Purpose 360 with Carol Cone

Latest Episodes:

Humanity at its Best: Natalye Paquin, CEO, Points of Light Apr 07, 2020

Show notes

The most powerful force in the world is the individual. This belief guides Points of Light, the world’s largest nonprofit accelerating people-powered change.

Natalye Paquin, Points of Light’s CEO, joined Purpose 360 to talk about why the organization is partnering with us to share stories of hope during the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen for her insights on the power of individual actions to drive collective change, how storytelling can connect us in times of crisis, and what is means to create a society where it’s easy to take action and no one sits on the sidelines.

Learn more at pointsoflight.org.

Quantifying the impact of COVID-19 with The Harris Poll Apr 02, 2020

Show notes

The Harris Poll is one of the nation’s oldest and preeminent public opinion organizations. It’s no surprise the global market research and consulting firm moved quickly to quantify the public’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wendy Salomon, Managing Director Reputation & Corporate Strategy, The Harris Poll, joined Purpose 360 to talk about the trends her firm is highlighting as the pandemic continues to evolve.

Corporate purpose and reputation are at the forefront of the crisis. Beyond looking to their local and federal government, the American public is turning to big business for answers: how are you supporting your employees? How are you using your capabilities to help address critical shortages? How are you keeping the lights on and food on the shelves? Americans feel that the way all institutions respond now will chart the course for our collective future.

Listen for Wendy’s insights on:

How the wildly-changing landscape of COVID-19 is putting corporate purpose and reputation to the test, and why consumers want businesses to “do more, say less”
How companies are flexing to meet situations they may not have ever forecasted or prepared for
The changing face of the American workforce and workplace, including the impact of isolation on workers and growing role of technology in human connectivity
The critical social issues that are rising to the forefront for companies—like worker’s rights and supply chain transparency

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:42) - Introducing Wendy Solomon with The Harris Poll
(03:12) - About The Harris Poll
(06:14) - COVID-19 Research Background
(12:24) - Employers, policies, and going back to "work"
(16:16) - Corporate participation?
(18:08) - The B2B Purpose Paradox
(29:35) - Will CSR Suffer?
(34:33) - Changing behavior
(37:08) - What is the trend for civic engagement?
(40:50) - What is Gen Z up to?
(42:12) - Three Tips

Purpose 360 Introduces Humanity at its Best Mar 31, 2020

Show notes

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 hope and joy. Purpose 360 is highlighting much-needed stories of positivity and inspiration amid the pandemic through our new series, Humanity at its Best. Please join us by sharing your story: email the team at p360podcast@gmail.com.

Mobilizing the Next Generation with DoSomething Mar 10, 2020

Show notes

As the name suggests, DoSomething exists to give young people the inspiration, tools, and power to make change. DoSomething is the largest not-for-profit organization exclusively for young people and social change, with a community that spans every U.S. area code and more than 130 countries.

From voter registration and clothing donations to celebrating pride and neighborhood cleanups, DoSomething is a digital platform that allows any young person to catalyze IRL (in real life) change.

Aria Finger, CEO of DoSomething, joined Purpose 360 to talk about the importance of giving youth the capabilities to create change, and how brands can better connect with and empower Gen Zers. Listen for Aria’s insights on:

Why DoSomething’s youth-led approach to change is so empowering, and how the organization creates community around critical social issues
The social issues that resonate with young people today and how brands can support them authentically
Myths and keen insights surrounding how to connect with Gen Z--start from a place of service and know that this is a highly diverse generation

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to P360. What's your purpose?
(01:40) - By the Numbers
(02:22) - Introducing Aria Finger and DoSomething.org
(06:42) - Why is the youth-led movement important?
(08:13) - How does the platform work?
(12:56) - What are the most important issues to Gen Z today?
(19:03) - Should a brand take a stand?
(20:43) - Is volunteerism inspired by action?
(25:01) - DoSomething Strategic
(26:23) - What do corporations need?
(27:51) - How do you engage your team?
(32:14) - Who's doing the best job of engaging Gen Z?
(34:23) - Measurement
(38:29) - What's next?
(39:23) - Internal activation
(40:49) - Three Insights
(42:22) - The Greta Factor

Building Better Lives with Habitat for Humanity Feb 26, 2020

Show notes

Habitat for Humanity, which started as a grassroots effort on a community farm in Southern Georgia, now works in communities across all 50 U.S. states and more than 70 countries. The organization’s astounding growth is due in part to its focused mission: help people (29 million to date) obtain a safe place to sleep at night and the stability and self-reliance to build better lives.

Colleen Finn Ridenhour, Chief Development Officer at Habitat for Humanity International, joined Purpose 360 to discuss the organization’s evolution and ongoing innovation. Listen for Colleen’s insights on:

Balancing very different needs in communities around the world, without losing focus on Habitat’s mission
How Habitat’s model integrates robust and meaningful employee volunteerism opportunities, and how corporates can supercharge efforts
How corporations can leverage their partnerships with NGOs, including Habitat.
How Habitat built an ecosystem around its core home-building model, including its retails ReStores to generate revenue

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Cause Talk Radio
(00:50) - Habitat for Humanity International
(01:59) - By The Numbers
(02:48) - Colleen Finn Ridenhour
(05:58) - Habitat's evolutions
(09:34) - Employee engagement and team-building experiences
(14:24) - Great communicators
(16:46) - ReStores
(21:29) - Defining objectives
(25:44) - Measurement
(29:30) - The Habitat ecosystem
(38:52) - The Carters
(41:30) - Three Insights
(44:06) - The B2B Purpose Paradox
(47:35) - The Affordable Housing Crisis

Davos Debrief with JUST Capital CEO Martin Whittaker Feb 12, 2020

Show notes

As one of the leaders in the ‘stakeholder capitalism’ movement, JUST Capital was a key participant in this year’s World Economic Forum convening in Davos.

Martin Whittaker, JUST Capital’s CEO, joined Purpose 360 to talk about core themes, conversations, and ideas from Davos. Most centered on the growing call for a new system of capitalism, one which places the needs of all stakeholders—employees, customers, communities, the planet, and more—before shareholders.

Listen for Martin’s analysis of Davos, including:

How companies will approach measuring a stakeholder economy
How today’s leaders are defining and building “just” companies
Why climate and equity will be defining societal issues over the next few years

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:52) - Martin Whittaker is back from Davos
(07:29) - How do you move from aspiration to action?
(10:35) - The Financial Distress Test
(15:50) - Other areas of Davos focus?
(19:42) - Just like JUST?
(20:31) - How do you approach Davos next year?
(22:39) - Top 3 Insights
(25:50) - When will JUST look at large private companies?

Soaring into Sustainability with JetBlue Feb 05, 2020

Show notes

The aviation industry is tough. Airlines bear one of the largest carbon footprints of any industry, and the rising threat of global climate disaster—plus trends like “flight shaming”—are challenging companies to find solutions.

JetBlue, long considered a “beloved” brand in a beleaguered industry, is putting the climate issue at the core of its business. Most recently, the airline announced that all domestic flights would be carbon neutral by mid-2020. We spoke with Sophia Mendelsohn, Head of Sustainability and Environmental Social Governance, and Sara Bogdan, Manager of Sustainability and Environmental Social Governance, about JetBlue’s efforts to tackle the climate issue.

The core insight: JetBlue treats the environmental crisis as an opportunity, not a threat. Fervor around climate issues is spurring innovation and inventive solutions across the company, from in-flight recycling efforts to new sharklets on the aircraft wings to increase fuel efficiency. Plus, JetBlue continues to invest in programs to support local communities, including Soar With Reading, in addition to inspiring small business innovation through programs like BlueBud.

Listen for Sophia and Sara’s insights on:

How JetBlue pushes for innovation across the business, with a focus on generating long-term value and impact
How transparency, honesty, and unrelenting dedication to customer service makes JetBlue a beloved brand
How JetBlue drives grassroots impact in the communities where the company operates

Links & Notes

(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:52) - Introducing Sophia Mendlesohn and Sophia Bogdan from JetBlue
(02:20) - By the numbers
(05:13) - Sophia's journey into aviation and the aviation evolution
(13:34) - Innovation in markets, innovation in equipment
(24:04) - Purpose & Culture
(30:22) - Foundation: Building a future for the aviation industry through STEM and ecological rehabilitation
(35:21) - Top 3 Insights

Talking shoes, philanthropy, and one-for-one with TOMS Jan 21, 2020

Show notes

Consumers know TOMS, the shoe company that pioneered the one-for-one business model (spurring, by some accounts, more than 1,800 other “one-for-one” businesses). But few know what the name “TOMS” actually means: Tomorrow’s Shoes.

The name is prescient, especially considering the social, political and economic climate today compared to 2006, when TOMS was founded. While the world has changed, the TOMS promise holds fast: captured in the company’s mission (We’re in business to improve lives) and vision (Stand for a Better Tomorrow).

Purpose 360 welcomed “rebel optimist” Amy Smith, Chief Giving Officer at TOMS, to explain why TOMS is moving away from the one-for-one model to a broader focus on “building a tomorrow where everyone thrives.”

Listen for Amy’s insights on:

How TOMS expanded from a single one-for-one product—shoes—to several products, each supporting a critical social issue (vision, water, safe births, bullying, solar light)
How to smartly and authentically evolve a social impact model to remain relevant, innovative and effective in a turbulent society
Why TOMS launched a campaign to end gun violence, and how the company navigated a hotbed social issue
How TOMS works with hundreds of Giving Partners around the world to make a more meaningful and sustainable impact on local communities

Links & Resources

PNC Helps Children and Communities Grow Up Great Jan 07, 2020

Show notes

Now in its 15th year, PNC’s Grow Up Great has served more than 5 million children in the U.S. through early childhood education grant-funded programs, educational materials and mobile engagement tours. A $500 million bilingual initiative, Grow Up Great launched in 2004 to support children birth to five, particularly the underserved, achieve success in school and life.

Sally McCrady, President of the PNC Foundation and Executive Vice President and Director of Community Affairs and CSR, joined Purpose 360 to explore how this long-term initiative has made a measurable difference in the communities where the bank operates. For the bank, supporting the issue simply made good business sense: research shows that investments in early childhood education are long-lasting, with impacts on children, society, and the economy.

Today, PNC continues to evolve Grow Up Great to remain relevant and meet the needs of today’s children and communities. The award-winning initiative helps to plant the seeds for the dynamic workforce of tomorrow.

Listen for Sally’s insights on:

How to sustain an issue focus over 15 years to scale impact and continue to deliver innovative, high-quality programming
How a commitment to employees, including a generous 40 hours paid time off to volunteer, has deeply embedded Grow Up Great into PNC’s culture, business and overall growth
How internal and external research led PNC to be a “first mover” in corporate support of early childhood education, bringing the issue to national prominence
How to identify mission-aligned partners and work together in innovative ways—such as PNC’s partnership with DonorsChoose to fund the platform’s first Pre-K and Head Start classrooms

Resources:

About PNC
A Conversation with Sally McCrady
Grow Up Great
PNC’s 2018 CSR Report
Questions for Sally? Reach out to the Purpose 360 team on Twitter @Purpose360Pod

(00:01) - Introducing PNC
(08:44) - Letting employees lead
(14:23) - The impact of early childhood education
(17:02) - The advisory board
(24:50) - Sesame Workshops, and other partners
(27:32) - Going beyond the obvious partners — Translating versus Transcreating
(31:34) - Developing support for teachers
(36:40) - Lessons of the Donor's Choose relationship
(38:09) - The Donors Choose card and celebrating greatness
(41:24) - The challenges of measurement
(48:56) - Grow Up Great as a door opener
(51:18) - Top 3 Insights

Jeff Fromm Reveals the Purpose Advantage Dec 18, 2019

Show notes

“What matters is what you do next.”

This is the opening section in Jeff Fromm’s newest book, The Purpose Advantage. It’s an apt statement, considering the Business Roundtable’s recent proclamation that the purpose of a corporation is to serve all stakeholders—from employees to suppliers to communities. Arguably, we’re now beyond the tipping point of capitalism. Purpose is no longer a “nice-to-have.” So, what we do next matters more than ever.

In this episode, we spoke with Jeff Fromm, author, thought leader, and leader of Barkley and Futurecast, about purpose today and how Millennials and Gen Z are reshaping the role of business in society.

Listen to hear Jeff’s insights on:

Understanding today’s Millennials and Gen Z’ers and their evolving relationship with purpose—at work and as consumers
How to move past generational “myths” and unearth data to drive insights around purpose
What the “purpose advantage” can achieve for brands today, and why purpose must be baked into a company’s DNA—not tacked on
How brands leverage purpose to tell meaningful stories that move consumers to action

Links & Notes

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