Speaking of Purpose

Speaking of Purpose

By BenevityArts
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Speaking of Purpose episodes

  • How Leadership Is Evolving in Purpose-Driven Business

    In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, host Sona Khosla sits down with Carolyn Berkowitz, former President and CEO of ACCP (Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals), to unpack the shifting dynamics in corporate purpose that have accelerated beyond imagination in just the last few years. With more than three decades in the field, Carolyn reflects on how corporate social responsibility has evolved from CEO pet projects to a strategic business imperative, and what happens when that work gets caught in the political crossfire. Together, they explore how companies are adapting their language and approach to meet changing expectations, the cautious rebranding inside boardrooms and why today’s social impact leaders are under more pressure than ever. From crisis response playbooks to quiet legal reviews, this conversation offers a rare look inside the complex reality of corporate approaches to environment, social and governance.


    This episode was recorded in 2024; some government policies have evolved since the time of the conversation.


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    46 min
  • How Vanguard is making real social change with the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation

    In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, host Sona Khosla sits down with two remarkable changemakers: AJ Jordan, Head of Community Stewardship and President of the Vanguard Group Foundation, and Jenny Bogoni, Chief of Community Engagement and Public Programs at the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation.


    Together, they explore how long-term, relationship-based partnerships can create sustained impact in communities and how Vanguard’s approach to funding goes far beyond traditional philanthropy. From investing in grassroots literacy programs to enabling system-level change, this episode uncovers what it really looks like when a corporation listens deeply, funds boldly, and redefines what real change means.


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    Filmed live in the Vanguard Studio, watch this behind-the-scenes footage of this podcast recording.

    51 min
  • Unpacking the DEI backlash with Joelle Emerson

    In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, host Sona Khosla sits down with Joelle Emerson, CEO and co-founder of Paradigm, to unpack the hot topic of DEI. They explore what the charged acronym really means, who is driving the debate, what the data says about it, and how companies have shifted course from 2020's reckoning to today's retrenchment. And they look at practical ways that companies can adapt their strategies in a risky legal and political environment to embed fairness, driving performance, and maintaining brand trust.


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

    51 min
  • Live episode: Cisco's Brian Tippens on the power of purpose

    In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, host Sona Khosla speaks with Brian Tippens, Chief Social Impact and Inclusion Officer at Cisco, during Benevity Live! 2024, about the company’s $300 million commitment to social justice and what it looks like to lead with purpose inside a global tech giant. They explore how Cisco connects community impact to business value, how Brian's team developed a framework for responding to complex societal issues, and why social impact leadership today is as much about strategy as it is about empathy.


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

    23 min
  • Cracking impact measurement with Jason Saul, Impact Genome Registry

    In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, host Sona Khosla sits down with Jason Saul, CEO of the Impact Genome Registry and Executive Director at the University of Chicago's Center for Impact Sciences. Together, they unpack the chaos behind how nonprofits measure success and reveal a bold new approach that could transform how billions in charitable giving gets allocated. From the hidden inefficiencies plaguing corporate philanthropy to the controversial idea that measurement might actually empower rather than punish nonprofits, this is a conversation that challenges everything you think you know about social impact.


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

    49 min
  • Why donors need social impact data to make the best donation decisions
    In this episode, you'll learn why social impact data is important for donors when selecting which charities to give to. We chat with Heather King, Vice President of Evidence and Implementation,  and Chief Ontologist of Impact Genome, and explore how donor decisions actually change when provided with data. Finally, we discuss how to standardize social impact data.   Learn more about Impact Genome:   1:04 - How do donors decide on which charities or non-profits to give to? 4:14 - Why impact data is important for donors making decision on which charities to give to 6:22 - How Impact Genome's Study provides data to donors 8:57 - What were the results after donor's made their donations 10:43 - Giving decisions of donors with and without impact data 12:23 - How does data benefit donors who need to give immediately? 14:07 - Next steps in collecting impact data for donors.
    17 min
  • How Lush Became an Ally to Indigenous Peoples
    Guest: Tricia Stevens, Former Charitable Giving and Ethical Campaigns Manager, Lush Cosmetics North America Wouldn’t it be nice to dig into a case study that shows how real companies — and the real people behind the scenes — have built relationships with Indigenous communities from the ground up? Enter Tricia Stevens, the former Charitable Giving and Ethical Campaigns Manager at Lush Cosmetics North America. In this episode, you’ll hear how Tricia and her team humbly embraced the unknown, helping Lush and its people become advocates for and accomplices to Indigenous Peoples through their operations, products and social impact programs. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts - https://link.chtbl.com/speakingofpurpose  Learn more about Speaking of Purpose or Benevity on our website - https://benevity.com/speakingofpurpose  Episode resources: 'Resistance and Resurgence' article by Edgar Villanueva - https://www.lush.ca/en/stories/article_resistance-and-resurgence-make-indigenous-peoples-day-about-reconciliation.html #92: Call to Action for Canada's corporate sector - https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1524506030545/1557513309443 The Circle on Philanthropy - https://www.the-circle.ca/ Decolonizing Wealth Project - https://decolonizingwealth.com/ Benevity's #EducationForReconciliation campaign - https://benevity.com/educationforreconciliation Indigenous Corporate Training: Seventh Generation Principle - https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/seventh-generation-principle
    43 min
  • The Blind Spot In Philanthropy
    Guest: Lourdes Inga, Executive Director of International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP) How deeply do you think about the way you give? How can we give in ways that are both impactful and respectful of Indigenous culture and experiences? Lourdes Inga, Executive Director of IFIP, helps us understand the complexities of Indigenous philanthropy. Indigenous Peoples constitute the largest minority in the world, but the rate of giving to their causes is comparatively low. In this episode, we’ll explore solutions to this challenge as well as discuss Indigenous People’s self-determination and how it’s integral to the positive shifts we’ve seen in Indigenous philanthropy. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts - https://link.chtbl.com/speakingofpurpose Learn more about Speaking of Purpose or Benevity on our website - https://benevity.com/speakingofpurpose    Episode resources: International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP) - https://internationalfunders.org/  United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples - https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples.html  Canadian Charity Law Report 2019 - https://www.canadiancharitylaw.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Canadian-charities-giving-to-Indigenous-Charities-and-Qualified-Donees-2019-Final.pdf  Indigenous Canada Course, University of Alberta Faculty of Native Studies - https://www.ualberta.ca/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada/index.html  Alliance Magazine article: “Indigenous Led Funds can be a solution to philanthropy’s inequity” - https://www.alliancemagazine.org/blog/indigenous-led-funds-can-be-a-solution-to-philanthropys-inequity/
    27 min
  • Why Some Indigenous Leaders Don’t Trust Corporations
    Guest: Rukka Sombolinggi, Secretary General of AMAN (Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara/Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago). It’s no secret that relationships — both past and present — between Indigenous Peoples, governments and corporations all over the world are troubled. How did this happen? And what does this look like today? We asked Rukka Sombolinggi, the Secretary General of AMAN, to share perspectives from the communities she serves. In this episode, you’ll hear stories of Indigenous Peoples in Indonesia and learn why building trust, authentically and with purpose, is critical to creating and maintaining meaningful partnerships between companies and Indigenous communities. You’ll also learn how individuals and consumers can help drive companies to take ethical action, too.   Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts - https://link.chtbl.com/speakingofpurpose Learn more about Speaking of Purpose or Benevity on our website - https://benevity.com/speakingofpurpose   Episode resources:   International Labour Organization Report - https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/---publ/documents/publication/wcms_735607.pdf AMAN - https://aman.or.id/ Rukka’s TEDxJakarta talk (enable closed captions and click settings to enable translation) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5atXld4PguI
    40 min
  • Truth Before Reconciliation
    Guest: Melissa K. Nelson, Ph.D., Indigenous Scholar, Professor of Sustainability, Leader at The Cultural Conservancy How should companies and individuals begin the process of reconciliation? Indigenous Scholar, Professor of Sustainability, and Leader at The Cultural Conservancy, Melissa Nelson, takes us through past colonization and settlement, residential schools, and how history continues to shape the experiences Indigenous Peoples have today. In this episode, you’ll hear stories and gain knowledge about how understanding Indigenous issues today is part of healing for all people, and the environment. By looking at the past, educating ourselves and imagining a future of mutual respect, we can forge our own paths toward reconciliation. Let the journey begin... Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts https://link.chtbl.com/speakingofpurpose Learn more about Speaking of Purpose or Benevity on our website https://benevity.com/speakingofpurpose --- Episode resources: The Cultural Conservancy - https://www.nativeland.org/ Land Acknowledgments Resource - https://native-land.ca/resources/territory-acknowledgement/ Sogorea Te' Land Trust - https://sogoreate-landtrust.org/ Schuumi Land Tax - https://sogoreate-landtrust.org/shuumi-land-tax/ Tribal Leaders Directory - https://www.bia.gov/service/tribal-leaders-directory Mohawk Institute Residential School — Virtual Tour - https://woodlandculturalcentre.ca/mohawk-institute-residential-school-virtual-tour-now-available-online/
    36 min

About Speaking of Purpose

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Speaking of Purpose is where big questions meet bold conversations. We sit with the tough questions, challenge assumptions, and uncover the deeper forces shaping business, leadership, and legacy.

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