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Why do we hear so many fancy words about company values while corporate scandals rage? According to ethics expert and corporate consultant, Bettina Palazzo, leaders love to talk about values because the exercise creates a nice fuzzy feeling. Yet lists of corporate values will not move the needle on company decisions nor affect day-to-day behaviors. Why? Because anyone can come up with fancy feel-good words. But you can't merely throw a beautiful values "cherry" on top of a questionable culture. Leaders have to work from the ground up.  Their role is to engage the organization in clarifying a values vision and  inventing the plan for making it real throughout the organization.  In this episode, Bettina lays out the problems and solutions to the corporate ethics dilemma so prevalent in our world today. 

During the months of the pandemic, women left the workforce in droves.  Why? Because women still bear the lion’s share of family and home care responsibilities. And they can't find the work/life balance they need through the companies employing them. They make less money and receive fewer promotions. We need women's voices in the workplace. Maureen Higgins talks about why the problems persist - especially with STEM women - and what to do about it. 

Why does a liquor business like Brown-Forman spirits company take action against bad behaviors in bars? Because they want to ensure people have a good experience with alcohol when they drink. The harassment that sometimes occurs when people are drinking is not ok.  And Brown-Forman wants to do something about it. Taylor Amerman, Emma Briscoe, and Melissa Emmal share the details of how they teach bartenders and others to intervene in those sticky bar situations. And they describe how any of us can put a stop to harassment when we see it.

Do Black people matter? This is the question Nikki Lanier, posed last year on this podcast. Nikki is a senior Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Louisville Branch.  And she returns to reflect and advise one year after the murder of George Floyd. Nikki lauds corporations for condemning racism while she offers direction for what must come next. Her view of corporate DEI is that it is infantile. And she outlines the first steps companies must take to remedy the problem. Her experience working within corporate Human Resources, as well as her law degree, her experience working for the Fed, and her tireless activism towards social justice give her a unique perspective on where we stand and what we can do to fight racism. 

In 2012, the skeptical executives of iconic fashion brand EILEEN FISHER spent three days at a Buddhist retreat center to form a new vision for company sustainability. Most had never worked closely together previously. And they weren't prepared to go out into the woods to contemplate! Yet the meeting organizers insisted they leave their electronics behind, give up their tinkering and siloed approach to change, and analyze the entire product-related system from concept to manufacturing to closet and back again. And guess what happened? They not only created a clear vision complete with audacious goals, they crafted a plan for making it real.  Fast forward to year 2021.  They succeeded in reaching their goals and are helping transform the entire  industry.  Amy Hall, former VP and current advisor to  the Social Consciousness group in EILEEN FISHER, and Sara Schley, the Co-founder of Seed Systems and Amy's outside partner in guiding the journey, share stories, lessons learned and the secrets to the company's success in their sustainability work. Their advice is both revolutionary and practical, unusual and intriguing, and it works. Leaders of companies in any industry and of any size can succeed by adopting their systems approach to change.  

“Hey we gave this unconscious bias training and hired a Chief Diversity Officer. Isn’t that enough?” My guest this week, Kelley Bright, says she has heard these words countless times from clients in her 25 plus years with global professional consulting firms. She claims companies aren’t getting into the nitty gritty of race because they don't want to say the hard, scary things that make people really understand. In this episode, she offers critiques of how companies handle DEI today and what they should do instead.     

“Aren’t we human beings hilarious? The ways we can find to discount and disqualify others, especially in competitive environments, is sometimes stunning.” DEI expert, Judy Ellis, knows what she is talking about.  She has been working with corporations on culture, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)  for 20 plus years in all kinds of companies. She offers advice on how companies can carry out DEI efforts that not only value all employees, but also have a positive impact on the company bottom line. The key is to focus on inclusion - not just diversity. 

"Do Black people matter as we look at the future of our country and our companies?" Nikki Lanier, senior vice president, and regional executive of the Louisville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, discusses this pivotal question as she focuses on the E (equity) in DEI. In this episode, Nikki takes on the racism we see in front of us and offers her opinions on how our companies can move beyond diversity and address the equity part of the equation.

DEI (Diversity, equity, and inclusion) isn't new for many of our organizations. So why don't our commitments make a real difference? Priya says she is an immigrant and a brown girl born to be a rebel. And she is full of passion and genuine curiosity. Growing up as a young girl in India she questioned why “different rules for different people.” Now she helps companies address this challenge through her change management consulting practice. In this episode, she shares tips for how organizations can position their diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments for true impact. And she offers each of us steps we can take to become part of the fight against racism within organizations.  

While we were sheltering in place, our communities across the country erupted due to racism run amuck! Police brutality, protests, fires, murders, and the list goes on and on.  We looked on with horror. We are seeking change.  We want answers. We ask ourselves what we can do to join the fight against racism in our workplaces and communities. Tawana Bain, exceedingly successful entrepreneur and founder of the famous Derby Diversity Summit, offers concrete steps each of us can take now to change how we address race in our lives and our country. 

Yes, our work environments have shifted lately! And many leaders may be feeling a little disoriented. If you are looking for a way to enhance your work for greater success, this episode is for you. The good news is this: You don’t have to start over completely. You can build on what has worked in the past when our companies  faced monumental challenges. Mark Lorch, former union steward and leader extraordinaire, shares his stories of how an oil refinery with 11 labor unions found the secrets to transformation. They moved from an adversarial culture to a workplace characterized by respect and the quest for common ground. Hear him tell how they did it.  The universal truths in his stories can help us now as we too seek common ground.

How can you take risks, learn, and grow while our world is in crisis? My guests offer timely advice based on their lives as outdoor adventurers and organizational experts. For many years, Geoff Powter and Kathi Irvine have traveled the world while also helping leaders change themselves and their companies. And, Geoff is a renowned mountain writer who has climbed in the mountain ranges of Nepal, Peru, Morocco, France, Switzerland, and Italy. From their home in the Canadian Rockies, Geoff, and his life and business partner, Kathi Irvine join us. 

Stressed anyone? Our world right now is challenging to say the least. Yet what a great time to learn, according to Jerry Abrams, Envisioneer, Center for Creative Leadership, and Adjunct faculty and Senior Fellow with Virginia Tech's  Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability (CLiGS). In this episode, Jerry shares a simple roadmap for how to learn,  become a stronger leader, and develop greater resilience through a practice that requires a mere 10 - 15 minutes a day!

Brands with purpose are more resilient than others, according to Denise Roberson, Chief Purpose Officer of TWBA/Chiat/Day. In this episode, she provides evidence of the strength that comes from brand purpose. She provides examples of how purpose has guided the decisions and actions of some of our most iconic brands.  And Denise shares how you can lean on your purpose to make quicker and better decisions.       

Here we are in the middle of one of the worst crises our world has ever faced. We are living through tough times! Yet each of our guests this season brings messages of hope and optimism. Their common theme is we can get through this crisis together. Every guest shares uplifting advice for these gloomy days to brighten our outlook and show us how we can become stronger and more resilient as we continue to pursue our purpose and live our values. Listen to this preview of Season 2. 

So you want your company to make a positive social and environmental contribution intentionally. How do you make this happen? If you are in Kentucky, you can turn to Canopy; the nonprofit Scott Koloms created to help businesses make money while addressing some of our world's toughest problems. In this episode, Scott offers all of us tips on how to get started in Kentucky or any place. According to Scott, the magic is in finding a solution to a business problem that will also have a direct and measurable social benefit. He talks about how to hit those home runs.

"It's all about how you make your money and how you spend your money," according to my guest for this episode, Carolyn Berkowitz, president of the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals. Of course, this advice applies to all of us whether we are thinking of starting a corporate citizenship program in our companies or considering our actions as workers and consumers. Carolyn offers intriguing ideas for starting corporate social responsibility programs without a lot of complexity and expense, no matter what your company size. And what if you don't run a company? Her tips are thought-provoking for every one of us as we work and buy.

So you want to make a positive impact on your world through your work?  Great!  However, let’s face it. Our passion for doing good isn’t always enough to make it happen. My guest this week shows you how to start out with a simple commitment and fulfill it through intentional and mindful actions. In this episode, Scott Koloms, President of Facility Management Services (FMS), shares his journey to make a positive social impact through his work. His company is the world's first janitorial service to become a B Corps!  And they just landed a coveted spot on Real Leaders Impact Awards. This ranking includes the top 100 companies growing by doing good. Join us to hear how he did it and what you can do to make your desire for positive impact real.

Hey, you aspiring social entrepreneurs. Have you been considering how you can create a business for both profit and social impact?  If so, this episode is for you! Now if you are thinking, “I am not ready to start a business so this episode doesn’t apply to me,” stick with me, because my guest today shares some nuggets that will help you increase your power for good works no matter what your vocation or job.   Anne Chambers, a serial entrepreneur, has been starting social impact businesses since the ’90s. And yes, her aim with these startups is to make a profit as well.  How does she do it? In this episode, Anne shares her secrets including how to co-create a business with your prospective customers.    

So you think the rapid growth of your purpose-driven company will increase your social impact. But how do you expand it without losing the unique culture that made it excel in the first place? If you are wondering how you can hold on to your positive culture and scale it up as you grow, this podcast is for you. Bryan de Lottinville, the founder and CEO of Benevity, the global leader in corporate social responsibility and employee engagement software, shares stories about how he started his B corporation and how he is scaling the culture as the business faces the challenges of breakneck growth.