Carol L. Cone

Carol L. Cone is the CEO at Carol Cone ON PURPOSE. Prior to this position she was the Global Chief Strategist of Edelman Business + Social Purpose, where she led Edelman’s CSR, sustainability and citizenship offering, a team of more than 100 worldwide. When she is not giving speeches to business groups, MBA’s and NGO’s, she rolls up her sleeves to work with clients on purpose initiatives which have included the American Lung Association, Bezos Family Foundation Dove, HP, Microsoft, PNC, Samsung, Southwest Airlines, and Unilever.

Before joining Edelman, she was the founder and CEO of Cone, Inc., where she pioneered the practice of companies and brands linking to social issues for commercial success and societal impact. At Cone, she led the creation of long standing social initiatives including: Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, Reebok Human Rights programs, Heinz Family Works, PNC Grow Up Great, the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women and P&G’s Live, Learn and Thrive. These programs have raised more than $1.5 billion for social causes.

Carol also created the world’s first cause related research, and over the years has executed dozens of studies with citizens, employees and executives.

Through this work she is a requested expert around the globe, and has been called “arguably the most powerful and visible figure in the world of cause branding” by PRWeek. She is the author of Breakthrough Nonprofit Brands, was the first US Judge of the Cannes PR Lions, was named to PRWeek’s first list of the Most Powerful PR Professionals, and most recently was named to the Purpose 100.