MoFo and BSR’s monthly conversation series, ESG Influencers – Leading Transformative Change, showcases an influencer from the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) arena, providing insights on how they are leading transformative change to help build a more sustainable future.
The 14th episode in this series focuses on “Business Leadership in the Context of 2024’s Elections,” with Aron Cramer, President and CEO of BSR, interviewing Daniella Ballou-Aares, Founder and CEO of the Leadership Now Project.
Daniella started the Leadership Now Project in 2017 to focus business leaders on the critical actions required to renew American democracy. Daniella began her career at Bain & Company, working across the firm’s offices in the United States, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. From there, she became a founding partner at Dalberg, where she led the Americas business and transformed the startup into the largest social impact strategy firm, with 25 offices worldwide. She spent five years in the Obama administration as the Senior Advisor for Development to the Secretary of State, serving under Secretaries Clinton and Kerry. Daniella’s perspectives have been featured in publications such as the Harvard Business Review, New York Times, Fast Company, and POLITICO, and at the World Economic Forum. Daniella is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and was a 2014 World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. She holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, an M.P.A. from the Kennedy School, and a B.S. cum laude in operations research and industrial engineering from Cornell.
The Leadership Now Project is a membership organization of business and thought leaders taking action to protect and renew American democracy. It mobilizes its members’ influence, expertise, and investment for high-impact solutions for American democracy. Leadership Now members are the foundation of the organization, driving action and enabling impact. Founded in 2017 by a group of Harvard Business School alumni, today the Leadership Now Project has members across more than 25 states and collaborates with faculty at 15+ colleges and universities.
Watch this episode.
For more information, please visit our conversation series page.