Purpose 360: Live from Engage for Good | Part One

Listen to the episode here.

Episode 226 of Purpose 360, “Live from Engage for Good Part 1,” brings listeners inside one of the corporate social impact sector’s leading gatherings, where leaders across philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, advocacy, and corporate purpose came together to share what’s working, what’s changing, and what’s next for the future of impact. Host Carol Cone, founder of Carol Cone ON PURPOSE and pioneer of the purpose movement, speaks with leaders from Mattel, the Obama Foundation, OnPurpose Careers, and Active Minds about embedding social impact into business strategy, cultivating values-based leadership, redefining mission-driven careers, and building long-term partnerships rooted in trust and collaboration. Purpose 360 is produced by TruStory FM.

Embedding Social Impact Into Business, Leadership & Culture

The era of treating social impact as a side initiative has ended. Guests across the episode return to a shared theme: purpose is becoming less about standalone CSR initiatives and more about integration. The conversations explore how social impact teams can gain strategic influence inside organizations by contributing directly to innovation, leadership, and decision-making processes rather than operating separately from the business itself.

The episode also examines how leadership expectations are changing. Whether discussing values-based leadership at the Obama Foundation, mission-aligned career growth through OnPurpose Careers, or relationship-centered partnership development at Active Minds, guests emphasize the growing importance of authenticity, collaboration, humility, and long-term trust in building meaningful impact.

At the same time, the conversations reflect broader shifts happening across the workforce and social sector. Younger generations increasingly expect purpose-driven work to also offer financial sustainability, flexibility, and opportunities for long-term growth. Organizations that want to attract talent, strengthen culture, and build durable partnerships may need to rethink older assumptions about leadership, compensation, and stakeholder engagement.

Listen for insights on:

• How social impact teams can earn strategic influence inside organizations

• Why values-based leadership matters in moments of social and cultural change

• The growing demand for financially sustainable purpose-driven careers

• How relationship-building and humility strengthen long-term partnerships

• Why younger generations are reshaping expectations around leadership and work

• The connection between community engagement, innovation, and organizational culture

• What authentic collaboration looks like across sectors

Before You Listen

Q: How can impact and philanthropy teams become more influential inside companies?

A: Guests throughout the episode argue that influence comes from integration, not separation. Rather than operating as standalone CSR or philanthropy functions, impact teams are increasingly becoming embedded inside brand strategy, product innovation, employee engagement, and leadership conversations. The conversations suggest that organizations create stronger long-term impact when social purpose is treated as part of the operating culture rather than an adjacent initiative.

This shift also changes how impact leaders earn credibility internally. Instead of waiting for permission or visibility, many successful practitioners proactively contribute ideas, bring community perspectives into decision-making, and demonstrate how social impact can strengthen innovation, culture, and business value simultaneously.

Q: What does values-based leadership look like in practice?

A: The episode explores values-based leadership as something deeper than organizational messaging or public positioning. Guests discuss leadership grounded in personal values, civic responsibility, coalition-building, and the ability to navigate complexity with humility and authenticity. The conversations repeatedly return to the importance of building trust across sectors and communities rather than focusing only on short-term outcomes.

Several guests also emphasize that leadership today increasingly requires collaboration across differences. Whether in philanthropy, nonprofit advocacy, or corporate purpose work, leaders are being challenged to build coalitions, engage communities more authentically, and create space for long-term relationship-building that extends beyond transactional partnerships.

Q: How is the social impact workforce evolving?

A: The episode reflects a major shift happening across the mission-driven workforce: professionals increasingly expect purpose-driven careers to provide not only meaning, but also financial sustainability, flexibility, and opportunities for growth. Guests discuss how outdated assumptions that social impact work must involve personal financial sacrifice are becoming less acceptable to younger generations entering the workforce.

The conversations also highlight how this shift is changing expectations for organizations themselves. Employers across the social impact sector may need to rethink compensation structures, workplace culture, remote flexibility, and career development opportunities if they want to attract and retain talent committed to long-term impact work.

Q: Why is relationship-building becoming such an important leadership skill?

A: Throughout the episode, guests emphasize that authentic relationships are increasingly foundational to effective leadership, especially in social impact work where long-term trust often matters more than transactional outcomes. Rather than leading with immediate asks or short-term objectives, many practitioners are prioritizing collaboration, listening, and shared problem-solving as the basis for stronger partnerships.

The conversations also suggest that humility is becoming a defining leadership characteristic for the next generation of practitioners. In a rapidly changing social and political environment, leaders who can build trust, adapt collaboratively, and sustain long-term relationships may ultimately create more durable and meaningful impact.

About the Guests

Nancy Molenda & Brittany Cruickshank — Mattel

Nancy Molenda is the Vice President of Global Corporate Events and Philanthropy at Mattel. Brittany Cruickshank is the Manager of Mattel’s Children's Foundation & Corporate Philanthropy.

Karoline Katus — Obama Foundation

Karoline Katus serves as Director of Principal Gifts at the Obama Foundation.

Navid Ladha — OnPurpose Careers

Navid Ladha is the founder of OnPurpose Careers, a career platform helping nonprofit and social impact professionals find mission-aligned opportunities with competitive compensation and remote flexibility.

Jorge Alvarez — Active Minds

Jorge Alvarez is Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships and Engagement at Active Minds, a national nonprofit mobilizing youth and young adults to transform mental health norms and advocacy nationwide.