2024 Power Players in Corporate Social Responsibility

Nancy Mahon is a transformational, collaborative leader with deep global experience in enterprise-wide management as well as leading environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, operations, marketing, reporting and risk reduction. Nancy is a trusted and sought-after advisor, speaker and enterprise ambassador. She is committed to taking the long view on building sustainable and inclusive companies, teams and communities. Nancy oversees the enterprise-wide leadership initiative on sustainability and serves on the Inclusion and Diversity Council.

How do you define corporate social responsibility?
We continue deepening our understanding of how our work impacts the environment and communities where we live, work, and source, focusing on issues that aren’t only strategically relevant to the Company, but of critical importance to our world. Our role as a global company is to be responsible for our business and have a global impact at the same time – seeking opportunities for innovation, partnerships, and our operations that benefit the world and are good for business.

What are your organization’s CSR goals?
Our goals are an important part of our strategy to embed social impact and sustainability into business operations. We’ve maintained a steady pace towards achieving commitments across areas including ingredients, sourcing, packaging and climate. For example, 71% of our packaging is now recyclable, refillable, reusable, recycled, or recoverable. For four years, we have achieved carbon neutrality across our Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions and sourced 100% renewable electricity globally for direct operations.

Why did you choose to pursue a career within CSR?
I trained as a public interest lawyer at NYU. I didn’t feel the courtroom was where I could make my biggest impact and spent much of my career in the nonprofit world, focusing on access to serving as Executive Director of God’s Love We Deliver. At God’s Love, MAC Cosmetics was our largest funder and invited me to lead their MAC Viva Glam campaign. I learned how purpose drives brands and the importance of strong content to connect with consumers.  

Brandee McHale has been working in the financial services and philanthropy space for more than three decades. From her start as an intern in 1991 for what was then Citicorp Foundation to her current position as head of community investing and development at Citi and president of the Citi Foundation; she has focused on dedicating her career to developing forward-thinking initiatives that connect low-income communities and communities of color to jobs, housing, and a more economically secure future. 

How do you define corporate social responsibility?
Corporate social responsibility means leveraging our financial and social capital to collaborate with others and mobilize efforts that help drive positive social impact. At Citi, we also recognize that it’s important to think about our influence as a global institution. For us, we see opportunity that goes beyond the dollars we provide – it’s about using our platforms and voice to help put solutions on the map.  

What are your organization’s CSR goals?
At Citi, we believe we have a role to play in addressing the inequities facing our global society to help build thriving, resilient, equitable and inclusive communities. We have a track record of using our global resources and expertise to empower the communities we serve and focus our work to help advance economic opportunity and address social challenges — using the firm’s business capabilities, expertise and volunteers, as well as the Citi Foundation’s philanthropy. 

Why did you choose to pursue a career within CSR?
When I was younger, I was struggling to find my way and had some challenging detours on the path to stability and opportunity. With a lot of persistence and the support of a caring adults and mentors who took a chance on me, I was able to turn things around.  But for far too many young people without the same social capital and role models the path is much steeper and further out of each.  My career has been motivated by the desire to help level the playing field for others – finding ways to make it easier for individuals and communities to get on the path to economic success. 

Johanna joined Centerbridge in 2013 and oversees the firm’s philanthropic and community engagement strategies, which are focused on increasing access to educational and economic opportunities for young people. Prior to Centerbridge, Johanna worked in the finance, nonprofit and education sectors for a decade. She is founding member of Mount Sinai Hospital NICU Family Advisory Council and serves on the board of the nonprofit Basta. A NYC native, Johanna received a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.

What are your organization’s CSR goals?
Guided by our sustainable value creation framework, Centerbridge promotes sustainability and the use of ESG criteria across our portfolio, fosters a culture focused on diversity, equity & inclusion and strives to promote a more inclusive society through our philanthropic partnerships. Centerbridge Foundation’s mission to increase access to educational and economic opportunity for all young people is integral to this framework and our culture, with the intent to strengthen communities through the Foundation’s deep philanthropic investments.

Krissy Moore has a proven track record of helping the business community maximize its social impact. Since joining Wells Fargo, she has been dedicated to forging partnerships that result in meaningful change both inside and outside the company. In her role as SVP, she leads a team of eight focused on driving community impact and supporting nonprofit programs and initiatives aligned with Wells Fargo’s national philanthropic focus areas, which include financial health, housing access and affordability, small business growth, and sustainability. 

How do you define corporate social responsibility?
For me, CSR is about addressing the most pressing societal needs and challenges and making a positive impact in the community. As a leading financial services company, Wells Fargo believes that it has a role to play in addressing social, economic, and environmental sustainability, and is committed to doing so.

What are your organization’s CSR goals?
CSR is a top priority at Wells Fargo. In collaboration with community partners and through our grantmaking, Wells Fargo is working to address systemic barriers to financial inclusion and opportunity. We hope to help build wealth, enhance economic mobility, and strengthen diverse and historically marginalized communities. We utilize our resources and expertise through philanthropy and business efforts to help build stronger communities and a more sustainable, equitable future for all.

Why did you choose to pursue a career within CSR?
I chose to pursue a career within CSR because I’ve always cared deeply about making an impact on society. I recognized that collaboration would always be key to tackling the most pressing issues faced by cities. It was important that my career allowed me to bring people together, elevate critical challenges communities face, and think through the best ways to tackle them. Working in CSR has been incredibly rewarding.

Athena brings her long-standing reputation and impact to the banking and finance industry. She also leads initiatives focused on advancing MCU’s mission, addressing racial economic equity, alleviating poverty and closing the wealth gap. Ms. Moore recently served for a decade as the Director of the Manhattan Borough President’s Northern Manhattan Office and brings 30+ years of experience leading organizations and working collaboratively with local, state and federal elected officials, city agencies, and community boards.

How do you define corporate social responsibility?
Corporate social responsibility is making a commitment to foster collaborative partnerships with the highest standards of ethical financial practices, community engagement, and environmental responsibility. It involves socially responsible investments, supporting local charities and nonprofits, and promoting financial literacy and inclusion. By combining these elements, we strive to be financially responsible while positively impacting underserved communities.

What are your organization’s CSR goals?
Our CSR goals include efforts focused on racial and economic equity, alleviating poverty, and eliminating barriers to closing the wealth gap throughout diverse communities across New York City. As part of this effort, the MCU Foundation was established in 2023, with the goal of providing resources for 1) basic necessities, 2) opportunities for higher education, 3) homeownership access to grow generational wealth. Lastly, identifying opportunities to positively impact the lives of our members and customers.

Why did you choose to pursue a career within CSR?
Athena’s passion for finance with a commitment to ethical and socially responsible practices. She is committed to aligning her work with values that benefit both members and the community. She is passionate about giving back and, throughout her career, has engaged with local communities, driven positive change, and contributed to environmental sustainability. Lastly, through her work, she is able to make a meaningful impact while building a rewarding and purpose-driven career.

Kindred Motes, founder and managing director of KMSG, is an award-winning social impact leader who has advised clients including USAID, Global Citizen, and NYC Health. He is co-founder of The Etolia Fund, vice chair of the ACLU of Alabama, and has served as a senior advisor to Global Citizen, New America, and Fountain House. His global campaigns and strategies for clients have engaged 400M+ accounts and helped causes gain 1.1M+ social media followers.

How do you define corporate social responsibility?
Corporate responsibility means being deeply embedded in practices beyond products or services. At KMSG, it’s about supporting communities that have contributed to our success. We don’t just advise companies and organizations on social impact strategies; we practice them. We’re grounded by our belief that for-profit businesses have a responsibility to do just as much, if not far more, as philanthropic organizations. Our decision to devote 10% of net profits to nonprofits came from this belief.

What are your organization’s CSR goals?
We want to demonstrate that new businesses can be profitable and socially responsible, challenging misconceptions that they’re mutually exclusive. We believe true social responsibility means both external and internal impact; including taking care of your people and their work-life balance. We hope our commitment to give 10% of post-expense revenue to non-profit organizations will inspire larger and more lucrative social impact consulting firms to question their own models, adapt, and be more socially responsible, too.

Why did you choose to pursue a career within CSR?
I wanted to bring the best of the values and mission-aligned strategies I learned at nonprofits to KMSG. I’d worked for organizations where a mission and values were communicated externally but ignored internally; I saw what that did to the culture. By creating a new kind of company that practices strategies it advises clients to adopt and implement, I knew we’d be able to tell clients, “This isn’t theoretical for us; we’re doing it, too.”

Jeanne is the former commissioner of the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development with over three decades of experience working at the intersection of government, nonprofits and the private sector. At Capalino, Jeanne provides strategic advisory services for some of NY’s leading nonprofits, such as RIP Medical Debt, New York Restoration Project and Center for Fair Futures. Jeanne’s work includes prospective planning, partnership development, public fundraising, business development, and diversity and inclusion strategy.

How do you define corporate social responsibility?
Corporate social responsibility is the work that goes beyond the mandatory requirements of a company and reflects its values. It demonstrates the company’s integrity and commitment to improving the larger community it operates in. It moves a company beyond one-dimensional transactions and toward a purpose-led organization with a long-term vision. It utilizes the tools, skills, and resources at the company’s disposal to make a unique, authentic, and lasting impact.

What are your organization’s CSR goals?
Capalino’s CSR policy focuses on assisting the community, philanthropy, and enhancing the environment. As a responsible corporate citizen in New York City and beyond, we are committed to the continued well-being of our clients and communities. Our goals include inspiring and engaging our team and serving as an example to our colleagues in the private sector. In 2023, we volunteered with the New York Restoration Project, Grand Street Settlement, and Ali Forney Center.

Why did you choose to pursue a career within CSR?
I’m motivated by what can be achieved through a partnership between the government, nonprofit, and the private sectors. By leveraging the scale and priorities of government, the mission and passion of nonprofit institutions, and the innovation and resources of companies, you can create deep and transformational change for communities. Each sector has a lot to contribute, and when they collaborate and form that three-legged stool, there’s a multiplier effect.

Carlos Naudon leads Ponce Bank, a Minority Depository Institution (MDI) and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) founded in the Bronx in 1960. Ponce Provides banking, loans, and education to underserved communities throughout NYC while supporting dozens of not-for-profits through its Ponce-de-Leon Foundation. Ranked #1 for community investment by Mighty Deposits, Ponce is committed to mission-driven banking and ranked #1 in housing focus among its CDFI peers while making 70% of recent mortgages to first-time homebuyers.

How do you define corporate social responsibility?
I immigrated from Chile as a teenager and found great opportunities here in the US, but opportunities here are skewed by historical and systemic inequities. As the leader of an MDI and CDFI (Minority Depository Institution and Community Development Financial Institution) I’m committed to ensuring that from a financial and community services aspect, we provide opportunities to those who might otherwise encounter barriers in what is supposed to be a level playing field for all.

What are your organization’s CSR goals?
Ponce Bank brings banking services, financial mastery education, small-business support, and hyper-local lending, to communities long ignored by traditional financial institutions. Financial and Social equity is baked-in to our mission and quite literally a primary reason for our existence as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).

Why did you choose to pursue a career within CSR?
I believe this career chose me! As I prepared to retire after 40 years as a CPA and Legal advisor to banking institutions all over the country, this role leading Ponce Bank arose and I viewed it as an opportunity to remain engaged, relevant, and to have a lasting impact on a community from which I had emerged, and which still faces many endemic challenges that my role here enables me to battle.

Heather Nesle is president of the New York Life Foundation and senior vice president of New York Life’s Corporate Responsibility Department, where she manages sustainability strategy and reporting. The New York Life Foundation focuses on supporting educational enhancement in middle school, childhood bereavement, and social justice causes. Since 1979, the Foundation has donated nearly $415 million across the U.S. Nesle also serves on the boards of the Afterschool Alliance, Philanthropy New York, and Monumental Women.

How do you define corporate social responsibility?  
CSR means that a company should be a positive force in the world, offering products and services that improve people’s lives, providing support for the communities where they do business, and by treating their employees with respect.

What are your organization’s CSR goals? 
New York Life exists for good, the good of our policy owners, their families, and our communities. At 178 years young, our mission has always been embedded in our responsibility to deliver peace of mind and financial security to our policy owners, above all else. Our Foundation extends that mission by focusing on areas where we feel we can have an authentic hand in improving people’s lives – childhood bereavement support, middle school education and social justice.

Why did you choose to pursue a career within CSR?
I always wanted to find a career that would let me give back while working with smart, interesting people. CSR has checked all of those boxes. I get to harness the incredible power and humanity of New York Life and work with some of the most innovative and passionate people in the philanthropic and sustainability sectors. What could be better?

Justina Nixon-Saintil is an IBM vice president and global head of the company’s corporate social responsibility and environmental, social and corporate governance initiatives. In this role Justina drives the initiatives that enable IBM and its employees to transform their altruism into reality for communities and the planet, with a focus on career readiness and environmental sustainability. Justina earned her Master of Business Administration from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business and her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo.