The Business of Giving

The following is a conversation between Charles Conn, Co-Author of Bulletproof Problem Solving: The One Skill That Changes Everything, and Denver Frederick, the Host of The Business of Giving.  The World Economic Forum lists complex problem solving as the number one skill for jobs in 2020. But how many of us, faced with a difficult problem, just dive right in looking for a solution. My next guest says there's a better way, a much better way by using a simple seven-step approach. He is Charles Conn, the Co-Author of Bulletproof Problem Solving: The One Skill That Changes Everything. Key Points from This Episode Charles Conn defines problem-solving [00:57] What makes problem-solving the ultimate skill for the 21st century [01:56] The three biggest mistakes human make when problem-solving [03:32] The story behind the seven-step process [04:57] Seven Steps to Bulletproof Problem Solving [06:17] The value of telling a great story [07:14] Use the 80-20 rule in problem-solving and have a nice life [08:40] The benefits of a strong hypothesis [09:18] One-day, one-hour answer [10:18] Long versus short work plans [12:16] Logic trees [13:21] Mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive [14:34] The decision tree [18:04] Problem disaggregation makes a ton of sense especially when it's hot [19:14] The seven-step process can be used for simple to more difficult problems [20:03] The reason we should sometimes be suspicious of experts [26:53] Become a great problem solver [28:12]

The following is a conversation between Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Professor at Harvard Business School and Author of Think Outside the Building: How Advanced Leaders Can Change the World One Smart Innovation at a Time, and Denver Frederick, the Host of The Business of Giving. My next guest believes that the leadership paradigm of the future is the ability to "think outside the building," to overcome establishment paralysis and produce significant innovation for a better world. She is Rosabeth Moss Kanter, the Ernest L. Arbuckle Professor of Business at Harvard Business School and the Author of Think Outside the Building: How Advanced Leaders Can Change the World One Smart Innovation at a Time. Key Points from This Episode Rosabeth's POV on some of the world's biggest issues and how it is progressing [01:01] The importance of thinking beyond conventional assumptions and closed networks [03:13] Success requires breaking out [04:22] The inspiration behind the Advanced Leadership Initiative [05:18] The power of vision [07:29] Rethinking the nature of buildings [10:15] What keeps us from imaginative thinking [10:58] The best way to attack a castle [13:26] Radical change requires establishing ideas, conservative moves [14:20] Don't lose sight of the big vision [15:06] The other secret of radical change [16:49] Ray Jetson's big idea - Metamorphosis [18:42] Doug Rauch's  Daily Table [22:19]  Torsten Thiele Global Ocean Trust [26:13] Kanter's Law - Everything can look like a failure in the middle [27:32] The story of the two entrepreneurs who brought solar lighting to West Africa [28:46] Changing the world one smart innovation at a time [31:50]

The following is a conversation between Jacqueline Bouvier Copeland, the Founder and CEO of The WISE Fund, and Denver Frederick, the Host of the Business of Giving. In this interview, Jacqueline Bouvier Copeland, the Founder and CEO of The WISE Fund, shares the following: • The Impact of Black Philanthropy Month • The Mission of the WISE Fund (Women Invested to Save Earth) • Keys to Creating Successful Social Movements

Showing gratitude to employees is the best way to boost performance, yet few executives effectively utilize this simple tool. In fact, new research reveals people are less likely to express gratitude at work than anywhere else. Why is that the case, and what can be done to address it? To find out, it's a pleasure to have with us, Adrian Gostick, the Co-author of Leading with Gratitude: Eight Leadership Practices for Extraordinary Business Results. Key Points from this Episode: Adrian and his own personal gratitude transformation [00:51] Gratitude is not just about saying thanks [02:20] Where gratitude begins [03:11] Adrian's favorite data point about gratitude [03:44] How managers unknowingly cultivate fear in the workplace [05:07] The reason younger employees need to hear gratitude [07:28]  It takes dedication and humility to change [08:42] Praise effort, reward results [10:44] Finding other ways to motivate people without money [12:17] Where and what great leaders spend majority of their time on [15:15] Start showing gratitude to people by listening to their input [15:54] Personalizing recognition [18:25] Peer-to-peer vs boss-to-peer recognition [21:29] Great cultures find what works for them [23:04] The only answer to gratitude is "Thank you." [23:57] Ways to take gratitude home [26:31]

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.