A Good Force – a GivingForce original series

Summary Kira Traore, Director of Social Impact at Chime, discusses building corporate impact programmes at Amazon and Chime, and how to balance measurable evidence with human consequences. She shares practical lessons on financial education, organisational focus, risk tolerance and choosing where a company can create meaningful value. Keywords Kira Traore, corporate social impact, Chime, Amazon, A...

Summary Carol Cone, CEO of Carol Cone ON PURPOSE and host of the Purpose 360 podcast, has spent more than four decades connecting companies with social and environmental causes. She traces cause marketing from American Express’s Statue of Liberty restoration campaign to today’s corporate purpose work, and explains how Rockport, Kerry Group and Patagonia built purpose into the core of their busines...

Summary Coro Strandberg, President of Strandberg Consulting and co-founder and Chair of the Canadian Purpose Economy Project, traces her path from social work and the Vancity board to more than two decades advising businesses on social purpose. She explains how CSR evolved into sustainability and ESG, why metrics and executive incentives decide whether purpose ever leaves the boardroom, and how th...

Summary Christian Bader leads corporate social responsibility at Premium Food Group, in one of the most scrutinised industries there is: meat. He started out in journalism, then spent years farming in Zimbabwe, where he learnt that sustainability only sticks when it pays. He explains what really drives the carbon footprint of a steak, how deforestation-free soy became a sector-wide standard, and w...

Summary Emily Salazar is Director of Social Impact and Advocacy at Lime. She got her start in impact work as a master's student in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, when a community garden she ran for local kids was sold to a developer. She organised the community, then went to the city as a partner rather than an opponent, and came away with a bigger garden on better land. From there she moved to Head...

Summary Richard Donovan shares his journey from being involved in the launch of a new bank to leading global social innovation at Experian, highlighting key projects, challenges, and insights into creating impactful social programmes. Keywords social innovation, corporate responsibility, financial inclusion, social impact, Experian, innovation culture, social programmes, debt management, youth emp...

Summary Faith Taylor has built sustainability functions from scratch at Wyndham Worldwide, Tesla, and now Kyndryl. She walks through what actually works — making the business case with small wins, focusing effort where it counts, and staying resilient when progress is slow — and argues that intentionality matters more than ambition in creating change that lasts. Keywords ESG, sustainability, CSR,...

Summary Anthony Sanchez, VP and Global Head of Community Impact at Moody's, traces his path from underserved communities to running corporate philanthropy at scale. He makes the case that volunteering only works when it's a genuine employee benefit rather than an obligation, and shares what he's learned about measuring impact that actually means something. Keywords community impact, employee volun...

Augustus Willman shares his journey from retail to tech, and how authentic partnerships and strategic storytelling turn CSR into lasting community impact aligned with measurable outcomes. Key topics - Building authentic partnerships in CSR - Strategic storytelling for impact - Aligning corporate purpose with community needs - Scaling community programmes globally - Overcoming internal buy-in chall...

content type Interview primary goal Educational summary In this episode, Jill Stonberg shares her journey from environmental studies to leading sustainability at Virgin Voyages, highlighting the challenges and successes in decarbonization, community impact, and engaging travelers in sustainability efforts. keywords sustainability, decarbonization, cruise industry, social impact, environmental resp...

content type Interview primary goal Educational summary In this insightful interview, Smruti Govan, Legal Director at PepsiCo, shares her unconventional career journey in human rights and corporate responsibility. She discusses effective strategies for integrating human rights into business operations, overcoming resistance, and scaling impactful programs across supply chains. keywords Human Right...

content type Interview primary goal Educational summary In this engaging interview, Cheryl Rosario shares her extensive experience in nonprofit, corporate philanthropy, and DE&I initiatives. She discusses her career journey, impactful projects, and insights on building sustainable CSR and DEI strategies that resonate beyond corporate cycles. keywords CSR, DEI, corporate philanthropy, nonprofit...

content type Interview primary goal Educational summary In this engaging interview, Denise Melanson shares her unique journey from a music booking agent to a leader in social impact within the entertainment industry. Discover practical tools, industry insights, and strategies for embedding purpose-driven initiatives into entertainment and sports, emphasizing authenticity, relationship-building, an...

content type Interview primary goal Educational summary In this engaging interview, Jessica O'Neill shares her journey from academia to impact investing, emphasizing the importance of rigor, innovation, and responsible use of data and AI in social impact work. Discover insights on measuring impact, building scalable programs, and the role of entrepreneurship in creating sustainable change. key...

Explore how Karen Arsenault, Head of Social Impact and Sustainability at Best Buy Canada, exemplifies building engaging, long-term social impact programs internally driven from within a large organization. Learn about strategies to foster employee engagement, collaboration with vendors, and creative community outreach. Main Topics: The misconception that CSR/ESG is only for reputation polishing an...

content type Interview primary goal Educational summary In this engaging interview, Sara Fromstein shares her journey from activism to corporate social impact, emphasizing the importance of trust, authenticity, and focus in DEIB and CSR initiatives. Discover how her work at Deciem and her insights on building belonging and impactful partnerships are shaping a more inclusive and responsible busines...

content type Interview primary goal Educational summary In this insightful interview, Roos Brugink, Global Community Investment Lead at AstraZeneca, shares her journey in social impact, the strategic integration of CSR initiatives, and the challenges and opportunities in health-focused philanthropy. Discover how AstraZeneca aligns its business goals with societal needs, measures impact, and foster...

content type Interview primary goal Educational summary In this engaging interview, Nina Rauch, Head of Social Impact at Lemonade, shares her journey from founding Pink Week to scaling impact programs within a for-profit company. She discusses the importance of embedding impact into business strategy, targeting younger generations for philanthropy, and overcoming challenges in social impact initia...

content type Interview primary goal Educational summary In this insightful interview, Helen Wilson, Head of Responsible Business at Rathbones Group, shares her journey from oceanography to finance, emphasizing the interconnectedness of sustainability issues and the importance of collaboration, practical impact, and adaptive strategies in ESG and responsible investing. keywords ESG, sustainability,...

content type Interview primary goal Educational summary In this engaging interview, Rohit Burman shares his journey at the intersection of business and purpose, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, trust, and resilience in impact work. Discover insights from his extensive experience in global brands, impactful projects like HIV prevention in South Africa, and personal lessons that shape his...

content type Interview primary goal Educational summary In this engaging interview, Erika Mork shares her extensive experience in nonprofit fundraising, international perspectives, and insights into effective donor engagement strategies. Discover how to navigate the complexities of philanthropy, the importance of community-centered approaches, and practical tips for securing funding. keywords nonp...

content type Interview primary goal Educational summary In this engaging interview, Stephanie Bormann shares her journey from HP to DPR Construction, highlighting innovative programs like 40 Days of Doing Good and the importance of embedding CSR into company culture. Discover practical insights on leadership, community impact, and fostering employee engagement in social initiatives. keywords CSR,...

content type Interview primary goal Educational summary In this engaging interview, Seth Laxman shares his journey from environmental activism to leading advocacy campaigns at Lush Cosmetics. Discover how he leverages employee activism, navigates corporate risks, and drives social change through innovative campaigns that align business values with impactful action. keywords Environmental activism,...

Keywords ESG, sustainability, responsible business, climate change, human rights, corporate responsibility, investment, diversity, inclusion, business strategy Summary In this conversation, Ejaz Rashid interviews Victor Riega, a responsible business manager at Rathbone's Group, discussing his journey in the ESG and sustainability space. Victor shares insights on the challenges faced in the ind...

Keywords Natalie Moore, Kareem Mostafa, Apps for Good, London 2012, education, leadership, nonprofit, collaboration, impact, technology Summary In this engaging conversation, Natalie Moore, CEO of Apps for Good, shares her inspiring journey from a shy student to a leader in the education and tech sectors. She discusses her pivotal role in the London 2012 Olympics, her transition to leadership, and...