Purpose 360 with Carol Cone

For years, sustainability leaders have helped companies set ambitious targets. Now comes the two harder challenges: delivering on them and proving their business value.In this episode of Purpose 360, Carol Cone welcomes Ann Tracy, Chief Sustainability Officer of Colgate-Palmolive, for a robust and inspiring conversation about what the next era of sustainability leadership demands. Drawing on more than three decades across engineering, manufacturing, global operations, and sustainability, Ann shares how she has learned to turn sustainability from a set of commitments into an enabler of business strategy.Ann explains why the strongest sustainability leaders speak the language of growth, resilience, risk, and financial value; how her “win-win-win” philosophy connects consumer benefit, business success, and impact at scale; and why knowing where your organization should lead is critical to making meaningful progress.She also takes listeners inside Colgate-Palmolive’s journey to reinvent its toothpaste tube—and the decision to share that technology to help move an entire industry forward—while offering lessons on empathy, partnership, pragmatism, and what it takes to lead change across a global organization.Purpose 360 is produced by TruStory FM.Full Show Notes & ResourcesView on YouTube (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360 (00:13) - Ann Tracy, Colgate-Palmolive (04:13) - Ann’s Background (06:08) - Wide Involvement Level (07:45) - Their Purpose (09:26) - Sustainability (11:50) - Swords and Shields Philosophy (13:56) - Longevity and Scale (15:16) - Win-Win-Win Framework (16:55) - Recognizing the Brand (20:09) - Recyclable Toothpaste Tube (24:05) - Communication (25:44) - Empathy (27:24) - AI (28:51) - Lightning Round (30:47) - Last Word (31:47) - Wrap Up

Artificial intelligence is moving faster than most organizations can adapt. But amid the excitement, one critical question often gets overlooked: What is guiding the decisions AI helps us make?In this episode of Purpose 360, Carol Cone welcomes Kristian Merenda, Partner at Carol Cone ON PURPOSE, and Balaji Ganapathy, Founder and CEO of Social Positive, for a timely conversation about why it’s critical for purpose to be the ultimate guide for AI.The conversation explores why AI adoption is fundamentally a culture transformation rather than a technology implementation, how organizations can avoid "purpose drift" as automation expands, and why leaders should stop asking, "Can AI do this?" and instead ask, "Should AI do this?"From responsible governance and employee trust to experimentation, human judgment, and the future of leadership, this conversation challenges conventional thinking about AI and explores how purpose can help organizations use AI responsibly while keeping people, values, and long-term impact at the center.Purpose 360 is produced by TruStory FM.Full Show Notes & Resources (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360 (00:13) - CCOP AI Handbook (02:53) - Meet Kristian and Balaji (05:30) - Defining Purpose (06:46) - Purpose in the Age of AI (08:23) - The Case for Purpose (12:17) - How to Have the Conversation with the C-Suite (16:13) - The Guide and Purpose Drift (18:54) - Adoption (21:48) - Shaping the Culture Using Purpose (25:56) - Looking Forward (31:28) - Last Comments (33:59) - Wrap Up

Only a handful of companies were bold enough to connect their business to a deeper societal or environmental issue in the early days of purpose branding. These companies stood out precisely because they believed that brands could and should stand for more than profit. But the tide has shifted over the past two decades. Purpose became not just acceptable but expected, and suddenly everyone has a stance on the climate and community. But as this movement accelerated, so did its risks. In recent years, increasingly more prominent companies have taken a step back from their purpose commitments, leading consumers to wonder how purposeful they were to begin with. How can we know who to trust?We invited Thomas Kolster, founder of Goodvertising and author of Goodvertising and The Hero Trap, to speak about how brands can navigate this increasingly complex landscape. He explores how purpose has evolved from a differentiator to a crowded and sometimes performative space. Thomas also shares personal reflections on authenticity, the dangers of purpose-washing, the pressure on legacy brands, and the growing backlash against woke messaging. This conversation is a provocative, clarifying conversation for leaders seeking to build and communicate their company’s purpose and impact efforts.Listen for insights on:Why bravery, and not perfection, is the most important brand trait todayWhy companies should not position themselves as heroesBuilding trust by enabling people to become better versions of themselves Resources + Links:Watch This Episode on YouTube!Thomas Kolster’s LinkedInThomas Kolster’s WebsiteGoodvertisingThe Hero TrapThe Drum: ​If Ben and Jerry’s goes vanilla, Unilever will eat its just desserts (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360 (00:13) - Thomas Kolster, Goodvertising (03:24) - Early Influences (05:59) - Epiphany (08:30) - Which Came First? (08:39) - His First Book (12:23) - Act Responsible (14:49) - State of Purpose Today (17:48) - Consistency (20:51) - Going Back to What Makes a Brand Loved (23:04) - Ben & Jerry’s (25:50) - Today’s Political Climate (30:47) - Bravery (33:43) - What’s Next? (34:26) - AI in Purpose (35:43) - Last Word (36:33) - Wrap Up

Employee engagement is rapidly becoming one of the most powerful forces shaping corporate philanthropy today. And skilled volunteerism—where employees contribute their professional expertise to nonprofits—can transform both the organizations served and the employees themselves.We invited Lauren Coape-Arnold, Executive Director of the Apollo Opportunity Foundation (AOF) and Global Head of Citizenship at Apollo Global Management, to speak about how AOF built a model that puts employees at the very heart of the company’s philanthropy. It empowers employees to nominate, evaluate, and partner with grantees, ensuring that they are engaged throughout the entire relationship—not just at the funding stage. Through cross-functional “deal teams,” employees apply their analytical, financial, and strategic skills to help nonprofits thrive, all while cultivating collaboration and leadership within Apollo’s culture. By structuring philanthropy around its people, AOF creates a cycle of giving and growth that benefits communities, strengthens performance, and deepens employees’ sense of meaning at work.Listen for insights on:Establishing relationships with grantees that go beyond check-writingBuilding skilled volunteer programs employees actively want to joinCreating successful grant councils that bolster nonprofits and engage employees Resources + Links:Lauren Coape-Arnold’s LinkedInApollo Opportunity Foundation (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360 (00:13) - Lauren Coape-Arnold and Apollo Opportunity Foundation (03:02) - Lauren’s Background (05:40) - Apollo (06:29) - Creating the Foundation (08:39) - The Guardrails (10:12) - Picking the Focus (13:24) - Employee Focus (16:11) - How It’s Done (19:10) - Skills-Based (19:53) - Deal Teams (21:28) - Impact (23:03) - Logistics (24:03) - GAIN UK (26:52) - Advice (28:47) - Review Process (29:51) - Integrating AI (31:51) - Last Word (33:00) - Wrap Up

Artificial intelligence has the power to reshape economies, societies, and our daily lives. But with its rapid rise comes an important question: how can we ensure AI is developed and applied ethically so that it serves humanity instead of harming it? Responsible use requires transparency, accountability, and inclusivity—but defining and implementing these is complex. JUST Capital, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing just business practices, is addressing this challenge by exploring what “just AI” looks like, while also giving both the public and companies a voice in shaping its future.We invited Martin Whittaker, CEO of JUST Capital, to speak about how companies can responsibly navigate the opportunities and risks of AI. He highlighted the importance of aligning AI strategies with company values, building strong governance, and listening to stakeholders to guide ethical decision-making. Martin also shared insights from JUST Capital’s new research, which reveals a gap between companies acknowledging AI and those taking meaningful steps, such as workforce training and transparency. He ultimately challenges business leaders to reflect on what it means to be a truly human company in an AI-driven world while assuming the responsibility that comes with this technology.Listen for insights on:How AI layoffs may require new ethical standards and practicesWhy company culture determines success in AI adoption and useLessons from early leaders like IBM and Boston ScientificThe growing role of investors in shaping AI accountabilityResources + Links:Martin Whittaker’s LinkedInJUST CapitalThe JUST Report: An Early Measure of JUST AI2025 JUST 100 (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360 (00:13) - Martin Whittaker, JUST Capital, and AI (02:40) - Who Is JUST Capital? (03:33) - Describing Justness (04:44) - Responsible AI (08:25) - Early Measure of Just AI (11:12) - Martin’s AI Usage (12:49) - AI Use Principles (14:58) - AI Study (17:04) - What Stood Out (21:44) - Adding AI Methodology (24:27) - Advice for Companies Slow to Adopt AI (26:38) - Last Thoughts (28:15) - Can AI Replace Humanity in Business? (29:57) - Wrap Up