers make sustainable living desirable to the masses, and includes actionable tools for brand leaders and marketers to “design communications that drive business growth while shaping a culture of sustainable living.”

Listen for Raphael’s insights on:

• How to define brand challenges, discover human factors, identify drivers of behaviors, and pilot and implement best practices

• The cultural shifts and emerging social issues shaping the role of business in society

• Nine core behaviors that brands can focus on to drive change for people and planet

Resources:

• Download the Report

• The Pull Factor Project

• BBMG

• Raphael Bemporad on LinkedIn

• Sustainable Brands - Brands for Good+

• Branding Mag on The Pull Factor

The New York Times Finds Purpose in Truth

TruStory FM — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0800

In an era of fake news and alternative facts, the media is finding a new purpose rooted in transparency and truth.

The New York Times’s purpose, “We seek the truth to help people understand the world,” hinges on a critically important idea: that the truth is worth it. In this episode, Amy Weisenbach, Senior Vice President of Marketing, talks about how this core tenet was driven by purpose and brought to life through the power of storytelling.

First aired in 2017, the New York Times’s “The Truth is Worth It” campaign unpacks the journalistic process behind real New York Times headlines, and continues to probe topics ranging from the failing MTA and Trump’s tax returns to ISIS and children at the border.

At the center of the campaign, said Weisenbach, is the idea that journalists are seeking the truth by holding power to accountability, bearing witness to moments of tragedy and triumph, giving a voice to the disadvantaged, and creating a shared baseline of facts. Which ultimately helps people understand the world, making their lives richer, and hopefully forming a more just society.

Listen for Amy’s insights on:

The value of transparency and honesty in advancing purpose in a divisive nation
How to leverage key cultural moments to tell stories that matter
The evolving role of purpose in the media, and why storytelling is an inherently purpose-driven field

Resources

CECP: Giving in Numbers 2019

TruStory FM — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 09:45:37 -0800

Giving in Numbers, CECP’s annual report on corporate social investments, is often considered a bible for corporate and nonprofit professionals alike. Now in its 14th edition, and based on 18 years’ of benchmarking data, Giving in Numbers is based on company-reported information from more than 300 companies.

Carmen Perez, Senior Director of Data Insights, and Andre Solorzano, Senior Manager of Data Insights at CECP, joined Carol to share the story behind this nearly two decades-long effort to track and analyze the far-reaching impact of corporate giving.

Listen for Carmen and Andre’s insights on:

The evolving expectations of employees: how they want to give their time, talent, and money
How purpose can direct an organization’s giving strategy
The social issues that are garnering the most (or least) corporate support today

You can listen to our episode with CECP’s CEO, Daryl Brewster, here.

Resources:

Brewing a purpose with AB InBev

TruStory FM — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 03:00:29 -0700

AB InBev exists to do a lot more than brew your favorite beers. The company’s purpose — to bring people together for a better world for the next 100+ years — comes to life in more ways than we could cover in one episode. Yet it is grounded in a very simple idea: that culture defines the company.

Pablo Jimenez, AB InBev’s Global Vice President, Reputation & Communications, joined Purpose 360 to unpack the company’s “Dream. People. Culture.” approach to bringing people together for a better world. This guides initiatives like Budweiser’s commitment to use entirely renewable energy by 2025 (a bold goal given that 41 million Budweisers are sold daily around the world), Stella Artois’ partnership with water.org, programs to enforce safe drinking habits, and much more.

We invite you to crack open one of AB InBev’s 500 beer brands and listen for Pablo’s insights on:

How a simple question – “What would the world miss if your company didn’t exist?” – inspired CEO Carlos Brito to bring the company together for soul-searching, and ultimately, to develop AB InBev’s purpose.
How to create hyper-local connections and be part of the solution in culturally diverse markets while maintaining an overarching global vision and purpose.
Why purpose must be a long-standing commitment, and how AB InBev’s 10 principles and focus on ownership is helping the company look to the next 100 years.

Resources

Redefining Corporate Reputation

TruStory FM — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 03:00:06 -0700

Reputation is corporate currency today. Yet reputation can seem hard to quantify—and at a time when transparency and authenticity are expected by all stakeholders, the ability to measure and track reputation is critical.

Enter Reputation Institute. Now in its 21st year, the organization is a data, analytics, and insights platform powering companies to understand and build reputation. Kylie Wright-Ford, the Institute’s CEO, joined Purpose 360 to discuss the company’s approach to measuring and analyzing the reputation of companies, cities, and leaders—primarily through its RepTrak platform. She also discusses other products related to corporate responsibility through CR RepTrak and CEO reputation through CEO RepTrak.

Wright-Ford also unpacks the importance of reputation, and its seven dimensions today—from products and innovation to workplace and citizenship. Listen for her insights on:

The difference between brand (a promise) and reputation (whether that promise is kept).
How companies can balance the rational and emotional aspects of their reputation, and why those emotional aspects are on the rise.
The potential impacts of a healthy reputation, and how companies can leverage that reputation to build stronger ties to key stakeholders.

Resources

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose360
(02:15) - Introducing Kylie Wright-Ford
(06:03) - The CEO Vision for RI
(07:19) - Why is reputation so important today?
(08:12) - Emotion and reputation
(10:01) - What is RepTrak?
(13:13) - Digging in to Pulse Score
(14:45) - Forbes and the Annual Global RepTrack 100
(19:12) - The bottom line value to enhancing scores
(21:37) - Reputation's impact on retention
(23:57) - CR RepTrak
(29:05) - The upcoming PurposeTrack from RI
(31:59) - Silence is no longer golden: The reputational value of the CEO
(36:17) - 'The Leadership Mind Switch'
(38:40) - Kylie's admirations list
(42:06) - Upping the intelligence game for purpose strategies
(44:36) - The future of purpose
(46:52) - Explore RI

Force for Nature

TruStory FM — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 03:00:05 -0700

This Climate Week, the future of our earth is top of mind. But for Restore the Earth Foundation, this is just one week out of the year that the nonprofit dedicates to our planet—starting with restoring 1 million acres in the Mississippi River Basin, known as the North American Amazon.

It’s a huge task, and one that Restore the Earth Foundation can’t tackle alone. The organization’s pioneering model, which leverages the power of multi-billion dollar corporations to fund boots-on-the-ground restoration work, is making a measurable difference on Earth.

In this episode, Restore the Earth Co-founder and Executive Director PJ Marshall joins Purpose 360 to share the story behind her organization’s genesis, and how Restore the Earth is changing the way the private and public sectors work together to support critical environmental projects.

Listen for PJ’s insights on:

The significant regional, national, and global impacts of Restore the Earth Foundation’s work in the North American Amazon— such as the potential to reduce the U.S. carbon footprint by 2% and generate more than $12 billion in economic value.
How Restore the Earth created the EcoMetrics Model, which accounts for the environmental, social, and economic co-benefits and impacts of Restore the Earth’s reforestation work.
- This allows the organizations funding Restore the Earth’s efforts to account for the value created by their investments—ensuring stakeholder and shareholder buy-in for these critical reforestation projects.
How Restore the Earth has built partnerships and coalitions with organizations like Dow, VMware and U.S. Fish & Wildlife.

Resources

Bridging Hope and Possibility with Cisco

TruStory FM — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 03:00:00 -0700

Cisco is in the business of connecting people. To Cisco, that means more than providing industry-leading technology—it means creating a world of potential to make the impossible possible.

Tae Yoo, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and CSR, joined Purpose 360 to talk about Cisco’s legacy of connecting people for business and societal impact, and bold goal to positively impact 1 billion people via digital solutions by 2025. Core to this effort is the Cisco Networking Academy, an initiative providing students around the world with critical networking and technology skills. Beyond setting students on the path to school and career success, Cisco Networking Academy has supported local economies around the world, generating new jobs and inspiring the next generation of innovators.

Listen for Tae’s insights on:

How the Cisco Networking Academy helped introduce Cisco to new markets, such as its growth in sub-Saharan Africa
How being a tech company with a “higher risk tolerance” drives Cisco to collaborate and innovate on solutions that can positively impact society
How embedding sustainability in the organization, and giving business units ownership and accountability, has helped Cisco reduce environmental impacts

Links & Notes

CECP is making business is a force for good

TruStory FM — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 03:00:00 -0700

Imagine a world where all businesses exist to help society – and make a profit in the process. That’s the future CECP (Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose) is building. Founded by Paul Newman in 1999, CECP is a CEO-led coalition working to redefine the ways in which companies engage with stakeholders to better serve society.

In this episode, Carol talks with Daryl Brewster, CECP’s powerhouse CEO and former Nabisco and Krispy Kreme executive. Under his leadership, CECP convenes 200 of the world’s largest companies, representing $6.6 trillion in revenues, more than $20 billion in social investments, 14 million employees, 23 million hours of employee engagement, and $15 in assets under management.

Listen to hear Daryl’s insights on:

Balancing short- and long-term social and business strategy to maximize impact, and how vanguard companies are bringing investors into their social impact strategy
The growing value of transparency and trust in embedding and operationalizing purpose
Building coalitions to advance business and capitalism as a whole – because re-shaping the role of business in society takes a movement

Resources:

Purpose Makes Community Possible at US Bank

TruStory FM — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 03:00:00 -0700

570 hours per day.

That’s the number of hours US Bank employees volunteered, daily, in their communities last year. US Bank’s 74,000 employees don’t give back just because they have big hearts for helping those around them – giving is a core value at US Bank, driven by purpose and activated through the company’s Community Possible platform.

Reba Dominski, Chief Social Responsibility Officer and President of the US Bank Foundation, joined Purpose 360 to talk about how purpose drives community, economic, and workforce development inside and outside the company. Community Possible, which encompasses giving and community engagement across three pillars—work, home, and play—guides US Bank to achieve business and societal goals, driven by data and an ethos to “Make possible happen.”

In this episode, Reba shares insights on how purpose helps US Bank:

empower employees to make decisions that are good for business, people, and planet;
develop fair and responsible products that create economic opportunity for all;
create a meaningful community presence through projects like the US Bank Pullman Community Center on Chicago’s south side.

RESOURCES:

Making Capitalism More “JUST”: Martin Whittaker of JUST Capital shares the organization's bold vision to reshape how corporate America works

TruStory FM — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 06:00:00 -0700

The world needs more just companies. But what makes a company “just”?

JUST Capital is an NGO working to help corporations evolve their business and societal commitments to make capitalism more “just.” That’s a big task, but one that JUST Capital’s CEO, Martin Whittaker, relishes. Martin joined Purpose 360 to discuss the genesis of JUST Capital (which was founded by legendary investor Paul Tudor Jones II) and how it’s setting a roadmap for corporate America – defining the actions and behaviors companies should adopt as they interact with employees, customers, consumers, communities, and shareholders in a meaningful way.

Central to this is the JUST 100, an annual ranking that recognizes the top 100 most “just” companies in America. Companies are ranked based on how they perform on issues that Americans care most about – such as safe and secure jobs, truth in advertising, environmental responsibility, and 33 other components. Since launch, the JUST 100 has influenced the way companies are approaching their ESG commitments.

Aside from its flagship rankings, JUST Capital is doing a lot to harness the power of American business for good. In this episode, Martin expands on the JUST ETF, JUST Index, and what comes next in a “just” economy.

Listen in for Martins insights on:

How purpose and corporate social responsibility can drive ROI across a business – if it’s implemented authentically, and smartly.
Why Wall Street is putting more money behind companies with robust ESG commitments.
The vital importance of culture in an organization, and how “crowd sourcing the DNA of a 21st Century company” supports long-term success.

Resources:

Johnson & Johnson is changing the trajectory of human health

TruStory FM — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 03:00:27 -0700

Since 1943, global health powerhouse Johnson & Johnson has been guided by a simple credo. You wouldn’t think that something etched in stone (literally) could help a multi-billion-dollar brand navigate decades of changing consumer needs, drastic shifts in healthcare, and turbulent global markets—but it has. That’s because Johnson & Johnson doesn’t just dust off the credo now and then—the company lives it every single day.

Michael Sneed, Executive Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs & Chief Communication Officer at Johnson & Johnson, joined Purpose 360 to share how the company’s behaviors and beliefs shape culture, empower employees, drive bold innovation, and guide the enterprise in navigating setbacks. Sneed expands on the intricate link between its legendary credo and Johnson & Johnson’s recently-developed purpose: to blend heart, science, & ingenuity to change the trajectory of human health.

Listen for Michael’s insights on:

How employees from around the world collaborated to craft Johnson & Johnson’s authentic purpose
How management is kept accountable by bi-annual employee surveys, which essentially grade leadership how well they guide the company in living its credo
How Johnson & Johnson’s purpose is challenging the company in innovation and risk-taking—after all, changing the trajectory of human health is a big task!

General Motors is moving humanity forward

TruStory FM — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 06:00:03 -0700

Zero Zero Zero: zero emissions, zero crashes and zero congestion. This profound goal is CEO Mary Barra’s approach to reinventing General Motors for today, tomorrow, and the next 100 years.

Few industries have evolved as rapidly (and sometimes turbulently) as the automotive industry. In its 100-year history, GM has faced challenges, both internal (faulty ignition switches) and external (the recession). Yet today, the company is thriving. That’s in large part to Barra’s commitment to evolve GM’s culture, influence purpose-driven behaviors, and phase out processes that don’t support the company’s evolution.

In this episode, Tony Cervone, SVP of Global Communications, shares how GM’s commitment to “moving humanity forward” acts as a north star for the company to chart a bold and innovative path forward for not just GM, but the automotive industry as a whole.

Listen for Tony’s insights on:

Using GM’s purpose and Zero Zero Zero commitment as filters for decision-making at all levels of the company.
Balancing a parent company’s purpose with its consumer-facing brands in an authentic way.
Shifting company culture by re-shaping company character and values, and equipping employees with the tools necessary to adopt them.

Resources + links

Reshaping the Role of Business at CECP

TruStory FM — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 06:00:04 -0700

Roving reporter Carol Cone spoke with leaders in social purpose at the CECP (Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose) Summit last month. A global convening of 300+ of the world’s top minds in purpose, this year’s Summit addressed growing societal and stakeholder expectations that companies serve a purpose beyond profit. Catch a behind-the-scenes “listen” into the Summit in this special episode of Purpose 360.

Resources:

• CECP – Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose
• CECP Summit

(01:02) - Lord Dr. Michael Hastings
(12:11) - Douglas Conant

Pete and Gerry’s wants you to believe in what you buy

TruStory FM — Tue, 28 May 2019 03:00:00 -0700

Happy chickens are Pete and Gerry’s north star.

You’ve likely seen the organic egg brand in your local supermarket dairy aisle. And if you haven’t tried the eggs, add them to your shopping list.

Pete and Gerry’s, through a network of 40+ independent family farmers, produces free-range, organic, Certified Humane® eggs. Passed down through three generations, the enterprise puts the health of its hens—and its customers—above all else. In this episode, CEO Jesse Laflamme shares the Pete and Gerry’s story and how purpose helped the company navigate shifting consumer-food relationships, the rise of factory farming, and animal welfare challenges.

RESOURCES:

CVS Health follows a profound purpose prescription

TruStory FM — Tue, 07 May 2019 16:02:00 -0700

Would you sacrifice more than a billion dollars in sales to do the right thing for people’s health and wellness? That’s the decision CVS Health made in 2014 when the company removed tobacco products from all stores nationwide.

CVS made this decision because selling tobacco products was at odds with its vision to become a healthcare company with the distinct purpose to help people on their path to better health. Eileen Howard Boone, SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility & Philanthropy at CVS Health and President, CVS Health Foundation, joined Purpose 360 to talk about this bold decision as well as the company’s focused approach to social impact and how their compelling purpose drives the company forward.

Listen for Eileen’s insights on:

The “extraordinary courage” behind the decision to remove tobacco products—and how that decision was made
Finding an authentic purpose, and then leveraging it to lead change in the rapidly-evolving and increasingly competitive healthcare industry
Finding mission-driven partners and building sustainable, long-term relationships
Merging social impact commitments following CVS Health’s acquisition of Aetna

Resources + links

More than a quack: the story behind Aflac’s big heart

TruStory FM — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 09:00:00 -0700

You probably know the Aflac Duck, but do you know the company behind it? Catherine Hernandez-Blades, Aflac’s SVP, Chief ESG and Communications Officer, joined Purpose 360 to share how Aflac deftly manages reputation in a volatile world and bestowed a new social purpose on its beloved mascot.

As a cancer insurance pioneer, Aflac has a now 24-year, $131M commitment to childhood cancer. Two years ago (in partnership with Carol), the company evolved and deepened that commitment by creating My Special Aflac Duck, a social robot and comforting companion for children with cancer. That duck, designed through 18 months of child-centered research at a leading U.S. pediatric cancer center, is now in the arms of 4,000+ children in the U.S., is the recipient of nearly 20 awards, has 4 patents pending, and is soon set to debut in Japan.

Listen to hear Catherine’s insights on the My Special Aflac Duck journey, as well as:

Aflac’s shift from the “Four Ps” to the “Four Es” – environment, engagement, experience, and exchange
Why doing good is no longer enough to connect with stakeholders and attract the best talent
The key to keeping long-term cause commitments relevant, engaging, and impactful

Resources + links

Saving the Earth, one load at a time

TruStory FM — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 09:00:00 -0700

This Earth Day, we’re joined by Jonathan Propper, Founder and CEO of Dropps. He’s the maverick behind the original laundry pod, and has guided Dropps to a number of firsts, including eliminating detergent dyes and adding bittering agents to deter children from eating pods.

Behind all that innovation is a desire to create a healthier Earth. Laundry isn’t going away (as much as we wish it would!), and the ways in which we consume products is becoming more critical. As a social enterprise, Dropps has, from day one, focused on making an everyday chore more sustainable—while raising awareness for how our purchasing choices can impact society and the environment.

Listen for Jonathan’s insights on:

Building a business that helps the Earth without sacrificing convenience, quality, or price
Leveraging purpose to navigate industry challenges and increasing competition
Creating purpose-built, purpose-driven products—and constantly innovating on them

Resources + links

Exploring United Way Worldwide’s digital disruption

TruStory FM — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 09:00:00 -0700

United Way isn’t new—but it’s creating a new way for NGOs to engage with people around the world through technology.

William Browning, United Way Worldwide’s Chief of Digital Transformation and Technology, joined Purpose 360 to talk about the organization’s shift from transactional to transformational.

As the world’s largest privately-funded nonprofit, United Way’s scope is vast: 2.9 million volunteers, 10 million donors, and 60 million people served in 2017. Now, the legacy organization is adopting an entrepreneurial mindset to reinvent the dynamic between nonprofits, issues, communities, and employers.

Listen for William’s insights on:

Remaining relevant (as a 130-year-old organization) in a world rife with pressing social issues
How United Way and Salesforce teamed to create an all-new technology platform, Philanthropy Cloud
United Way’s business-minded, customer-centric approach to transforming how employers and employees give at work

Resources + links

Connecting the Salesforce “Ohana” through a pioneering model

TruStory FM — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 06:00:00 -0700

Are you tapping every opportunity to draw power from your organizational culture? In this episode, Henk Campher, VP Brand and Communications at Salesforce, shares insights from a company that challenges its people and customers to do good, especially in the face of challenges.

It starts with putting Ohana – Hawaiian for “family” – at the center of Salesforce’s purpose journey. For the company, Ohana includes employees, customers and other stakeholders, and requires focus and the ability to face uncomfortable decisions head-on. With more than 150,000 customers and $10 billion in revenue in 2018, Salesforce is a testament to the power of purpose and collective storytelling.

This trailblazing mentality matches Henk’s lifelong goal to never be bored. You won’t be, either, as this activist-turned-business leader talks about:

How simplifying operations can amplify impact
What an activist approach to problems can bring to the business world
How to stay focused on purpose using hard data from customers and employees

Don’t miss the candid thoughts from our favorite “angry African” on what it takes to bring people together as a purposeful family, change the world, and have fun along the way.

Resources + links

The Aflac Duck goes to Austin! Stories of Impact at SxSW

TruStory FM — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 03:00:00 -0700

Carol tagged along with her roving reporter — My Special Aflac Duck — to South by Southwest in Austin earlier this month. Together, they celebrated the success of the duck as a finalist for the best invention award.

This week, we offer a special bonus episode in which you can learn more about My Special Aflac Duck and hear stories of impact as Aflac works to put the duck in the arms of more kids around the world.

Links and Resources

See My Special Aflac Duck in action at The Aflac Childhood Cancer Campaign™

Persistence, partnership and passion help women Go Red

TruStory FM — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 09:00:00 -0700

The American Heart Association (AHA) launched its Go Red for Women campaign 15 years ago when Kathy Rogers, AHA’s EVP for the Western States Affiliates, was charged with creating a consumer- and patient-facing campaign that would change the way we think about heart health. Did she ever!

Since Go Red for Women launched, it has helped more than 2 million women learn their personal risk of developing heart disease by taking the Go Red Heart CheckUp; generated 5 billion media impressions; helped the American Heart Association raise nearly $660 million in 2017; been featured as a Harvard Business School case study; and saved more than 627,000 lives.

Download to hear insights on:

How you can change popular perception of a cause—such as linking heart disease with women, not just sterile lab coats
Ways the social impact landscape has changed in the 15 years since the first Red Dress appeared
How to keep a long-term campaign fresh without compromising the relationships that build it
Creating interest and awareness around a topic most people try to avoid (until too late). Hint: it involves unlikely pairings and challenging the status-quo at every level.

Don’t miss this rare peek behind-the-scenes into the creation of a movement, as Kathy Rogers shares how she worked from the grassroots to the grass-tops to turn a fashion icon into an icon of women’s heart health.

Resources + links

Go Red for Women
Harvard Business Review Case Study
Project Baseline—Research Goes Red
CVS Go Red
Kathy Rogers on LinkedIn
Kathy Rogers on Twitter
What Kathy’s Reading:
- Leadershift, John Maxwell
- Becoming, Michelle Obama
- Be Fearless, Jean Case

Timberland’s Earthkeepers lace up for global sustainability

TruStory FM — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 09:00:00 -0700

Timberland is well known for its Yellow Boot. You know the one—chunky sole, nubuck upper, black leather collar. It’s a design that has weathered 40-plus years of footwear trends and market shifts, maintaining its position as both a functional work boot and fashion item. It doesn’t get much more sustainable, in terms of product design.

Sustainability is at the heart of Timberland. To talk about the footwear and apparel brand’s sustainability and social purpose journey, we welcomed Atlanta McIlwraith, Senior Manager of Community Engagement at Timberland, to Purpose 360.

In this episode, Atlanta shared what it means to be an “Earthkeeper,” a term that encapsulates Timberland’s three core CSR foci: creating responsible products, protecting the outdoors, and serving communities around the world. Core to these efforts are Timberland’s global workforce.

A few of our favorite insights from this episode:

Equip employees to “own” their employer’s mission. Timberland launched its employee volunteering program in 1992 with 16 paid hours of community service. Today, employees get 40 hours of paid time off each year. Timberland has a 45% utilization rate of those 40 hours in North America, with 72% of employees serving at least once per year. Globally, 51% of employees serve once per year. That commitment has an important trickle-down effect: an understanding of the communities Timberland serves and what the company’s mission means results in more sustainably-designed products.
Find global social impact champions. Employee engagement programs can be siloed at corporate offices, simply due to lack of people resources. To ensure consistency in programming and engagement across Timberland’s locations, the company has a Global Stewards program. Volunteer “stewards” in 28 locations in 19 countries manage service programs over a two-year term. This keeps Timberland’s mission alive worldwide while ensuring efforts are localized and relevant to the needs of each community.
Think global, act local. Timberland’s commitment to its suppliers and manufacturers involves global standards. The company also considers the needs of specific suppliers and surrounding communities on a local level—in one instance, the company found that factory workers lacked access to clean drinking water. That led to a partnership with Planet Water Foundation to install purified water towers in several worker communities. Not only did these efforts result in higher productivity and lower absenteeism rates, but it supported the vitality of the community as a whole.

Resources + links

Making flying matter with Alaska Airlines’ Kirk Myers

TruStory FM — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 09:00:00 -0800

Alaska Airlines is serious about sustainability. For the past two years, the airline has ranked ^1 for North American aviation on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), a coveted honor.

To Alaska Airlines, sustainability is more than an environmental or financial decision. Even as more airlines invest in fuel efficient fleets, cut in-flight waste, and adopt “green” biofuels, Alaska Airlines stands out for its commitment to sustainability.

Kirk Myers, Director of Sustainability at Alaska Airlines, shared how the company has integrated sustainability into the business to drive innovation, engage employees, and have a meaningful impact on the people and places Alaska Airlines serves—all 115 destinations and 44 million passengers (in 2018 alone).

Our favorite insights from Kirk’s episode include:

To authentically advance social and business impact, balance hearts and minds. “It’s important to remember that everybody in your organization is a holistic person and has a business mind and an amazing heart of values,” said Kirk. This has helped Alaska Airlines succeed in making sustainability the heart of the business.
While more companies are taking a shared value approach to non-profit partnerships, many remain transactional. Alaska Airlines has taken shared value to the extremes by presenting social challenges to two key partners—and then solving them, together. Lonely Whale worked with Alaska Airlines to drastically reduce in-flight waste, including positioning Alaska to be the first airline to eliminate plastic straws. With Neste, Alaska Airlines explored opportunities for the ongoing use of sustainable aviation jet fuels.
You might think an airline’s greatest assets are its planes. But as a service industry, employees are as important as the fleet, if not more. Some of Alaska Airlines’ most innovative sustainability programs have come from employees—such as a recent initiative to reduce in-flight waste. When employees have that level of investment in their organization (literally, in this case, thanks to Alaska Airlines’ profit-sharing), customers notice.

Resources
About Alaska Airlines
Kirk Myers on LinkedIn
Sustainability at Alaska Airlines

Finding an organic purpose with Gary Hirshberg

TruStory FM — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 09:00:00 -0800

Gary Hirshberg, co-founder and Chief Organic Optimist at Stonyfield Organic, started his business with seven cows and funding from a group of Catholic nuns.
Today, Stonyfield is one of the nation’s leading yogurt brands, with a commitment to healthier people, healthier business, and healthier planet. If you haven’t caught on from Gary’s title, organic is central to Stonyfield’s history, purpose, and market leadership. It’s not a buzzword—Stonyfield product is currently produced by thousands of organic cows, 200,000+ acres of organic fields, and hundreds of family farmers.
Gary joined Purpose 360 to share his company’s history of social activism and how Stonyfield stuck to its values, mission, and culture (get it?!) through two sales and a rapidly-shifting consumer marketplace. Our favorite insights include:

Be a supply chain champion: Many purpose-at-the-center companies integrate purpose in every aspect of operations. A fraction of those integrate purpose into their entire supply chain (and, not all companies have the capacity or control to do so). Stonyfield’s success is attributable in large part to the company’s extensive investment in supporting an organic supply chain—key to that is equipping small family farms with the resources they need to thrive.
Look for unexpected, but authentic issues: Stonyfield’s support of organic farming and small farmers will never change. But today, the company supports a somewhat unexpected—but logical—social issue: the use of harmful chemicals on community playing fields. The StonyFIELDS #PlayFree Initiative aims to help communities across the U.S. convert playing fields to organic fields.
Let your product do the talking: Literally. Stonyfield had limited-to-no advertising budget early on. Instead, Stonyfield used its packaging to tell the company’s story. Lids—the most visible part of the package—educated consumers not just about the company, but about social issues the company supported, from climate change to solar energy.

Resources + links

Stonyfield
Company History
StonyFIELDS #PlayFree
Gary’s book: Stirring it Up: How to Make Money and Save the World

Revisiting the purpose journey

TruStory FM — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 09:00:00 -0800

Purpose 360 is about inspiring and empowering the purpose leaders of today and tomorrow. More than that, we’re committed to giving listeners actionable insights they can apply day-to-day along their purpose journey, and that of their organizations. In this episode, Carol and Chris highlight some of their favorite insights and anecdotes from our first ten episodes.

Panera puts purpose where its mouth is

TruStory FM — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 09:00:00 -0800

During his time at Panera, Jonathan Yohannan, former Vice President, Public Relations*, saw the company’s shift to an all-clean menu. No preservatives. No antibiotics. No artificial ingredients.

Just clean food. Food as it should be.

That’s Panera’s purpose today, and it’s especially commendable given how price-competitive fast casual chains are. While more chains are adding healthy choices to their menus and eliminating “bad” ingredients, none have completely overhauled their menus like Panera did.

These changes are not just to benefit Panera. The company and its founder and former CEO, Ron Shaich, have been vocal about shifting the industry’s approach to food. “Food as it should be” isn’t just about what’s served at Panera, but the options every consumer has, anywhere they eat.

Here are some of the insights Yohannan shared in this episode:

Be vulnerable. Panera is ahead of cultural conversation about food. But that can be challenging, especially for a food brand – by publicly removing artificial sweeteners from your menu, you’re also admitting there have been artificial sweeteners in people’s food. Panera addresses this by inviting customers into the conversation. “It’s the trust factor. We’re not perfect, but we’re going to at least tell you where we are along the journey.”
Consult with a diversity of experts. This trail is not blazed alone. Dietitians, farmers, scientists, policy writers, and other experts guide Panera’s decision-making and adoption of new policies. It’s a communal process that allows new and diverse voices to be heard.
Change, don’t replace. Creating an all-clean menu doesn’t have to mean replacing the entire supply chain. Of the vendors that provide Panera’s 460 ingredients, many with sub-ingredients, only one was removed from the supply chain. This is because Panera collaborated with vendors to update their practices and products.
Embrace criticism. As with any brand pushing boundaries, there are occasionally critics attacking Panera for going too far or not going far enough. Panera uses that criticism as a metric for success. “If you don’t get criticism, you haven’t stood for anything. And that’s the truth

Resources + links

*Yohannan now serves as SVP, Integrated Communications at KIND Snacks.

How a clamshell launched McDonald’s purpose journey

TruStory FM — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 09:00:00 -0800

McDonald’s serves 70 million people every day, worldwide. As one of the world’s most visible brands, McDonald’s has both an obligation and opportunity to create meaningful connections with those 70 million people and their local and global communities. Today, the company has a focused purpose to use its “scale for good.”

Getting there wasn’t easy.

Bob Langert, former VP of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability at McDonald’s, gave Purpose 360 a candid look into the company’s journey from reactive to proactive. It started in the 1980s, when the company was attacked for its use of CFCs in polystyrene clamshell packaging. Langert was tasked with addressing the challenge. Since then, he has helped the company navigate issues ranging from animal welfare and landfill waste to obesity and nutrition. Highlights from the episode include:

Considering every touchpoint with society. In transforming the relationship between the business and society, McDonald’s considered macro and micro issues, from nutrition and animal welfare to the environment and the economy. That holistic view helped McDonald’s drive industry-wide change in practices like the treatment of animals.
Treat purpose like a mindset, not an endpoint. For Langert, purpose has always been a journey – and one without an endpoint. When integrated within the business – from values to operations – purpose becomes a mindset that guides decision making at all levels of the organization.
Partner with your challengers. Greenpeace in particular challenged McDonald’s for its supply chain practices in the Amazon. Rather than shrug off criticism, McDonald’s acknowledged its poor practices and asked Greenpeace for counsel. It took a similar approach to partnerships with organizations like the Environmental Defense Fund. Langert urges purpose leaders to look to partners for expertise and accountability.
Support internal ethics. Through years of turbulence, Langert attested to the company’s internal ethics. Stakeholders from the C-suite down to franchise owners wanted McDonald’s to “do the right thing.” And that made difficult decisions easier to navigate, from publicly addressing negative actions to transforming its approach to animal welfare.

This episode is just a taste of Langert’s story. Take a look into McDonald’s evolution in Langert’s new book, The Battle to Do Good: Inside McDonald’s Sustainability Journey.

Resources + links

How LIXIL’s SATO Toilet Helped Unite a $17 Billion Company

TruStory FM — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 09:00:00 -0800

Let’s talk about toilets.

One in three people around the world lack basic sanitation. Of that 2.3 billion people, nearly 892 million relieve themselves in outside spaces. Beyond the obvious health dangers (nearly 800 children die every day from diarrhea caused by inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene), lack of access to safe and clean toilets expose women and children to the threats of violence and harassment, according to UNICEF.

LIXIL – the $17 billion global company you may have never heard of – made social purpose a core business driver and is on a powerful path to change millions of lives by addressing some of the sanitation challenges above.

LIXIL brands (notably, American Standard, Grohe, Tostem, and Inax) are in almost a billion households around the world. Jin Montesano, Chief Public Affairs Officer, Executive Officer and Senior Managing Director at LIXIL, joined Purpose 360 to talk about LIXIL’s long-term commitment to improve basic sanitation for 250 million people around the world by 2021.

LIXIL partnered with UNICEF to achieve this goal through the cheekily-named Make a Splash program. Core to the program is LIXIL’s social enterprise to manufacture and distribute the proprietary $5 SATO toilet. Beyond providing basic sanitation, LIXIL and UNICEF say that the toilet can “transform lives – boosting child survival rates, making communities healthier, and even improving children’s chances of attending school.”

In this episode, Jin shares the “three As” process -- Articulate, Assimilate, and Activate -- that guided LIXIL’s purpose journey, as well as experiences in the field that ignited that purpose for her and her team.

Here are some of our favorite highlights:

Parent companies and their brands can share a unified purpose. LIXIL created a dynamic solution to unify its reason for being among its brands and business units. Jin shares the decisions that led LIXIL to ask: “Why do we need to exist as a company? Why should American Standard belong to this Japanese company versus some other company? We wanted to dig deep and to understand what our purpose is, as a social ‘actor’ around the globe.”
Tap your employees’ passions. LIXIL’s unified purpose led to the discovery of two American Standard engineers developing a low-cost toilet, now the SATO toilet. Seeing an opportunity, Jin made an ask to her leadership: “I need these two guys to leave their current jobs to build this into a proper organization, because 2.3 billion people could be served with this product.” SATO is now its own P&L and central to LIXIL’s Make a Splash program with UNICEF.
Profit and purpose don’t need to be mutually exclusive. LIXIL’s CEO challenged the SATO team: “I don’t need you to make a profit, but you need to break even” by 2021. With this mandate, the SATO team grew the product into a viable social enterprise, reinvesting profits back into the business to accelerate growth. Their success earned SATO a 5-year grant from the Gates Foundation.
Ask your stakeholders to discover your company’s purpose. LIXIL started its purpose journey with an eye toward environmental and gender issues. Yet, when LIXIL asked employees which social issues they were most passionate about, they emphatically named “hygiene and sanitation.” Listening led to LIXIL’s commitment to provide 250 million people with access to basic sanitation.
**It’s okay to not always achieve your social goals. **Setting ambitious goals helps focus purpose-led initiatives. Yet, Jin counsels purpose practitioners not to fret if those goals aren’t met – as long as shortfalls are used to readjust and refocus efforts. In response to some of her team’s fears, Jin said: “If we don’t make [the goal], whatever that number we made is the number we achieve. Because if we hadn’t set the 100 million goal, then we wouldn’t have helped improve the lives of the ‘X’ million that we did reach.”

Resources + links

Growing a transparent and authentic social purpose with ScottsMiracle-Gro

TruStory FM — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 09:00:00 -0800

Gardening is not about immediate success or instant gratification. The same can be said about social purpose.

As a company for gardeners, ScottsMiracle-Gro has a succinct purpose: “helping people express themselves on their own piece of the Earth.” Cultivating a thriving garden takes care, commitment, and flexibility to adapt as conditions change. With that, creativity – and expression – can blossom.

By taking this approach to cultivating social purpose, Scotts has developed a thoughtful, adaptive, and long-term platform for business and social impact. And that’s no miracle.

Jim King, SVP of Corporate Affairs and Chief Communications Officer, joined us to share how Scotts honed its green thumb for purpose.

Scotts is the largest marketer of lawn and gardening consumables in the world. The business is healthy, the brand is a household name, and the products enable people to beautify their environments and put food on their tables. Yet, Scotts wanted to do more and be more. Nearly a decade ago, Scotts CEO Jim Hagedorn asked, “What are we here to do?” The answer was not just to help people buy fertilizer.

With a mandate from the CEO, Scotts embarked on its social purpose journey. Part of that was probing the company’s existing or potential weak spots – such as the environmental impact of products. One pain point stemmed from the company’s science-based focus. With the largest team of agronomists in the world and field stations across the U.S. and Europe, Scotts had “a tendency to fall back on the science…and defend the science at all costs because it’s fact based.”

The average consumer doesn’t want to hear about science, especially in regard to potential negative impacts on the environment. Consumers want to connect with brands that are empathetic and have a sense of humanity. In this episode, King talks about the legislative and environmental hurdles that helped Scotts take a more human – and transparent – approach to its business and purpose.

Since that mindshift, Scotts has sponsored a $10M science challenge, the George Barley Water Prize; built 1,000+ community gardens; created the Water Positive Landscapes initiative; built thriving long-term NGO partnerships; and more.

Here are our favorite insights from King:

Highlight social challenges – even if you’ve played a role in them. Scotts removed phosphorus from its products in 2011 to address the harmful effects of phosphorus runoff and resulting algal blooms, which harm the environment. Even though the impact of Scotts’ fertilizers was minimal, the company wanted to help solve the issue. And not only did Scotts change its products, but it sponsored a $10M prize aimed at addressing the problem.
Environmental initiatives don’t need to be siloed. Most large companies have some flavor of environmental initiative, whether it involves supply chain, manufacturing processes, offsetting negative impacts, or other. These efforts tend to be siloed and not tied to a larger purpose or touchpoint – and that’s okay for most companies. But as a company founded to directly (and positively) impact the environment, Scotts integrated its entire environmental approach, from product development to community projects.
Consider the relationship between your product and the customer, and how it ties to purpose. True to Scotts’ purpose of helping people express themselves on their piece of the Earth, King understands that the company’s customers are not buying the product because they love fertilizer. They’re buying fertilizer because they love what they can do and produce with it. A ripe tomato, a vibrant garden, a brilliant green lawn – that’s why customers choose Scotts. Understanding this nuance can guide companies on their journey to an authentic and transparent social purpose.

RESOURCES:

Thinking Like a Toddler with Paul Lindley

TruStory FM — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 09:00:00 -0800

Many of our guests are on a journey to social purpose – developing it, finding it, evolving it. What’s rarer are the companies that are founded for a purpose; built from day one to address an urgent social need.

Ella’s Kitchen founder Paul Lindley created his baby food company, Ella’s Kitchen, to give babies a healthy start in life – improving their lives and helping them develop a healthy relationship with food. That may not sound unique, but Lindley’s success can be attributed to his approach: to “put children right at the heart of the company and build everything around them.”

Further, Lindley adopted a toddler’s way of thinking in building and evolving his business. Between ages 3 – 5, 98% of children think divergently, concentrating on one thing, then another, then another, in a non-linear pattern. Divergent thinking is a measure of creativity. By the time those children mature to 25 years old, however, only 2% think divergently. “I argue that we should grow down more to think like that again,” Lindley says. Toddlers are full of self-confidence, ambition, free thinking, imagination, and determination – traits that today’s leaders would do well to embody.

Lindley’s thriving business – which became the UK’s leading baby food brand – went far beyond its products in addressing a social issue. With Ella’s Kitchen, Paul created a platform for the issue of early childhood nutrition, doubling down on critical moments in a child’s development such as the weaning period. The brand and its founder are vocal advocates for childhood nutrition and the healthy development of toddlers, creating reports, commissioning reviews of existing research, convening expert roundtables, introducing legislation to Parliament, implementing pilot programs, and forming coalitions to drive impact.
Lindley has since sold Ella’s Kitchen, but his work is far from over. He serves on the board of Toast Ale, which makes beer out of bread that would be wasted; helped launch Equity for Good, where investors dedicate their successful investments to social impact projects; serves as trustee and board member for Sesame Workshop to create educational experiences for children across the globe; and a lot more.

What Lindley’s ventures have in common is their drive to unearth new ways to approach old problems. “What drives me every day is climbing new mountains and not believing that the world is limited. It is unlimited.”

Here are a few of our favorite insights from Paul Lindley:

Focus on the people your business serves. “The heart of business is people. It’s not money. Understanding what motivates people to invest in you, or to work for you, or to buy from you is the trick to a successful business.”
Balance the long- and short-term. Ella’s Kitchen provides nutritious options for children and their parents. But Lindley’s company also exists to support a thriving society: “I started my own business because I had an idea that I thought society could benefit from, in that I found a way that I thought children could eat better, therefore be healthier, therefore be happier, therefore contribute to our society better as adults.”
Trust starts from inside the company. Building trust with stakeholders is table stakes. But building internal trust in a company’s mission, vision, or purpose is just as important – if not more. “Any brand works from the inside out,” and having trust in your company and its purpose builds trust with external stakeholders.
Invite others into your mission. Ella’s was a relatively small, if not mighty, voice in its advocacy efforts. To amplify and accelerate impact, Lindley challenged a range of stakeholders to join in his advocacy efforts – including government, the food industry, society, parents, and even children.

Resources + links

‘Tis the Season for Purpose

TruStory FM — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0800

Carol and Chris wish listeners a purposeful holiday season and a hint at what’s to come in 2019.

Life's Good: Aligning with an Authentic Issue

TruStory FM — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0800

LG’s “Life’s Good” tagline is well known, but few people can describe what “Life’s Good” really means. Two years ago, LG started a journey to redefine “Life’s Good” through social purpose, turning a marketing strapline into an ethos with the potential to measurably impact the business and society. Mike Pepperman, Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Relations shares how LG identified its social purpose, aligned with a relevant and authentic social issue, and developed its Experience Happiness initiative. Through Experience Happiness, LG aims to equip 5.5 million youth with the knowledge and skills to achieve Sustainable Happiness.

When school is in session, teens are the most stressed group in the U.S. — nearly one-third of teens struggle with anxiety, the most common mental health disorder in the U.S. And, rates of mental health among teens are growing. Rapidly.

Unfortunately, a stigma remains around the issue of mental health in young people. While many nonprofit and government organizations are working to address the issue, corporate support is lacking. It’s understandable – conversations about mental health are hard, and often focus on elements that are challenging to craft a brand narrative around, like suicide hotlines and rehabilitation programs.

For these reasons, LG was thoughtful in its approach to the issue of youth mental health, leaning on research, data, and evidence-based partners to find a “white space” the company was best equipped to address. Further, the approach needed to align with and support LG’s “Life’s Good” ethos in an authentic manner, without diminishing the brand. LG discovered an opportunity to empower and enable young people to learn Sustainable Happiness skills on their path to better mental health.

The company set a bold but achievable goal: to bring Sustainable Happiness skills to 5.5 million youth in the U.S. over five years. In this episode, Mike shares his insights on how LG identified its social purpose and created a flexible, built-to-last program:

Controversial issues may be the most relevant to your brand. LG understood that mental health in young people would be a challenging issue to address, especially for a technology company whose devices could be considered a contributing factor. Pepperman explains how LG anticipated and addressed internal hurdles through candid conversation and the creation of a cross-functional steering committee. The process also included discussions with employees, many of whom are parents of their own teens struggling with mental health issues. “It's been really heartening to be in a wide variety of meetings and have employees stop me mid-presentation to express their appreciation or tell a story about how their child has been bullied,” said Pepperman.
**Organically scale programs. **LG designed the Experience Happiness platform for strategic growth. One pathway to scale involves connecting with schools across the country to discuss happiness skills. In Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (LG’s U.S. headquarters), the company works directly with local school districts to introduce and administer programming. Nationally, other LG offices are equipped to develop relationships with their local school districts, directly engaging employees across the country to rapidly and organically extend reach.
Create an ongoing dialogue with employees. To increase awareness about Experience Happiness, LG launched a newsletter that highlights one Sustainable Happiness skill or topic per month. The company hosts a lunch and learn series, convening groups of 25-50 employees and a nonprofit partner to learn Sustainable Happiness skills that families can put into practice. Having more intimate interactions with employees and letting them choose how to engage with the platform has led to increased employee participation at LG – turning them into advocates for the issue and the brand.
**Establish credibility and authenticity through partners. **Experience Happiness is grounded in research, data, and evidence-based partners. LG chose to work with two grassroots organizations, Project Happiness and Inner Explorer, because of the organizations’ efforts to help teens incorporate Sustainable Happiness skills into their daily routines. Additionally, organizations like Greater Good Science at U.C. Berkeley and Discovery Education were carefully selected to provide the science-based foundation for the platform.

Share your take on this episode using the hashtag #Purpose360 and tagging us at @purpose360pod on Twitter.

Resources

Leadership Through Focus — New York Life Foundation President Heather Nesle

TruStory FM — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0800

Pets, education, and community parks – these are feel-good social impact efforts that brands like to support. Rightly so, as they are worthy efforts that are easy to talk about. Yet, not all companies align most authentically with such issues.

As a provider of life insurance, New York Life Insurance Company faces a difficult reality each day: that their customers may pass away. This reality often means that children lose parents, siblings, or loved ones, at which point they enter a bereavement period. One in 15 children will lose a parent or sibling before the age of 18, according to a recent study with the JAG Institute and the New York Life Foundation.

It’s a sad issue, and one that is under-supported by corporations with the resources and expertise to drive awareness and positive impact. As an issue that directly affects New York Life, its people, and its customers, the company embraced the issue of child bereavement wholeheartedly – making it central for its social purpose.

How does New York Life have such a profound impact for children and families that have lost loved ones?

They partner with experts. Ten years ago, a child bereavement camp asked New York Life for support. The opportunity resonated strongly with the company. A decade later, New York Life has given $7M+ in grants to more than 230 organizations. Experts at the National Alliance for Grieving Children (NAGC) manage New York Life’s Grief Reach program. In addition, the Foundation launched the Shared Grief Project with Experience Camps, which captures stories from celebrities and athletes about losing a loved one at a young age and how they found motivation through their experience. These partnerships aren’t only with experts in child bereavement. The New York Life Foundation recently partnered with StoryCorps to leverage the organization’s capabilities in encouraging powerful conversation through storytelling.

They help smaller organizations scale their capabilities. Since many child bereavement experts are relatively small, they lack the expertise and size to partner with a company as large as New York Life (with 10,000 employees and 12,000 agents). The New York Life Foundation helps these organizations grow. They invite all grantees to special sessions at the National Alliance for Grieving Children Conference each year to educate them on critical elements to growth: board development, fundraising, tax law, and more. Due to New York Life’s extensive national child bereavement network, the organization was positioned to provide rapid relief following the Newtown shooting, establishing the Newtown Resiliency Center. Following the Parkland tragedy, many individuals reached out to the Newtown Resiliency Center, who in turn referred them to the New York Life Foundation. The Foundation was then able to provide 10,000 booklets for members of the community to facilitate conversations about the tragedy.

They engage and activate their people from the top down. New York Life deeply integrates the issue of child bereavement into its culture and operations. This starts at the top with buy-in and ongoing support and participation from CEO Ted Mathas, who also acts as Chair of the New York Life Foundation Board. Strategic programming development, management, and evolution is conducted by cross-functional team that taps expertise from across the organization: from the Chief Diversity Officer and people resources to marketing and government affairs. New York Life’s commitment to child bereavement is activated “on the ground” nationally through the company’s 12,000 agents, who are educated on the issue such that they can have nuanced conversations with their customers – whether or not they may be affected by the issue. Agents often hand-deliver claims, which include child bereavement resources when appropriate, and can participate in grief counseling conversations. It’s a thoughtful and human approach that is authentic to New York Life’s ethos to “be there for people when they need it most.”

This is only a peek at insights from this powerful – and moving – conversation with Heather Nesle about New York Life’s journey to authentically align with a social issue, embed it in the business, advance knowledge of it, and drive meaningful change.
Share your take on this episode using the hashtag #Purpose360 and tagging us at @purpose360pod on Twitter.

Resources

Brands That Take A Stand with Unilever's Kathleen Dunlop

TruStory FM — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 09:00:00 -0800

How do you find your brand’s super power? Kathleen Dunlop, Global Brand VP at Unilever, is back to share the story behind the brand's efforts to take a stand in the market and beyond.

With a mandate to “do good” from one of the world’s largest companies, the team behind the Vaseline brand set out to find their eponymous product’s super power. Kathleen Dunlop, Global Brand VP at Unilever, joins Carol to explore the conversations, insights, and “aha” moments that took “The Healing Power of Vaseline” into conflict zones, refugee camps, and community health centers to provide potentially life-saving wound protection.

Unilever has long been the bellwether of purpose-driven brands. The company’s 360-degree Sustainable Living Plan acts as a guiding framework for the company’s operations, product development, go-to-market strategies, communications, and growth. Paul Polman, Unilever’s CEO, mandates that all billion-dollar brands must now embrace a social mission. This visionary strategy has paid off tremendously: in 2017, Sustainable Living brands returned 70% of overall turnover growth for Unilever.

While brands like Ben & Jerry’s have a legacy as mission-driven organizations, and Dove has the now well-known Campaign for Real Beauty, finding Vaseline’s social purpose took some soul searching. As a product that touches the skin of hundreds of millions of people each day, Dunlop and her team understood the need to imbue Vaseline with a focused, meaningful, and exponentially impactful social purpose.

Listen in to hear about that journey – from roundtable conversations to bringing Vaseline Healing Project to Life.

Resources:

Nurturing a Life-Changing Brand with Unilever's Kathleen Dunlop

TruStory FM — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 09:00:00 -0800

Listen in to hear about that journey – from roundtable conversations to bringing Vaseline Healing Project to Life.

Resources:

Multi-Generational Leadership for Good with Laura Kohler

TruStory FM — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0800

True to our name, at Purpose 360 we believe purpose must be embedded throughout an organization to maximize impact. Kohler takes this ethos a step further – integrating the company and its purpose with the world.

Laura Kohler, Vice President of Human Resources, Stewardship and Sustainability at Kohler – a fourth-generation family executive – joins us for the second episode of Purpose 360 to explore the firm’s evolution as a privately-held company that believes better business and a better world go hand-in-hand. Kohler is an ever-present brand, with products in homes and businesses around the world. Yet, how many of us stop during our morning routine to think about the brand’s reason for being? The reality is, the organization behind our sinks, faucets and bathtubs is changing lives around the world.

The authentic use of collaboration, employee engagement and storytelling to drive business and social impact outcomes has been critical to Kohler’s growth over the past 144 years. Kohler takes a long-term view of purpose with Innovation For Good – the company’s award-winning innovation incubator – being their most recent initiative. Innovation For Good has fostered engagement between engineers and designers, created external partnerships with organizations such as the Gates Foundation, and empowered employees to volunteer worldwide.

The Kohler model is one to emulate. Here’s why:

Kohler celebrates and builds on its brand history. In Laura’s words, “take care of it, highlight it, and make sure people know what an important legacy you have” as you look forward on your social purpose journey. Creating awareness of the history of your brand can guide you into the future, garnering the attention of the “pivot generation” – millennials, Gen Z, and your new workforce.
“To whom much is given, much is expected.” This applies to both the individual employee and the company. If we can really say, “how can I make a difference in my work every day with my company? In my work, in my community, as an individual?” then we have the power to improve some of the world’s biggest problems.
Stewardship and sustainability drive engagement, and engagement drives productivity and retention. Disengaged workers are more likely to leave their place of work, driving massive drops in productivity that result in losses between $450 and $500 billion a year. People come to Kohler to be part of the stewardship and sustainability journey – and they stay.
Global storytelling v. local storytelling. “Authentic storytelling from the point of view of the person who experienced it is very powerful.” Don’t forget the power of local communication and internal (employee) storytelling as you amplify your global initiatives.
Finesse in change management. When driving change inside an organization, it is vital to communicate with the most engaged employees. They are your champions and influencers within the organization. If you provide your engaged workforce with a challenge and the tools problem solve, they can help your company navigate change.

Resources

Inspiration Through Disruption: #OptOutside with REI’s Alex Thompson

TruStory FM — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 03:15:00 -0800

Welcome to Purpose 360.

We’re thrilled to make our debut, and even more so because our first guest is celebrating the fourth anniversary of one of the most disruptive and successful social purpose campaigns: REI’s #OptOutside.

But first, you might want to know a little about us. Purpose 360, hosted by Carol Cone and Chris Noble, unlocks the power of social purpose to ignite business and social impact. Why listen to us? Carol created the field of social purpose in the 1980s, linking Rockport with the walking movement – creating a billion-dollar retail category while inspiring people to walk for fitness and health. Chris is a digital and cause marketing savant, having created leading campaigns for brands and NGOs, raising $150 million for causes. Every week, we’ll speak with the leading minds and practitioners of social purpose from Fortune 500 companies, social enterprises, and world-changing non-profits to answer the question: What’s your purpose?

Back to REI: one of our favorite purpose-driven brands. We were honored to speak with Alex on the eve of #OptOutside’s fourth year, and encourage you to spend some time in nature while listening to this episode. Here are our favorite insights from Alex:

Align on a really clear, focused societal goal: for REI, that’s “leaving the outdoors better than we found it.” Social purpose initiatives, especially when operationalized throughout the business, can be multi-faceted and complex. Keeping the end goal simple and compelling will serve as a north star for all the moving parts.
Need inspiration? Find a challenge your organization is uniquely equipped to address. REI found that 50% of people in the US aren’t going outdoors once a year for outdoor recreation. That 50% of people are unlikely to shop at REI and unlikely to experience the mental and physical health benefits of the outdoors. REI embraced that staggering statistic, putting the full force of the company’s purpose behind it through #OptOutside and other community engagement initiatives. And they are beginning to turn the tide.
Never forget where you came from. REI was founded as a co-op by a husband and wife with a passion for nature. The company remains a co-op, giving every customer the opportunity to buy into the company and its mission. That’s a powerful asset that REI was a steward of throughout the company’s massive growth. The customer has always come first.

To hear more from Alex Thompson, including how the brand inspired more than 15 million people to go outside on the country’s biggest shopping day, we invite you to listen to our debut episode today.

Links & Notes