Heartful Business with Michael Kieschnick

Program Description

“We make it easy to make a difference.” With this simple, but profound statement Michael Kiesnick explains how he challenged the basic assumption that dictates most business practice, the financial bottom line. Believing that Americans want to make a difference, he created Working Assets, a social change organization hidden within a telephone long distance and credit card company. A portion of every payment a customer makes is given to non-profit community organizations. Kieschnick explains why leadership that makes a difference is local, community based and value driven. He says, “I think people are just hungry for a different way of looking at things.” In a time when corporate greed is often the enemy of social responsibility and ecological sustainability, here is a successful business model that is making a positive difference.

Michael Kieschnick is the co-founder and President of Working Assets, and founder of Dads and Daughters, an education and advocacy group for fathers and daughters that strives to eliminate cultural messages that value daughters more for how they look than who they are.

Topics Explored in this Dialogue:

• How you can support business in making social change
• What you can do to make a difference
• Why the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine in the communications industry has made such an impact on our society
• What are the critical factors of individual leadership
• What is the one single thing that you could do that would most impact political campaigns

Program Number: 2984               Host:             Interview Date: 4/29/2003