Value in a Changing World: Bringing Stakeholder Capitalism into Practice

Thursday, February 25, 2021 - 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.


Creating Real Value in a Changing World: Bringing Stakeholder Capitalism into Practice

18 months ago, the ground-breaking statement by the Business Roundtable (BRT) on the purpose of the corporation was signed by almost 200 CEOs of the largest corporations in America. Are we at a major tipping point and truly on the brink of a new form of capitalism? Guest speakers from Levi Strauss & Co. and the Aspen Institute will reflect on the progress being made and discuss tangible examples of how companies are radically altering “business as usual” to ensure alignment of positive impact on people and planet, as well as profits.

Moderated by Deborah Merrill-Sands, Dean of Paul College. 

Registration required. 

Judy Samuelson
Founder and Executive Director, Aspen Institute’s Business and Society Program

Judy Samuelson is founder and executive director of the Aspen Institute’s Business and Society Program and author of Six New Rules of Business: Creating Real Value in a Changing World (Berrett-Koehler, 2021).  Signature programs under Judy’s leadership include a ten-year campaign to disrupt Milton Friedman’s narrative about corporate purpose, the Aspen Principles of Long-Term Value Creation, and a partnership with Korn Ferry to rethink executive pay. She previously worked in legislative affairs in California and banking in New York’s garment center and ran the Ford Foundation’s office of program-related investments. Samuelson blogs for Quartz at Work and is a Bellagio Fellow and a director of the Financial Health Network.

Jason McBriarty '92
Director of Communications and Operations, Levi Strauss Foundation

Jason is the Director of Communications and Operations for the Levi Strauss Foundation, the corporate foundation of Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.). In this role, Jason is responsible for all communications – connecting the stories of the foundation and its grantees to LS&Co.’s CSR and sustainability narrative. He also serves as a key subject matter expert on philanthropy and CSR, providing guidance and input to leaders and departments across the company. He was a key member of the team that developed LS&Co.’s global environmental vision, and currently serves as an ally leader for the company’s women’s employee resource group.  

In addition, Jason oversees all aspects of the foundation’s operations, grants administration and its $73 million investment portfolio.  Jason also manages two of the Foundation’s grant portfolios – refugees and disaster relief.

Prior to his current role, Jason held leadership positions in LS&Co.’s Corporate Affairs function. For five years, he was the Global Director of Community Affairs where he led a team that worked to create positive impact in communities around the globe through employee volunteerism and strategic NGO partnerships. Before joining LS&Co., Jason worked for the Northern California Community Loan Fund, where he launched a financial training program for grassroots social justice organizations.  Earlier in his career, Jason worked in leadership positions at Habitat for Humanity.

Jason holds a Master of Business Administration from Boston University’s Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts (political science major) from the University of New Hampshire.

Jason recently became a mentor with the Unreasonable Group, an organization that supports growth-stage entrepreneurs taking on seemingly intractable social and environmental challenges globally. He also serves on several boards – including the Net Impact Corporate Advisory Council - and has presented to audiences on corporate philanthropy and CSR at U.C. Berkeley, Boston University, Babson College, the Aspen Institute, SXSW Interactive and Influence Nation Summit among others.

Jason is an avid cyclist and runner, enjoys playing tennis and frequently sends postcards. He lives in Oakland, California, but also spends significant time in his home state of New Hampshire, where his daughter Denali attends college.

A program of the Changemaker Collaborative, the Sustainability Institute's partnership with the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics and the Carsey School of Public Policy, the Changemaker Speaker Series brings innovative and inspiring leaders to campus twice per semester.