Purpose 360 with Carol Cone

Latest Episodes:

Informing the Way Forward with Thomson Reuters Apr 11, 2022

Show notes

After two years of a pandemic and the need for many employees to work from home, creating connections has never been more important – to your coworkers, company, and work. Thomson Reuters recognized the significance of these connections and the need to facilitate them, especially given that the company formed a new operating entity and welcomed a new CEO days before the pandemic began.

The answer was purpose – but Thomson Reuters’ purpose still needed to be defined. Knowing that an authentic purpose is driven from the inside out, Thomson Reuters embarked on a process of collecting employee insights, experiences, and stories, coupled with the power of its AI. With insights from over 800 employees and, eventually, 4,000 customers, Thomson Reuters found its purpose: Inform the Way Forward.

We invited Alex Thompson, CCO of Thomson Reuters, to share the story of uncovering Inform the Way Forward and how it has unleashed the passion, power, and unlimited potential of Thomson Reuters.

Listen for Alex’s insights on:

How to purpose can unite siloed employees and enable them to understand and appreciate each other’s contributions.
Why purpose needs time to settle so it can be fully embraced.
How to engage employees and their expertise in advancing social objectives.
Why you should invite critics to be your counselors, and how to select them.
How to communicate individual and departmental victories at a corporate level to inform and motivate colleagues.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:13) - Alex Thompson, Thomson Reuters Institute
(03:16) - Alex's Background
(05:57) - What Does Thomson Reuters Do?
(07:46) - Trust Principles
(09:40) - TR's Purpose
(12:45) - The Process
(14:11) - Interviews
(16:53) - Embedding the Purpose
(19:55) - Call to Action
(23:17) - Deeper Connections
(26:21) - Surprises
(27:48) - Global
(29:50) - Board's Role
(31:26) - Decision to Make the Shift
(34:28) - Initial Conversation
(36:03) - CEO Letter
(39:18) - Superbowl Sex Trafficking
(41:44) - Inform the Way Forward
(47:27) - West Law Edge
(50:25) - Pro Bono Work
(53:16) - Tips
(56:07) - Identifying Critics
(57:05) - Last Thoughts
(57:59) - Wrap Up

Eat, Play, Love with Ella’s Kitchen Mar 29, 2022

Show notes

“Don’t play with your food” may be a phrase you heard as a child, or perhaps have said to your own children. As it turns out, children really should be playing with their food. Because when they do – especially with vegetables – they’re more likely to eat them later in the day and in the years to follow.

Today, 30% of UK children are classified as overweight or obese by the time they turn 5. Ella’s Kitchen, the UK’s number one baby food brand, believes intervention is coming too late. The company’s purpose–to improve children’s lives through developing healthy relationships with food–started with founder Paul Lindley in 2006 and lives on today with CEO Mark Cuddigan. Determined to raise the next generation, Ella’s Kitchen has marched on the House of Parliament with children, engaged retailers, launched new products, made healthy products more affordable, and launched informative campaigns. In addition to caring for the health of their little consumers, Ella’s Kitchen is implementing sustainable practices into operations and bringing its supply chain partners along for the journey.

We invited Mark Cuddigan, CEO of Ella’s Kitchen, to share how he advanced the company’s purpose and sustainability initiatives since taking over from Lindley.

Listen for Mark’s insights on:

How a new CEO can sustain and advance a company’s purpose while leaving their own mark after the departure of a founder.
How to maintain a values-based culture after a company has been acquired.
How to help supply chain partners adopt sustainable and purpose-driven practices.
Why it’s sometimes okay to take a financial loss if an investment advances purpose over the long term.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:13) - Mark Cuddigan from Ella's Kitchen
(05:15) - Mark's Background & Ella's Kitchen
(08:02) - Influenced by Kids
(09:59) - What Is Weaning?
(10:50) - Communicating Health
(15:05) - Hearing From Parents
(17:33) - Retaining Their Purpose After Acquisition
(20:18) - Sustainability
(21:30) - B-Corp Certification
(25:49) - Maximizing Shareholder Return
(27:08) - Advocacy
(31:29) - Supply Chain Partners
(36:17) - Balancing Sides of Your Purpose
(39:15) - Eat Play Love
(43:10) - It's Not About Profits
(45:33) - Autonomy
(52:03) - Insights
(53:28) - Last Thoughts
(54:58) - Wrap Up

Protecting What Matters Most with GAF Mar 14, 2022

Show notes

To GAF, the roofs over the heads of the company’s customers do far more than provide shelter. Each shingle designed and produced by GAF – North America’s largest roofing manufacturer – upholds the company’s purpose: We protect what matters most. Whether those shingles sit atop family homes or small businesses, GAF works to protect the people, belongings, and memories the company serves.

In the spirit of this purpose, GAF developed Community Matters, its social impact program, to support and empower the communities in which the company operates. Community Matters unites GAF employees, partner organizations, and community members to empower, connect, and inspire the community.

We invited Andy Hilton, Chief Communications Officer and Head of CSR at GAF, for an in-depth conversation on how GAF is bringing Community Matters to life.

Listen for Andy’s insights on:

How GAF worked directly with employees and residents in Shafter, CA to refresh and expand the community’s beloved Learning Center .
How GAF partners with nonprofits like Project for Public Spaces to involve communities in the co-creation of local initiatives.
How the Build Back Better initiative has influenced GAF’s relationship with partners in addressing climate resiliency.
How to create micro volunteerism moments for employees in roles with limited flexibility, such as shift work.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:13) - Andy Hilton from GAF
(02:40) - What Is GAF?
(04:39) - Andy's Backstory
(08:50) - Importance in Standing for Something
(10:12) - Jim's Vision: Stakeholders & Employees
(14:24) - Presenting to Leadership Team
(18:50) - The Elements of 'Community Matters'
(20:54) - Learning From Hurrican Florence
(23:41) - Local Community Work
(29:03) - Project for Public Spaces
(30:57) - Dealing With the Pandemic
(34:26) - Keeping Going
(34:59) - Spreading Learning From Shafter
(36:38) - Resiliency
(39:54) - Having Good Partnerships
(41:28) - An Insight He's Learned
(42:49) - Senior Team
(45:21) - Localizing
(47:15) - Time Off
(49:03) - Last Words
(50:58) - Wrap Up

How the JUST 100 is Reshaping American Business Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

The truly great companies of today are the ones that lead in purpose and invest in stakeholders to ensure long-term profitability. But for investors, differentiating and evaluating companies’ “goodness” can be challenging, even as more companies make and report on ESG commitments. And for business leaders, determining how to create long-term value for all stakeholders can be unclear. JUST Capital provides a solution.

JUST Capital, a nonprofit organization with a purpose to equip the market with these insights, released its annual JUST 100 rankings at the beginning of 2022. The organization’s methodology combines polling from the American public to define the issues that matter most in a given year with weighted standards that are then used to rank companies. “Just” companies are assessed based on their performance across five core categories: Workers, Communities, Shareholders & Governance, Customers, and Environment. This year, the top three concerns of the American public included paying a fair living wage, creating US jobs, and prioritizing stakeholder value creation.

To share insights on this year’s rankings, we welcomed back to the show JUST Capital’s CEO Martin Whittaker.

Listen in for Martin’s insights on:

The attributes of high-ranking companies and recommendations for companies looking to invest in the interests of the American public.
The transition from a “trust me” to a “show me” mentality with sustainability reporting.
The role of boards and how successful boards are able to put talk into action.
Why social sustainability will be the prominent focus in 2022.
What factors caused a shift in companies rising and falling on the 2022 JUST 100 rankings.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:13) - The JUST 100 with Martin Whittaker from JUST Capital
(03:20) - Meet Martin
(04:11) - What Is JUST Capital?
(06:57) - The Genesis
(08:55) - Polling
(11:29) - This Year
(14:38) - Desired Ranking
(18:17) - Advice & Counsel
(21:13) - Surprises
(29:45) - 7 Imperatives
(35:19) - Working With Boards
(40:21) - Communication
(44:01) - Employees' Voices
(46:14) - Meaning & Flexibility
(49:50) - Three Suggestions to Become a More Just Company
(53:33) - Wrap Up
(55:50) - Last Words

Ice Cream as a Convener for Social Change at Ben & Jerry’s with Chris Miller Feb 14, 2022

Show notes

In July 2020, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen unanimously voted to close down its workhouse jail and reinvest its operating funds into community programs. The victory was shared by members of the community, politicians, a coalition of activists, and Ben & Jerry’s.

While most associate Ben & Jerry’s first with its variety of ice cream flavors, the company’s purpose is to be an advocate for progressive social change in the world. With 66 global activism campaigns, the company uses its channels, platform, products, and fans (they don’t call them customers) to elevate messages, bring communities together, and take a stand.

We invited Chris Miller, Ben & Jerry’s Head of Global Activism Strategy, to discuss what cutting-edge corporate activism looks like today and how Ben & Jerry’s remains authentic to its values while using ice cream to change the world.

Listen for Chris’ insights on:

How to identify the right issues to engage with.
Why values-based actions are critical in activism, and how to articulate your company’s values.
How relationships with NGOs and grassroots organizations create value in amplifying a message and uniting stakeholders around a campaign.
The value of addressing controversy head-on and practicing transparency when engaging in activism.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:13) - Chris Miller • Ben & Jerry's
(03:39) - Chris' Story
(08:01) - Authenticity
(11:03) - Campaigns
(18:23) - Fan Feedback
(20:27) - Unilever
(24:02) - Candor
(28:05) - Favorite(s)
(29:28) - Values
(34:06) - Finding Values
(37:19) - New Campaigns
(41:58) - Issue Flavors
(44:05) - Activism Suggestions
(49:13) - Chris' Last Words
(50:10) - Wrap Up

Restitching the Fashion Industry with Ethical Clothing Jan 31, 2022

Show notes

The fashion industry is facing a reckoning. Clothing production accounts for 10% of global CO2 emissions and textile dying yields 20% of global waste water. And shamefully, 85% of all textiles are disposed of each year. Additionally, some businesses are trying to convince consumers that their products are more sustainable than they are by using “greenwashing” buzzwords like “zero waste” and “organic.”

Ethical Clothing, a search engine for sustainable clothing brands and products, was founded with the goal to enable consumers to make informed purchasing decisions as they navigate the world of sustainable clothing brands. We invited Ben Heinkel, Ethical Clothing’s Co-Founder, to discuss the fashion industry crisis and their solution of directly connecting well-intentioned consumers with truly ethical fashion companies.

Listen for Ben’s insights on:

How Ethical Clothing provides consumers with the tools and knowledge to make ethical purchasing decisions.
The characteristics of ethical and sustainable brands and products.
Why it’s important to align your personal values with those of your business or project values for it to be long-lasting.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:13) - Ethical Clothing
(02:07) - What Is It?
(03:35) - Getting Started
(09:20) - Guidelines
(10:20) - The Site
(12:15) - Ethical Brands
(15:35) - Creating Awareness
(16:33) - Expanding
(18:02) - Launching During Pandemic
(19:49) - Goals
(20:21) - Company Name
(21:29) - Fighting the Fast Fashion Machine
(24:30) - Message
(26:30) - Being Sustainable
(27:30) - Range
(29:27) - Lessons Learned
(30:54) - Breaking Ties
(31:49) - Last Thoughts
(32:56) - Socials
(33:17) - Wrap Up

Living Up to the Expectations of Your Children with Alan and Elijah VanderMolen Jan 17, 2022

Show notes

Stakeholder expectations of companies today are clear: They must serve a purpose beyond profit alone, and they must do so authentically. One stakeholder group leading the call for purpose-driven business is young professionals. Increasingly, they’re seeking out internships and then careers with organizations that align with their values and personal purpose. Today’s business leaders hoping to capture this nascent talent must ensure their organizations are operating with purpose at the core.

To better understand what the next generation of talent wants, and how companies today are responding, we invited a father-son team to Purpose 360. Alan VanderMolen, CCO of SC Johnson, the company with the purpose goal to be the planet’s most trusted, and Elijah VanderMolen, a junior at NYU studying Public Policy and Environmental Studies, joined the show to share their insights and experiences.

Listen for Alan and Elijah’s insights on:

Why we should ask how to live up to the expectations of our children.
The best ways to reach and engage Gen Z, especially when it comes to sustainability.
Cultivating a sustainability and purpose mindset at home and in the workplace.
The danger of purpose washing today and the importance of authentically acting and reporting on purpose claims.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:12) - Intro to Alan & Eli VanderMolen
(03:19) - Backgrounds
(08:22) - Importance of Sustainability
(10:38) - Values
(15:04) - Influences
(17:44) - What's Happening in SC Johnson
(22:31) - How Companies Should Reach Out
(26:30) - Getting This Type of Job
(31:29) - External Advice
(35:42) - Advice for Each Other
(38:06) - Future Plans
(38:35) - Last Thoughts
(41:41) - Wrap Up

Mobilizing a New Force for GOOD with Peter Lupoff and Max Schorr Dec 20, 2021

Show notes

In social impact partnerships, we often talk about ‘unlikely bedfellows ’—partners with whom you may not expect to collaborate but whose collective impact is transformational. The alliance between GOOD Worldwide Inc and Net Impact, however, just makes sense: These two powerhouse organizations have long rallied and amplified some of the most important figures and voices in social impact. Now, they’ve come together with Upworthy to create the GOOD Institute, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization to address social issues, drive social action, and reimagine the possibilities of our shared future.

To share more about this new endeavor, we welcomed to the show Peter Lupoff, CEO at Net Impact and GOOD Institute, and Max Schorr, Co-founder, and CEO at GOOD Worldwide Inc. Listen for Peter and Max’s insights on:

How this groundbreaking alliance came together, and the unique strengths each organization brings to the Institute—from Net Impact’s 160,000+ members to Upworthy’s growing digital audience.
Why collaboration and ‘think tank’ style hubs are critical to solving some of the world’s most challenging social issues in innovative and inspiring ways.
How GOOD Institute is bringing together next-gen talent, global policy leaders, and some of the world’s most iconic companies to drive change.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(03:29) - Peter's Backstory
(05:05) - Max's Backstory
(07:35) - Net Impact
(09:30) - Good Worldwide
(13:04) - Building the Alliance
(16:26) - What They Do
(17:39) - Specifics
(20:44) - Partners
(21:41) - Research Directions
(24:09) - Past Case Studies
(27:23) - Measurement
(32:41) - Long Term Visions
(35:06) - Key Business Insights
(39:37) - Social Media
(40:21) - Last Thoughts

Talking About Grief with Experience Camps Dec 06, 2021

Show notes

Joy. Wonder. Delight. Grief. These feelings are all deeply associated with the holiday season, but that last one isn’t talked about much. Talking about grief has become even more urgent during the pandemic, with 86% of Americans now saying grief should be addressed as an important mental health issue. Yet, 70% of adults don’t have the skills they need, saying they’re often unsure what to do or say when someone they care about is grieving.

Experience Camps is seeking to change that by championing the nation’s 5.3 million bereaved children running no-cost programs that help grieving children thrive. The organization focuses on kids who have gone through the death of a sibling or parent/primary caregiver, organizing week-long overnight summer camps and year-round programs to help children build the community and coping skills they need to thrive.

To hear hard-won insights from nearly 450,000 hours with grieving kids and actionable ideas for supporting others through grief, we welcomed to the show Sara Deren, founder and CEO (that’s Chief Experience Officer) of Experience Camps.

Listen for Sara’s insights on:

Why it’s important to ‘Talk About Grief,’ and how you can have hard conversations in constructive ways.
How Experience Camps is navigating a 500% increase in demand over the last five years, expanding programming and resources to meet the unprecedented need.
The lifelong impacts that healthy coping skills can provide grieving children, and how Experience Camps extends support beyond camp sessions.

If you or a loved one is struggling with grief this holiday season, or want to help someone who is, please find grief resources here. If you would like to light a virtual candle for a loved one, please click here.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:01) - Experience Camps
(03:32) - Sara Deren
(10:14) - Finding Your Purpose
(11:43) - The First Year
(18:13) - Childhood Grief
(20:42) - What Happens at Camp
(22:57) - Growth
(27:19) - By the Numbers
(31:45) - Grief
(35:28) - TAG
(38:12) - Pandemic
(40:53) - Beyond the Bunk
(42:59) - Getting Involved
(44:48) - Giving Tuesday
(46:57) - Corporate Support
(47:34) - Finding Motivation
(49:54) - Insights
(51:36) - Last Word
(53:44) - Wrap Up

Cultivating a Better Tomorrow at Chipotle with Laurie Schalow Nov 22, 2021

Show notes

Chipotle revolutionized fast-casual dining with its fresh ingredients, open kitchens and assembly lines, and inventive menu. But Chipotle’s real innovation happens before the food gets into the hands of hungry customers. From the farms where ingredients are grown and raised to the impact of its supply chain on the environment, Chipotle is committed to sourcing and serving “food with integrity.” Its leadership in these areas and others has set a new bar for QSR and fast food, and the food system as a whole.

This is all embodied in Chipotle’s purpose to cultivate a better world. This purpose is made real through the company’s support of ventures that make responsibly sourced and sustainable food more accessible, an executive compensation structure tied to ESG goals, and support for family farms. One meal might not change the world, but the way Chipotle makes it might.

To share Chipotle’s purpose journey—including the ups and downs—we welcomed Laurie Schalow, Chief Corporate Affairs and Food Safety Officer, to Purpose 360. Listen for Laurie’s insights on:

How Chipotle identified and committed to addressing a “disruptive” issue that other organizations weren’t addressing.
Why you should continuously monitor and address the needs of your stakeholders - from your suppliers and partners to your employees and customers.
Why working on projects that haven’t been successful is a powerful way to display your leadership capability and make a mark.
Why having a small sustainability team is not a deterrent to driving impact if you embed purpose responsibility cross-functionally.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(01:03) - Chipotle • Laurie Schalow
(03:26) - Meet Laurie
(06:49) - Laurie's Background
(08:31) - Team Size
(09:03) - Chipotle's Purpose
(12:46) - Bringing 'Real' to Life
(15:53) - KPIs
(17:55) - Food Safety
(19:41) - Environmental Factors
(20:43) - CEO
(23:58) - Challenges
(25:54) - Debt-Free Degree Program
(26:47) - Retaining Employees
(28:51) - Addressing the Pandemic
(30:29) - Upcycling & Food Waste
(34:05) - Real Food Print
(35:12) - Measuring Success
(37:10) - Chipotle Cultivate Foundation
(39:56) - TV Spot
(43:59) - Inspirations
(46:44) - Insights
(49:24) - Last Thoughts
(50:58) - Wrapping Up

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