Staying the Course: Building a Mission-Driven Brand

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Deena Bahri, Chief Marketing Officer at Chegg; Stephen Green, Chief Partnerships Officer at Noodle Partners; and Katie Fang, CEO of SchooLinks. The conversation was moderated by Margery Mayer, CEO of Audacity Education.

The session explored how a powerful mission does more than inspire: it attracts aligned talent, guides product strategy, and drives long-term impact. Panelists shared candid insights on what it takes to keep a company anchored in its purpose through market shifts, growth pressures, and evolving customer needs. From defining core values to making tough trade-offs, the session unpacked the real-world challenges and rewards of building a mission-first organization that lasts.