Purpose 360 with Carol Cone

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:

• Shannon Schuyler’s LinkedIn
• Shannon’s 2022 Purpose 360 Episode
• PwC’s New Equation
• Digital Upskilling at PwC

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

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:

• Kevin Colman’s LinkedIn
• Brandee McHale’s LinkedIn
• Civic 50
• The 2024 Civic 50 Survey

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

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:

• Alexa Mikhail’s LinkedIn
• Alexa’s Mikhail’s Email for Article Pitching
• Alexa’s Fortune Magazine Articles
• “A crisis of confidence is plaguing women in menopause—and workplaces are failing to support them”

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

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:

• Adam Siegel’s LinkedIn
• Recurate
• Recurate’s Brands
• The Circular Fashion is Now Report
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Butterfly Diagram for Visualizing the Circular Economy

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

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:

• Kim Olson’s LinkedIn
• She-I-O
• American Connection Project
• Truterra
• Venture37

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

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:

• Mark Clouse’s LinkedIn
• Campbell Soup Company’s Purpose and Values
• Full Futures

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

“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:

• David Casey’s LinkedIn
• Stretch What’s Possible
• Coachtopia
• Business of Fashion: Tapestry’s Strategy to Increase Equity and Diversity at All Employee Levels

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

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:

• Mylayna Albright’s LinkedIn
• AT&T’s Commitment to Bridging the Digital Divide
• Connected Learning Centers
• AT&T Believes
• The Achievery

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

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:

• Carol Cone’s LinkedIn
• Wendy Salomon’s LinkedIn
• Employee Purpose iQ
• Sustainable Brands: “Measure What Matters: Are You Optimizing Purpose to Uplift Your Workforce?
• Searching for the Soul of Business with Alan Murray: Part 1
• Searching for the Soul of Business with Alan Murray: Part 2

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360

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:

• Michael Dolan’s LinkedIn
• Introducing Mijenta Tequila
• Mijenta Sustainability and Ethos
• The Spirits Business: “Ex-Bacardi CEO Launches Mijenta Tequila”

• (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360