Concise Conversations that provide Context
Featuring:
Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas
Managing Director, Corporate Leadership, Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP)
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Noon-1:15 p.m. ET
Watch a video replay below.
About the Event
As we search for context in our transforming world, what role does philanthropy play? Broadly understood to encompass the human voluntary spirit, philanthropy is responding in a variety of ways to the current global crisis today. How is it doing and what role will it have in the world that is emerging?
We will engage figures who have important perspectives on how philanthropy affects our civic life now and moving forward. We hope to learn from these varied viewpoints. Join us for these live conversations so you can ask questions, engage with others, and inform your own perspective on our changing context during this crisis.
About Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas
Kari serves as managing director, corporate leadership, of Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP), a CEO-led coalition that helps companies transform their social strategy. Kari is responsible for expanding and strengthening CECP’s engagement with its coalition companies and partner organizations, and for the organization’s thought leadership, company advisory services, and growth strategies.
The corporate leadership team creates value through strategic advisory and best practices across a range of ESG issues; expertly curated knowledge and convenings including CECP’s annual Summit and bimonthly Roundtables; research and data insights by advancing how companies measure, benchmark, and lead with their data and investments; and CECP’s Global Exchange, an international network uniting country-based, mission-driven corporate societal engagement organizations to advance the corporate sector as a force for good around the world.
Prior to joining CECP, Kari led a consulting practice, which included working with FINNEGANS and its affiliated entities. FINNEGANS is the first beer company in the world to donate 100 percent of its profits to charity and is modeled after Newman’s Own social enterprise business.
Kari served as executive director, The Mosaic Company Foundation, and directed the company’s public affairs global corporate responsibility and agricultural sustainability strategies. During her tenure, Mosaic achieved ranking as one of 100 Best Corporate Citizens, Corporate Responsibility (CR) Magazine for six consecutive years and was recognized with the CECP President’s Excellence Award for the company’s agricultural development partnerships in three countries.
Kari holds a bachelor’s degree in statistics and international studies from The American University in Washington, DC and a Master of Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management at University of Minnesota, where she also has served as adjunct faculty.
Kari also has served on several nonprofit and for-profit boards, including: judge for MN Cup business plan competition in the Impact Ventures division and Grand Finals; Business Advisory Group for the Office for Technology Commercialization, Venture Center, University of Minnesota; start-up social business incubator and accelerator FINNOVATION Lab, LLC; FINNEGANS Community Fund; Corporate Responsibility Association; University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management Carlson Ventures Enterprise; fraternal insurance company Degree of Honor Protective Association (now a division of Catholic Financial Life); Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture; HELPS International; and Social Enterprise Alliance—Twin Cities.