Episode 12: The Power of Corporate Philanthropy
The media is the fourth estate, and although we vehemently argue about its influence on society and its part in determining our thoughts and beliefs, there is still room for discussion on how the media may contribute to positive change and what media companies are doing to leave a lasting impression.
We talk with Dennis Williams, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Warner Brothers Discovery, in this interesting episode. During our conversation, Dennis takes us on a tour of his incredible journey, from his modest beginnings and lessons gained to his current position of influence and effect. He shares his passion for working with his team and resources to drive positive and long-lasting change.
Dennis articulates the profound impact of media and corporate philanthropy in reshaping perceptions and attitudes, highlighting the pivotal role of CSR at Warner Brothers Discovery in seeking to uplift marginalized communities, foster avenues for artistic and technological pursuits, and advocate for ecological stewardship.
Dennis also emphasizes the importance of family, community, and being in service of others as a path to realizing dreams, having an impact, and creating pathways for the next generation of leaders to help change the world, one idea at a time.
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Show Notes
Dennis Williams leads Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for Warner Brothers Discovery, where he oversees the company’s global philanthropic strategies, community and corporate partnerships, volunteer program, and ESG & CSR initiatives. Prior to Warner Bros. Discovery, Williams was Head of CSR at WarnerMedia and HBO, where he started his career in human resources in 1997.
Dennis is an advocate for equality in education and LGBT rights and serves on the board for The Fund for Public Schools, The Center for Fiction and NYC’s LGBTQ Community Center. A native of Kansas City, Williams holds a B.A. in English from Hamline University.
Key More Elephant Takeaways from the conversation:
Dennis shares his journey to becoming a figure in corporate social responsibility, and his passion for bringing the power media of philanthropy to foster lasting social impact.
Dennis also discusses how his life, career, and his strategic approach to social responsibility have been influenced by his family, especially his grandmother.
Dennis discusses the importance of maintaining humanity and empathy in a world increasingly influenced by technology.
and more…
More About Dennis Williams:
LinkedIn: Dennis D. Williams | Website: WBD Values
Transcript
More Elephant Intro
Welcome to the latest edition of the More Elephant podcast, where we talk with change makers, idea makers, and just incredibly thoughtful people that I think the world needs to learn more about because they're doing things to create a better lived experience for many people in this world.
I'm delighted to welcome a dear friend whom I've known for many years. Dennis Williams is the Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Warner Brothers Discovery. He's responsible for a few things. Philanthropy, social impact, employee engagement, and the aspects of the ESG strategy that Warner Brothers Discovery pursues.
So, we're going to get into an interesting conversation about origin. How origin brought Dennis forward to what he does today and the impact of that work, both on the community at large and the impact that it has on Dennis as a person. So, with that, Dennis, welcome to the conversation.
[00:01:37] Dennis Williams: Hey, Jason. I'm wondering if there's like theme music, right? Like, what is the sound that people are hearing? Like, just looking out of the window.
[00:01:46] Jason Rudman: We have a theme. Well, we have a theme, but we don't have that one. But if you want to riff and sing, you absolutely can.
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