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:

• Eric Bebernitz’s LinkedIn
• Action Against Hunger
• Plumpy'Nut
• New York Times: A $45 Treatment Can Save a Starving Child. US Aid Cuts Have Frozen the Supply

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

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:

• Jonathan Fantini-Porter’s LinkedIn
• Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth
• Mastercard Strive USA

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

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:

• Andrea Wood’s LinkedIn
• ACCP
• Annual CSR Insights Report
• ACCP CSR LaunchPad
• Best Buy Teen Tech Centers

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

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:

• Mary Culler’s LinkedIn
• Ford Philanthropy
• New York Times: Ford Rescues a Detroit Train Station as It Plots Its Own Future
• Tennessee Community Center

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

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:

• Bill Bedrossian’s LinkedIn
• Covenant House
• The Sleep Out

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

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:

• The Purpose Reset
• Rich Fernandez’s LinkedIn
• Carolina Lasso’s LinkedIn
• Steph Stern’s LinkedIn

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

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:

• Wes Carter’s LinkedIn
• A New Earth Project
• Packaging Solution Center
• Fishbone Sustainable Wellness Carriers
• Atlantic Wellness

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

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:

• Alex Amouyel’s LinkedIn
• Newman’s Own Foundation
• Paul Newman
• Newman’s Own Foundation Impact

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

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:

• Paul Polman’s LinkedIn
• Paul Polman’s Website
• Net Positive
• IMAGINE
• Paul’s Reflection on the Passing of Pope Francis

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

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:

• Amy Strecker’s LinkedIn
• Duke Energy Foundation
• Duke Energy Foundation commits $1 million to support communities impacted by Hurricane Helene
• Duke Energy Line Worker Training

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360