Guest post by Pete Miller, a retired executive from the aerospace and defense industry, who’s created several volunteer networks to help veterans, law enforcement and other first responders with post-traumatic stress syndrome, traumatic brain injury and other issues related to their service. Passing The Torch Let’s face it. It’s time for us baby boomers and pre-baby boomers to pass the human rights torch to a new generation. We’ve had a good run. We raised the issues, raised awareness, and we have made some progress, although there is still a long way to go. In fact, we have barely scratched the surface on what needs to be done. I see a glimmer of hope in future generations because business and life... more
Having been active in social justice movements since the 1960s, I would’ve liked for us to be further along than we are now. You might imagine that I’m a bit fatigued, even disheartened, six decades later. To the contrary, I’m as fired up as ever. I’m especially inspired by young activists around the world who are tackling myriad interrelated issues in new, dynamic, exciting ways. It’s called intersectional organizing, integrating, among much else: calls for an end to violent conflicts, enlivening the climate change debate, addressing gender inequality, demands for economic equity, actions for racial justice, demonstrations for LGBTQ rights, protests for gun control—all parts of a unified fervent appeal for a more inclusive, sustainable world. I had extraordinary mentors... more
Inspired by Einstein’s quote, I share highlights. I’ll be a featured speaker at online Collective Trauma Summit, talking about compassion and connection. Learn more here where you can register for free. A Forbes Councils member, I wrote articles and contributed to expert panels. I did several presentations and interviews, with more in the coming month. Jerry and I celebrated our granddaughter Taty marrying Derek and our grandson Teagan getting engaged to Meagan. beCause Global Consulting helps people and organizations connect with their core purpose and each other. Learn more about my company and me. Global Citizens Circle celebrates its 50th anniversary, please donate so future Circles will always be free to everyone everywhere. Join online Circle Sept 20 ‘Reclaiming our... more
2022: a year filled with sorrow and joy, losses and celebrations, tragedies and triumphs. We shared grief at the horrific toll of a pandemic, wars, environmental degradation. I was deeply honored to receive Catalyst for Change Award by Shirley Chisholm Cultural Institute that inspires me to keep on keepin on… Jerry and I keep promoting social causes in the long relay race for a more just world. I welcome your ideas on how to create mutually supportive connections at a time of growing inequity. Do you have projects that you’d like to promote? See what I’ve written in Forbes Councils and other places. Amidst our sorrow at a broken world, we celebrated the marriages of our two eldest grandchildren. Braedon... more
With 2021 drawing to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the “new normal” (or not normal) wrought by the pandemic, climate change and growing inequity worldwide. Despite these crazy times, Jerry and I have continued to promote social causes in the long relay race for a safer, more just and peaceful world, understanding that all of us are inextricably interconnected, so we have a sacred obligation to bring love, hope and peace to everyone everywhere. The work never stops. So, when the temperature drops and sunlight wanes, we can all take heart in knowing that every culture celebrates the power of light over darkness near the winter solstice. As the Brits say, we have to calm down and carry on.... more
Connectedness, or how people successfully connect to their core being and then come together with others despite myriad internal and external challenges, was always important. Now more than ever — when many are in despair about our divided world and harbor fears about an overwhelming present and an equally frightening prospective future — a sense of connectedness in the 2020s is absolutely essential. Regardless of what goals you seek professionally or personally, you can’t effectively do anything alone; you must engage others. We are inextricably interconnected, whether we like it or not. On every topic for which I’m known (e.g., corporate social responsibility, diversity, sustainability, multi-sector partnerships, etc.), there are a gazillion people far more knowledgeable on it than I.... more
At the start of my most recent interview I was asked, “who are you and what’s your why?” It was no surprise as the host, Muriel Favarger Ripert, CEO of @ma Table & Co and founder of Fondation aaa, both of which create intergeneration links among individuals, organizations and businesses, is guided by the fundamental principle that every human being has inherent dignity and equal worth. My immediate reply: “I am a connector!” You can watch the interview here. Muriel also is a connector and it was through our kindred spirit of following the South African concept of Ubuntu, I am a human being through my relationships with other human beings, that we came to respect each other. We talked... more
beCause CEO Nadine Hack at IMD Global Alumni event, Future of the Planet: Inspiring What Could Be – IMD President Jean-François Manzoni spoke of a more engaged response at board meetings when he talked about “doing well by doing good” than he’d received just a few months earlier when board members seemed to shrug it off as irrelevant. And we see something happening now The Business Roundtable recently issued a statement redefining the Purpose of a Corporation in which they say we have to move away from exclusively shareholder primacy to a broader spectrum of stakeholders. And, at about the same time, Gillian Tett, US Managing Editor Financial Times, wrote Capitalism – a new dawn? addressing many of the same... more
beCause CEO Nadine Hack’s opening keynote at Stockholm Philanthropy Symposium – Other speakers will address with great wisdom myriad specifics on philanthropy, impact investing, corporate responsibility, social innovations, digital platforms, partnerships, gender equity and more. So, to start, I’ll share a meta framework about what I call connectedness because I believe it’s at the core of all those topics and, actually, everything. You can watch video of presentation. First, please turn to someone near who you don’t already know and introduce yourselves. Take a minute max each so the two introductions will take two minutes max. Go ahead! [participants interact] How many of you basically shared your name, where you’re from and what you do? That’s kind of like the... more
by beCause CEO Nadine Hack – On International Women’s Day, hosted by Gérald Mathieu CEO Barclays Bank Switzerland, I gave a speech to 150 young bankers about why gender equality is important for women and men. Some were with us in Geneva; others joined us by teleconference. You can watch video of our conversation summarized here. I was very excited to share stories about inspirational women like US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who began her fight for women’s rights in the 1950s when she never could’ve imagined she would one day serve on the nation’s highest court. It’s fabulous that a younger generation now calls her the “Notorious RBG” and wears T-shirts “RBG Rules!” It’s thrilling to pass... more
