The Corporate Purpose Podcast

Bonnie Hagemann, leadership expert, CEO and author, joins the podcast to discuss what she's learned about authentic leadership and the growing network of women supporting each other on their rise to the top. In this episode, we talk about the value of vision, creating the culture you desire, and some of the EDA's key takeaways from the pandemic. Bonnie also explains the impetus for her latest book, Courage to Advance, and shares about her work as an advocate for greater board diversity and gender equality.

In this episode, we discuss: 

• The relationship between culture and purpose,
• Leading through change,
• How to shape the culture you want,
• The value of a clear vision (Leading with Vision),
• The need for more women in leadership roles, and
• Dynamic stories of support from both women and men. 

Bonnie Hagemann is the CEO of the EDA, Inc., a well-known thought leader, speaker and author, and the co-founder of WomenExecs on Boards. You can connect with or follow Bonnie on LinkedIn. 

Let's stay in touch! 

The discussion doesn't have to end here! Sign up for our newsletter and receive a monthly email with articles about purpose, the latest podcast updates and helpful tips to grow your business on purpose. Or, join the conversation about purpose-driven business on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.  

Please also consider sharing this podcast with a friend or colleague to support us in our goal to help more leaders use their business for good. 

Jason Garvale, the founder of Begin Within Strategy, joins the podcast to discuss a more intentional way to build your business. Jason shares about discovering mindfulness and how he was able to incorporate the principles of mindfulness into his work as a purpose consultant and strategist. He talks about the opportunity we have as leaders to look inside our businesses to identify our purpose and use it to guide our decision-making. We also discuss some of the concepts he's shared on Instagram and what we can learn from organizations, like Patagonia, Nike and REI, about being thoughtful about the impact our companies have on our employees, customers and communities. Here are a just of the key principles we discuss: 

• Creating a business that aligns with our values,
• The Purpose Economy by Aaron Hurst,
• Taking responsibility for the way we operate and build our companies,
• Discovering the place where our ambitions align with our customers' ambitions,
• Becoming a guide not a champion,
• Finding our purpose and strength from within, and
• The relationship between purpose, culture and values.

You can find Jason Garvale at www.beginwithinstrategy.com or instagram at @beginwithinstrategy

Let's stay in touch! 

The discussion doesn't have to end here! Sign up for our newsletter and receive a monthly email with articles about purpose, the latest podcast updates and helpful tips to grow your business on purpose. Or, join the conversation about purpose-driven business on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.  

Please also consider sharing this podcast with a friend or colleague to support us in our goal to help more leaders use their business for good. 

In episode 20, Karen Bailey sits down with Carol Nolan Drake, the founder and CEO of Carlow Consulting, to discuss Larry Fink's annual Letter to CEOs. Larry Fink is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, which today holds more than $10 trillion in assets under management. Karen and Carol break down the contents of Larry Fink's 2022 letter and why it carries so much meaning to business leaders today.

The conversation looks at: 

• Larry's call to businesses to get clear about their purpose,
• The changing relationship between companies and their employees,
• Stewardship,
• Speaking up on  societal issues,
• Proxy voting,
• Climate risk, and
• ESG.

Carol first appeared on the podcast in Episode 11: Building a Compelling ESG Program. where she explains what is ESG and offers advice on how to get started on assembling your own ESG program.  As a consultant, Carol works with public and private companies, shareholders and non-profits on ESG and is the co-author of the Society for Corporate Governance, ESG Implementation Guide for its members.

Stay Connected! 

The discussion doesn't have to end here! Sign up for our newsletter and receive a monthly email with articles about purpose, the latest podcast updates and helpful tips to grow your business on purpose. Or, join the conversation about purpose-driven business on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.  

Please also consider sharing this podcast with a friend or colleague to support us in our goal to help more leaders use their business for good. 

Evan Sohn is the chairman and CEO of recruiter.com (NASDAQ: RCRT) and speaks to the current trends transforming the hiring the process today. Evan joins the podcast to share a State of the Current Hiring landscape and addresses: 

• Changing candidate priorities [11:50]
• Work from anywhere [12:53]
• The effects of the Gig Economy [14:30]
• The 'Job Hopper' economy [15:45]
• Advice for companies hiring right now, including tips for how to transform your interview process [16:50]
• Culture and connectedness [20:20]
• Decision-making [24:15]
• The Ira Sohn Conference Foundation [28:55]

Stay Connected! 

The discussion doesn't have to end here! Sign up for our newsletter and receive a monthly email with articles about purpose, the latest podcast updates and helpful tips to grow your business on purpose. Or, join the conversation about purpose-driven business on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.  

Please also consider sharing this podcast with a friend or colleague to support us in our goal to help more leaders use their business for good. 

In this episode, Karen Bailey walks through some of the new guests and topics who will be joining the podcast in season two. To kick things off, Evan Sohn, Chairman and CEO of recruiter.com, joins us for a deep dive on the current state of hiring. Evan offers an interesting look at how recruiting has changed and what businesses can do to attract talent.

Later in the season, we will return to the talent management discussion when I’m joined by the authors of the new book: Uncommon Accountability. Brian, Michael and I dig into accountability. What it is and what it is not (which may surprise you)? How to foster a culture of accountability? Why thinking about accountability in terms of empowerment and ownership may be a key to success.

Another one of my favorite episodes in season two is my interview with Jason Garvale. Jason, the founder of Begin Within Strategy and a good friend, walks us through what it looks like to build a business with clear intention. He also shares how he helps companies look inside themselves to find clarity, purpose and direction.

From there, we’re going to meet CEO and author Bonnie Hageman. Bonnie leans into her experience in human capital management to offer some really good advice around vision, leadership and culture-building. Then, we shift gears as Bonnie walks us through the work she’s doing today around gender equality and board diversity. In her latest book, The Courage to Advance, Bonnie shares the stories of some of the most accomplished women in the world. The book explores how they achieved success, while overcoming considerable barriers, and what these women are doing today to uplift others.

Other Upcoming Topics and Episodes

These are just a few of the great interviews I have lined up for 2022. We’re also going to spend time on purpose and social impact, DEI, sustainability and leadership. We will even dip our toes into the metaverse. I’m also going to be hopping into the mix with some solo shows.

I’m really excited about how season two is coming together. I am honored to again be joined by some great experts and industry leaders. If you have suggestions for topics or guests, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at thecorporatepurposepodcast.com. Finally, be sure to subscribe, so you don’t miss new episodes. You can find The Corporate Purpose Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes drop every other Monday, beginning February 7. 

Stay Connected! 

The discussion doesn't have to end here! Sign up for our newsletter and receive a monthly email with articles about purpose, the latest podcast updates and helpful tips to grow your business on purpose. Or, join the conversation about purpose-driven business on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.  

Please also consider sharing this podcast with a friend or colleague to support us in our goal to help more leaders use their business for good. 

This week, we are wrapping up season one with a look at the strategic planning process and ways we can incorporate our purpose into the process. Karen Bailey offers tips and ideas for making meaningful changes that will help you better align your business around its purpose. She also provides suggestions for purposeful goals that will help you move your business forward and closes the episodes with some recommendations on measurement and accountability.

During the episode, Karen references a few season one episodes to revisit if you're looking for more specifics to help you build your plan or set purpose-first goals. They include: 

• To help you build your case for purposeful business, consider checking out Episode 13: How Purpose Creates Value in Your Business
• For research and data to help you build your case for purpose, check out Episode 1: Finding Purpose
• To help build purpose into your recruiting and onboarding processes, check out Episode 5: Finding and Hiring the Right People
• To learn more about accountability among leadership, check out Episode 10: Purpose-drive Leadership
• To help you get started on building an ESG Program, check out my interview with Carol Nolan Drake in Episode 11: Building a Compelling ESG Program

As this episode wraps up season one, I hope you consider subscribing to the podcast so you will be notified when we kick off season two after the first of the year! And, don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter so you can receive tips and ideas for building and growing your business on purpose.

The Purpose Workshop

If you're enjoying the podcast, you might also enjoy this free, one-hour workshop. We're going to discuss what is purpose and why it matters, while spending most of our time working on a roadmap for defining your purpose and aligning your business around it. Click here to learn more or to sign up. 

- - - - - 

Is your purpose clear? 

Try taking  The Purpose Quiz. Answer a few short questions and then scroll through the results to see how you did and for tips on where you could better align your business around its purpose. You can also learn more about purpose at www.aligndonpurpose.com. 

Stay Connected! 

The discussion doesn't have to end here! Sign up for our newsletter and receive a monthly email with articles about purpose, the latest podcast updates and helpful tips to grow your business on purpose. Or, join the conversation about purpose-driven business on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.  

Please also consider sharing this podcast with a friend or colleague to support us in our goal to help more leaders use their business for good. 

We've talked quite a bit on the podcast about clarity and communication, but haven't yet discussed the importance of listening. So, this week, we're devoting an entire episode to listening. Listening to leaders in and outside of our companies to gain that clarity we need to define our corporate purpose. Listening to employees, customers and partners to shape our business strategy and to meet the changing expectations they have for brands today. And, finally, listening to identify and let go of what no longer aligns with our purpose. 

We also spend time exploring the 'unfreezing effect' occurring in most businesses today. Karen explains what is the 'unfreezing effect', what it means for our organizations and how listening may be the key to successfully navigating through this time of change. You can read the full article from McKinsey & Company referenced in the episode: here. 

Karen also mentions an interview with Dr. Kathleen Williamson, President and Academic Dean of the Mount Carmel College of Nursing on the show. During Karen's conversation earlier this year with Dr. Williamson, she shared some great advice about embracing change and letting go: 

“Letting go allows you to move on. In our case, we had to let go of how we were used to doing things and embrace new, better and more innovative ideas. Many of which are changing us for the better.” - Dr. Kathleen Williamson

 You can find the entire interview here: https://aligndonpurpose.com/strategic-transformation/ 

The Purpose Workshop

If you're enjoying the podcast, you might also enjoy this free, one-hour workshop. We're going to discuss what is purpose and why it matters, while spending most of our time working on a roadmap for defining your purpose and aligning your business around it. Click here to learn more or to sign up. 

- - - - - 

Is your purpose clear? 

Try taking  The Purpose Quiz. Answer a few short questions and then scroll through the results to see how you did and for tips on where you could better align your business around its purpose. You can also learn more about purpose at www.aligndonpurpose.com. 

Stay Connected! 

The discussion doesn't have to end here! Sign up for our newsletter and receive a monthly email with articles about purpose, the latest podcast updates and helpful tips to grow your business on purpose. Or, join the conversation about purpose-driven business on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.  

Please also consider sharing this podcast with a friend or colleague to support us in our goal to help more leaders use their business for good. 

As a great follow up to Episode 14: Communicating Your Purpose, Karen Bailey explores how we can build purpose into our websites. Karen is sharing some practical, hands-on advice for weaving your purpose into your website copy and making small changes to reflect your purpose.  

We talk first about some of the common mistakes brands are making, focusing in mainly on missed opportunities. Karen then provides a series of tips for writing copy that explains your purpose.  For anyone who likes specific examples, this episode is full of brands we think are doing it well. Whether you are working on your first website or you're a website pro, we hope you walk away with a few ideas for building your purpose into your website and for writing more meaningful copy. 

The Purpose Workshop

If you're enjoying the podcast, you might also enjoy this free, one-hour workshop. We're going to discuss what is purpose and why it matters, while spending most of our time working on a roadmap for defining your purpose and aligning your business around it. Click here to learn more or to sign up. 

- - - - - 

Is your purpose clear? 

Try taking  The Purpose Quiz. Answer a few short questions and then scroll through the results to see how you did and for tips on where you could better align your business around its purpose. You can also learn more about purpose at www.aligndonpurpose.com. 

Stay Connected! 

The discussion doesn't have to end here! Sign up for our newsletter and receive a monthly email with articles about purpose, the latest podcast updates and helpful tips to grow your business on purpose. Or, join the conversation about purpose-driven business on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.  

Please also consider sharing this podcast with a friend or colleague to support us in our goal to help more leaders use their business for good. 

In this episode, Karen Bailey explores the value of communicating your purpose and shares a variety of tips and tools for anyone interested in building and growing their business on purpose.  Karen explores the value of clarity and building a strong narrative, how to develop meaningful and engaging content that demonstrates your purpose, and the process of sharing it among your different stakeholder groups. Karen also explains the reason why communications is pivotal to growing a purpose-driven business and the link between strategic communications and greater alignment.

Related episodes: 

• Writing a Good Purpose Statement, Episode 3
• Launching Your Mission Vision and Values with Heidi Baumgart, Episode 4
• Building a Compelling  ESG Program, Episode 11

The Purpose Workshop

If you're enjoying the podcast, you might also enjoy this free, one-hour workshop. We're going to discuss what is purpose and why it matters, while spending most of our time working on a roadmap for defining your purpose and aligning your business around it. Click here to learn more or to sign up. 

- - - - - 

Is your purpose clear? 

Try taking  The Purpose Quiz. Answer a few short questions and then scroll through the results to see how you did and for tips on where you could better align your business around its purpose. You can also learn more about purpose at www.aligndonpurpose.com. 

Stay Connected! 

The discussion doesn't have to end here! Sign up for our newsletter and receive a monthly email with articles about purpose, the latest podcast updates and helpful tips to grow your business on purpose. Or, join the conversation about purpose-driven business on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.  

Please also consider sharing this podcast with a friend or colleague to support us in our goal to help more leaders use their business for good. 

Knowing your brand purpose can be your company's secret weapon. Purpose helps you differentiate yourself from your peers, streamline your sales and marketing efforts and enhance more consistent and more strategic decision-making. It’s also a valuable asset for inspiring and motivating yourself and those around you. In this episode, Karen Bailey explores five ways knowing your purpose can help you lead your organization. 

In this episode, Karen refers to The 2020 Zeno Strength of Purpose Study, which shows that when consumers think a brand has a strong Purpose, they are:   

• 4 times more likely to purchase from the company
• 6 times more likely to protect the company in the event of a misstep or public criticism
• 4.5 times more likely to champion the company and recommend it to friends and family
• 4.1 times more likely to trust the company

Karen references a few of episodes of the podcast in this show, including: 

• Ep. 1: Finding Purpose
• Ep. 3: Writing a Good Purpose Statement
• Ep. 5: Finding and Hiring the Right People
• Ep. 9: Standing Out in a Cluttered Market

- - - - - 

Is your purpose clear? 

Try taking  The Purpose Quiz. Answer a few short questions and then scroll through the results to see how you did and for tips on where you could better align your business around its purpose. You can also learn more about purpose at www.aligndonpurpose.com. 

Stay Connected! 

The discussion doesn't have to end here! Sign up for our newsletter and receive a monthly email with articles about purpose, the latest podcast updates and helpful tips to grow your business on purpose. Or, join the conversation about purpose-driven business on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.  

Please also consider sharing this podcast with a friend or colleague to support us in our goal to help more leaders use their business for good.