As the 2026 Halo Awards Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Carol Cone has played a defining role in shaping the field of corporate purpose and cause marketing, helping build the very foundation of how companies and nonprofits partner to drive impact.

Today, that field is at an inflection point.

In this candid and forward-looking conversation, Carol joins Engage for Good CEO Muneer Panjwani to reflect on the moments that built the movement, examine where it has fallen short, and explore what the next era of corporate social impact will require.

Together, they’ll unpack:

• Where purpose has delivered real value and where it has become performative
• How leading organizations are navigating growing complexity and constraint
• What needs to change for partnerships to remain relevant and effective
• What the future of purpose-driven business looks like in a more demanding environment

This conversation will challenge assumptions, surface hard truths, and offer a clear-eyed, hopeful perspective on what it takes to lead with purpose when it’s not easy.