Category: The Next Series

At a moment of inequality and division, who is advancing the vanguard of economic and social progress to bolster under-served communities? Whose work is fostering the inclusive growth that ensures every individual thrives? Who will set the ambitious standards that mobilize whole industries, challenging their peers to reach new altitudes of social impact? 

In 2025, Impact Next — an editorial flagship series from NationSwell — will spotlight the standard-bearing corporate social responsibility and impact leaders, entrepreneurs, experts, and philanthropists whose catalytic work has the potential to shape the landscape of progress amid urgent need for social and economic action.

For this installment, NationSwell interviewed Vanessa Garcia-Brito, Chief Impact Officer, Nike.

Greg Behrman, founder and CEO, NationSwell: What brought you to this moment? What was your leadership journey like?

Vanessa Garcia-Brito, Chief Impact Officer, Nike: I come from pretty humble beginnings — my mom always had three jobs at a minimum, and my grandmother did a good chunk of raising me in the early years of my life with such unconditional love. Growing up, there was a big theme around agency and choice and optimism. No matter how difficult life was, I was raised to believe we could do something about it. I initially thought that I would put that into practice as a human rights lawyer, and although I did go to law school, eventually through saying yes to a series of opportunities I ended up at Nike. Instead of holding tightly to any one job, I’ve always held tightly to the idea of combining impact with forward movement in a more literal sense. Nike represents the convergence of those values — it’s a place that values sport and movement, a place where my energy and passion for driving impact can really flourish. 

Behrman, NationSwell: What is your North Star of your leadership? What are some of the practices and approaches or styles that you’ve found to be really helpful for you, for your team, for others?

Garcia-Brito, Nike: I’m in love with humanity, and because of that, I really believe in leading from a place of love and being upfront and with that as a leadership style. 

I believe everyone deserves the chance to realize their greatness, and earlier in my career as a younger woman in leadership, that’s a unique choice to make. Ultimately, you have to decide if you’re all in. For me, it wasn’t even a question — I just led from a place of vulnerability, curiosity, and genuine interest in people and their impact. I’m not territorial, sometimes to a fault; even at Nike, everyone is invited into impact. I view my role as bringing people in and cultivating spaces for connection, helping people move forward together. This aligns perfectly with Nike’s focus on human potential and possibility, and it reflects how we see the power of sport to move the world forward.

Behrman, NationSwell: How has your leadership evolved in the course of your role or your time at Nike — is there a powerful moment that informs how you lead today?

Garcia-Brito, Nike: Working at Nike has really taught me to lead with who I am, and I’d like to think that, in turn, has created space for more people to lead authentically as well. I am very intentional about being a safe space for others, which encourages richer conversations and greater opportunities for people to lower their barriers. Leading this way means you can’t help but see the potential in others. I tend to see obstacles as opportunities — if there’s a tree in the way, I just look for a way around or over it. My experience running ultramarathons shapes this mindset: once committed, you keep moving forward, no matter what challenges arise. This approach has been rewarded in the sense that it’s created venues for different types of conversations — it lets people know exactly who I am.

Behrman, NationSwell: We find ourselves in an interesting moment in the impact space, with new opportunities, some pressures, some currents moving in different directions. How are you making sense of this moment?

Garcia-Brito, Nike: What really helps us navigate is knowing at our core that human potential and movement are at the heart of Nike. Through that lens, it’s exciting to see the definition of sport evolving, becoming more expansive and inclusive. Now, anyone can see themselves as an athlete, whether they’re commuting to work or competing professionally. Life is sport, and this broader perspective invites more people in, helping them rethink what’s possible and feel part of a larger community.

Moments like the Paralympics really stay with me — the power, beauty, and community support are incredible. The athleticism is inspiring, and those experiences remind me how important it is to find connection and empathy through sport. Even if I could never do what Paralympians do, I can share in their experience. I think seeking out those moments of shared humanity is how we move forward together.

Behrman, NationSwell: Is there a sport that kind of embodies the way in which you see the social impact world right now?

Garcia-Brito, Nike: For me, running and yoga are deeply connected- they both embody the mind, body, and spirit, and how we exist together in a world full of polarities. We’re more global than ever, yet people often feel isolated; we have private moments, but we’re always surrounded by others. Both running and yoga remind me that there’s no finish line, just the next step, always at your own pace. No one can do the running or yoga for you, but you can still share the experience.

The New York Marathon is a perfect example: everyone runs their own race, yet it’s a massive, collective event. I love those moments — cheering for strangers, being cheered on, feeling connected even when you’re not sure you’re still moving. That sense of accomplishment is powerful, and the same is true in yoga, where it’s just you, your breath, and your flow. The practice allows you to connect with yourself and that in turn strengthens our connection with others. 

Behrman, NationSwell: We’d love to invite you to share a little bit more about the amazing impact work that you and your colleagues are leading. Are there any programs, partnerships, or strategies  you’d particularly like to lift up?

Garcia-Brito, Nike: Our focus is creating the future of youth sport, truly uplifting work. Youth are not just our future leaders and next generation of athletes, they are already demonstrating their leadership and shaping how we play, move and pursue sport. Built on 35 years of research and pilots, we’ve learned that leading with girls is the key to lifting everyone up. While both boys and girls are dropping out of sport at high rates, girls tend to start later, drop out sooner, and are harder to bring back — about 85% of girls worldwide aren’t getting enough movement. We also focus on coaches and coaching because we know how important the relationship between a coach and an athlete can be. Coaches play a crucial role as caring adults who provide safe spaces and guidance, especially during pivotal moments in girls’ lives. For example, body confidence is a leading reason girls leave sport, and coaches are vital in addressing this.

Over the past year, we’ve ignited a coaching revolution through global summits — from our World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, to Paris, Los Angeles, and Tokyo — bringing together experts, partners, researchers, and youth to accelerate better, more inclusive approaches. Despite cultural nuances, the barriers youth face in sport are strikingly consistent worldwide, with body confidence a common challenge for girls. Body Confident Sport, our research with partners like Dove, and world-renowned experts the Centre for Appearance Research and the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, helps coaches understand these issues and create welcoming environments to retain girls in sport.

We also leverage Nike’s broader community, including Nike Community Ambassadors — Nike store employees who serve as coaches in their communities. They embody the spirit of lifting up their neighborhoods. We partner closely with elite athletes in their own community work, such as Play Academy with Naomi Osaka and also via innovative partnerships with other leading brands like our work with Lego emphasizing creativity, movement, and mental health, aiming to build lifelong love for activity. Ultimately, active kids are healthier, happier, and more successful in life. Giving kids an opportunity to play and enjoy sport can be so meaningful; it’s about hope, dreams, and creating a foundation to thrive.

Behrman, NationSwell: What is your call to action for other social impact leaders — what do you think other people need to hear right now?

Garcia-Brito, Nike: At Nike, we believe there’s a coach in everyone — even if you’re just coaching yourself, which is actually a great place to start. Whether you’re at work, at home, or in your community, you don’t have to wait to make a difference. Simply seeing yourself as a coach can transform your connections. There are plenty of free resources to help you start this journey, and often, it’s an easy way to change lives without even realizing it.

My call to action is to tap into that inner coach, starting with yourself and extending it to others, especially young people. In our impact space, it’s vital to create a vision and journey of hope — just as essential as food and shelter. Hope and dreams truly sustain people; when paired with opportunity and community – it is powerful. We need to connect the dots for others, showing how today’s choices lead to real progress and a better future. 

NationSwell: What are three resources that have inspired who inspired you as a leader? It could be a book, it could be a movie, it could be a quote, a song, anything. 

Garcia-Brito, Nike: There’s a cartoonist called Quino who created a character named Mafalda in the 1960s, and there is a wonderful edition of these comic strips “Todo Mafalda” with a preface by Gabriel Garcia Marquez that I keep near me. Mafalda is a wise and very funny six-year old who is not shy about reflecting some of the absurdities of adulthood. She is a champion for inclusion, joy and world peace – and she is very funny.  I’m inspired by the beauty of being able to see the world through the eyes of a six-year-old girl in this space, and how it reminds us that we know everything that we need to know when we’re young.

The other book I’d recommend is called 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, by Oliver Burkeman. I live my life with urgency, so I’m kind of impatient when I think about creating change, but this book puts time in perspective — we have only so many weeks. It’s helped me make my minutes feel longer and my life more present, sharpening my priorities.

Peter Block’s book The Answer to How Is Yes influenced me early on. I’ve learned to say yes and drop the ‘how’ that stalls progress. When faced with challenges, I ask not ‘how,’ but ‘do we want to do it?’ If yes, then the ‘how’ will follow.

As for inspiration, it comes from the people we work with daily around the world. Despite the narratives of global division we hear, I see the opposite — countless selfless individuals dedicating their time to help their communities. This work so often happens outside typical hours, fueled by care and skill. I’m grateful for them and believe there are far more people uniting us than dividing us.

At a moment of inequality and division, who is advancing the vanguard of economic and social progress to bolster under-served communities? Whose work is fostering the inclusive growth that ensures every individual thrives? Who will set the ambitious standards that mobilize whole industries, challenging their peers to reach new altitudes of social impact? 

In 2025, Impact Next — an editorial flagship series from NationSwell — will spotlight the standard-bearing corporate social responsibility and impact leaders, entrepreneurs, experts, and philanthropists whose catalytic work has the potential to shape the landscape of progress amid urgent need for social and economic action.

For this installment, NationSwell interviewed Katy Knight, Executive Director and President of Siegel Family Endowment.

Greg Behrman, Founder and CEO, NationSwell: What brought you to this moment? What has your journey to becoming a senior impact leader been like?

Katy Knight, Executive Director and President, Siegel Family Endowment: My first job at 14 was as a reading tutor, and later I interned at that same organization. That’s when I discovered the nonprofit world, which felt meaningful to me, even though my family had the usual “doctor or lawyer” expectations. At first, I wanted to start my own nonprofit, but quickly realized there were already plenty out there. When I learned about philanthropy, I was drawn to the idea of investing in social impact ideas, but found there weren’t many entry-level paths into the field. Soinstead I stayed in nonprofit, then moved to Google, which allowed me to work with nonprofits while also learning about how tech could be used for positive impact. Eventually, I left to lead corporate social responsibility at a company called Two Sigma, where I connected with one of the cofounders, David, who was starting a foundation. That opportunity brought together everything I had learned from nonprofits, CSR, and government affairs, which led me becoming the deputy director of the foundation.. 

It wasn’t a traditional path. Through various nonprofit roles, stints at Google, and even catering on the side to make ends meet. Honestly, I had almost given up on working on this side of the table before I finally landed here.

But I had incredible support, especially from my grandmother Angelina, who recently passed away. She always kept it real with me that there would be a lot to overcome in life as a woman of color who didn’t come from a family of money. When we buried her, my great aunt, her sister, grabbed my hand and said, “You know, your grandma thought you would be president of the United States — she believes you can do anything.” That unyielding support is really the kernel of  the seed that she and my mom really nurtured – this belief that, even though it’s going to be really hard, you can do anything you want to do.

Behrman, NationSwell: What would you describe as the North Star of your leadership? Are there any particular principles or philosophies that guide you?

Knight, Siegel Family Endowment: I see my role as helping others grow. Whether as strong individual contributors or future leaders. I believe deeply in giving people the autonomy to try new things, even if it means making mistakes along the way. 

My team jokes about it, but when someone comes to me with a new or unconventional idea, nine times out of ten I’ll say ‘sure, go for it — I don’t need to know any more, just try it and let me know how it works out.’ I’ve learned so much through my own mistakes, and I want people to have the opportunity to be scaffolded, to know what they’re doing, to succeed in their job, but also to try new random novel things and make mistakes on their own so that we can learn and grow together.  I try to walk alongside people across all levels of the organization and stay engaged with them as they evolve in their roles and grow in confidence.

Behrman, NationSwell: As an impact leader, how are you sense-making the current moment? How are you navigating where we are and where we’re going?

Knight, Siegel Family Endowment: We’re living in a moment where everything feels complex and divided, where clear answers are hard to find and shared facts are increasingly rare. When I zoom out, it’s clear this is a historically unique moment. What’s challenging, but important, is serving people across the country who may not share our politics or even understand why philanthropy or social impact matters. What keeps me grounded is our mission: to use technology to ensure everyone has a fair shot in an innovation-driven society. That mission cuts across political and ideological lines. We want to level the playing field for everyone, regardless of their views. Technologyhas played a role in deepening some of the divides we’re facing. But  t I believe we can also use it to help fix what’s broken. I’m trying to hold onto that hope as I make sense of what has happened and what we want to happen for things to be better.

Behrman, NationSwell: Is there anything about the impact strategies, initiatives, or partnership models you’re championing right now that feels particularly unique or differentiated in the field? 

Knight, Siegel Family Endowment: At Siegel, we have a strong focus on infrastructure. But we think of infrastructure broadly: not just bridges and roads, but also the physical, digital, and social systems needed for society to thrive and for everyone to have equal access to opportunity. That perspective shapes our grantmaking. We prioritize efforts that build capacity and durability, beyond just short-term pilots.. 

For example, last year we partnered with the Walton Family Foundation on the Learning Landscapes Challenge. Instead of asking for new education ideas, we asked what existing efforts could improve or scale with better infrastructure. We’re about raising awareness but also creating lasting impact, and it’s exciting to see this infrastructure approach gaining traction among peers.

We also think intentionally about our place-based strategy.. While we’re anational funder, we know that solutions must be tailored to local contexts. We’ve done deep work in New York, expanded our K-12 computer science efforts to Atlanta, partnered with the Center on Rural Innovation to understand diverse rural communities, and recently started exploring workforce and education initiatives in Birmingham, Alabama. Each community offers unique insights, and we’re excited to continue learning and connecting changemakers together.

Behrman, NationSwell: If there were two big problems you could solve for that would make your work easier and more effective, what would they be?

Knight, Siegel Family Endowment: The first is digital divide. It’s embarrassing that, in one of the wealthiest and most technologically advanced countries in the world, many people still lack access to reliable high-speed internet. . In many cases, this isn’t a massive infrastructure issue — I call it the “last 200 feet” problem, where getting the internet from the main road into the subdivision is the infrastructural challenge we need to solve for. Solving this would open up opportunities in education, employment and so much more.

The other problem I’d solve is a bit more ephemeral, but closely related which is capital concentration. This year, I asked my team to imagine a map of the U.S. where opportunity isn’t just confined to the  coasts. Right now, most venture capital and resources flow to a few select markets, but what if we could redirect that capital to create hubs all across the country? We could unlock new economic hubs, creating jobs supporting entrepreneurs and revitalizing communities that have been left behind.That’s the big-picture vision I’m aiming for.

Behrman, NationSwell: Of your peers in the social impact space, who are a few whose leadership inspires you, and whom you hold in high esteem?

Knight, Siegel Family Endowment: I’m fortunate to be surrounded by incredible women doing remarkable work. One is my friend and colleague Dr. Allison Scott at the Kapor Foundation — an amazing leader on computer science equity, tech, and the digital divide. She’s smart and funny, which is always important. We’re lucky to work together often with Michele Jawando at Omidyar Network, who is also incredible. Another is Lydia Logan from IBM, who’s done everything and been everywhere-I want to be her. I was just on a panel with her last week, and she’s insanely talented; the world is lucky to have her. Closer to the ground, my friend and colleague Nabiha Syed, now leading the Mozilla Foundation, is brilliant. She’s done incredible work as a lawyer, founder of The Markup, and is guiding Mozilla’s next phase, focusing on tech and society to build a better world. She’s contributed to major efforts like the Snowden files. I’m truly surrounded by greatness and just trying to keep up every day.

Behrman, NationSwell: Could you recommend any insightful resources – maybe a book, report, podcast, or article — that has significantly influenced your thinking or inspired your leadership?

Knight, Siegel Family Endowment: I’ll confess to being a bit of a nerd — I have a classic “Nevertheless, she persisted” Elizabeth Warren poster on my wall, and I look up at that on tough days. It’s become a rallying cry for women this decade. I also have a shelf full of books on philanthropy and social impact. One of the earliest I read was Carnegie’s classic The Gospel of Wealth, and now pair it with Darren Walker’s New Gospel of Wealth. When I think of these seminal, foundational texts, I’m reminded that philanthropy has a rich but imperfect legacy. Reconciling that history with the world we want to create guides how I think about the future of philanthropy and social impact.

At a moment of inequality and division, who is advancing the vanguard of economic and social progress to bolster under-served communities? Whose work is fostering the inclusive growth that ensures every individual thrives? Who will set the ambitious standards that mobilize whole industries, challenging their peers to reach new altitudes of social impact? 

In 2025, Impact Next — an editorial flagship series from NationSwell — will spotlight the standard-bearing corporate social responsibility and impact leaders, entrepreneurs, experts, and philanthropists whose catalytic work has the potential to shape the landscape of progress amid urgent need for social and economic action.

For this installment, NationSwell interviewed Tulaine Montgomery, CEO of New Profit and and host of the Say More podcast.

Greg Behrman, Founder and CEO, NationSwell: What brought you to this moment? What has your leadership journey been like?

Tulaine Montgomery, CEO, New Profit: I can’t say there was ever a premeditated plan guiding me; I’m a creative at heart, so a linear plan has never really been my approach. What truly got me here is my family background. My parents and extended family were students of history and futurists, even if they didn’t use those terms. My dad was an ethnomusicologist and longtime Dartmouth professor, and throughout his life has basically willed himself into experiences and expertise — he doesn’t ever entertain that he’s not enough to do what he desires to do. He immersed himself in the study of the African diaspora, mastering percussion and exploring cultural connections in places like Mali, Haiti, Ghana, Cuba, Brazil, Kenya, and Japan. He was even named a master drummer in Ghana in his early twenties. Growing up, I absorbed these rhythms and lessons.

My mother is equally expansive in her worldview. For decades, she has convened Black leaders and educators from around the world, fostering a community focused on understanding our present, envisioning our future, and thriving together. This annual tradition has lasted over thirty years.

My parents have always dreamed of a better world and taught me what we can look back on in history to see what we can borrow from and what to avoid.

Behrman, NationSwell: What are the attributes, philosophies, or practices that help you to be an effective leader in this space?

Montgomery, New Profit: It took me a while as a human, as a professional, and ultimately as a social entrepreneur and leader to really own my multitudes. For years, I believed my interests in business strategy, playwriting, and music history couldn’t coexist, and I would compartmentalize myself depending on the environment. I would go into certain spaces and think, okay, only these parts of me actually make sense here. I didn’t come to that idea by myself — we’re entrenched in tons of systems that encourage such a perspective — but I certainly held it within me, and that’s where it actually matters most.

Today, my leadership is informed by a radical acceptance of all the pieces of myself, and I strive to create environments where others can do the same. I want everyone I work with and support to experience the power of embracing their whole selves, because effective systems change requires us to bring all our strengths to the table.

Another core aspect of my leadership is empathy and curiosity. I try to approach situations and people with openness rather than judgment. For example, when I feel resistance or misunderstanding, I ask people to “say more,” which helps me move from judgment to curiosity. This practice has allowed me to connect more deeply, resolve misunderstandings, and even turn skeptics into supporters. Curiosity isn’t just altruistic, it’s pragmatic — it helps me understand others and navigate complex challenges.

Behrman, NationSwell: Is there anything about the impact strategies, initiatives, or partnership models you’re championing right now that feels particularly unique or differentiated in the field? 

Montgomery, New Profit: There’s growing discussion around systems change, and at New Profit, we see what we refer to as “the MIC” — multiracial intergenerational, cross-sector coalitions for change — as a key engine of that work. Here in the U.S., it sometimes feels like we’re less poised for the MIC than ever because there’s so much division and fragmentation, but at New Profit we’ve been really excited to support and partner with entrepreneurs who understand the power and timeliness of this coalition and who are, in a local way, doing powerful work to advance it. That’s why New Profit supports entrepreneurs through a focus on three pillars: capital, capacity, and community. We provide unrestricted funding, capacity-building support (often in collaboration with organizations like Deloitte), and foster a sense of community among social impact leaders. We believe working as peers, rather than maintaining traditional power dynamics, is crucial for real change.

We also partner with groups like Shared America to highlight and grow examples of unity, collaboration, and local leadership across the country. Despite the noise and division in media and politics, there is abundant innovation and collective power already at work in communities. By shifting our focus to these solutions and investing in proximate leaders, we can drive meaningful progress. True systems change requires courage, collaboration, and a willingness to imagine — and build — a better future together.

Behrman, NationSwell: Of your peers in the social impact space, who are a few whose leadership inspires you, and whom you hold in high esteem?

Montgomery, New Profit: Cheryl Dorsey, president of Echoing Green, is someone who really owns her multitudes — she’s a medical doctor by training, a social entrepreneur, organizer, artist, a lover of Beyoncé. Her ability to bring her whole self to her work is a powerful antidote to the fragmentation many leaders face.

Angela Glover Blackwell, founder of PolicyLink, similarly integrates joy, intellectual rigor, and compassion in her leadership. She frames joy as part of resistance, a quality she’s embodied throughout her career, and understands that lasting change requires addressing policy, capital, and narrative — the power of stories to shape solutions.

Marc Freedman, founder of CoGenerate, has illuminated the importance of intergenerational collaboration in today’s diverse society. His work highlights how connecting across generations fosters both personal and societal growth.

And finally, Dr. Richard Davidson, a renowned neuroscientist, has advanced the science of empathy and well-being. He translates research into practical tools for cultivating well-being, making neuroscience accessible for social change. Like the others, he combines rigor with deep kindness — a quality I deeply admire.

Behrman, NationSwell: Could you recommend any insightful resources – maybe a book, report, podcast, or article — that has significantly influenced your thinking or inspired your leadership?

Montgomery, New Profit: I’m a student of bell hooks, who teaches that love is about action, accountability, listening, and change — not about accepting mistreatment. I appreciate how she, as a scholar and public intellectual, frames love’s role in social impact, emphasizing its importance in leadership. I often write love letters to the broader community to celebrate this.

Another resource I’d recommend is “Defectors” by Paola Ramos, a journalist whose book explores how Latino engagement with the far right challenges ideas of unity versus uniformity in America. She courageously immerses herself in these communities to understand and share their perspectives beyond stereotypes.

I’d also mention my podcast, Say More with Tulaine Montgomery, which highlights the abundant community of people committed to love and collective power in social change. It reminds us there are far more of us than the dominant narratives would suggest who are fostering dialogue and hope.

At a moment of inequality and division, who is advancing the vanguard of economic and social progress to bolster under-served communities? Whose work is fostering the inclusive growth that ensures every individual thrives? Who will set the ambitious standards that mobilize whole industries, challenging their peers to reach new altitudes of social impact? 

This year, Impact Next — an editorial flagship series from NationSwell — will spotlight the standard-bearing corporate social responsibility and impact leaders, entrepreneurs, experts, and philanthropists whose catalytic work has the potential to shape the landscape of progress amid urgent need for social and economic action.

For this installment, NationSwell interviewed Graham Macmillan , president of Visa Foundation.

Greg Behrman, CEO and founder, NationSwell: What brought you to this moment? Was there a formative relationship or experience that led to you becoming a leader in this field?

Graham  Macmillan, Visa Foundation: I knew in college that I wanted to be passionate about something and intellectually challenged, and thankfully, because of some great professors, I got inspired to think more about international development, which was a term way back in the 1990s to describe social impact. 

I was really interested in these organizations that were out there trying to solve big problems and challenges, and asking what they could do to support communities, and I started to realize this was the direction for a career that was both interesting to me and would allow me to go to sleep at night knowing that I was trying to make things a little bit better than they were before. 

You get tested over the course of your career, of course, but those moments also have the potential to be very affirming. If you’re lucky enough to have a passion, to be interested in the work that you do, to be surrounded by really fun, terrific people that share a common sense of purpose, you can make a career out of that without a problem. 

Behrman, NationSwell: What makes you an effective leader in your organization? Is there a particular philosophy of leadership or an approach that comes to mind?

Macmillan, Visa Foundation: I don’t know that it’s my place to call myself a leader — that’s for others to determine, in my view. What I try to do that may have characteristics that speak to leadership is having a sense of purpose, having a vision for what could be that is better than what it is now, taking some risk, and always ensuring that your role is in service of supporting the people that actually do the work.

I do nothing except cause trouble for my team. I get in the way. I slow things down. I ask too many questions sometimes. They’re the ones that actually do the good work. My job is to make sure that they are prepared, they have the resources, the support, the belief that they can get it done and solve any problems that might come up. So that’s what my job is and my belief in where I can add the most value. 

Behrman, NationSwell: What are two or three facets of the work that you’re leading that you think are special — what feels important to lift up?

Macmillan, Visa Foundation: The signature work that Visa and Visa Foundation have been focused on is the role that small and micro businesses can play in advancing economic growth. What we’ve managed to accomplish over this five-year period is to establish a strategy that would advance small and micro businesses in a meaningful way that aligns with both the values of our 30,000 employees and our stakeholders around the world — putting women and underrepresented founders at the center of that strategy. 

We know that there’s a tremendous gap between the resources that are allocated to women-led or underserved entrepreneurs, and we wanted to pry that open and demonstrate that they actually are not only viable, but there are actually tremendous, high-growth opportunities in doing so for a whole range of reasons. 

The distinguishing characteristic of our approach over the past five years has been not only grant making but actually investing to support these small and micro businesses. We have about a $500 million endowment, which makes us somewhat unusual for a U.S. Corporate foundation — we manage the assets, and we’ve worked with the board to establish that we manage the assets as if we were more like a perpetual foundation without an annual distribution of funds. 

Behrman, NationSwell: Anything else about your work that feels particularly differentiated in the field?

Macmillan, Visa Foundation: There are a ton of foundations that don’t invest at all. What we have constructed is essentially a toolbox of all the things that we could use, and it’s not a monolithic application — we look at every circumstance and we open ourselves up to what the partners actually need. We tell them what’s available to them and we’re not prescriptive, we don’t assume we know what they need better than they do.

I believe that corporate philanthropy is elevated when you’re harnessing the power and capability of the business — that is fundamentally differentiated from private philanthropy. It just is. When done well, change can occur at a pace that is just fundamentally different. We are on the precipice of seeing that happen, and we’re currently trying to set up conditions by which we can then be effective at that next phase. 

Behrman, NationSwell: Who are a few of the peer leaders whose work or leadership styles you most admire?

Macmillan, Visa Foundation: I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge my boss at Citi, Brandy McHale, who taught me more about corporate philanthropy and philanthropy in general than almost anyone I know. In many ways, everything that I do is modeled off what I learned from her, both in terms of culture and humility and good sense of humor. 

A colleague that I’ve long admired but have recently gotten to know more and more is Delilah Wilson-Scott. Delilah is incredible in my opinion: she’s navigated two very complex, large companies at the highest level, and she does it with grace, with humor, and she’s super smart. 

And then last but not least, of course, is my former colleague, Darren Walker, who I spent a few years working with at Ford. Darren is a fundamental believer in the power of the market as a force for good, he knows finance, he knows governance, and what he’s been able to build out of that knowledge is tremendous. 

Behrman, NationSwell: What are some of the resources that have really inspired you as a leader? 

Macmillan, Visa Foundation: I would honestly point to the NationSwell community: there’s substance, there’s thought, there’s content, there’s community, there’s gathering. The breaking of bread — that’s a resource unto itself. 

In terms of podcasts, I love “The Rest is History” — it’s fantastic. I’m a huge follower and fan of history, and the podcast is led by two British hosts, and there’s something about talking about history with a British accent that just feels right. It’s also really good if you want to fall asleep. There’s also another terrific one called “Empire” — I’m grateful to any resource that I can use to take my head out of this space but still be thoughtful and think of the patterns in history that become our future.