Few people have had a career as dynamic and successful as Gene Ludwig. In this episode of EMERGE Everywhere, this Clinton administration alumnus, financial services CEO, entrepreneur, and nonprofit founder joins Jennifer to talk about his lifetime of dedication to addressing inequity. Together, they explore the need for more holistic measurements that capture the true story of what is happening for everyday Americans, and how policy changes can encourage productivity while helping to lift communities up.

In 1986, Discover introduced the concept of cashback rewards on a credit card with no annual fee, transforming the landscape of credit for good. No longer reserved for the privileged few, credit cards became an everyday tool in most wallets. In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Discover CEO and President Roger Hochschild to dig into his passion for helping the underserved. Find out how his company is backing its words with action to drive real social change and bring about a better future.

Although adequate insurance is a critical tool for financial resilience, only half of Americans are confident they would have sufficient coverage to manage an emergency. Research shows that this gap has only widened in recent years. In this episode, Jen talks to Chris Smith, Executive Vice President of Group Benefits at Guardian Life, about new opportunities to modernize the benefits experience and promote greater financial resiliency for all. Most people depend on their employers for access to insurance benefits, and Guardian has been bridging the gap to help people protect their future and secure their lives for more than 160 years. Today, the company serves 29 million people with life, disability, dental, and other insurance benefits for individuals, in workplaces, and through government-sponsored programs.

Often fintechs launch to tackle a big mission – like democratization of financial services, financial inclusion, or financial health. Get to know a fast-growing startup that’s also a for-profit company with investors and stakeholders to satisfy. In this episode, Jennifer talks to Jimmy Chen, founder and CEO of Propel, a software company that aims to fight poverty with technology. Jimmy shares the challenges his fintech faces in navigating the balancing act of growing a business, serving and earning the trust of its customers, and staying true to its financial health mission.

Stephanie Cohen quickly rose through the ranks at Goldman Sachs to become one of the youngest members of the bank’s senior leadership, joining just a small handful of women at that level. In her new role overseeing consumer and wealth management for the organization, she shepherds a vision for diversity and inclusion that prioritizes broad consumer access to high-quality financial solutions. In this episode, Jennifer and Stephanie discuss how the bank is leveraging fintech and personalized solutions to meet diverse consumer needs, while empowering clients and customers to reach their financial goals.

From his term as the 59th mayor of New Orleans to his nearly two decades leading the National Urban League, Marc Morial has been one of the country’s most influential advocates for civil rights. In this episode, Jennifer talks with Marc about important influences in his early life, why he feels building coalitions is like making gumbo, and how the National Urban League is continuing the important legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s campaign for economic justice.

How can a global powerhouse of media and technology best leverage its resources to build a more diverse and inclusive workplace and world? Newly appointed Chief Diversity Officer at Comcast NBCUniversal, Dalila Wilson-Scott, takes that challenge on every day, in addition to leading the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation and heading the company’s community impact work. In this episode, Jennifer and Dalila discuss corporate responsibility, strategies for raising the bar on diversity and inclusion through policies and programs, and the role media can play in cultivating positive change.

After a remarkable 30-plus year career at the largest U.S. bank, JPMorgan Chase, Alice Rodriguez was called upon to lead its recently announced $30 billion initiative providing economic opportunities for underserved communities, especially Black and Latinx communities, over the next five years as Head of Community Practices, Engagement and Inclusion. Daughter of an immigrant and current chairwoman for the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Alice shares insights about her perspective and goals for supporting underserved communities across the country.

From her seat at The Aspen Institute, Judy Samuelson has led a 10-year campaign to disrupt Milton Friedman’s narrative that corporations solely exist to maximize shareholder value. The past two years have provided some watershed moments. In 2019, public statements from the Business Roundtable and World Economic Forum signalled corporate leaders were embracing stakeholder capitalism – a mission to serve customers, suppliers, workers, and communities, rather than solely shareholders. But 2020 has severely tested these principes, from the pandemic to racial unrest and political divisiveness. In the wake of all this, have CEOs’ actions supported their words? In this episode, Judy discusses how corporations have responded to current crises, what it means for the future of stakeholder capitalism, and how businesses can succeed in tomorrow’s economic and social landscape.

Hannah brings a passion for financial health and knowledge of startups, nonprofits, financial services, and the fintech ecosystem at large. She will be responsible for the strategic direction of our Innovation practice, including the Financial Solutions Lab.

The Financial Health Network announced today that Hannah Calhoon has joined the team as Vice President, Innovation. In this role, she will be responsible for leading the Financial Solutions Lab, finding new ways to support our partners and innovators as they work to improve financial health for all. Learn more about Hannah’s past experience and […]