Speaking of Purpose

In this special episode of Speaking of Purpose, Sona Khosla, Chief Impact Officer at Benevity, is joined by Andrea Wood, President and CEO of the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals, for a conversation on corporate leadership during moments of crisis.

Drawing from her experience living in Minneapolis, Andrea shares what it was like to witness her community navigate a period of unrest and uncertainty. She reflects on the role of grassroots movements, the power of mutual aid and how individuals and organizations mobilized to support those most affected.

Together, they explore the gap between corporate statements and meaningful action, how leaders react in high-pressure moments and how companies can better support their employees and communities when it matters most.

Links to note:

https://accp.org/

A company's values are what truly drive its value. In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, Maya Colombani, Chief Sustainability, Human Rights and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer at L’ORÉAL Canada, shares how her company’s sustainability strategy drives innovation, talent development and financial growth. From integrating sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion and social impact into every part of the business to building partnerships with Indigenous communities, Maya shows what it looks like to be a force for good and a global market mover.

Shareholder, consumer and employee activism are top of mind for CEOs. Some companies are bending under pressure, while others are doubling down. So who really holds the power?

In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, we sit down with Andrew Jones of the Conference Board to explore how today’s most resilient companies are embracing their communities and harnessing stakeholder influence to better navigate risk, build brand trust, and align values with long-term success. Plus, we look at the latest data on activism to what it means for the future of business.

Trust-based philanthropy has been a growing movement for the past five years, but it hasn’t come without its fair share of naysayers and skeptics. In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, we talk to Shaady Salehi, Co-Founder & Executive Director at the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project as the initiative enters its next phase of growth. In this conversation, we tackle the myths, the benefits, the opportunities and what it takes to forge nonprofit partnerships that in fact enable funders to realize their investment goals, if they are willing to practice a bit of flexibility and… trust! 

Show Notes:

Learn more about Trust-based philanthropy →  https://www.trustbasedphilanthropy.org/

Dive into Benevity’s State of Corporate Purpose report → https://benevity.com/state-of-corporate-purpose-2025 

Learn more about Unite in Advance → https://nonprofitquarterly.org/unite-in-advance-philanthropy-coalition-launches-solidarity-campaign/ 

Learn more about Meet the Moment → https://www.trustbasedphilanthropy.org/meet-the-moment 

In this rare episode of Speaking of Purpose by Benevity, host Sona Khosla sits down with the new CEO of Benevity, Soraya Alexander. They talk about everything from building community and connection through giving, obsessing about unlocking more generosity, the role of technology and the opportunity for AI to make us intentional about being human, and the need to protect corporate purpose in this moment. In this joy-filled, laughter-infused conversation, you’ll delight in getting to know Soraya Alexander–the woman behind the title.

Show Notes:

Learn more about Benevity’s CEO announcement → https://benevity.com/press-releases/benevity-names-soraya-alexander-chief-executive-officer 

Nonprofits are facing a turning point. As government funding shifts and donor behavior evolves, the sector stands at a fork in the road. Forced to rethink how it stays financially healthy and mission-focused.

In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, we’ll unpack the growing strain on nonprofit budgets, the risks of relying solely on private philanthropy, and the rise of community-led giving models. We explore the warning signs, the opportunities, and what it will take to build lasting resilience in a changing funding landscape.

Show Notes:

Explore Charity Navigator → https://www.charitynavigator.org

Support GlobalGiving → https://www.globalgiving.org

Do Good Research Study → https://dogood.umd.edu/news/new-research-reveals-linkages-between-volunteerism-social-connections-0

Read Civic Participation Study → https://ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1475-6765.12586

USAID Stop-Work Order → https://www.usaidstopwork.com/

Visit ACLU → https://www.aclu.org

Learn About PEPFAR → https://www.state.gov/pepfar

Check Malaria Data → https://malariaatlas.org/news/new-malaria-data-warns-millions-at-risk/

Browse NOAA Data → https://www.noaa.gov

See what we’ll lose without Nonprofits → https://fortune.com/2025/09/07/nonprofits-youll-miss-them-when-theyre-gone/

The way you think about goal-setting in business is about to change. In this episode of Speaking of Purpose by Benevity, we're joined by Charu Adesnik, Executive Director of Cisco Foundation and Director of Social Impact and Innovation for Cisco Systems. We deconstruct the company’s audacious goal to positively impact one billion lives within 10 years, which they exceeded ahead of schedule.Tune in to hear Charu and Sona talk about executive commitment, using business to drive impact, dealing with the unexpected, having the grace to test, and learn and what it means to authentically scale a  vision to “power an inclusive future for all.”

Show Notes:

Cisco Networking Academy → https://www.netacad.com/

Cisco’s 40years of Impact → https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/about/purpose/index.html

Benevity’s State of Corporate Purpose Report → https://benevity.com/state-of-corporate-purpose-2025

Learn more about Cisco's 1 billion lives initiative → https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/about/purpose/social-impact/one-billion-lives.html

netacad.com

Cisco Networking Academy: Learn Cybersecurity, Python & More

Cisco Networking Academy is a skills-to-jobs program shaping the future workforce. Since 1997, we have impacted over 20 million learners in 190 countries. 

https://www.netacad.com/

Cisco

Cisco Purpose - Power an Inclusive Future for All

Learn how Cisco's Purpose aims to combine our technology, our people, and our broader ecosystem to power an inclusive future for all. 

https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/about/purpose/index.html

benevity.com

State of Corporate Purpose 2025

The corporate purpose landscape is in a state of significant flux, with nearly two-thirds of companies redefining their purpose strategy in the past year.

Cisco

Positively Impacting 1 Billion Lives

Cisco changed over one billion lives for the better through social impact investments with 100+ global non-profit partners, and Cisco Networking Academy programs.

In this episode of Speaking of Purpose by Benevity, Rose Marcario, former CEO of Patagonia, joined us on stage at Benevity Live! for a leadership masterclass. Rose shares how bold, values-driven decisions and business strategy can coexist—and succeed. 

Hear how this iconic CEO made decisions under pressure, how courageous leadership starts with small steps, and how nature is a perfect metaphor for resiliency.

Learn more about the Enacting Purpose Initiative → enactingpurpose.org 

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What if purpose wasn’t just a buzzword, but the key to resilience in business, life, and leadership?

Speaking of Purpose is where we sit with the big questions, challenge the old narratives, and uncover the deeper forces shaping the way we work and lead. Each episode features candid conversations with inspiring changemakers—unpacking insights that matter, breaking down the research, and sharing real stories of impact.



If you believe in work that makes a difference, in leadership that lasts, and in businesses that walk the talk, this is your space.

In a time when division is drowning out connection, could the key to unity be… a simple conversation? In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, host Sona Khosla sits down with Sandra Clark, CEO of StoryCorps, to explore the contact hypothesis — a psychology-backed idea showing how meaningful dialogue builds understanding across differences.

Sona and Sandra unpack how StoryCorps’ One Small Step program brings people together for open, non-political conversations that focus on human connection. From real-world stories of empathy to surprising research insights, this episode highlights the quiet power of listening to bridge divides and strengthen community.

Since this interview was recorded, StoryCorps has lost over $2M in federal funding. Support stories of discovery, connection and hope here → https://donate.storycorps.org/

Learn more about One Small Step → https://takeonesmallstep.org/

00:00 Corporate Role in Political Dialogue

05:57 Journalism vs. StoryCorps: A Reflection

07:03 Unseen Stories of Blended Heritage

12:02 Bridging Divides through StoryCorps

14:14 "Rising Violence and Lost Faith"

17:10 "Bridging Divides: Wayne and Alton"

20:25 "One Small Step: National Conversation Movement"

24:34 Navigating Business and Diversity Integration

27:05 Value-Driven Storytelling in ERGs

31:32 "Authenticity in Modern Leadership"

34:40 "Neuroscience of Storytelling and Listening"

36:43 Inspiring Business Listening Sessions

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📧 Want to work with us? Find out more at benevity.com.