Glowing Older

Episode 17:1 Aaron Hurst on Social Entrepreneurship and Purpose Mindset

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Aaron Hurst is the best-selling author

of The Purpose Economy and founder of the workforce engagement platform Imperative and nonprofit Taproot Foundation. Learn about the power of purpose, how to build a culture of meaning, and the next step in his social
impact legacy, Shared Purpose, retreats and dinners for friends, couples, and colleagues to clarify their purpose and vision for the next chapter in their lives.

About Aaron

Aaron Hurst is an award-winning social entrepreneur who uses

curiosity, creativity, courage, and care to navigate the world with purpose. He founded the Taproot Foundation, Imperative, Board.dev, and Shared Purpose. More importantly, he is a husband, father, and friend.

In 2013, co-founded and led Imperative, a venture-backed start-up, that developed the first employee purpose profiling technology that has enabled hundreds of thousands of people to discover and own their purpose at work. In 2020, he re-launched the company, creating the first enterprise peer coaching platform which has become a critical way to connect and develop employees in the hybrid workplace.

In 2001, he founded the Taproot Foundation, where he catalyzed the $15 billion pro bono service market in the US and helped establish markets in over 30 countries. The nonprofit was one of the pioneers in building cross-sector partnerships and helped accelerate the growth of corporate social responsibility.

Aaron’s best-selling 2014 book, The Purpose Economy, predicted the rise of purpose as a leading driver of economic growth and innovation. He coined the term ‘Purpose Mindset’ and in partnership with NYU developed the first commercial measure of employee fulfillment. He has led national and global studies on purpose in the workplace and in higher education in partnership with leading corporations and universities.

Key Takeaways

  • The Purpose Economy was based on Taproot Foundation—a pro bono service to help business professionals use their skills to help nonprofits. The book makes the business case that purpose and meaning drive innovation and economic value creation.
    • A key to having a sense of purpose and meaning in your life is strong relationships. Meaningful relationships and the need for purpose and meaning these are two of the biggest predictors of life span and quality of life.
      • Research shows women over 55 are especially likely to have a purpose mindset. A purpose mindset is related to the strongest
        • leaders with the highest performance. There is a strong case that people over 55 are the best employees. Recognition of the value of older people is a major opportunity for employers.
        • At a Shared Purpose Retreat, attendees come with a “co pilot” – a spouse, sibling, or friend to share the experience and language. The co-pilot accelerates your ability to be vulnerable.
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          Glowing OlderBy Nancy Griffin
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