Speaking of Purpose

Guest: Bryan de Lottinville, Founder and Executive Chairperson, Benevity. Business is now our most trusted institution. Employees look to their workplaces to address social issues, and consumers increasingly support brands based on their actions as much as their products. As the role of business in society changes, it takes genuine leaders to challenge the status quo. One such leader is Benevity’s Founder, Bryan de Lottinville. On this season’s final episode, he joins us to reflect on how he developed the idea of bringing Goodness to the corporate world, and how purpose has changed from a top-down mandate to a democratized process of personal, authentic action. Listen to Ep. 5 to learn more on ESG and the future of business

Guest: Anil Soni, Chief Executive Officer, The WHO Foundation Anil Soni is passionate about vaccine equity. But as our conversation with the CEO of the WHO Foundation unfolds, we learn that vaccine equity is about much more than vaccines. The issue is a microcosm of systemic and generational injustice that continues to perpetuate today. Anil joins us to discuss why vaccinating the entire world is critical for global health and economies - and how the private sector plays a vital role in making it happen. Go Give One – WHOF - ICC commissioned study

Guests: Allison Fary, Senior Program Manager and Stephanie Franco, Head of Corporate Giving and Volunteerism They say necessity is the mother of invention, and it holds true even when the topic is the changing face of volunteering. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and in-person volunteering was no longer possible, companies were forced to rethink the way they gave back to their communities during a time of profound need. Luckily, the answer was right in front of them. Just as they introduced a hybrid approach to work — remote employees, digital communications, and more — they could also shift their programs to include virtual opportunities, and a broader, more open definition of what it means to volunteer. On this episode of Speaking with Purpose, we speak to Allison Fary and Stephanie Franco from TELUS, who tell us how they successfully pivoted during a massive upheaval, and why the new definition of volunteering is here to stay.

Guest: Maya Chorengel, Co-Managing Partner, The Rise Fund The growing importance of corporate purpose and environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies are changing the way boardrooms operate. The past year has shown just how important it is for companies to lead the way, particularly on social issues. From protecting frontline workers to striving for racial justice, companies have the reach and resources to create real change. Maya Chorengel has spent over two decades contributing to that change. As a veteran of many director positions – including a board position here at Benevity – she has seen corporate purpose and ESG transform conversations by making companies rethink their role as social actors. Maya joins us on this episode of Speaking of Purpose to discuss how systemic problems require systemic solutions, and how learning from environmental strategies can help guide our action on social issues.

Guest: Whitney Dailey, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Research Insights, Porter Novelli We know the idea that companies should address and contribute to social change has taken hold. But this responsibility has put a new kind of stress on business leaders — the threat of getting canceled. As companies uphold their values and wade into difficult conversations, they are bound to be faced with backlash from consumers, activist groups, and even their own employees. On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Whitney Dailey, who has spent years studying how brands can and should respond to being canceled, and maybe even avoid cancel culture in the first place.

Guest: Bruce Simpson, Senior Advisor to McKinsey & Co., CEO of Stephen A. Schwarzman Foundation Over the past few decades, we’ve seen the priorities of business shift. A company’s primary responsibility used to be the pursuit of profit. But now, in the age of stakeholder capitalism, we’re seeing a surge in corporate purpose. But what exactly is stakeholder capitalism, and what impact does it have on a company’s bottom line? Bruce Simpson has the answers. Bruce has worked with clients across the globe on integrating societal missions into their core business strategies – missions that are driven by companies’ customers, employees, suppliers, regulators, and broader society. On this episode of Speaking with Purpose, Bruce joins us to discuss stakeholder capitalism and how it’s changing environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies for the better.

Guest: Aisha Thomas-Petit, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, AMC Networks These days, more and more people are bringing their full selves – their culture, their background, and their lived experiences – with them to work. The days of living with a clear divide between personal life and work life are over. As the expectation grows for workplaces to create a culture that supports people as their full selves, the question becomes: How are businesses adjusting to the increasing call for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging? Aisha Thomas-Petit has dedicated her life to that question. In this episode, she sits down with us to talk about the importance of having DEI&B strategies ingrained into your corporate purpose, and what risks companies run when they go the other direction.

Guest: Altaf Gilani, Head of Product for Microsoft Rewards, Give with Bing, and Bing Rebates Customers are demanding that companies take action on the social causes that affect our communities every day. Truly visionary companies, like Microsoft, are taking it a step further. Their giving programs are designed not only to have an impact, but to engage their customers to define where that impact is directed. Altaf Gilani spearheaded Microsoft’s Give with Bing – a rewards program that enables users to raise money for the charity of their choice every time they conduct an internet search. Learn what inspired Altaf into action, and how his past passion for giving back helped shape the ideas that formed his professional future, as well as a truly innovative program that translates customer clicks to Goodness in 8 countries. Webinars for nonprofits:

Guests: Christina Lewis and Stephanie Ellis-Smith, Co-founders of Give Blck In the wake of the summer of 2020, when the Black Lives Matter movement became an urgent conversation around the world, donations to racial equity causes through our giving platform reached an all-time high, at $166 million. Just six months later, that momentum slowed down and donations returned to their previous levels. It was during that summer that Christina Lewis and Stephanie Ellis-Smith joined forces to create Give Blck, an organization designed to raise the visibility of Black-led causes and ensure that support for racial justice didn’t fade away with the news headlines. Join us as they share stories about their lives in fundraising and teach us how to keep the momentum going towards systemic, long-term change.