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Being a CEO and leader of a mission-driven company has its own unique opportunities and responsibilities. Opportunities because you are able to use your business as a force for good effecting a much broader set of stakeholders, intentionally looking for ways to affect people, planet, and profit in a positive way. But also a responsibility because you understand how capitalism can be leveraged for good. You know what the business is capable of, and you have an expectation that focusing strictly on the bottom line is not an option.

To support those who are on the journey of running mission-driven companies, Big Path is proud to present the Impact CEO Series, which will be a monthly virtual webinar that will include panels, groups discussions, and individual speakers for the purpose of engaging, supporting and raising our collective game on what it means to run a mission-driven company.

See you on the Path!

How Impact Leaders & Companies Can Be Anti-Racist

A Three Part Series

Racism has been one of America’s greatest weaknesses for hundreds of years, since the founding of the republic. However, in the wake of George Floyd’s death, there is a renewed awareness of, and commitment to addressing, the structural racism that has been such a part of our economy, institutions, policies, and practices.

For CEOs, the vast majority of whom are white, this new awareness and focus has triggered a range of reactions. But the most important of these responses has been a sense of urgency and a desire for change and justice.

In fact, there is a growing understanding that, in order to dismantle structural racism, there is no middle ground. To be neutral is to be complicit. Therefore, proactive, anti-racist work is required. This three part series will help leaders of impact companies understand the shifts that are occurring, unpack what these changes mean, and determine what personal and enterprise-level actions can be taken to be anti-racist.

Our Panelists

Matthew McCarthy

CEO, BEN & JERRY’S

As the CEO of Ben & Jerry’s, Matthew leads an iconic and pioneering global brand that continually breaks the rules on how business can be a force for good in the world. He steers and serves a global team of passionate ice cream aficionados and aspiring activists, and is responsible for Ben & Jerry’s long-standing 3-part mission of delivering economic, product and social mission impact in all the communities and countries where the company operates…

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As the CEO of Ben & Jerry’s, Matthew leads an iconic and pioneering global brand that continually breaks the rules on how business can be a force for good in the world. He steers and serves a global team of passionate ice cream aficionados and aspiring activists, and is responsible for Ben & Jerry’s long-standing 3-part mission of delivering economic, product and social mission impact in all the communities and countries where the company operates.

In addition to being CEO, Matthew is a member of Ben & Jerry’s independent Board of Directors and is a member of Unilever’s global Foods & Refreshments leadership team. Before taking his current role, Matthew was Vice President of Unilever’s Foods division in North America, where he also sat on the US country board. In his 22 years with Unilever, Matthew has led a number of classic and entrepreneurial brands across the Foods and Personal Care divisions, including Hellmann’s, Knorr, AXE, Dove & Dove Men+Care. Matthew headed up Men’s Grooming for Unilever, which included the acquisition of Dollar Shave Club. His work has received a number of industry recognitions, including Cannes Gold Lion, One Show Gold Pencil, IAB MIXX and Adweek’s Brand Genius award. 

Matthew has a deep passion for driving social impact and systemic change through the power of business. He considers himself an aspiring activist, learning every day how better to leverage the power of brands & business to address pressing social and environmental challenges.

Ryan Pintado-Vertner

Founder, SMOKETOWN

Ryan Pintado-Vertner is the Founder & Principal at Smoketown, an empathy-led team of experienced operators and specialized skill players who help mission-driven businesses maximize their performance against multiple bottom lines…

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Their work includes: sales & marketing ROI optimization; purpose & mission refinement and activation; outsourced marketing leadership; go-to-market strategy; full-service consumer research; and innovation.

Ryan is a lifelong activist, fifth generation innovator and 13-year veteran of the CPG industry, in addition to holding an MBA from the University of California's Haas School of Business. 

Beyond Smoketown, he is on the Executive Board of Flock (a new regenerative food and agriculture fund and accelerator) and Naturally Chicago (a network of natural product companies in Chicagoland).

MODERATOR

Dr. Henry Clay McKoy

Managing Dir., Eagle Angel Network

Dr. McKoy is considered by many as the leading thinker and practitioner in the area of inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems and economic development planning and finance. He is a seasoned professional in community and economic development…

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Dr. McKoy is considered by many as the leading thinker and practitioner in the area of inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems and economic development planning and finance.  He is a seasoned professional in community and economic development, policy, government, finance, corporate, and nonprofit leadership.  Dr. McKoy is a former banking executive with Central Carolina, National Commerce and Suntrust Banks.  From 2010-2012 Dr. McKoy served in the North Carolina Governor’s Cabinet as Assistant Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce.  He has also served on numerous appointed economic development boards and commissions from the local to the federal.  In both the public and private sectors, he has led and managed teams with oversight of billions of dollars of public and private sector capital.  Throughout his career, he has engaged in the investment and development of hundreds of inclusive development projects in communities in areas of infrastructure, affordable housing, construction, nonprofit engagement, human services, sustainable community and economic development, and small business.  He continues to advise local governments and officials on inclusive economic development strategies across the United States and globally, as well as advising private sector and philanthropic sector clients.

Dr. McKoy currently holds appointments and academic affiliations with several universities including North Carolina Central University School of Business, Kenan Flagler School of Business at UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy and the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity, and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.  He is a past entrepreneurship Fellow of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, as well as a former Aspen Institute Scholar.  He holds a BSBA from UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, a Master’s in Policy and Leadership from Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, and PhD from the University of North Carolina’s Department of City and Regional Planning with a concentration in economic development and entrepreneurship.  Dr. McKoy serves on dozens of community and philanthropic boards.  He is frequently interviewed for and quoted in national, regional and local press outlets.

Sana Javeri Kadri

Founder, @DiasporaCo

Sana Javeri Kadri is the founder of Diaspora Co., a direct trade spice company working towards a radically equitable, sustainable, and more delicious spice supply chain.  Born and raised in Mumbai, India amidst a big family of idealists and architects…

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Sana Javeri Kadri is the founder of Diaspora Co., a direct trade spice company working towards a radically equitable, sustainable, and more delicious spice supply chain. 

Born and raised in Mumbai, India amidst a big family of idealists and architects, she has over a decade of experience in every facet of the food industry and supply chain from farmworker, to line cook, to marketing consultant. 

She founded Diaspora Co. in 2017 and it has quickly become a nationally acclaimed, beloved food brand that supports over 150 small Indian farmers and laborers and growing, and aims to set a new standard for what equity in food and the decolonization of our foodways can look like.

She currently lives between Mumbai, India, and Oakland, California. 

Sam Polk

Founder & CEO, Everytable

Sam Polk is the founder and CEO of Everytable, a social enterprise on a mission to transform the food system to make delicious and healthy food affordable and accessible to everyone, everywhere. A former hedge fund trader, Sam left a successful career…

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Sam Polk is the founder and CEO of Everytable, a social enterprise on a mission to transform the food system to make delicious and healthy food affordable and accessible to everyone, everywhere. A former hedge fund trader, Sam left a successful career on Wall Street to follow his heart to fight food injustice and inequality in America. In 2013, he founded a nonprofit called FEAST (originally called Groceryships) to address food-related health problems in South Los Angeles by helping family food providers make healthy choices through nutrition education, cooking classes, free produce, and support groups. In 2015, Sam created Everytable, which offers made-from-scratch meals priced according to what is affordable in a specific neighborhood. To date, Everytable has sold more than 3 million fresh-prepared meals throughout communities and on college campuses across greater Los Angeles, through a combination of grab-and-go markets, a home delivery service and SmartFridge vending machines. With the backing of food-forward investors like Kimbal Musk, Maria Shriver, Gwyneth Paltrow, TOMS Social Enterprise Fund, Acumen, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Annenberg Foundation and The California Wellness Foundation, Everytable has the potential to work in every major metropolitan area across the county.

Parts 1-3

Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

August 18, 2020, 9PT - 10PT / 12ET – 1 ET

In the first webinar, we will focus on structural racism. How it shows up in our daily lives, the role that capitalism and the private sector play, and how the last few months have impacted the thinking and approach of CEOs, including the unique role of white CEOs. We have an incredible set of leaders to help us begin this series.

WATCH PART 1
Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

September 22, 2020, 9PT - 10PT / 12ET – 1 ET

In Part 2, we will focus on the internal anti-racist work that CEOs and companies can pursue. What does it mean to be an anti-racist individual in our society? What does it mean to imbed anti-racism in culture and hiring practices? Is there a difference between Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and anti-racism? We will hear from both CEOs who are doing the work and thought leaders who support the work.

WATCH PART 2
Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

November 10, 2020, 9PT - 10PT / 12ET – 1 ET

In Part 3, we will focus on the external anti-racist work that companies can pursue. How does a company identify its authentic and sustainable role in the fight against racist policies and practices? Are there best practices that impact companies can emulate? What kind of anti-racist goals can companies set? Are there pitfalls that can be avoided? We will hear from both CEOs who are doing the work and thought leaders who support the work.

WATCH PART 3