‘Doing good is good for business’: The power of scaling purpose at work

An organization that gives back and leans into is purpose doesn’t just look good to prospective employees and in the public eye — there’s also some positives for the business.

At Ragan’s Employee Experience Conference last month, Julie Lane, head of social impact at Cisco, told the audience that when companies lean into their purpose and give back to their communities, it affects the bottom line of the organization positively.

“Doing good is good for business,” she said. “When employees give and volunteer, we see lower attrition, higher promotion rates and stronger engagement. Purpose isn’t separate from performance — it’s part of it.”

Lane said that at Cisco, the biggest difference is made by linking the company’s mission in technology with the desire to give back. She provided an example of how Cisco helped a nonprofit called Bridges to Prosperity, which used data to help rural communities in need.