Social Impact

If your goal is to get 500,000 people to turn up on the Mall in Washington, D.C., Twitter is great at that. But if your goal is to make lasting change, you have to work within the system. —Sarah A. Soule, professor of organizational behavior
It Takes More Than Mass Protests to Drive Change
Audio
“Books, Articles, and Documentaries Will Help Us Understand This Country’s Divide.”
In this podcast episode, a publishing executive talks about decisions editors need to make to bring in more voices to tell our country’s authentic stories.
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Latest Stories on Social Impact

January 10, 2023
Audio
Short Takes: Bringing Safe Water to Rural India
A social enterprise success strategy: clean water in rural India, subsidized by urban consumers.
Entrepreneurship
Grit & Growth: The Podcast
July 05, 2022
Written
Former BP Head Reflects on His Call for Climate Action 25 Years Ago
Lord John Browne talks about his 1997 speech at Stanford and current efforts to slow global warming.
Sustainability
Photo of Lord John Browne. Credit: Reuters/Paul Hackett top/key/full
July 05, 2022
Audio
Solving Important Problems
Meet two entrepreneurs who are building social enterprises focused on improving children’s literacy and women’s health in South Asia.
Social Impact
Grit & Growth logo
June 30, 2022
Written
“Pacers” Help Entrepreneurs in Emerging Economies Stay in the Race
Small- and medium-sized businesses in Africa and India need ongoing support to keep growing.
Social Impact
An overhead photo of runners competing in a marathon. Credit: iStock/ZamoraA
June 03, 2022
Written
What Will It Take to Solve Climate Change? Investor John Doerr Shares His Plan.
Venture capitalist and philanthropist describes urgent measures outlined in new book, Speed and Scale.
Sustainability
John Doerr on stage at Stanford GSB, talking to an audience about his plan for climate action. Photo by Saul Bromberger
May 24, 2022
Written
Looking Beyond Benefit-Cost Analysis to Measure the Value of Life-Saving Drugs
A new analysis of social and economic impact bolsters the fight against hepatitis C in India.
Health Care
An Indian medical volunteer works at a roadside clinic in Old Delhi treating the homeless. Credit: iStock/BDphoto
May 03, 2022
Audio
Corporate Good vs. Social Good: Can Investors Have Both?
In this podcast episode, we compare several investment strategies used for achieving social impact.
Finance
All Else Equal podcast logo
April 19, 2022
Written
The Promise and Pitfalls of Investing for Change
Navigating the line between opportunity and uncertainty in the ESG boom
Finance
Illustration of various cuttings of a map, pieced together to form a larger map that shows a road curving along it. Illustration by Tyler Comrie
March 11, 2022
Written
Cell Phone Data Adds New Detail to Our Picture of Urban Segregation
The movement of millions of phones shows that Americans experience less racial isolation once they get out of their neighborhoods.
Big Data
Diverse crowd of people walking across the busy intersection of 23rd Street and 5th Avenue in Manhattan. | Credit: iStock/deberarr.
January 28, 2022
Written
A Global Look at the Connections Between Happiness, Income, and Meaning
Wealthy people may be happier. But a new study finds that money can’t buy a sense of purpose.
Social Impact
Young woman alone in nature surrounded by beautiful autumn colors. | Credit: iStock/MundusImages.
January 07, 2022
Audio
Profile of Purpose: Making a Difference
Wandia Gichuru’s fashion brand for African women empowers both customers and employees in Kenya.
Entrepreneurship
Grit & Growth: The Podcast
November 16, 2021
Audio
Profile of Purpose: Flowers in the River
Ankit Agarwal’s flower recycling business helps clean the Ganges River, improve public health, and employ disadvantaged women in India.
Entrepreneurship
Grit & Growth: The Podcast
November 02, 2021
Audio
Profile of Purpose: One Stitch at a Time
Linda Ampah provides more than factory jobs to women and girls in Ghana — she provides housing and hope.
Entrepreneurship
Grit & Growth: The Podcast
October 27, 2021
Written
Why Divestment Doesn’t Hurt “Dirty” Companies
A new analysis finds that selling off stocks in corporations that don’t meet your values has minimal impact on their behavior.
Finance
Coal-burning power plant with two smokestacks and rising smoke into a blue sky. iStock/acilo
October 19, 2021
Written
Designing Markets for Faster, Better Vaccines
Susan Athey and a team of economists have been pushing for an unprecedented expansion of vaccine capacity.
Health Care
a combination dart and conveyor belt. Daniel Liévano
October 19, 2021
Written
The Ethics of Vaccinating the World
With millions of lives at stake, should drug makers be forced to share their IP?
Social Impact
llustration of a gavel. Daniel Liévano
September 22, 2021
Written
Sustainable Supply Chains Helped Companies Endure the Pandemic
A survey of more than 350 firms finds that resilience is an important byproduct of sustainability.
Supply Chain
A group of businesspeople stand together looking up at a dangling carrot. Credit: iStock/DNY59, Tricia Seibold
June 28, 2021
Written
Making Supply Chains Deliver More Than Just Faster, Cheaper Products
Hau Lee envisions a system that benefits buyers, consumers, workers, and the environment.
Supply Chain
Ship Ever Given, one of the world’s largest container ships, is seen after it was fully floated in Suez Canal, Egypt March 29, 2021. Photo by Reuters/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
June 16, 2021
Audio
DoorDash CEO Tony Xu on Why Obsession With Detail Matters
In this View From The Top podcast episode, Tony Xu talks about adaptability and solving problems by going deep.
Career & Success
Courtesy of Tony Xu
June 10, 2021
Audio
Former TaskRabbit CEO Stacy Brown-Philpot on Trusting Your Gut
In this View From The Top podcast episode, Stacy Brown-Philpot discusses diversity, the gig economy, and leading with integrity.
Career & Success
Image Courtesy of Stacy Brown-Philpot