What does meaningful corporate purpose look like?

SOCIETY

PODCAST (45 MIN)

Profit and Purpose Go Hand in Hand

Corporations can play a critical role in closing the wealth gap and confronting systemic racism in America. Taking a hard look at diversity in their workforces, supply chains, and customer bases will pay off — not just in a better corporate image but in an improved economy that benefits everyone, including the corporations. “We as leaders, those of us in positions of power, have an obligation to stand up and act as true corporate citizens, says Dan Schulman, CEO of PayPal. “It also gives us competitive advantage when we do that.” Schulman and Ariel Investment Co-CEO Mellody Hobson discuss corporate responsibility, financial literacy, supporting small businesses, and more. Aspen Institute CEO Dan Porterfield leads the conversation. Presented by PayPal.Listen.

FINANCE

VIDEO (11 MIN)

Banking on Change

Is an all-digital bank better suited to address systemic barriers to building wealth in America? Varo made history this summer as the first digital bank to gain a US national bank charter. Founder and CEO Colin Walsh says Varo is a mission-oriented, data-driven member of the FDIC and has the dependability of an old banking institution, with the agility of a Silicon Valley tech company. He speaks with Maya Chorengel,co-managing partner of The Rise Fund, an early supporter of Varo. How are the bank’s services — like early access to paychecks, short-term lending, and credit improvement programs — meeting heightened customer needs throughout the pandemic? In what ways is Varo leveraging customer data to inform new products and designing them for the way we live? Presented by The Rise Fund.Watch.

ECONOMY

ARTICLE

Securing Our Economic Future

The Economic Strategy Group released a new book, Securing Our Economic Future: Policies to Strengthen the Middle Class and Address Climate Change, which explores current and long-term economic challenges facing the nation. The book focuses on the health of the middle class, geographic disparities, and the economic costs of climate change, with hopes to “shed new light on the underlying fragilities that have since been exposed,” write Erskine Bowles and Henry M. Paulson, Jr. in the book’s foreword. The volume is composed of nine commissioned chapters divided into three sections, covering the economics of the American middle class, geographic disparities in economic opportunity, and the geopolitics of the climate and energy challenge and US policy response. Available for Download.

Youth Lead Now! Identity Leadership: How to Lead Yourself So You Can Lead Others

December 15

Before we can learn to lead others, we must learn to lead ourselves. Stedman Graham, chairman and CEO of S. Graham and Associates, has been an advocate of this identity leadership mantra throughout his 30-year career as a businessman, author, educator, and coach. Join Stedman and co-moderators Nely Galán, the first Latina president of entertainment for Telemundo, and Brenda Velardi, Aspen Young Leaders Fellowship alumna, for a conversation about transforming ourselves into leaders capable of progress.Register.

The View from Kabul: A Live Conversation with the President of Afghanistan

December 21

Aspen Security Forum

President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani joins the Aspen Strategy Group’s Global Leaders Series for a live discussion on important Afghan foreign policy and national security issues, including intra-Afghan negotiations with the Taliban and the future of the alliance between the United States and Afghanistan as the Biden administration prepares to take office next month. Register.