The Business of Giving

The following is a conversation between Suzanne Mettler, Co-Author of Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy, and Denver Frederick, the Host of the Business of Giving. In this interview, Suzanne Mettler, Co-Author of Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy, shares the following: • What are the four threats to democracy? • When was the last time three of them were present? • When did the expansion of the executive branch begin?

The following is a conversation between Tracey Webb, the Founder of Black Benefactors, and Denver Frederick, the Host of the Business of Giving. In this interview, Tracey Webb, Founder of Black Benefactors, shares the following: • Misunderstandings of Black Philanthropy • The Importance of Capacity Building at Black-Led Nonprofits • Impact of Black Philanthropy Month

The following is a conversation between Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America and Author of Dare to Speak: Defending Free Speech for All, and Denver Frederick, the Host of The Business of Giving.  In this interview, Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America and Author of Dare to Speak: Defending Free Speech for All, shares the following: •  The Responsibility of the Speaker •  Cancel Culture Versus Censorship  •  Holding Social Media Companies Accountable • China, Industry and Free Speech

Tech for social impact had lots of momentum before the pandemic, and that will only accelerate as a result of COVID-19. To no one's surprise, on the leading edge of this movement is Microsoft. And it's a pleasure to have with us, Justin Spelhaug, Vice President and Head of Tech for Social Impact at Microsoft. Key Points from this Episode: Justin talks about a new blueprint for corporate social impact [01:35] How Team Rubicon mobilized a thousand volunteers a day during this pandemic [04:12] How Microsoft Dynamics 365 helps organizations respond to Hurricane Laura [05:42] Teaming up with UNICEF to provide continuity of education for children and youth in the time of COVID [06:43] How Microsoft is helping people worldwide acquire digital skills in the COVID-19 economy [08:08] Microsoft's predictive analysis work on food insecurity [10:04] Better case management system for refugees with HIAS [12:02] What a common data model can do for nonprofit organizations [14:14] Free training on Microsoft Teams, Azure, and other capabilities to support the nonprofit sector [15:58] An important investment area for Microsoft and for the planet [17:27]

How do you find a competitive edge when the obstacles feel insurmountable? How do you get people to take you seriously when they're predisposed not to, and perhaps have already written you off? My next guest recommends creating your own edge by confronting the factors that seem like shortcomings and turning them into assets that make others take notice. She is Laura Huang, a Professor at the Harvard Business School and Author of Edge: Turning Adversity into Advantage. Key Points from this Episode: Laura on how hard work is critical but it is signals, perception, and stereotypes that often dictate success and outcomes [01:22] Hone that intuition around how others see you [06:38] Identify your basic goods [08:11] Be truly self-aware [09:49] Like a tree, you need to prune to grow [10:43] Delight and the power of starting a conversation [13:40] The importance of guiding people to your authentic self [17:41] There is no "self;" There are "selves" [18:44] Like a diamond [19:08] How to make your effort and hard work work harder for you [20:34] Why companies should teach employees to cultivate their own edge [23:38] Constraints empower us  [24:35] People saying No to you help hone your intuition around how they perceive you [27:26] Between fear of failure and embarrassment [29:38] Teaching kids to cultivate their own edge [32:13] Be the prom queen [34:56]

Rinku Sen is a widely-read and respected theorist and practitioner of racial justice organizing, advocacy and media. She co-founded and served as publisher of the groundbreaking media outlet Colorlines, has led a number of organizations, and written a couple of books including Stir It Up: Lessons in Community Organizing and Advocacy. And she's with us now.

The United States is showing signs similar to some of the most corrupt countries in the world, and this corruption is determining the shape of our government and affecting all levels of society. This is a topic of a brand-new book by prizewinning journalist Sarah Chayes titled On Corruption in America: And What Is at Stake.

Misinformation, disinformation, and fake news abound, and it's increasingly difficult to know what's true and who to believe. What we could all use is a field guide and, thankfully, my next guest has provided us with one. He is Jevin West, Director of the Center for an Informed Public at the University of Washington, and Co-author of Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World.

With the pressures, stresses and uncertainties of the current moment, emotional intelligence has never been more important. And it's a pleasure to have with us today the foremost expert in the field. He is Dr. Marc Brackett, the Founding Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and Author of Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help our Kids, Ourselves, and our Society Thrive.

It was some 33 years ago that Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, and his wife, Helen started the Walton Family Foundation. It has gone on to be one of the most highly regarded and thoughtful family foundations in the country, with three major areas of focus and a never-ending commitment to learn and get better. And it's a pleasure to have with us Caryl Stern, the Executive Director of the Walton Family Foundation.