when I was 11 years old I wrote a letter to my dear friend Santa Claus in this
to my dear friend Santa Claus in this
to my dear friend Santa Claus in this letter I asked Santa for three very
letter I asked Santa for three very
letter I asked Santa for three very simple things one to make everyone alive
simple things one to make everyone alive
simple things one to make everyone alive today be okay – I asked him for a
today be okay – I asked him for a
today be okay – I asked him for a picture to prove that he was real and
picture to prove that he was real and
picture to prove that he was real and three I asked him to ask my parents if I
three I asked him to ask my parents if I
three I asked him to ask my parents if I could be their accountant for one month
could be their accountant for one month
could be their accountant for one month well Santa delivered I’m an accountant
well Santa delivered I’m an accountant
well Santa delivered I’m an accountant and I spent 20 years of my life in
and I spent 20 years of my life in
and I spent 20 years of my life in corporate America and then just four
corporate America and then just four
corporate America and then just four years ago I became the CEO of a large
years ago I became the CEO of a large
years ago I became the CEO of a large not-for-profit here in Chicago so now I
not-for-profit here in Chicago so now I
not-for-profit here in Chicago so now I get to make sure that everyone alive
get to make sure that everyone alive
get to make sure that everyone alive today is okay so Santa is awesome and
today is okay so Santa is awesome and
today is okay so Santa is awesome and he’s real but what was interesting to me
he’s real but what was interesting to me
he’s real but what was interesting to me as I have this conversation about moving
as I have this conversation about moving
as I have this conversation about moving from corporate America to the
from corporate America to the
from corporate America to the not-for-profit sector people would ask
not-for-profit sector people would ask
not-for-profit sector people would ask me why why would I do such a thing and
me why why would I do such a thing and
me why why would I do such a thing and it was so interesting because when I
it was so interesting because when I
it was so interesting because when I didn’t respond to them right away they
didn’t respond to them right away they
didn’t respond to them right away they would say well good you’re leaving
would say well good you’re leaving
would say well good you’re leaving corporate America so now you can go do
corporate America so now you can go do
corporate America so now you can go do good what’s that about
good what’s that about
good what’s that about what I saw though is that there is this
what I saw though is that there is this
what I saw though is that there is this narrative that we have that if you’re
narrative that we have that if you’re
narrative that we have that if you’re working at a not-for-profit that you’re
working at a not-for-profit that you’re
working at a not-for-profit that you’re automatically doing good but if you’re
automatically doing good but if you’re
automatically doing good but if you’re working for a for-profit or corporate
working for a for-profit or corporate
working for a for-profit or corporate America then not only are you not doing
America then not only are you not doing
America then not only are you not doing good perhaps you’re even doing bad and
good perhaps you’re even doing bad and
good perhaps you’re even doing bad and being an evil corporation well this is
being an evil corporation well this is
being an evil corporation well this is problematic for me because I’m an
problematic for me because I’m an
problematic for me because I’m an accountant and I want to do good and
accountant and I want to do good and
accountant and I want to do good and besides if math your profits are the
besides if math your profits are the
besides if math your profits are the only ones doing good then what the hell
only ones doing good then what the hell
only ones doing good then what the hell is everybody else doing so for me I
is everybody else doing so for me I
is everybody else doing so for me I really think about how in the United
really think about how in the United
really think about how in the United States we have so many resources only 7%
States we have so many resources only 7%
States we have so many resources only 7% of the economy are not-for-profits then
of the economy are not-for-profits then
of the economy are not-for-profits then we have a third of our economy that’s
we have a third of our economy that’s
we have a third of our economy that’s comprised of the government but we have
comprised of the government but we have
comprised of the government but we have such great opportunity to engage the
such great opportunity to engage the
such great opportunity to engage the entire rest of our economy to do good
entire rest of our economy to do good
entire rest of our economy to do good and the fact of the matter is the
and the fact of the matter is the
and the fact of the matter is the challenges that we’re facing in society
challenges that we’re facing in society
challenges that we’re facing in society are much too great to think that a small
are much too great to think that a small
are much too great to think that a small fraction of our economy can solve them
fraction of our economy can solve them
fraction of our economy can solve them all whether we’re talking about hung
all whether we’re talking about hung
all whether we’re talking about hung homelessness poverty racial and gender
homelessness poverty racial and gender
homelessness poverty racial and gender inequality we have much too big problems
inequality we have much too big problems
inequality we have much too big problems to really only focus on 7 percent of our
to really only focus on 7 percent of our
to really only focus on 7 percent of our economy solving them so we really have
economy solving them so we really have
economy solving them so we really have to evolve this mindset around doing good
to evolve this mindset around doing good
to evolve this mindset around doing good and what that looks like when most folks
and what that looks like when most folks
and what that looks like when most folks think of doing good they think about
think of doing good they think about
think of doing good they think about charity and charity is good because we
charity and charity is good because we
charity and charity is good because we give to the needy we give to the
give to the needy we give to the
give to the needy we give to the suffering but the way I see it is that
suffering but the way I see it is that
suffering but the way I see it is that we really do have a possibility to even
we really do have a possibility to even
we really do have a possibility to even do more than just focus on giving what
do more than just focus on giving what
do more than just focus on giving what we have leftover fortunately for us we
we have leftover fortunately for us we
we have leftover fortunately for us we live in a great society particularly in
live in a great society particularly in
live in a great society particularly in Chicago where corporate social
Chicago where corporate social
Chicago where corporate social responsibility continues to be an
responsibility continues to be an
responsibility continues to be an evolving mindset we see great
evolving mindset we see great
evolving mindset we see great volunteerism we see people in
volunteerism we see people in
volunteerism we see people in corporations giving back to causes and I
corporations giving back to causes and I
corporations giving back to causes and I like to think of this as more like
like to think of this as more like
like to think of this as more like charity Plus because you also in some
charity Plus because you also in some
charity Plus because you also in some cases get corporations that are really
cases get corporations that are really
cases get corporations that are really trying to figure out how they can do
trying to figure out how they can do
trying to figure out how they can do more good during their work but that’s
more good during their work but that’s
more good during their work but that’s why I think that there’s great
why I think that there’s great
why I think that there’s great opportunity to actually stop thinking
opportunity to actually stop thinking
opportunity to actually stop thinking that it’s just one or the other and
that it’s just one or the other and
that it’s just one or the other and really thinking about how we do good
really thinking about how we do good
really thinking about how we do good while we do our work and this mindset is
while we do our work and this mindset is
while we do our work and this mindset is social enterprise and we talk about it
social enterprise and we talk about it
social enterprise and we talk about it we hear about social enterprise a little
we hear about social enterprise a little
we hear about social enterprise a little bit but I like to think that there are
bit but I like to think that there are
bit but I like to think that there are really three strategies that we can
really three strategies that we can
really three strategies that we can focus on to really activate social
focus on to really activate social
focus on to really activate social enterprise the first is social catalyst
enterprise the first is social catalyst
enterprise the first is social catalyst and that’s how we mobilize our customers
and that’s how we mobilize our customers
and that’s how we mobilize our customers to really think about how they can
to really think about how they can
to really think about how they can activate an a cause that’s meaningful to
activate an a cause that’s meaningful to
activate an a cause that’s meaningful to the organization the other is social
the organization the other is social
the organization the other is social innovation which is where a company
innovation which is where a company
innovation which is where a company specifically focuses on solving a social
specifically focuses on solving a social
specifically focuses on solving a social issue as they’re doing business and then
issue as they’re doing business and then
issue as they’re doing business and then the last strategy is social value
the last strategy is social value
the last strategy is social value creation where you have an organization
creation where you have an organization
creation where you have an organization really focused on leveraging every
really focused on leveraging every
really focused on leveraging every aspect of its business to advance all of
aspect of its business to advance all of
aspect of its business to advance all of its stakeholders the good thing is is
its stakeholders the good thing is is
its stakeholders the good thing is is that we are in Chicago and Chicago has
that we are in Chicago and Chicago has
that we are in Chicago and Chicago has amazing examples of organizations and
amazing examples of organizations and
amazing examples of organizations and businesses that have a social enterprise
businesses that have a social enterprise
businesses that have a social enterprise mindset uber is an excellent example of
mindset uber is an excellent example of
mindset uber is an excellent example of social catalyst so once a year uber uses
social catalyst so once a year uber uses
social catalyst so once a year uber uses their app and delivers puppies and you
their app and delivers puppies and you
their app and delivers puppies and you think about puppies that’s a great thing
think about puppies that’s a great thing
think about puppies that’s a great thing right so what’s happened is that as a
right so what’s happened is that as a
right so what’s happened is that as a result of them being a social catalyst
result of them being a social catalyst
result of them being a social catalyst and really mobilizing their customers
and really mobilizing their customers
and really mobilizing their customers that we see a hundred percent adoption
that we see a hundred percent adoption
that we see a hundred percent adoption the puppies that are delivered but not
the puppies that are delivered but not
the puppies that are delivered but not only does Hoover deliver puppies they
only does Hoover deliver puppies they
only does Hoover deliver puppies they also use their role as a social catalyst
also use their role as a social catalyst
also use their role as a social catalyst to actually advance legislation as it
to actually advance legislation as it
to actually advance legislation as it relates to ride-sharing you really see
relates to ride-sharing you really see
relates to ride-sharing you really see the mobilizing not only their drivers
the mobilizing not only their drivers
the mobilizing not only their drivers but their riders to really create an
but their riders to really create an
but their riders to really create an overall voice and actually a movement
overall voice and actually a movement
overall voice and actually a movement amongst their constituents the other
amongst their constituents the other
amongst their constituents the other company that I just adore here in
company that I just adore here in
company that I just adore here in Chicago is Rumi spice now Rumi spice has
Chicago is Rumi spice now Rumi spice has
Chicago is Rumi spice now Rumi spice has an amazing story the founders of Rumi
an amazing story the founders of Rumi
an amazing story the founders of Rumi are Afghan war veterans and so what they
are Afghan war veterans and so what they
are Afghan war veterans and so what they did when they were they were over in
did when they were they were over in
did when they were they were over in Afghanistan when they were deployed what
Afghanistan when they were deployed what
Afghanistan when they were deployed what they realized as they were going through
they realized as they were going through
they realized as they were going through destroying poppy fields where these
destroying poppy fields where these
destroying poppy fields where these farmers that were growing poppy were not
farmers that were growing poppy were not
farmers that were growing poppy were not drug dealers so the purpose of course
drug dealers so the purpose of course
drug dealers so the purpose of course was to reduce the production of opioids
was to reduce the production of opioids
was to reduce the production of opioids but what they saw is that these farmers
but what they saw is that these farmers
but what they saw is that these farmers really needed to make another living a
really needed to make another living a
really needed to make another living a way of making the living and so what
way of making the living and so what
way of making the living and so what they did they helped the farmers start
they did they helped the farmers start
they did they helped the farmers start to grow saffron and what was awesome
to grow saffron and what was awesome
to grow saffron and what was awesome about this was that the saffron is
about this was that the saffron is
about this was that the saffron is actually more profitable than poppy as
actually more profitable than poppy as
actually more profitable than poppy as well as they are the largest private
well as they are the largest private
well as they are the largest private employer of Afghan women and this is
employer of Afghan women and this is
employer of Afghan women and this is such a great example of what’s possible
such a great example of what’s possible
such a great example of what’s possible when a business really focuses on how it
when a business really focuses on how it
when a business really focuses on how it can create social good while it does its
can create social good while it does its
can create social good while it does its work but social innovation is amazing
work but social innovation is amazing
work but social innovation is amazing but I think that there’s even more
but I think that there’s even more
but I think that there’s even more opportunities to really leverage every
opportunities to really leverage every
opportunities to really leverage every aspect of a business imagine that
aspect of a business imagine that
aspect of a business imagine that there’s a business that has created more
there’s a business that has created more
there’s a business that has created more black and Latino millionaires than any
black and Latino millionaires than any
black and Latino millionaires than any other economic entity because of its
other economic entity because of its
other economic entity because of its supply chain and franchise operations
supply chain and franchise operations
supply chain and franchise operations Network imagine that this same business
Network imagine that this same business
Network imagine that this same business is a large employer of black youth which
is a large employer of black youth which
is a large employer of black youth which has typically been a very demographic
has typically been a very demographic
has typically been a very demographic that has experienced a high unemployment
that has experienced a high unemployment
that has experienced a high unemployment rate in one year this business created
rate in one year this business created
rate in one year this business created over 50,000 jobs imagine that the same
over 50,000 jobs imagine that the same
over 50,000 jobs imagine that the same business was so committed to
business was so committed to
business was so committed to environmental sustainability in animal
environmental sustainability in animal
environmental sustainability in animal welfare that it made a pledge to get its
welfare that it made a pledge to get its
welfare that it made a pledge to get its two billion eggs from cage free sources
two billion eggs from cage free sources
two billion eggs from cage free sources every single year
every single year
every single year and once it did that another 200
and once it did that another 200
and once it did that another 200 companies decided that they would all do
companies decided that they would all do
companies decided that they would all do the same because this business has an
the same because this business has an
the same because this business has an opportunity to absolutely move the
opportunity to absolutely move the
opportunity to absolutely move the industry and if all of that wasn’t
industry and if all of that wasn’t
industry and if all of that wasn’t enough the same business is one of only
enough the same business is one of only
enough the same business is one of only four fortune 500 companies that has a
four fortune 500 companies that has a
four fortune 500 companies that has a Board of Directors comprised of over 50%
Board of Directors comprised of over 50%
Board of Directors comprised of over 50% women and people of color well we don’t
women and people of color well we don’t
women and people of color well we don’t have to imagine because this business is
have to imagine because this business is
have to imagine because this business is McDonald’s and it’s right here in our
McDonald’s and it’s right here in our
McDonald’s and it’s right here in our own backyard McDonald’s of example of a
own backyard McDonald’s of example of a
own backyard McDonald’s of example of a corporation who’s absolutely leverages
corporation who’s absolutely leverages
corporation who’s absolutely leverages every aspect of its business to advance
every aspect of its business to advance
every aspect of its business to advance Society and throughout its entire value
Society and throughout its entire value
Society and throughout its entire value chain so at the end of the day for me
chain so at the end of the day for me
chain so at the end of the day for me this discussion around who gets to do
this discussion around who gets to do
this discussion around who gets to do good and this narrative has absolutely
good and this narrative has absolutely
good and this narrative has absolutely got to change and we need to completely
got to change and we need to completely
got to change and we need to completely throw out this dichotomy for good
throw out this dichotomy for good
throw out this dichotomy for good yes pun intended completely threw out
yes pun intended completely threw out
yes pun intended completely threw out this dichotomy the fact is is that we
this dichotomy the fact is is that we
this dichotomy the fact is is that we all have an opportunity to have a social
all have an opportunity to have a social
all have an opportunity to have a social enterprise mindset and really simply
enterprise mindset and really simply
enterprise mindset and really simply think about doing good as creating a
think about doing good as creating a
think about doing good as creating a better human experience from no matter
better human experience from no matter
better human experience from no matter where we are in the economy thank you
”
Be First to Comment