VITAL

Thanks Theresa Fesinstine for this review of our #Transform25 panel which we called “How Impact Can Give People a Seat at the Growth Table”. Your post moved me deeply. ?????? I hope to share a video of it soon for folks that weren’t in Vegas this week. Stay tuned! — “I’m here in the Las Vegas airport with a delayed flight and thought I'd share some notes from my experience at Transform. I'm thinking sort of a full breakdown because I have many feels around the good, the bad, the beautiful, and yes, the ugly. But today, since I'm still feeling the hug high, let’s start with the good. The Social Impact and Business Strategy session was one of the most powerful conversations at Transform. Chandra Sanders moderated a really deep and insightful panel of leaders that have done the work on building social impact programs. Bryan Breckenridge, Mari Sifo, SPHR, GPHR, SHRM-SCP, Bree Jones, and Barr Even didn't just talk about what companies should do—it was about what they are doing and the tangible impact that comes when organizations align purpose with profitability. A few standout moments: ? Research proves that companies leading with impact consistently outperform their competition. ? CSR isn’t just a nice-to-have—it can drive real revenue. Salesforce turned its CSR program into a social enterprise that both supports communities and fuels business growth. ? The Baltimore case study shared by Bree Jones showed how collective homeownership initiatives can transform vacant buildings and neighborhoods, proving that corporate partnerships can be a force for real change. This wasn’t a conversation about charity. It was about strategy. It was about integrating impact into business models, aligning with investor expectations, and creating solutions that benefit employees, customers, and communities. While this session was a total Chef's Kiss ??the (and as a certified chef, I would know), the best part of Transform? The people.” VITAL, our consultancy, is excited to support more leaders with strategy in these areas!

Looking forward to connecting in person with people-first leaders at #Transform2025 next week! Be sure to check out our session [it GREW!],?How Impact Can Give People a Seat at the Growth Table, on March?18th from 3:45-4:30pm with?[Chandra Sanders, Mari Sifo, Bree Jones and Josh Tanenbaum]. #VITAL #impact #led #growth #FutureofWork

?? At Riff, we fight for bold ideas that protect what matters & push progress forward. Here are a few standout moments from the past two weeks: ?? What if every product had a digital ID tracking its origins, materials, & impact from production to disposal? That’s what Digital Product Passports (DPPs) do. The EU is adopting them by 2026, but while European manufacturers are adapting, the U.S. is falling behind—missing out on benefits like traceability, quality control, & efficiency. Ryan Kuhlenbeck (CEO, PICO) & Jamie Bull (Ingersoll Rand) explain why U.S. manufacturers should embrace digital tracking now. More in Supply Chain Brain: https://bit.ly/3XmLC8E The Talent Shift That Began in 2020 Isn’t Slowing Down: More professionals are choosing fast-growing metros like Austin, Nashville & Minneapolis—continuing a trend that accelerated during the pandemic. Heartland Forward’s Heartland of Talent report w/ Richard Florida shows where top talent is moving & why cities like Ann Arbor & Madison are emerging as economic hubs. More in NPR 89.1 WEMU-FM (https://bit.ly/4k0nzpz) & The Lima News (https://bit.ly/3DfIEMj). But wait, there’s more: In 2023 alone, Arkansas' outdoor recreation industry generated $7.3B, supported 68,000+ jobs & contributed nearly $2B in tax revenue—fueling local economies across the state. Heartland Forward’s new report highlights rapid growth in sectors like fishing & boating, proving that outdoor recreation is more than just a pastime—it’s a key economic driver for the state. More in Axios (https://bit.ly/41Dsg1D) & Talk Business & Politics (https://bit.ly/3XpUKJI). ?? Retail Crime & Consumer Sentiment: A new survey from Flock Safety & Zencity finds that nearly 60% of consumers prefer shopping online due to concerns about retail crime. With theft costing retailers billions, 45% of consumers support using tech to enhance security, reflecting a growing demand for solutions that help protect shoppers & employees. Check out the findings in Sourcing Journal (https://bit.ly/3XLoQrl) & Chain Store Age (https://bit.ly/3QBfiLl). ?? "You'll miss it when it's gone." Two Republican former EPA heads—Gov. Christie Whitman & Bill Reilly—join Gina McCarthy in warning that Trump’s plan to slash the EPA workforce by 65% puts our air, water, & health at risk. “When the next catastrophe spews pollutants into the air or contaminants into our drinking water, who will deal with the emergency & its aftermath?” Read more in The New York Times: https://bit.ly/4hUt08g ?? Rolling back sexual assault prevention programs weakens our military: The Pentagon has stopped critical training, raising alarms about recruitment & readiness. ICYMI Protect Our Defenders was on NPR's All Things Considered to discuss: https://bit.ly/3EXOiDb ?? Bold ideas deserve bold action. If you’re working to transform industries, protect what matters, or challenge the status quo, let’s connect. Change doesn’t happen without a fight—Riff City is here to help you win it.

The nonprofit sector is in crisis. The consequences are dire and time is not on our side. The sudden suspension of funding has left nonprofits delivering life-saving services and aid at risk of collapse. The consequences are dire and time is not on our side. This isn’t just a financial crisis—it’s a human one. Staff trained to help vulnerable populations are losing their jobs, and the very communities that rely on them are losing access to vital services. NetHope is stepping in with The Emergency Digital 4 Good Bridge Fund, working to raise $750,000 to keep nonprofits operational, connected, and safe. From vCIO and vCISO services to Digital Bridge Grants, we are focused on ensuring that nonprofits maintain essential operations. Please donate today and be a part of the solution:

From safeguarding forests to streamlining operations,?the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Docusign are proving that sustainability and efficiency go hand in hand. ? In recent years, Docusign technology has helped FSC simplify complex administrative processes and improve system integrity. ? Docusign also supports global initiatives like the FSC Indigenous Foundation and FSC I&P's work on Verified Impact of ecosystem services. Their staff participate in the FSC Technology Consortium and have lent time and expertise to improve operational efficiency. ? We're grateful for Docusign's partnership and proud of the work we've done together to protect forests and support communities! ? Read more here:?https://lnkd.in/g5g2edCw Featuring Michael Marus and Zandra Martinez

Why would a company invest in making a positive impact on society? We at VITAL and great peers of ours offer their view in this insightful article published by Marlee Margolin! At a time where many corporate social impact programs are being scaled back, she’d been wrestling with the question of what leads an organization to build out an impact team. So in collaboration with CASE at Duke University, she asked us what factors led to their organization making a formal investment in an impact department.