Can business be profitable and socially responsible?

Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman famously believed that the social responsibility of business is to increase its profits. Yet, much of the conversation about business today revolves around corporate social responsibility. Many customers and employees are demanding that companies take positions on political and social issues. Is this a good thing? Or is it incompatible with the role of business that Friedman lays out?

Our guest, Michelle Cirocco, is the chief social responsibility officer for Televerde, a national sales and marketing company, and she believes that pursuing social good and what’s good for the business can be the same thing. In fact, this belief is a critical part of Televerde’s business model to “help disempowered people find their voice and reach their human potential.” Michelle’s company employs and invests in currently incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women in their marketing business.

We’ll talk with Michelle about combining the pursuit of profit with the pursuit of social good. What can other companies learn from Televerde’s experience and how can business leaders ensure their businesses are successful and improving their communities at the same time? Are there any instances when pursuing the good is incompatible with a thriving business? We’ll ask Michelle these questions and more in our live, online discussion and Q&A.