Stories that
drive change

Stories that
drive change

Event Takeaways

The Takeaway | DEI at a Crossroads: Protecting Progress in a New Political Reality

Among the new administration’s first actions were a handful of executive orders intended to “terminate DEI” in the federal government and the private sector. While those executive orders don’t change existing federal law, they send a strong signal about the near-term political context for DEI programs. Organizations are reassessing their approaches in real time, with some publicly announcing rollbacks and others defending their efforts. The environment is marked by uncertainty and concern.

The Takeaway | Not Business as Usual: Being an Effective Social Impact Leader in the Year Ahead

The discipline of social impact is evolving quickly, driven by sociopolitical shifts, technological advancements, and stakeholder priorities. Meeting the moment will require us to home in on trends facing the practice of social impact, forecast the demand for new strategies and approaches, and collectively brainstorm around what’s needed most to lead our field into the future.

The Takeaway | What’s Ahead in Social Impact and AI

As we step into 2025, AI technologies are primed to drive even greater innovation around societal challenges, from fostering inclusive growth to expanding educational pathways and beyond. But AI is also going to continue raising important ethical questions while carrying the potential to drive new inequities.

The Takeaway | Thriving Economy for All: The Case for Childcare

Explore key insights from NationSwell’s roundtable on employer-driven childcare solutions that support working families, strengthen the workforce, and fuel economic growth.

The Takeaway | Collaboration in Action: Supporting Communities Amid LA Wildfires

NationSwell members discussed how to best allocate energy and resources in response to the near and long-term impacts of the disaster.

The Takeaway | Not Business As Usual: Being an Effective Philanthropy Leader in the Year Ahead

NationSwell convened leaders to take stock of the most urgent trends and highlight what’s needed to unlock even more transformational impact on the road ahead.

The Takeaway | Not Business as Usual: Being an Effective Social Impact Leader in the Year Ahead

During a NationSwell virtual Leader Roundtable on January 16th, a group of cross-sector leaders gathered to discuss how we can energize, advance, and even reimagine the work of social impact into 2025 and beyond.

The Intersection of Caregiving and Business: NationSwell Summit Explores the Care Crisis

Learn how public-private partnerships, innovative policies, and workplace solutions can drive economic growth and support caregivers.

Strengthening Our Social Fabric: How Connection and Care Shape Public Health, a Fireside Chat with U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy

To close NationSwell Summit 2024, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy joined Kelly Corrigan to explore the urgent loneliness epidemic facing our country.

Augment and Evolve: Empowering Workers in an AI Driven World

Presented by Omidyar Network, this Summit panel illuminated a critical pathway forward: focusing not just on how AI will shape the future, but how we in turn can shape the future of AI.

The Next Series

Impact Next: An interview with Gilead Sciences’ Carmen Villar

Carmen Villar of Gilead Sciences explores her journey from public service to corporate leadership, driven by her family’s emphasis on social justice and her belief in leveraging private sector resources for social good.

Impact Next: An interview with Wells Fargo Foundation’s Darlene Goins

Darlene Goins, President of the Wells Fargo Foundation, shares how to leverage the full breadth of philanthropy resources to create social impact.

Impact Next: An interview with the Seattle Foundation’s Alesha Washington

Alesha Washington, President and CEO of the Seattle Foundation, reflects on her career path, shaped by a deep commitment to philanthropy and mentorship.

Impact Next: An interview with Kyndryl’s Pam Hacker

Discover how Pam Hacker, Vice President of Social Impact at Kyndryl, transforms her lifelong passion for giving back into a career that drives social and economic progress.

Impact Next: An interview with Western Governors University’s Scott Pulsipher

Explore Scott Pulsipher’s journey as President of Western Governors University, where he leads with a people-centered approach to expand access to affordable, high-quality education.

Impact Next: An interview with New York Life Foundation’s Heather Nesle

Learn from New York Life Foundation’s Heather Nesle on effective leadership, the interventions being pioneered in the childhood bereavement space, and why the future is bright.

Impact Next: An interview with LinkedIn’s Meg Garlinghouse

Learn from LinkedIn’s Meg Garlinghouse on addressing the root cause of social issues, building a more equitable labor market, and connecting people to their purpose.

Impact Next: An interview with Workday’s Carrie Varoquiers

Hear from Carrie Varoquiers, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Workday, on her belief that businesses can be a huge change agent for good — and Workday’s new feature length documentary film, UNTAPPED.

Impact Next: An interview with PNC’s Sally McCrady

Sally McCrady, Chair and President of the PNC Foundation, shares thoughts on a local approach to philanthropy, skills-based volunteerism, and employee engagement.

Impact Next: An interview with Adobe’s Amy White

Hear from Amy White — Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility & Communications at Adobe — on formative career moments, ensuring equal access to education, and using creative tools to make a difference.

Pathways to Economic Opportunity

Pathways to Economic Opportunity: MassMutual Foundation and Opportunity Finance Network

Dennis Duquette, president and CEO of the MassMutual Foundation, lays out a newly-announced partnership with Opportunity Finance Network to launch the CDFI Innovation Initiative — a new effort designed to drive innovation, scale impact, and build new infrastructure for the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) industry.

Pathways to Economic Opportunity: Extern

Extern shares more on Externship – a new form of professional experience that its students say is a more flexible and accessible alternative to internship or co-op programs.

Pathways to Economic Opportunity: Barclays and COOP Careers

As wealth and income inequality continue to climb in the United States, some employers are developing innovative models and catalytic […]

Pathways to Economic Opportunity: Dow Last Mile Fund for Manufacturing & Skilled Trades

In a new interview series, Pathways to Economic Opportunity, NationSwell spoke to Ruthe Farmer, Last Mile Education Fund and Fabio Mendes, Dow about their talent pipeline partnership, the Dow Last Mile Fund for Manufacturing & Skilled Trades.

Five Minutes With…

5-Minutes With Maya Salameh, A NationSwell Fellow Dedicated to Improving Mental Healthcare for Arab Americans

Learn from Maya Salameh, who believes in better mental healthcare, including increased access and awareness, and improved cultural competency, for Arab Americans.

5-Minutes With Maya Siegel, A NationSwell Fellow Focused on Making Consent Education Accessible for Gen Z

With the support of the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact, Cerberus, and ServiceNow, NationSwell is uplifting […]

5-Minutes With Ericka Kamanou-Tenta, A NationSwell Fellow Building a Pan-African Movement to Tackle The Detrimental Effects of Neocolonialism

We speak with NationSwell Fellow Ericka Kamanou-Tenta, graduate of NYU who was nominated for a 2021-2022 NYU Global Engagement Symposium for her work in Ghana in which she co-founded a venture aimed at developing changemakers in impoverished communities through an entrepreneurship program.

Five Minutes With Monoswita Saha, Global Employee Engagement Leader for CSR, Kyndryl

Monoswita Saha, Global Employee Engagement Leader for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Kyndryl discusses the launch of the new Kyndryl Foundation, why a young company decided to start a foundation so early in its journey, and the unique ways a career in cybersecurity can drive equity and progress.

Five Minutes With Taj Eldridge, Managing Director of Climate Innovation at Jobs for the Future

Taj Eldridge, Managing Director of Climate Innovation at Jobs for the Future, speaks on green jobs, meeting the demand for a skilled workforce, and the power of dissenting thought.

Five Minutes With Jonathan Stott, Executive Director at EcoRise

Jonathan Stott, Executive Director at EcoRise, shares thoughts on biomimicry, youth leadership on climate, and community-based environmental alliances.

Five Minutes With Safiyah Zaidi, NationSwell Fellow and Youth Activist for Gender Justice

With support from the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact, NationSwell Fellowships provide the network, support, and knowledge […]

Five Minutes With Sarah Miller, NationSwell Fellow and Youth Climate Activist

Hear from Sarah Miller, a youth climate activist whose work focuses on climate community preparedness, building resilience, investing in placemaking, and empowering and uplifting our most vulnerable neighbors.

Five Minutes With Thea Gay, a NationSwell Fellow Building Resources for Youth Climate Activists

An interview with NationSwell Fellow Thea Gay on the digital zine she’s creating as a resource for other social and climate justice activists to help them do this work authentically and sustainably.

Five Minutes With Meredith Davis, Government Account Partner at BetterUp

The NationSwell Council is made up of social impact-oriented leaders and changemakers. In Nationswell’s latest series, “Five Minutes With…,” we […]

Environmental, Social, Governance

The Multifaceted Benefits of Trees: A Corporate Perspective

Niagara Cares, the philanthropic division of Niagara Bottling, is planting 125,000 trees across the United States and Mexico. Read why.

Recapping Climate Week with NationSwell

See how NationSwell showed up for Climate Week and UNGA 2024 for our community of changemakers.

The Takeaway | In the Green Seat: Lessons from Sustainability Executives on Designing for Impact

Unlock lessons from sustainability executives on designing for impact from our Mainstage where we unpacked some of the wisdom, challenges, and unlocks shaping this dynamic moment in sustainability.

Place-Based Impact with Tomi Hiers & Tony Pipa

To understand the significance of place-based strategies and why buy-in across the public and private sectors is essential to their success, we spoke with two of our Collaborative experts.

The Takeaway | AI x Climate: Our Make or Break Moment

Explore takeaways from NationSwell’s panel of thought leaders, experts, and innovators at the intersection of AI and Climate to explore the transformative potential of AI in addressing climate-related issues.

Advancing Food Security: An Interview With Starbucks’ Meghann Glavin

Amid extreme and unprecedented worldwide pressures, global hunger and food insecurity remain at an all-time high. According to a United […]

Advancing Food Security: An Interview With PepsiCo’s C.D. Glin

NationSwell interviewed C.D. Glin, President of the PepsiCo Foundation and Global Head of Social Impact at PepsiCo, on the programs he and his team are leading to address hunger in communities across the world.

Advancing Food Security: An Interview With Chobani’s Becca Dittrich

In celebration of World Food Day this week, NationSwell is profiling some of the social impact and sustainability leaders in its community whose standard-setting initiatives are advancing global food security in innovative, scalable, and measurable ways.

Five Minutes With Kristy Drutman, Founder of Browngirl Green

Kristy Drutman, founder of Browngirl Green, discusses the work she’s leading (and inspiring) on climate justice, why the climate crisis is a mental health crisis, and how her Philippine heritage informs her sense of urgency and intersectionality.

The 2023 Sustainability Agenda

In partnership with Morgan Stanley, NationSwell convened a group of cross-sector leaders, each at the vanguard of sustainable innovation, to share ideas about what is at the top of their sustainability agenda for 2023.

Social Justice and Economic Opportunity

Pathways to Economic Opportunity: Extern

Extern shares more on Externship – a new form of professional experience that its students say is a more flexible and accessible alternative to internship or co-op programs.

The Virtuous Cycle of Revitalization and Small Business Growth

Equitable paths to homeownership are a priority of local leaders across the US, as they aim to close the racial wealth gap & build stable, diverse communities that can thrive for generations. See what Atlanta is doing with Mayor Policy Team member, Wesley Myrick.

JPMorganChase Delivers Major Boost to Ohio’s Workforce Through Formation of New Regional Workforce Collaborative

JPMorganChase announced its support of a newly-formed regional workforce collaborative that will strengthen the Columbus Region’s economy by breaking down obstacles to employment, advancing equity, and equipping job-seekers with the skills and experience needed to thrive.

Atlanta Showcases Homeownership Solutions that Help Close the Racial Wealth Gap

Equitable paths to homeownership are a priority of local leaders across the US, as they aim to close the racial wealth gap & build stable, diverse communities that can thrive for generations. See what Atlanta is doing with Mayor Policy Team member, Wesley Myrick.

Say ‘Hello Alice’ to the innovator at the heart of the small business economy

Natalie Diamond, Vice President Of Business Development at Hello Alice, provides insight into their unique for-profit impact model that empowers the largest community of small business owners in the country.

The NationSwell Council on influencing social and economic mobility in America

In Q2, members of the NationSwell Council and team set out across the U.S. for a Salon series dedicated to […]

Fresh Perspectives Unlock Creative Wealth-Building Solutions in Cities Across America

Discover how FUSE is empowering public sector teams to be the source of creative, community-led solutions for wealth-building among underserved populations.

What Makes a Joyful Community?

Reflections from NationSwell member Alesha Washington’s experience in Montgomery, Alabama, the civil rights movement, and the journey towards justice in the United States.

Pathways to Economic Opportunity: Barclays and COOP Careers

As wealth and income inequality continue to climb in the United States, some employers are developing innovative models and catalytic […]

The Role of Place in Understanding Justice

NationSwell’s recent 3-day immersive experience in Montgomery — “A Journey to Justice” — was designed to shine a spotlight on our present and to bring cross-sector leaders together to engage in locally specific, community-centric experiences and conversations that drive toward action.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert: “Our biggest impact has been modeling a different way of doing business”

In the fall of 2022, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard announced a bold new experiment in for-profit business: the voting stock […]

Announcing the Launch of “Fearless Philanthropy”

NationSwell is delighted to announce the launch of “Fearless Philanthropy: Driving Impact Through Innovation” — an action-oriented report made possible by support from our friends at Wells Fargo Foundation.

Introducing Collaboratives, NationSwell’s New Cross-Sector Initiative to Tackle the World’s Biggest Problems

A series of overlapping crises hit — COVID-19, racial injustice, climate change, economic disruption — exposing the fragility and deficiencies in our current systems. For everyone, 2020 was a deeply challenging and jarring year. Leaders had a lot on their plate.

An Interview With Shelly Bell, Founder and CEO of ‘Black Girl Ventures’

NationSwell spoke with Kauffman grantee Shelly Bell, founder and CEO of Black Girl Ventures, a company that “funds and scales tech-enabled, revenue-generating businesses (under $1M) founded by people who identify as Black/Brown and woman” to talk about the solutions she’s pioneering and the opportunities Kauffman has been able to help unlock for her along the way.

The Power of Corporations Doing Good

Dalila Wilson-Scott’s parents met during the Vietnam War; her dad was in the Air Force and her mom was a local Vietnamese woman who didn’t have much more than an elementary education. “When I think of the broader work of inclusion and opportunity, that’s my parents’ own story,” says Wilson-Scott. “A focus on economic opportunity and diverse perspectives is just something I grew up with.”

It’s About Taking Action, Not Just Cutting a Check

When Kate James joined Pearson in 2014 as its chief of corporate affairs and global marketing, the international education publisher was going through some changes

Business Must Be a Force for Good in Society

As president of CECP, Daryl Brewster is leading a team of more than 200 CEOs who believe that businesses should take a leading role in solving society’s biggest challenges. Recently, NationSwell spoke to Brewster about how adding purpose to a business model can contribute to corporate success.

This State May Have Discovered the Secret to Saving Tax Dollars While Doing Good

In Massachusetts, Governor Deval Patrick has launched a $27 million initiative that he hopes will keep at-risk youth out of jail, reduce crime, and promote safer communities.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging

The Paralympics show how DEI means winning together

AiLun Ku, Senior Strategic Advisor at NationSwell, shares her perspective on DEI leadership and how DEI’s unifying powers are seen in action at the Paralympic Games.

The Takeaway | DEI in Focus: Understanding, Defending, and Advancing Together

Key learnings from our virtual Mainstage, DEI in Focus, a rich conversation between Sid Espinosa (former mayor of Palo Alto and current Head of Social Impact at GitHub), and Stacey Abrams (lawyer, voting rights activist, political leader, and bestselling author).

Growing Mortgage Use Among Homeowners Age 65-plus

The final article of AARP’s Revelations Through Data series examines increased mortgage use among homeowners age 65-plus during 2000 – 2022.

Delayed Childbearing and its Implications for Older Working Parents

Key Takeaways In addition to deciding whether to have children, choosing when to have them is a critical decision with […]

COVID-19 and Labor Force Participation among People with Disabilities

Key Takeaways Falling labor force participation – particularly among older adults – has fueled headlines in countless news stories since […]

Social Isolation: A Growing Concern for Every Generation

Key Takeaways Social isolation – defined as the objective lack of (or limited) social contact with others – has long […]

“Being underrepresented is actually my seat of power”: The story behind the two “badass women of color” leading the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact

Leading the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact

How Older Adults Lead the Way in American Volunteerism

Key Takeaways Annually, the economic value of volunteer work in America exceeds $100 billion. Despite increasingly significant attachment to the […]

NationSwell Leaders on Celebrating Juneteenth by Advancing Racial Equity and Justice

Today marks the celebration of juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved Black people at the end of […]

These Older Americans Used Social Media to Connect With the World. Now They’re Influencers

Aging is inevitable — but you wouldn’t know it from the way we live our lives. Whether it’s the increasing […]

Purpose-Driven Culture and Leadership

NationSwell Recognized with Five Anthem Awards for Social Impact Initiatives

Learn more about the transformative social impact initiatives earning NationSwell five Anthem Awards.

Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Mental Health Conversations

In honor of World Mental Health Day, we spoke with two NationSwell Fellows about their work breaking down barriers to mental health awareness and practice in BIPOC communities.

NationSwell Fellows Accelerator Program: Accelerating Young Leader’s Social Impact

Meet the four fellows who will be joining our first ever NationSwell Fellows Accelerator Program.

What I Mean When I Say I’m an Impact Strategist

Reflections from Amy Lee, Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Director of Studio at NationSwell, on how the Studio goes beyond standard consulting to be our partners’ hands-on champion for impact.

NationSwell’s 2024 Fellows Showcase Day

The NationSwell Fellows program is dedicated to transforming the future by empowering youth leaders to thrive as changemakers. Started in […]

The NationSwell Council on the role leadership can play in promoting mental health in the workplace

In the first quarter of the year, the NationSwell Council embarked on a journey across America as part of a Salon series dedicated to exploring Leadership and Mental Health. Here are our insights.

NationSwell Fellows Program: Empowering Young Leaders to Reach New Heights

NationSwell is thrilled to launch the second year of its fellowship, NationSwell Fellows, sponsored by Cerberus, Service Now, and American […]

NationSwell Summit 2023: The Moments on Our Minds

Once a year, the most cutting-edge and committed leaders in ESG, social impact, philanthropy and other select fields gather at […]

Leadership and Lindy Hop: What dance can teach us about our management style

The makings of a great leader can be found in unexpected places and situations, often well outside the executive suite. […]

Learnings from NationSwell’s event on ‘Protecting the Dignity of LGBTQIA+ Youth’

While many of the bills put forth will face significant legal challenges, the message they were drafted to convey is chilling on its face: After decades spent winning new legal protections, the LGBTQIA+ community is no longer safe in America.

Future of Work

NationSwell Launches the ‘Childcare for All’ Site from the Case for Childcare Collaborative

Learn more about the launch of our expanded Case for Childcare Collaborative site advocating for childcare for all workers—especially gig, hourly, part-time and frontline workers.

The Wrap-Up: Building the Future of Work

Organizational leaders are at an unprecedented inflection point. Years of pandemic-related challenges have disrupted society’s most foundational systems – and […]

The Takeaway | The Future of the Workforce

On January 25, members of the nationswell council gathered for an in-person salon in New York City to discuss the […]

Seizing the moment to close the opportunity gap

Autodesk Foundation, LinkedIn, and Workday have been working together as part of a Just Transition Collaborative facilitated by NationSwell, with the shared goal to identify opportunities to accelerate more equitable pathways into green jobs by increasing the use of skill-based hiring. In an effort to catalyze collective impact, we are sharing key insights from our work here.

Five Minutes With Shalin Jyotishi, World Economic Forum Fellow

NationSwell Council member Shalin Jyotishi has spent his career advancing solutions at the intersection of workforce, education, and tech.

Learnings from NationSwell’s event on the Future of Work

A mass exodus from jobs fueled by burnout, compensation, competition, and turnover have created previously unthinkable situations for employers, with many now scrambling to retain the talent they have on hand.

Learnings and insights from the NationSwell Council’s multi-part series on burnout

According to a brief released by the World Health Organization, incidences of anxiety and depression have rocketed up 25% globally, an increase which can largely be attributed to the unprecedented stress, social isolation, and logistical barriers to mental health resources caused by the pandemic.

NationSwell’s 40×40 Mentorship Challenge Recap

Markle’s call to action is timely: An estimated two million women in the United States reportedly lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic, many of whom are still struggling to regain their footing in a labor market that has been radically transformed.

The people-focused company: Why age diversity matters more than you think

The good news for business is that the balance sheet equation of “assets minus liabilities equals equity” can be influenced by the assets inherent in an age-inclusive workforce.

Age at the nexus of workplace equity, innovation, and creativity

The global workplace and the very nature of work itself are changing at a rapid pace. AARP has been calling attention […]