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This episode’s Purpose Champion is Dr. Rahsaan Harris, the CEO of the Citizens Committee for New York City and he’s got insight, ideas and experiences that are lessons for all purposeful leaders. Dr. Harris shares: Why for profit leaders can learn from nonprofit leaders An approach to managing an increasingly younger workforce His view on the primacy of company culture Why humility is a must have leadership trait

One of the biggest misconceptions of Purpose is that it is the same thing as passion. Passion is a part of the Purpose equation but it’s only half, and passion alone will not drive profit. The other half of the Purpose equation is the impact your passion has on others, on markets. What is it that your market needs that you can passionately provide? Jason Swenk has been called the number one agency influencer in the world. He knows what it takes to get agencies and other businesses focused on market needs so that they can thrive. 

In this last episode of our Best of Season 3, Venture Capitalist Phil Nadel explains the importance of truly understanding the market and then listening to your customers after you've launched your product or service. This is a critical lesson in Purpose— if you're not solving a problem in the way that people need it solved, you're not creating impact. Brand expert, Nancy McDonnell builds on Phil's point by sharing how we build customer loyalty through emotional connections, and the importance of constantly measuring results to ensure that you're not only staying on track but building the momentum that drives profit.

This is the third in a series of purposeful highlights from Season 2 of the Drive Profit with Purpose podcast. We culled through all of our last season’s episodes to find the practical, purposeful pieces of wisdom that you can use to drive profit in your business. In this episode we focus on the rise of conscious consumerism, the importance of conscious purposeful leadership and we join a seriously purposeful leader on her own purpose journey. 

This is the second in a series of purposeful highlights from Season 2 of the Drive Profit with Purpose podcast. We culled through all of our episodes to find the practical, purposeful pieces of wisdom that you can use to drive profit in your business. In Part 2, we hear from Purpose Champions Brandon Peele, George Bradt and Don Scales.

This is the first in a series of purposeful highlights from Season 3 of the Drive Profit with Purpose podcast. We culled through all of our episodes to find the practical, purposeful pieces of wisdom that you can use to drive profit in your business.  In Part 1, we hear from Purpose Champions Richard Zoob, Jean Kristensen and Ed Robinson.

As data, globalization, and technology seep more and more into our lives, we seek greater transparency and authenticity from the brands we engage with. In this context, business leaders must invest in decentralized ecosystems that work collaboratively to earn trust from their consumers, partners, and employees.  This is not an easy ambition as it requires “undoing” systems and supply chains that have been designed for efficiency and control. Yet at Topl, Kim Raath, CEO of Topl, has made it her life’s mission to help organizations prove their ethical and sustainable practices. In this season 2 finale, she and Advantages CEO Fran Biderman- Gross explore Topl’s journey as well as how the company proves purpose and fuels profit.

As global crises and heated politics divide nations, new challenges and opportunities arise for leaders and brands across the globe. Rallying people together is the only way to rise to the occasion and give consumers what every human wants— connection. In this episode, CEO Fran Biderman-Gross and business founder Jennifer Dipasquale explore how the brands that create communities create value beyond social good. Such businesses grow audiences who will consume content, share support, contribute to the cause, and remain unshakably loyal.

Employees are disconnected from their leadership, brands are disconnected from customers, and businesses are disconnected revenue drivers. These disconnects are often more widespread than leadership teams realize, and the challenges are exacerbated by external crises and remote work. In this episode, Fran Biderman-Gross and Susan Leger Ferraro discuss how to operationalize consciousness to activate purpose, resonate with audiences, and drive performance.

Our ever-evolving society, shifting economy, and advancing technology come with difficult decisions, uncomfortable conversations, and uncharted territories. These turbulent times call for courageous leadership, yet it’s not easy to boldly lead a business down a path it has never known before. When the market fundamentally shifts with consumer preferences, there’s no playbook, parameters, or precedent to follow, so leaders must embody the courage to embrace the new. In this episode, Advantages CEO Fran Biderman-Gross and coach Ed Robinson explore how.

A disproportionate number of women and minority-owned businesses fail in America. So, as business closures rise, minority-owned business closures rise higher. Now, more than ever, the U.S. government and corporations are offering opportunities to small and minority owned businesses, but these programs aren’t translating. The process by which we address diversity, inclusivity, and access to opportunity for businesses in America does not account for gaps in culture, communication, and education. To overcome these unique challenges, businesses must learn to shift strategies, articulate their identity, and lead with transparency.

The stark reality is that 50% of businesses die within the first five years of their inception. To defy these odds, investors must develop an eye for disruptive ideas that are poised to grab large market share. They utilize repeatable insights to tap into relevant yet differentiated positions. In this episode, Advantages CEO Fran Biderman-Gross and Forefront Venture Partners managing director Phil Nadel explore how to identify potential in startups, and use purpose-based decision-making to stay ahead of the quickest competitors.

It costs 9 months of an employee’s salary to hire and train another replacement. Companies with low turnover rates bring 4x higher profits on average. Yet 91% of millennials don’t expect to stay at a job for more than 3 years. As the priorities of today’s workforce continually shift and turnover rates rise to new heights, cultivating employee alignment and satisfaction has become one of the greatest challenges for leaders today, but before you teams can align, leadership must align. In this episode, Fran Biderman-Gross and Mark C. Winters explore the various ways that visionaries and integrators come together to inspire team members to unite and remain loyal in times of unprecedented division, change, and even despair.

Over 100,000 businesses that closed their doors when the global health crisis hit will never reopen.  Owners grapple with financial losses as the demand for investments in innovative solutions increases. The food industry has been particularly hurt, yet some restaurants have managed to pivot and delight customers through the chaos.  In this episode, we explore the role that a strong sense of identity plays in the face of unprecedented change, and how it fuels creative problem solving to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges, delicately balancing consumer demands with operational needs. Richard Zoob is a leader with a proven history of success in the hospitality industry, leading brands such as Sweet Green, Dinosaur BBQ, and Right Coast Taqueria to thrive. Over his decades of experience, he developed a deep understanding of the essence of his services, and a keen ability to tap into the needs of the communities he serves. His promise to the community is to be a part of the community, and while he maintains that promise, he carefully shifts plans with the market and the times. In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, Right Coast Taqueria, a restaurant Richard co-founded, not only thrived utilizing food carts and digitally optimized deliveries, but also shared its success and supported those in need with free meals.

It costs 5x more to acquire a new customer than it does to retain an existing one. Yet the concept of "Loyalty” has become overly commercialized, and it is costing companies their customers. According to reports, the average rate of customer retention is below 20% in nearly every industry. As companies place their efforts on outmaneuvering each other through deals and promotions, they fail to emotionally connect with consumers. In this episode, we’ll redefine the term brand loyalty to explore how brands can achieve it at scale, in a growing sea of sameness. Nancie Mcdonnell Ruder has more than 25 years of marketing experience. She began her career at the Leo Burnett Company and in 2002, went on to establish her own company, Noetic Consultants. The word “noetic” is related to one’s intellect and thinking. Nancie chose this name for the company because it reflects her team’s commitment to helping clients strategically think through their challenges so that, together, they can take the actions necessary to get to the best possible outcomes Noetic’s clients have included Samsung, PepsiCo, Nike, Marriott, Mayo Clinic and Discovery, Inc. Nancie also serves as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, and is the creator of the Noetic Art & Science Assessment™.

A damning​ ​Harvard Business Review​ Report has found that between 70% & 90% of mergers & acquisitions fail. While two companies may appear to be great match on paper, they are often far from it in reality. According to a​ ​Delloitte study​, misaligned values, incompatible cultures, and conflicting processes are among the most common killers of mergers. In this episode, Fran Biderman-Gross and Investis Digital CEO Don Scales explore the vital roles that proper due diligence, a calculated communications strategy, and cultural synergy play in M&A. With more than 3 decades of experience leading professional services firms, Don Sales has personally led over 40 mergers and acquisitions. He creates sustainable growth and exceptional cultures by aligning talented teams around shared values. As the Global CEO of ​Investis Digital​, a groundbreaking digital communications firm, ​he has brought together innovative experts in corporate communications, performance marketing, and investor relations with world class technology solutions. Under Don’s strong leadership, Investis Digital helps companies redefine the way they communicate online to connect with their audiences across all digital touchpoints.

As CEO and Founder of PrimeGenesis, George revolutionizes how leaders and teams approach transitions to accelerate their progress and empower organizations to achieve their highest potential.  George has over 20 years of experience working as a high-level executive in sales, marketing, and general management at companies all around the world, including Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, and J.D. Power. Through his countless books and articles on leadership, marketing, and growth alike, he has codified all of his exclusive insights in engaging writing, and now he’s sharing his secrets to scaling on ‘Drive Profit with Purpose.’ In this episode… Many businesses struggle to grow beyond a particular threshold, with four out of five failing due to lack of cash to support their ambitions. As companies reach new heights in size, leaders must carefully balance the trade-offs between growth and profitability, with their corporate purpose at the forefront of their every decision.  With a track record of exponential success, George Bradt shares his secrets of organizational growth during points of inflection. He delves into how to tap into your brand’s purpose to create a structured plan that lifts, unifies, and empowers new teams. By planning for the future, leaders can successfully deliver on their mission, develop purpose-driven cultures, and scale their organizations to new heights.  In this episode of Drive Profit with Purpose, Fran-Biderman Gross and George Bradt examine the intersection between inflection and intention, discover the power of a future-forward mindset, and explore how to unlock unparalleled business growth. Stay tuned.

About Brandon:  Brandon Peele activates purpose to solve leaders’ most daunting challenges. Brandon is a best-selling author, a passionate speaker, an experienced advisor, and the Vice President of People Science at ion Learning. Most importantly, he is a truly purpose-driven human who helps executives and organizations activate their purpose to boost satisfaction and drive productivity— beyond the most unthinkable visions. As the founder of Global Purpose Leaders, Brandon propels leadership, fuels inclusive cultures, and transforms worlds as well as workplaces. Over the last two decades, he has written four books and worked with some of the biggest brand names out there. Through his renowned keynotes, lectures, workshops, and consulting, Brandon has also guided numerous leaders toward careers they excel at and lives they love. To put it simply, Brandon Peele helps powerful people sleep at night by empowering them to lead a purposeful life. How do you define success? In today’s world, the definition of successful leadership and the evaluation of a meaningful legacy have shifted to be more expansive than dollars and cents alone. Current CEOs have redefined the role of business in society, challenging the notion that corporations must maximize profits at all costs.  Where shareholders were once the driving force of these organizations, leaders are now putting an emphasis on their stakeholders. Brandon Peele, the Founder of Global Purpose Leaders, believes that a leader’s true role is to activate their purpose, empower their teams, and drive value to the world as well as the workplace.  Join Fran Biderman-Gross in this episode of Drive Profit with Purpose as she and Brandon Peele discuss balancing purpose and profit in order to drive value to your employees, consumers, investors, and society at large. Discover how to activate your purpose in all aspects of your life, and lead your organization to a meaningful legacy today. Stay tuned.

The best way to form the most life-changing connections is to share the most thought-provoking stories. Justin Breen is a best-selling author, a strategic coach, a visionary entrepreneur, and a truly life-changing connector. Justin knows people as well as he knows the media, and he uses his vast knowledge and network to equip visionary entrepreneurs and executives with the means to unlock their greatest potential. Through PR, social media, and all-around communications support in all different industries, Justin creates the stories that everyone craves, to expand brands and connect humans. In this episode… For many business owners, relationships are simply a means to a transactional end. Justin Breen, on the other hand, believes that in order to drive the overall value of your business, you should treat professional relationships as intentional investments.   Justin, the Founder and CEO of BrEpic Communications, attributes the global success of his business to his “abundance mentality.” With this mindset, Justin seeks out relationships with individuals that share his vision, helping him unlock endless opportunities and expand his network exponentially. Tune in to this episode of Drive Profit with Purpose as Fran Biderman-Gross and Justin Breen discuss how to invest in meaningful relationships that unlock life-changing opportunities. Explore the mindset that propels Justin and like-minded visionaries to achieve exponential success, and discover how to inspire positive change on a global level. Stay tuned.

Kathleen Carroll is a marketer, consultant, and professor with a rare combination of creative and strategic skills. She’s known to unearth some powerful consumer insights in order to build brands by double digits and higher. To do this, Kathleen identifies the emotional aspects of brands that propel unparalleled growth and loyalty.  Two decades ago, she founded The Branding Clinic, a brand and marketing consultancy that empowers Fortune 500 companies to grow new brands or turn around existing ones. At the root of Kathleen’s impeccable track record is her undeniable, authentic passion. In this episode… Now more than ever before, brands have the ability to contribute to the change of humanity and the world. Kathleen Carroll, the CEO and Founder of The Branding Clinic, believes that the best way to take advantage of this opportunity is to focus on the consumer experience.  As consumers continue to change their attitudes and needs, brands must adapt to meet them where they are. According to Kathleen, the key to creating brand loyalty is to make purposeful, intentional decisions using consumer insights. By identifying the emotional needs of consumers, she helps brands drive authentic value and propel unparalleled growth.  Tune in to this episode of Drive Profit with Purpose as Fran Biderman-Gross and Kathleen Carroll discuss how you can position your brand to build emotional connections with your customers. Discover the strategies Kathleen uses to help brands navigate uncharted territory, reinvigorate the consumer experience, and drive greater value to humanity. Stay tuned.