Purpose, Profit, and Public Pressure

Minneapolis Responds: Corporate Action in Times of Crisis

In this special episode of Speaking of Purpose, Sona Khosla, Chief Impact Officer at Benevity, is joined by Andrea Wood, President and CEO of the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals, for a conversation on corporate leadership during moments of crisis. Drawing from her experience living in Minneapolis, Andrea shares what it was like to witness her community navigate a period of unrest and uncertainty. She reflects on the role of grassroots movements, the power of mutual aid and how individuals and organizations mobilized to support those most affected. Together, they explore the gap between corporate statements and meaningful action, how leaders react in high-pressure moments and how companies can better support their employees and communities when it matters most. Links to note: https://accp.org/ [https://accp.org/]

Force of Nature: Building a Sustainable Business of the Future with L’OREAL Canada

A company's values are what truly drive its value. In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, Maya Colombani, Chief Sustainability, Human Rights and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer at L’ORÉAL Canada, shares how her company’s sustainability strategy drives innovation, talent development and financial growth. From integrating sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion and social impact into every part of the business to building partnerships with Indigenous communities, Maya shows what it looks like to be a force for good and a global market mover.

Purpose, Profit, and Public Pressure

Shareholder, consumer and employee activism are top of mind for CEOs. Some companies are bending under pressure, while others are doubling down. So who really holds the power? In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, we sit down with Andrew Jones of the Conference Board to explore how today’s most resilient companies are embracing their communities and harnessing stakeholder influence to better navigate risk, build brand trust, and align values with long-term success. Plus, we look at the latest data on activism to what it means for the future of business.

The Truth about Trust-Based Philanthropy

Trust-based philanthropy has been a growing movement for the past five years, but it hasn’t come without its fair share of naysayers and skeptics. In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, we talk to Shaady Salehi, Co-Founder & Executive Director at the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project as the initiative enters its next phase of growth. In this conversation, we tackle the myths, the benefits, the opportunities and what it takes to forge nonprofit partnerships that in fact enable funders to realize their investment goals, if they are willing to practice a bit of flexibility and… trust!  Show Notes: Learn more about Trust-based philanthropy →  https://www.trustbasedphilanthropy.org/ [https://www.trustbasedphilanthropy.org/] Dive into Benevity’s State of Corporate Purpose report → https://benevity.com/state-of-corporate-purpose-2025 [https://benevity.com/state-of-corporate-purpose-2025]  Learn more about Unite in Advance → https://nonprofitquarterly.org/unite-in-advance-philanthropy-coalition-launches-solidarity-campaign/ [https://nonprofitquarterly.org/unite-in-advance-philanthropy-coalition-launches-solidarity-campaign/]  Learn more about Meet the Moment → https://www.trustbasedphilanthropy.org/meet-the-moment [https://www.trustbasedphilanthropy.org/meet-the-moment]

Meet the Benevity CEO Shaping the Future of Corporate Purpose

In this rare episode of Speaking of Purpose by Benevity, host Sona Khosla sits down with the new CEO of Benevity, Soraya Alexander. They talk about everything from building community and connection through giving, obsessing about unlocking more generosity, the role of technology and the opportunity for AI to make us intentional about being human, and the need to protect corporate purpose in this moment. In this joy-filled, laughter-infused conversation, you’ll delight in getting to know Soraya Alexander–the woman behind the title. Show Notes: Learn more about Benevity’s CEO announcement → https://benevity.com/press-releases/benevity-names-soraya-alexander-chief-executive-officer [https://benevity.com/press-releases/benevity-names-soraya-alexander-chief-executive-officer]