Milken Institute · Leading with Purpose: The Corporate Moral Compass | Global Conference 2026

1. 1. Living with purpose is what truly matters, especially for businesses, as it fosters long-term relevance and meaning for employees and communities.
2. 2. Carhartt's 137-year legacy is rooted in championing the worker and protecting them, a purpose that remains as vital today as it was at the company's inception.
3. 3. A genuine purpose, deeply integrated into a business model, creates unstoppable, sustainable, and scalable impact far beyond traditional non-profit efforts.
4. 4. Patagonia's mission is to save the home planet, achieved by giving 1% of revenue and 100% of profits to environmental organizations and consistently upholding its values.
5. 5. Lowe's is investing $250 million to train 250,000 skilled trades individuals to address a critical national shortage, challenging societal norms that devalue vocational careers.
6. 6. CEOs should focus on communicating issues core to their brand's identity rather than feeling obligated to speak on every political or social matter, avoiding divisive 'blue' or 'red' branding.
7. 7. Diverse leadership teams are built by seeking talent everywhere and refusing to reject individuals based on their differences, rather than relying on quotas or shortcuts.
8. 8. True corporate purpose is embedded in every daily business interaction, from employee well-being to product quality, rather than being confined to a separate foundation or ESG initiative.
9. 9. Leaders should lead their companies as they wished they were led, tactically translating that philosophy into tangible benefits like discretionary bonuses and stock options for frontline employees.
10. 10. Companies using AI solely for headcount reduction lack imagination; instead, AI should be leveraged to enhance employee productivity, create new job categories, and add more value.
11. 11. The growing wealth divide and ostentatious displays of riches create societal anger and highlight the need for businesses to model a different form of commerce that prioritizes communal well-being over hoarding resources.