Purpose 360 with Carol Cone

Welcome to the forefront of corporate citizenship, where the Civic 50, an initiative by Points of Light, stands as a beacon for businesses. For the past 11 years, Points of Light has recognized the 50 most community-minded companies through a rigorous annual survey. Only a few companies, including Citi and Hasbro, have been honored every year. For honorees, it's not just a badge of recognition but...

Journalism’s “Golden Age” was very different from the profession today. It’s no longer about getting the big interview or capturing the nation’s attention with a blockbuster story. Now, anyone can simply go online to report their own news. The field is far from dying though. Gen Z’s entrance into the workforce highlights how the generation's values, combined with technological shifts, are shaping...

From designer fashion to sports equipment, the resale market is experiencing a renaissance like never before. In fact, the resale market has grown so exponentially that it is projected to reach $77 billion within the next few years. This is a big victory for sustainability, especially given the carbon footprint of the fashion industry. Keeping a t-shirt or pair of shoes in circulation longer is on...

Food security is now a worldwide issue. To keep up with a rising population, the global agriculture sector will need to produce more food by 2050 than was produced in the last 8,000 years combined. Yet, the agricultural sector is confronted with growing challenges, ranging from less arable land and water to a lack of broadband access in rural America, which impedes innovation and growth. Land O’La...

Mark Clouse entered Campbell Soup Company in 2019 as its 14th CEO in the company’s 153-year history. Recognizing the upheaval that the food industry has been undergoing for the last decade and the need for a fresh strategic direction in a rapidly evolving business landscape, Mark sought to define a new, resonant purpose that would guide the company's decisions and inspire employees, customers, and...

“A tapestry is made of many threads woven into one story. So are we.” Tapestry, the parent company of renowned brands Kate Spade, Coach, and Stuart Weitzman, plays the vital role of seamlessly integrating the distinctive narratives, products, missions, values, and focus areas of each brand into a single tapestry. All three brands are united under Tapestry’s purpose – Stretch What’s Possible – whic...

In a world where connectivity is increasingly essential, the digital divide stands as a formidable obstacle. Millions of Americans are denied opportunities to improve their daily lives, succeed in work and school, and have a fair chance in the global economy, all of which come from broadband and digital connectivity. AT&T is deeply committed to bridging this digital divide. With a comprehensiv...

What is your organization’s employee purpose iQ? Host Carol Cone is joined by Wendy Salomon, Managing Director of Reputation & Corporate Strategy at The Harris Poll, to walk you through this first-of-its-kind tool to measure the success of your organization’s purpose. EPiQ, or Employee Purpose iQ, is an analysis of strengths and opportunities to activate your company's purpose with employees—b...

What job would you take after being the CEO of a 160-year-old, multi-billion-dollar international company? Foreseeing tequila’s imminent rise, as well as its impact on ecosystems and communities in Jalisco, Michael Dolan, former Bacardi CEO, is on a mission to hold the spirits industry accountable for its carbon and community footprint. He’s leaned into sustainability to create a new company and c...

Each of Kimberly-Clark’s brands has a brilliant purpose that guides everything they do. From focusing on environmental impact to supporting and enabling women to break down barriers to opportunity, Kimberly-Clark equips its brands to provide Better Care for a Better World. One way is through Kotex’s She Can Initiative. While the brand focuses on raising awareness around Menstrual Hygiene Day each...

When you think of cultural anthropologists, do you picture them working for a food company? It makes perfect sense once you meet Tanya Rodriguez of Hormel Foods. Tanya, whose official title is Senior Human Experience Research Manager, uses ethnography and storytelling to uncover diverse consumer insights. By identifying product pain points and uncovering consumer's desires, she guides Hormel teams...

What does a sustainable future look like? Leading international sustainability nonprofit Forum for the Future works to tackle this very question. Their answer: a just and regenerative future where the capacity of all living systems is strengthened to adapt, replenish, and regenerate; everyone’s human rights and potential to thrive is respected; and our economies and societies are rewired to serve...

ESG — which stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance — has become increasingly important as businesses recognize their responsibility to prioritize environmental and social investments. Over the past few months, ESG has come under fire as politicians challenge whether ESG factors should be considered by investment managers and state pension funds. With the threat of being labeled “woke,” c...

“We don’t hire people to bake brownies. We bake brownies to hire people.” Greyston, a for-profit benefit corporation, is committed to unlocking the power of human potential through inclusive employment, one person at a time. Founder Bernie Glassman built Greyston bakery to hire people who faced barriers to employment. His solution was simple: Anyone with a desire to work would be added to a list a...

Today, the idea that business can be a force for good is mainstream…but it wasn’t always that way. The early pioneers, including host Carol Cone, invested and contributed to the creation of Business for Social Responsibility, a sustainable business network and consultancy focused on creating a world in which all people can thrive on a healthy planet, in 1992. Fourteen years later, three college fr...

“You have to have a bias for action in the world if you want to do your part to make it a better place.”      —Jake Wood Jake Wood’s “bias for action” is indisputable: after graduating from college, he joined the Marine Corps and served two years overseas. His return to civilian life wasn’t easy. Like many veterans, Jake was faced with a loss in structure, purpose, and sense of impact. After a clo...

As the economy pressures companies to tighten their budgets, more ESG and CSR leaders are having to prove why their initiatives should remain a priority. Claims of “woke capitalism” from political leaders and a lack of internal consensus on ESG’s importance only complicate the situation. ESG and CSR leaders are not alone, though. For 18 years, the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals...

“The world today is at a critical inflection point. The sheer number of ongoing crises calls for bold collective action.” The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting at Davos convened CEOs from around the world to discuss global business challenges and identify forward-looking strategies for the years ahead. With the week-long convening over, it’s time for the real work to commence: putting what was...

Traditional advertising is transactional. But that’s not the case at Procter & Gamble. At P&G, advertising goes beyond presenting a product and its benefits to consumers. Instead, P&G uses advertising as a medium for mass storytelling, with the objective of both deepening the public’s understanding of social issues and informing them on the role they can play. This supports transformat...

Developing a corporate purpose is often compared to a journey. Like journeys, purpose requires precise planning, situational awareness, team coordination, and a steadfast commitment to reaching the destination. Often, the most challenging part is determining where to start. Kerry Group – global nutrition and ingredients company with billions in annual revenue and 22,000 employees – began its purpo...

Purpose is under pressure. Last year, we said 2022 would bring a “great reckoning” for corporate purpose – and it did. ESG made headlines and came under fire. Urgency around climate action accelerated, as progress failed to cool our planet. Employees shuffled between companies in search of greater meaning, pay, and balance. Twelve months later, we’re left feeling unsettled, but sure of one thing:...

On May 12, 2015, Geralyn Ritter, Senior Vice President at pharmaceutical company Merck, was flung from her train car in Amtrak’s deadliest train derailment since 1987. Of 238 passengers, over 200 people were injured and eight were tragically killed. Geralyn was the most critically injured of those who survived. It took just seconds for Geralyn to go from being a senior executive at one of America’...

What does it mean to be a car company? At Subaru, it’s about showing love and respect to every person at every interaction. But more than that, it’s about improving lives. This is the Subaru Love Promise: a far-reaching commitment which is embedded in the company’s culture, retailer relationships, community giving, and consumer connections. Subaru’s annual Share the Love event – now in its 15th ye...

Has a statistic ever shocked you so much you can’t forget it? In 2011, David Heath learned the most requested item in homeless shelters was socks. For such a small and ordinary item, David couldn’t stop thinking about the impact they had on people experiencing homelessness. He began carrying extra pairs of socks with him while walking around New York City and handing them out to people he met. Whi...

Legacy companies are still around today for a reason: they’ve developed exceptional products or services, nurtured their workforce, and committed to serving their communities. Take New York Life: at 177 years, the company and its Foundation have a long history of supporting family legacies and leading on the issue of child bereavement. Recent events, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasized...