2024 Power Players in Corporate Social Responsibility

Andrea Armeni is associate clinical professor of social finance and public service and director of the social impact, innovation and investment specialization at NYU’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. He is also the co-founder and former executive director of Transform Finance, a nonprofit research, education, and implementation partner that explores how capital can be made more just and equitable and how social change can be achieved both in and through finance.

How do you define corporate social responsibility?
I view it broadly, as a way to understand the relationship between enterprises and society, in a way that goes beyond the self-interest of the enterprise as if it existed in a vacuum. It is rooted in the recognition that owners, employees, suppliers, customers – all wear multiple hats and are in relation with each other and with third parties, which implies certain duties, not just privileges.

What are your organization’s CSR goals?
NYU Wagner is foremost a school of public service. The specialization in social impact, innovation, and investment aims to support the manifold journeys of students who take the notion of public service seriously and incorporate it into careers that range from the corporate sector to sustainable finance and design thinking. One goal is to lift up the voices of leaders that come from outside the private sector informing what our next economy should look like.

Crystal Barnes is executive vice president of social impact and ESG at Paramount. In this role, Barnes is responsible for social responsibility programs, global giving and cross-portfolio campaigns and partnerships. She also leads the company’s Content for Change initiative – which focuses on driving systemic change, across the company’s entire content creation lifecycle through inclusive storytelling and ESG efforts inclusive of strategy, external reporting and assessments and is responsible for driving culture initiatives. 

How do you define corporate social responsibility?
Corporate social responsibility is the conscious and intentional commitment of a company to contribute positively to society, beyond its core business activities. It involves ethical business practices, environmental sustainability, and active engagement in addressing societal and environmental issues.   

What are your organization’s CSR goals?
We lean into our core strengths – unleashing the power of our content, creating inspiring cultural moments and reaching diverse global audiences.  We educate audiences, amplify voices, and use our content, platforms and reach to inspire action and create lasting change. Our goal is to have a meaningful impact on both society and the environment and our employees and community partners help us bring that strategy to life. It’s who we are. It’s our legacy

Why did you choose to pursue a career within CSR?
It’s the humanity of it all that fuels me. Bringing real-world impact to our CSR initiatives, fostering connection, and supporting underrepresented communities is a journey and a dream. It’s always been important to me to leverage my resources and access to advance communities and honor the many sacrifices made by those who came before me. It’s a responsibility and a privilege that I carry, daily.

Francine Chew is the head of corporate impact at Guardian, where she leads its community engagement, philanthropy, and sustainability. Previous roles include VP, business engagement in Prudential Financial’s Inclusive Solutions, and founding program officer of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses. She began her career in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch. Francine holds a B.A. in economics from Yale University, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and was a Fulbright Scholar in Ecuador.

How do you define corporate social responsibility?
Because I spent the first years of my career in a P&L business, my approach to CSR is grounded in concepts of effectiveness and return. Therefore, I believe a company’s CSR strategy should benefit communities at scale and align to its purpose and priorities while contributing to a culture that drives colleagues’ engagement and innovation.  Ultimately, CSR can’t be an afterthought but an integral part of the business and its corporate impact strategy.

What are your organization’s CSR goals?
CSR at Guardian is guided by our purpose to inspire well-being for colleagues, customers, and communities. Our CSR goals are directly connected to our business objectives. For example, as a leading disability insurer, we collaborated with the University of Michigan to fund the Adaptive Student Athlete Program that provides collegiate athletes living with disabilities with more opportunities. We also partnered with EVERFI to integrate financial wellness education into high school curriculums across the US.

Why did you choose to pursue a career within CSR?
I have personally benefited from participating in programs that were transformative to my life, and will impact my family for generations to come. For example, many CSR programs and individuals funded Prep for Prep, a leadership development program for NYC minority youth that introduced me to amazing educational experiences. Because my life is a testament to the impact of CSR, I am honored to facilitate similar outcomes for others.

Alex is the president of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, the nonprofit organization that she and her husband Steve co-founded in 2001. She is the inspiration behind the Foundation, directing its giving toward Lyme and tickborne disease research, underserved communities, psychedelics and mental health, children’s health and education, the arts, and sustainability. Alex is also the president of the Amazin’ Mets Foundation, which she created in 2020 after she and her husband Steve purchased the New York Mets. Alex was born in Harlem, New York and grew up in Washington Heights. After studying communications at New York’s Manhattan College, she worked in the financial industry until she married Steve in 1992. Since then, she has spent her time raising their family and focusing on their philanthropic endeavors. Alex was named one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in U.S. Philanthropy” by Inside Philanthropy.

Beth Correa is executive vice president and head of Flagstar Bank’s Office of Corporate Responsibility. She is responsible for strengthening Flagstar’s position as a socially responsible company by directing diversity and inclusion programs, Flagstar Foundation, and Flagstar’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy. She joined Flagstar in 2011 as senior vice president and market manager with responsibility for the bank’s branch network in Southeast Michigan.

How do you define corporate social responsibility?
We define corporate responsibility as Flagstar Bank’s obligation to operate ethically, sustainably and understand our impact on all our stakeholders including employees, clients, communities, the environment and shareholders. The work includes minimizing our environmental footprint, focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, supporting communities and adhering to a solid foundation of governance. Done well, corporate responsibility work serves to balance financial objectives with social and environmental concerns that benefit all stakeholders.

What are your organization’s CSR goals?
The Office of Corporate Responsibility supports Flagstar in cultivating and promoting prosperity and equity for our stakeholders while sustaining and protecting the environment. Through our work, we strive to encourage and support a diverse culture, sense of purpose and belonging. Our focus is to align and integrate our work with the business objectives of the organization and create opportunities for our employees, customers and communities to engage with the corporate responsibility team in our work.

Why did you choose to pursue a career within CSR?
I have always been passionate about being involved with my community and jumped at the chance to engage more fully with others at Flagstar and our communities in advancing this work on a larger scale.  Working in CSR enables me to be a part of a broader community of CSR professionals who are all focused on driving positive change in sustainable development, ethical business practices and addressing social and environmental challenges.

Wendy Dessy is the director of corporate social responsibility for Proskauer, where she focuses on creating and supporting programs that lead to lasting change. Wendy heads all aspects of social responsibility, board service, workplace giving and disaster-relief initiatives, including educating the firm about CSR opportunities. Prior, Wendy served as executive director for the NYC Cool Roofs Initiative and as manager of Public-Private Partnerships for the Mayor’s Office of Service and Volunteerism in the Bloomberg Administration.

How do you define corporate social responsibility?
Corporate social responsibility is a commitment. It’s the commitment of our company and our people to contribute to and engage with our communities, in meaningful and impactful ways, in order to strengthen those communities. It holds our firm accountable to our commitment of doing good and creates opportunities for all personnel to become vested and actively participate in the success of our programs.

What are your organization’s CSR goals?
At Proskauer, we have a strong connection to the communities in which we live and work. Our goal is to create and support programs that lead to lasting change in our communities. It’s also important that our people have a stake in our initiatives. By welcoming their input and creating programs our people care about, all of our personnel have opportunities to participate and bring their own experiences to our programs.

Why did you choose to pursue a career within CSR?
During my time in the Bloomberg Administration, I saw many deep-rooted problems affecting individuals, families and our communities-at-large throughout the five boroughs. It was incredibly rewarding to participate and witness how policy, legislation, innovation, strategic programming, compassion and care can impact change. A career in CSR felt like a natural progression to continue to help meet the many pressing needs of our city and beyond. There is so much more to do!

Emma DeVito is president and chief executive officer of VillageCare and VillageCareMAX Managed Care Plans. VillageCare is a community-based, nonprofit organization that offers managed care as well as post-acute and community-based programs. VillageCareMAX is one of the largest and fastest-growing plans in New York City.

Eric DiMiceli oversees the league’s NBA Cares platforms including business and community partnerships, and marketing and content strategy for the league’s social impact efforts. In this role, he leads the development of business-driving programs across education, youth and family development, health and wellness and diversity and inclusion, and serves as the primary social impact contact with partners. Additionally, he leads marketing programs and sponsored events around tentpole events globally.

How do you define corporate social responsibility?
CSR is the responsibility to support the communities where an organization operates. It brings together government, non-profits, corporations and community leaders to identify challenges and opportunities in an area, and provide resources that leave a positive impact in that community. Social responsibility is not just about financial support or awareness, it’s also a mindset that needs to be in the DNA of corporate leadership and employees every day.

What are your organization’s CSR goals?
To be a bridge for different cultures, communities and people through the game of basketball. The NBA is committed to addressing important societal issues globally by providing support and resources to underrepresented communities. We collaborate with our teams, players and partners to take a stand on issues and shine a spotlight on the challenges of those underrepresented. The NBA partners with entities and organizations committed to doing good in the communities that they serve. 

Why did you choose to pursue a career within CSR?
I find fulfillment with helping others or amplifying something amazing in the world. I grew up an avid sports fan, and when the opportunity arose to work at the NBA’s community relations department, it was an easy decision knowing the values of the NBA. Over 17 years, I’ve had the opportunity to be close to a sport I love and play a role in how the NBA supports individuals, schools, families and underrepresented groups.

Domingo is president and COO at Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts, Manhattan’s closest casino and the largest gaming floor in MGM Resorts’ portfolio. Formerly CFO of Bellagio in Las Vegas, Domingo is an industry veteran with decades of experience in law, finance, hospitality & gaming. First generation Filipino-American, received his B.A. and MBA from Duke University, and J.D. from NYU School of Law. Domingo resides in Westchester with his wife, twin daughters and dogs.

How do you define corporate social responsibility?
CSR is, simply put, serving the communities our employees and guests call home. At Empire City Casino, we work to create a positive impact in these communities every day. We demonstrate this to the communities that have welcomed us, by supporting non-government organizations that provide critical services to community members and families. Through our CSR work, we strive to exemplify our philosophy of embracing humanity every day.

What are your organization’s CSR goals?
Grounded by our company values, MGM Resorts has publicly stated goals that positively impact communities where our employees and guests live. We support programs that align with our philanthropic pillars: fighting hunger, funding public education, and workforce development and focusing on environmental sustainability. Our support comes in varying forms, including financial grants, in-kind donations, and volunteerism that encourages team members to dedicate time, talent and labor to contribute to nonprofit partners across the globe.

Why did you choose to pursue a career within CSR?
Company culture is a critical component of my career. With volunteerism, community spirit, and a strong commitment to diversity all serving as integral elements of MGM Resorts’ culture, pursuing a career that thrived within the CSR space was simple. With more than 61,000 community-minded team members engaged in our communities, MGM Resorts strives to make a difference, and I am honored to be recognized in my career for doing so.

Jeanique Druses is the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic head of global philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase & Co., a global leader in corporate philanthropy with more than $350 million invested in communities. Annually. Prior to joining JPMorgan Chase & Co., Jeanique, a former business owner, designed, launched and led resident business development efforts at the New York City Housing Authority, providing access to business building services to over six hundred thousand persons. Jeanique has also held management positions in operations, strategic marketing, finance, and business development at Verizon, Mercedes Benz, and American Express and taught entrepreneurship and marketing in the City University of New York system. 

How do you define corporate social responsibility?
JPMorgan Chase is committed to New York City and advancing inclusive economic growth for communities of color. From the way we do business to the policies we advocate for, these commitments are part of a continued effort to bring an enhanced equity lens to JPMorgan Chase’s businesses and how we serve customers, communities and employees.

What are your organization’s CSR goals?
JPMorgan Chase is harnessing its expertise in business, public policy and philanthropy across four core areas to help tackle racial inequities and provide economic opportunity for communities of color by: Promoting and expanding affordable housing and homeownership; growing minority-owned businesses; improving financial health; and further supporting our employees and increasing workforce diversity.

Why did you choose to pursue a career within CSR?
I’m passionate about investing the firm’s resources, collaborating with other public and private funders to address systemic barriers to social change. I hope to see more New Yorkers, who were struggling prior to the pandemic, recover and move into a time of thriving – understanding the opportunities available to them, going after those opportunities and building generational wealth.