Environmental and human rights activist Van Jones address the Conscious Capitalism Bay Area Chapter’s HigherPurpose17 conference in February 2017 via video. His inspiring message about the role of business in creating social change is worth watching.
“Capitalism itself is really on trial,” he said, emphasizing the important role business has to play in solving social problems.
“I see myself often as a changemaker because I’m into politics, but actually I don’t think the political people are making the change,” he explained. “I think it’s the business people, technology, and other folks who are making the change. The thing is, can we not just focus on making change, can we make change work for more people? That’s the opportunity.”
Jones also emphasized the important of vision and mission in creating change. “We have to start from a place with purpose,” he said.
“What is your purpose? Why were you born? Were you just born to make a whole bunch of money, put a bunch of deal points on the board before you die?” he asked the group.
“You think they’re going to put on your tombstone your net worth at the end, or how many deals you got done?” he continued. “I don’t think so. I think you were born for a higher purpose, something greater. And especially in a time like this. Out of 100 business leaders, 99 are just going to figure out how they can make the next buck. But 1 out of 100 are going to think about how they can make the next great civilization for humanity. The next great product or service or discovery that will put us on the road to being where we’re supposed to be as human beings.”
Inspiring words indeed!
