A Good Force – a GivingForce original series

EP 19 - Smruti Govan (PepsiCo)

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 Rights, Corporate Responsibility, Supply Chain, ESG, Sustainability, Leadership, Impact, CSR, Business Strategy key topics Integrating human rights into corporate strategy Scaling impact programs across supply chains Overcoming resistance and building stakeholder buy-in guest name Smruti Govan key frameworks Business and Human Rights Framework Impact Scaling Model action items Build relationships and trust with stakeholders early Use data and case studies to demonstrate impact Celebrate small wins to maintain momentum Titles Scaling Human Rights in Global Supply Chains: Smruti Govan’s Journey at PepsiCo How to Influence Corporate Human Rights Strategies: Lessons from Smruti Govan sound bites "Patience is key in driving sustainable change" "Celebrate small wins along the impact journey" "Inspire others to lead in human rights" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Human Rights in Business 01:33 Smruti Govan's Unique Career Path 04:25 Implementing Effective Programs for Women 07:13 Challenges in Supply Chain Engagement 10:16 The Importance of Supplier Relationships 12:42 Navigating Internal and External Resistance 15:29 Lessons Learned and Reflections 18:12 Advice for Aspiring Human Rights Professionals 21:07 The Growing Importance of Human Rights in Organizations 22:34 Conclusion and Future Directions resources Givik Force - https://givikforce.com PepsiCo - https://pepsico.com Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) - https://www.bsr.org Amnesty International - https://www.amnesty.org PACE Program (by Gap Inc.) - https://www.gap.com RISE Program (by Gap Inc.) - https://www.gap.com guest links LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/smruti-govan Twitter - https://twitter.com/smruti_govan

EP18 - Cheryl Rosario (Munich Re)

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, community impact, leadership, strategic planning, social responsibility, inclusion, corporate social responsibility key topics Career journey in nonprofit and corporate sectors Impactful community projects and partnerships Strategies for sustainable CSR and DEI initiatives Managing diverse teams across global communities guest name Cheryl Rosario key frameworks Sustainable Impact Model Community-Centric CSR Strategy action items Reflect on your organization's core mission and stay committed. Engage communities early and often to ensure impactful projects. Foster diversity and inclusion to strengthen team performance. Build resilient programs that can withstand political and economic changes. Titles Building Lasting Impact: Cheryl Rosario's CSR & DEI Journey From Girl Scouts to Global Corporations: A Leadership Story sound bites "Arts support can solve societal issues." "Diverse teams think better and perform stronger." "Stay true to your mission, even if it takes longer." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Warm Weather Discussion 00:00 Cheryl's Journey into Philanthropy 02:12 Early Career and Leadership Development 04:48 Impact at American Express 07:33 Transition to Wyndham and Unique Challenges 10:05 Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Engagement 12:43 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategies 15:33 Managing Global Teams and Local Needs 18:00 Opportunities for CSR and DEI Leaders resources Munich Re - https://www.munichre.com American Express Foundation - https://about.americanexpress.com/our-story/american-express-foundation Wyndham Hotels & Resorts - https://www.wyndhamhotels.com Habitat for Humanity - https://www.habitat.org National Trust for Historic Preservation - https://savingplaces.org Learning Ally - https://learningally.org guest links LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylrosario Twitter - https://twitter.com/cherylrosario Website - https://cgrconsulting.com

EP17 - Denise Melanson (The Team)

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, and systemic change. keywords social impact, entertainment industry, sustainability, inclusion, advocacy, nonprofit, artist representation, industry tools, ESG, CSR key topics Transition from entertainment to social impact Industry tools for inclusion and sustainability Building authentic relationships with talent and nonprofits guest name Denise Melanson Titles From Booking Agent to Social Impact Leader: Denise Melanson's Journey Building Industry-Wide Tools for Inclusion and Sustainability sound bites "Authenticity is key to effective advocacy." "Let talent lead with their passions." "Focus on relationships, not just transactions." Chapters 00:00 Denise's Journey from Music Agent to Social Impact 01:31 The Shift in Passion and Purpose 03:50 Building the Paradigm Social Impact Department 06:37 Choosing Causes and Authenticity in Advocacy 09:22 Developing Practical Tools for Social Change 13:08 Navigating the Fast-Paced Music Industry 14:27 Creating Tools for Accessibility and Sustainability 17:49 Bridging Gaps Between Music and Sports 20:26 Building Meaningful Relationships with Artists 24:23 The Importance of Authentic Engagement resources Paradigm Talent Agency - https://www.paradigmagency.com/ Wasserman - https://www.wasserman.com/ The Team - https://theteam.com/ NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) - https://www.nrdc.org/ Save the Music Foundation - https://www.savethemusic.org/ Green Sports Alliance - https://greensportsalliance.org/ Music Sustainability Association - https://musicsustainability.org/ guest links LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-melanson/

EP 16 - Jessica O'Neill, Ph.D., M.P.H. (American Heart Association)

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. keywords Impact Investing, Social Impact, Data and AI, Impact Measurement, Social Determinants of Health, Innovation, Rigor, Impact Programs, CSR, ESG key topics Impact measurement and data use The journey from academia to impact investing The myth of profit versus impact Building scalable impact programs Responsible use of AI and data in social impact work guest name Jessica O'Neill Titles From Academia to Impact Investing: Jessica O'Neill's Journey Measuring Impact with Data and AI: Insights from Jessica O'Neill sound bites "Innovation solves real problems" "AI can help us do good in impact" "Stop overthinking and go back to basics" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Jessica O'Neill and her impact journey 00:14 Jessica's background and transition from academia to impact investing 02:00 Myth of profit versus impact and the importance of innovation 03:56 Jessica's early life, curiosity, and academic pursuits 05:16 Learning about social determinants of health and public health 06:32 Moving upstream to address root causes of social issues 07:10 Common threads across sectors: rigor and accountability 08:35 Using data and AI responsibly in impact work 11:01 Valuable impact metrics and measuring deeper impact 13:01 Key aha moments and going back to basics 17:54 Advice for building evidence-based impact programs 19:42 Getting into impact roles: skills and passions 21:30 The importance of flexibility and continuous learning resources Impact Investing at the American Heart Association - https://www.heart.org/en/impact Social Determinants of Health - CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants/index.htm AI for Good Conference - https://aiforgood.itu.int/ Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) Frameworks - https://www.oecd.org/innovation/impact-measurement-and-management.htm guest links LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaoneill Twitter - https://twitter.com/jessicaoneill

EP 15 - Karen Arsenault (Best Buy Canada)

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 and its true broader purpose. * Focus on quality over quantity in youth engagement programs like Teen Tech for Tomorrow. * Leveraging internal communication channels and storytelling to inspire and involve over 10,000 employees. * Building long-term partnerships with schools, vendors, and community organizations. * Creative approaches to resource sharing, such as branded paper bags and art submissions. * The importance of listening, trusting local teams, and empowering employees in community projects. * Exploring vendor collaboration for technology donations and joint youth initiatives. * Practical tips on engaging employees and partners through ongoing involvement and storytelling. * Challenges with volunteer hour tracking and suggestions for integrated solutions. * GivingForce [https://givingforce.com/] * Best Buy Canada [https://www.bestbuy.ca/] * BGC Canada [https://bgccan.ca/] * Microsoft Responsible AI Curriculum [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/responsible-ai-fundamentals/] * Dell Education Technology Support [https://www.dell.com/] * Meta (Facebook) Youth Programs [https://about.fb.com/news/] * VolunteerMatch [https://www.volunteermatch.org/] or similar platforms for volunteering opportunities * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-arsenault] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/KarenArsenault] Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to the show's focus on impact-driven leadership00:45 - Misconceptions about CSR/ESG and holistic impact approach02:10 - Strategies for sharing impactful stories internally and externally03:55 - Journey into community and social impact work06:04 - Building long-term partnerships with schools and community centers08:05 - Feedback from employees involved in programs09:40 - Program design philosophy: quality over quantity11:00 - Engaging employees in local initiatives and challenges13:45 - Listening to community needs and empowering local teams15:16 - Designing youth programs that truly empower learners17:44 - Employee reactions to focused program areas19:28 - Internal communication challenges and solutions for employee engagement21:28 - Vendor collaboration examples and partnership opportunities23:24 - Creative resource sharing and cause marketing initiatives24:29 - Tracking efforts and encouraging volunteer participation27:00 - Technology platforms and storytelling collection29:28 - Challenges with volunteer hour tracking and solutions33:15 - Summary and closing insights from KarenResources & Links:Connect with Karen Arsenault:No coughs, no edits, clear storytelling on how internal engagement and community partnerships can be crafted for genuine social impact.