Kate Williams is the CEO of 1% for the Planet, a global, philanthropic organization growing a network of businesses committed to donating at least 1% of their annual revenue to verified environmental initiatives. At the helm of 1% for the Planet, Kate leads an international campaign to help companies move beyond good intentions into credible, accountable action. To date, 1% for the Planet’s network has allocated nearly $1 billion to vetted environmental solutions. Through her work and speaking engagements, Kate inspires action and innovation amongst other purpose-driven leaders seeking to make an impact. Kate sits down with Roy to discuss fostering and maintaining a high performance culture, balancing community and autonomy within her team, the importance of learning agility in prospective talent, and much more.

Highlights from our conversation include:

- Early experiences that made Kate the leader she is today (2:08)

- The scope and scale of 1% for the Planet’s impact and mission (7:54)

- The unique perspective Kate has at the center of a global movement (10:47)

- What effective, purpose-driven leadership looks like in 2026 and beyond (12:26)

- Engaging and supporting talent through a critical mission (14:29)

- Creating the culture of 1% for the Planet (17:19)

- What work and life looks like at 1% and how that impacts performance (20:05)

- What Kate looks for in prospective talent (26:01)

- Lessons from hiring successes and failures (28:38)

- Kate’s advice for rising leaders (32:13)

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