Food for Thought - The Rise of Corporate Activism: The Changing Landscape of Social Impact in Business
The relationship between business and society continues to rapidly evolve. As society demands more of businesses, there is a conscious push for the business community to become more proactive around social issues and events. No longer is it the responsibility of businesses to increase profits and only be responsible to shareholders; it is about stakeholder capitalism. Businesses are being called upon to play a role in addressing issues, and become agents of change for the betterment of society. The pandemic has only accelerated these expectations. In the social impact space, crisis breeds innovation. To survive and thrive, companies must reflect on their values and purpose, be willing to address and own their shortcomings, and think strategically about how they’re going to engage on issues moving forward.
In this session, we will discuss current landscape of the social impact space in the business sector and explore the social impact work and approach of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and how it has evolved over the course of the pandemic.
Todd Jacobson has over two decades of corporate, government and nonprofit leadership. Mr. Jacobson currently serves as Senior Vice President, Head of Social Responsibility for the National Basketball Association, where he oversees the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League and NBA 2K League global social responsibility efforts, community partnerships, and public service initiatives. Mr. Jacobson also directs the league’s government affairs, including the White House, United Nations and State Department relationships managing the league’s communication and engagement.
