Purpose 360 with Carol Cone

Latest Episodes:

Cox Enterprises Engages Communities for Impact Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

Cox Enterprises, parent company of Cox Communications (the nation’s third-largest cable company) and Cox Automotive (owner of well-known consumer brands like Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book) has a powerful, deeply-integrated purpose. As a company founded on hard work, respect for employees, and a penchant for bold decisions, Cox exists to “empower people today to build a better future for the next generation.” How the enterprise brings that North Star to life is incredible.

To talk about how purpose guides Cox Enterprises, we welcomed to the show Maury Wolfe, AVP Corporate Responsibility and Public Affairs, and Bob Jimenez, SVP Corporate Affairs. Listen for Maury and Bob’s insights on:

How Cox is investing in STEAM Education as part of its future
How Cox is working to fight racial inequity inside and out
Insights learned from years of engaging communities for impact

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:28) - Introduction to Cox Enterprises Part 2
(01:08) - Investments in Steam Education
(05:00) - Working With Others
(08:42) - Cox's Plans to Fight Racial Inequity
(14:18) - In the Know
(16:07) - Three Insights to Share
(20:05) - Last Thoughts
(21:41) - Stories About Sustainable Businesses
(26:02) - In Closing

Cox Enterprises Puts People and Purpose First Oct 27, 2020

Show notes

Why Cox considers employees its most important resource, and how the company empowers them to live, iterate, and build on purpose to embed it in organizational DNA
How Cox Conserves, the company’s decade-plus national sustainability program, empowers the company, its people, and its communities to advance environmental goals and give back in meaningful ways
How purpose directs Cox Enterprises’ New Ventures arm, which invests in sustainability-minded companies in cleantech, agriculture, and other emerging sectors

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:45) - Introduction to Cox Enterprises
(02:48) - Bob's and Mauri's Roles at and Backgrounds with Cox
(06:40) - Cox's Origins and Purpose
(14:32) - How the Purpose Influenced Mauri
(15:45) - How Cox Uses Purpose to Guide Decision-Making
(18:04) - The Numbers
(19:14) - Guiding Principles
(21:39) - The Evolution of Cox
(23:27) - New Ventures
(26:05) - Social Impact Ventures
(34:58) - In the Know
(37:36) - Cox Conserves and Its Evolution
(43:14) - Measuring Success in Conservation
(46:02) - Wrapping Up Part I

Talking Leadership, Reinvention, and Entrepreneurship with Dorie Clark Oct 07, 2020

Show notes

Dorie Clark believes the best ideas win, not the loudest voices.

Unfortunately, we live in a society where those loud voices are often the ones that come out on top. That’s why Dorie has made it her purpose to help individuals and companies find ways to get their messages heard in an increasingly noisy and crowded environment.

Dorie is an author, thought leader, and part-time professor at the business schools of Duke and Columbia universities. She’s also a believer in the power of purpose to drive reinvention and growth, both personally and professionally. (And, we might add, the #1 Communication Coach in the World and one of the Top 50 Business Thinkers in the World.)

Listen for a fascinating conversation that covers Dorie’s insights on:

What it really means to reinvent yourself—personally, professionally, or as a company—and why it’s such an important process.
How clarity in identity, messaging, and presentation are critical to reinvention—even if an individual or brand doesn’t yet have all the answers.
How to navigate today’s content ecosystems (think: social media, conferences, publications, and more) so that your or your organization’s ideas and voice break through.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:45) - Introduction to Dorie Clark
(02:38) - Who Is Dorie Clark?
(03:16) - Dorie's Purpose
(05:33) - Reinventing Herself
(07:52) - When to Reinvent
(10:31) - Investigating Potential Passions
(12:00) - Finding the Perfect Fit
(13:34) - Refining Your Skills
(15:20) - Finding a Mentor
(16:55) - Crafting Your Narrative
(18:22) - Introducing the New You
(20:24) - Leveraging the New You
(22:18) - Winning Over Previous Friends & Colleagues
(24:20) - Validators
(26:18) - Deciding on Your Content
(30:06) - Unpacking 'Interesting'
(31:55) - The Numbers
(34:43) - Benefits for an Organization to Encourage Employees to Find Their Own Purpose
(36:19) - Message to the Younger You
(38:09) - Knowing Your a Success
(38:34) - Top Three Insights
(41:33) - Wrapping Up

Rallying Leadership for Good at Levi Strauss & Co. Sep 28, 2020

Show notes

You know those Levi’s in your closet have a storied history—but did you know about the more sustainable future they’re building?

Levi Strauss & Co., the iconic brand behind blue jeans (and now a robust catalogue of apparel, shoes, and accessories) has a pioneering approach to purpose and sustainability. Rightly so, as the apparel industry is by nature a resource-intensive one. Yet, Levi’s has leveraged purpose as a north star to revolutionize its entire supply chain, from the cotton (and now hemp) it uses to how products are reused or recycled at the end of their useful life.

To discuss purpose at Levi’s, Purpose 360 welcomes Kelly McGinnis, SVP and Chief Communications Officer at Levi Strauss & Co.

Listen for Kelly’s insights on:

How breakthrough sustainability initiatives like WATER
How Levi’s leverages its iconic brand and loyal following to advance key social issues such as voter’s rights, and how it engages employees in doing so.
Why Levi’s takes a stand on contentious social issues such as gun violence, and how it backs up its position with initiatives that enact grassroots change.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:51) - Levis 2020 Vote PSA with Hailey Bieber and Oge Egbuonu
(03:26) - Creativity in Social Activism
(09:29) - A Voice in Voting
(14:29) - Waterless
(17:57) - Blue Jeans Go Green Insulation
(20:40) - Changing Culture Leading to Innovation
(24:17) - Need to Know
(26:02) - Who Does Kelly Admire?
(28:00) - Values as a Lens for Making Decisions
(29:59) - Best Corporate Donor of 2019
(30:46) - Helping Grantees
(32:39) - Kelly's Insights
(33:50) - Wrapping Up
(35:21) - One Last Question

Pioneering an Industry with Levi Strauss & Co. Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

You know those Levi’s in your closet have a storied history—but did you know about the more sustainable future they’re building?

Levi Strauss & Co., the iconic brand behind blue jeans (and now a robust catalog of apparel, shoes, and accessories) has a pioneering approach to purpose and sustainability. Rightly so, as the apparel industry is by nature a resource-intensive one. Yet, Levi’s has leveraged purpose as a north star to revolutionize its entire supply chain, from the cotton (and now hemp) it uses to how products are reused or recycled at the end of their useful life.

To discuss purpose at Levi’s, Purpose 360 welcomes Kelly McGinnis, SVP and Chief Communications Officer at Levi Strauss & Co.

Listen for Kelly’s insights on:

How breakthrough sustainability initiatives like WATER
How Levi’s leverages its iconic brand and loyal following to advance key social issues such as voter’s rights, and how it engages employees in doing so.
Why Levi’s takes a stand on contentious social issues such as gun violence, and how it backs up its position with initiatives that enact grassroots change.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:55) - Kelly McGinnis – Levi Strauss
(03:45) - Kelly's Background
(05:18) - How to Listen Authentically
(08:52) - Chip Getting Up to Speed
(13:40) - Insights to Transformation
(19:24) - The Numbers
(21:35) - Sustainable Innovation Built Around Values
(24:29) - History Playing Into Purpose
(27:02) - Internal Activism
(29:59) - Wrapping Up Part I
(30:33) - Levis 2020 Vote PSA with Hailey Bieber and Oge Egbuonu

Igniting the B Corp Movement with Chris Marquis Sep 15, 2020

Show notes

On the anniversary of Milton Friedman’s prophetic—and now contentious—statement that the sole social responsibility of a business is to produce a profit, we spoke with one of the foremost champions of the B Corp movement.

B Corps, of course, are businesses built to drive returns for the “triple bottom line” by balancing

purpose and profit. To talk about the movement, the future of purpose-driven business, and how things have changed since the Friedman days, we welcome Chris Marquis, PhD, a professor at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and expert on the B Corp movement.

Be sure to pick up a copy of his newly-released book, Better Business: How the B Corp Movement is Remaking Capitalism.

Listen for Marquis insights on:

Why and how the B Corp movement started, and how it has evolved—today encompassing 3,522 companies representing 150 industries, across 74 countries
Why pursuing the triple bottom line is better for business, and how companies large and small, global and local, are focusing or refocusing operations, culture, and innovation on it
How business, capitalism, and stakeholder relationships have changed since Friedman’s statement, and what the future holds for companies that commit to serve all stakeholders—not just shareholders

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:44) - Introducing to Chris Marquis – Cornell
(02:29) - Chris' New Book
(07:25) - Chris' Background in B-Corps
(09:49) - Writing the First Case
(11:06) - The Movement's Potential
(13:35) - What Is a B-Corp?
(17:45) - Why Patagonia Is So Impressive
(20:31) - Smaller Companies
(23:05) - Natura and Acquisitions to Evolve Culture
(27:35) - Increased Accountability
(31:30) - B-Corps in China
(34:17) - The Role of Young People
(38:30) - B-Corp Lessons for Big Companies
(40:59) - The Playbook
(42:25) - Creating an Internal Shift
(44:42) - Creating a Movement
(48:26) - Movement Growth Fears
(50:46) - Citizen Voices
(53:47) - Dreams for Chris' Book
(55:12) - Three Insights
(57:10) - Wrapping Up

Uniting Impact and Creativity with Elliot Kotek Sep 10, 2020

Show notes

Grab your tissues and put down your phone: Elliot Kotek’s films engage the heart and head in profound ways. Elliot is CEO & Founder of The Nation of Artists, a thought leader and production partner for innovative, inspirational, and wildly impactful storytelling brought to life through documentaries and docu-series, shorts, animations, VR, and more.

While the list of honors bestowed upon his teams is long, spanning Emmy nominations, 5 Cannes Lions, SxSW awards, and more, the greatest testament to his work is the impact it achieves. Elliot joined Purpose 360 to talk about the power of storytelling to engage citizens, drive progress, and touch hearts.

Be sure to catch Elliot’s new documentary Black Boys, created for Peacock.

Listen for Elliot’s insights on:

The critical importance of empathy in storytelling—whether the content is brand-sponsored or independent journalism
How he and his teams captured authentic, humanity-driven moments in situations ranging from war-torn Sudan to pediatric cancer wards
The role of collaboration between content creators, their clients, and their subjects to draw out and tell empathy-driven stories
How content creators—and their clients—can adapt to story capture and distribution in a COVID world

Links & Notes

The Nation of Artists
Elliot Kotek on LinkedIn
Elliot Kotek on IMDB
Watch Black Boys on Peacock
Suggested Viewing: Little Miss Sumo, My Special Aflac Duck, Project Daniel, Queen Mimi

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:46) - Introduction to Elliot Kotek
(02:19) - About Elliot
(03:48) - The Numbers
(06:37) - Elliot's Purpose
(07:40) - Insights About Storytelling
(08:00) - Collaboration
(12:01) - Project Daniel
(19:42) - Don's Voice
(21:45) - Being a Great Client
(26:56) - The Aflac Duck and Creating Magic With Clients
(34:16) - Working in Sensitive Situations
(39:52) - Working in the Time of Covid
(49:07) - Being Busy
(50:49) - Three Insights for Creating Branded Content
(53:53) - Three Insights for Creating Compelling Content for Employees
(55:31) - Example That Inspired Employees
(59:21) - Most Important Insights for Clients
(01:00:08) - Walking the Walk
(01:03:12) - Future of Video
(01:04:39) - Advertising During Covid
(01:06:35) - In Closing

3M applies science and purpose to life Aug 20, 2020

Show notes

3M — the company behind Command Strips, Post-Its, and thousands of other consumer and industrial products — has a profound commitment to purpose and innovation. The company’s tagline “Science. Applied to Life.” captures 3M’s massive R&D investments, vibrant culture, and comprehensive community engagement efforts, including a signature focus on STEM education and equity.

Joining Purpose 360 to speak about 3M’s purpose is Gayle Schueller, PhD, VP and Chief Sustainability Officer, and Michael Stroik, VP, 3M Foundation and Director, 3Mgives Community Relations.

Listen for Gayle and Michael’s insights on:

How 3M engages its people via community engagement programs, concretely linking employee skills and roles to opportunities to help youth succeed in STEM and beyond
The role of innovation in 3M’s operations, culture, and approach to community engagement and giving
3M’s COVID-19 response, from ramping up mask, face shield, and N95 respirator production to philanthropic giving and enabling e-volunteering and engagements
How 3M inspires people to join them in creating a more positive world through science

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:44) - Introduction to 3M
(02:30) - The Numbers
(05:37) - Gayle Schueller
(07:11) - Michael Stroik
(08:18) - Bringing 3M's Purpose to Life
(12:06) - The Importance of Science
(15:56) - Differentiating Within Stem Field
(17:18) - Working Through the Pandemic
(19:39) - Sustainability and the N95 Mask
(22:08) - Making Sure Products Get to the Right People
(24:06) - Employee Engagement
(27:46) - Flexibility for Volunteering
(29:05) - 3M Impact Stories
(30:13) - Sustainability Stories
(35:33) - Science for Circular, Climate, and Community
(38:17) - Developing the Framework
(40:45) - Personal Insights in the Framework Development
(44:49) - Adding a Director of Social Justice Strategies & Initiatives
(47:21) - Located Close to Where George Floyd Was Killed
(51:46) - Living Authenticity
(54:46) - In Closing

Humanity at its Best: Adventures in Kindness with Carrie and Sophia Fox Aug 11, 2020

Show notes

Humanity at its Best shines a light on people and organizations bringing hope and inspiration to the world amid the pandemic. COVID-19 has altered life as we know it. Yet despite uncertainty, fear, and tragedy, there are still stories of good—good deeds, acts of kindness, moments of joy.

Today, Carrie Fox and her daughter Sophia join us to share the story behind their journey to spread kindness and their book, “Adventures in Kindness”.

(00:00) - Welcome to Humanity at its Best
(00:10) - Carrie & Sophia Fox – Adventures in Kindness
(01:16) - Favorite Adventures
(01:58) - Releasing During the Pandemic and Its Importance
(04:16) - What They Hope for as Far as Reactions
(05:55) - Next Steps
(06:57) - Last Comments

Building a Better Tomorrow with Mars Inc. Aug 04, 2020

Show notes

Mars Incorporated—the company behind some of your favorite brands, from Snickers to Seeds of Change—is guided by a simple statement: We believe the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today.

This purpose comes to life through the company’s Sustainable in a Generation Plan, which focuses on a healthy planet, thriving people, and nourishing wellbeing; through its four subsidiaries — Petcare, Mars Wrigley, Food, and Edge; and through many of its brands. To talk about Mars’ purpose, Purpose 360 welcomed Andy Pharoah, VP Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Mars.

Listen for Andy’s insights on:

The interrelationship between the Mars Compass and Five Principles, and how they jointly guide decision-making at all levels of the organization.
How Mars is putting purpose at the center of long-term business strategy and R&D to transform supply chains and operations to be more sustainable, while creating healthier products.
Why and how Mars committed $1b+ in the Sustainable Generation Plan to put its “purpose into practice” and help billions of people around the world.

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360 – Andy Pharoah from Mars Inc.
(04:32) - The Numbers
(05:08) - Andy's Background & the Evolution of Purpose
(07:50) - Mars' Purpose Statement
(09:35) - Examples in Action
(12:09) - Discovery of Their Purpose Statement
(15:57) - Mars' Five Principles
(18:09) - Finding Solutions
(19:17) - Sustainability Plan
(25:05) - Mars Family Involvement
(26:49) - The Mars Compass
(31:52) - Black Lives Matter and Uncle Ben's
(36:41) - Pet Care Successes
(40:54) - Andy's Favorite Brands
(42:58) - Andy's Insights Into Purpose
(44:38) - Focus Groups
(46:01) - Last Thoughts
(47:39) - Closing

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