What if purpose wasn’t just a buzzword, but the key to resilience in business, life, and leadership?

Speaking of Purpose is where we sit with the big questions, challenge the old narratives, and uncover the deeper forces shaping the way we work and lead. Each episode features candid conversations with inspiring changemakers—unpacking insights that matter, breaking down the research, and sharing real stories of impact.



If you believe in work that makes a difference, in leadership that lasts, and in businesses that walk the talk, this is your space.

In a time when division is drowning out connection, could the key to unity be… a simple conversation? In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, host Sona Khosla sits down with Sandra Clark, CEO of StoryCorps, to explore the contact hypothesis — a psychology-backed idea showing how meaningful dialogue builds understanding across differences.

Sona and Sandra unpack how StoryCorps’ One Small Step program brings people together for open, non-political conversations that focus on human connection. From real-world stories of empathy to surprising research insights, this episode highlights the quiet power of listening to bridge divides and strengthen community.

Since this interview was recorded, StoryCorps has lost over $2M in federal funding. Support stories of discovery, connection and hope here → https://donate.storycorps.org/

Learn more about One Small Step → https://takeonesmallstep.org/

00:00 Corporate Role in Political Dialogue

05:57 Journalism vs. StoryCorps: A Reflection

07:03 Unseen Stories of Blended Heritage

12:02 Bridging Divides through StoryCorps

14:14 "Rising Violence and Lost Faith"

17:10 "Bridging Divides: Wayne and Alton"

20:25 "One Small Step: National Conversation Movement"

24:34 Navigating Business and Diversity Integration

27:05 Value-Driven Storytelling in ERGs

31:32 "Authenticity in Modern Leadership"

34:40 "Neuroscience of Storytelling and Listening"

36:43 Inspiring Business Listening Sessions

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In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, host Sona Khosla sits down with Carolyn Berkowitz, former President and CEO of ACCP (Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals), to unpack the shifting dynamics in corporate purpose that have accelerated beyond imagination in just the last few years. With more than three decades in the field, Carolyn reflects on how corporate social responsibility has evolved from CEO pet projects to a strategic business imperative, and what happens when that work gets caught in the political crossfire. Together, they explore how companies are adapting their language and approach to meet changing expectations, the cautious rebranding inside boardrooms and why today’s social impact leaders are under more pressure than ever. From crisis response playbooks to quiet legal reviews, this conversation offers a rare look inside the complex reality of corporate approaches to environment, social and governance.

This episode was recorded in 2024; some government policies have evolved since the time of the conversation.

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In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, host Sona Khosla sits down with two remarkable changemakers: AJ Jordan, Head of Community Stewardship and President of the Vanguard Group Foundation, and Jenny Bogoni, Chief of Community Engagement and Public Programs at the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation.

Together, they explore how long-term, relationship-based partnerships can create sustained impact in communities and how Vanguard’s approach to funding goes far beyond traditional philanthropy. From investing in grassroots literacy programs to enabling system-level change, this episode uncovers what it really looks like when a corporation listens deeply, funds boldly, and redefines what real change means.

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Filmed live in the Vanguard Studio, watch this behind-the-scenes footage of this podcast recording.

In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, host Sona Khosla sits down with Joelle Emerson, CEO and co-founder of Paradigm, to unpack the hot topic of DEI. They explore what the charged acronym really means, who is driving the debate, what the data says about it, and how companies have shifted course from 2020's reckoning to today's retrenchment. And they look at practical ways that companies can adapt their strategies in a risky legal and political environment to embed fairness, driving performance, and maintaining brand trust.

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In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, host Sona Khosla speaks with Brian Tippens, Chief Social Impact and Inclusion Officer at Cisco, during Benevity Live! 2024, about the company’s $300 million commitment to social justice and what it looks like to lead with purpose inside a global tech giant. They explore how Cisco connects community impact to business value, how Brian's team developed a framework for responding to complex societal issues, and why social impact leadership today is as much about strategy as it is about empathy.

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In this episode of Speaking of Purpose, host Sona Khosla sits down with Jason Saul, CEO of the Impact Genome Registry and Executive Director at the University of Chicago's Center for Impact Sciences. Together, they unpack the chaos behind how nonprofits measure success and reveal a bold new approach that could transform how billions in charitable giving gets allocated. From the hidden inefficiencies plaguing corporate philanthropy to the controversial idea that measurement might actually empower rather than punish nonprofits, this is a conversation that challenges everything you think you know about social impact.

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