Jeremy Heimans

Architect of Social Movements; Co-founder and CEO, Purpose

BIG IDEAS

• 21st Century Movements-The Power is in the Numbers
  Technology is unlocking transformational new forms of political participation and social engagement. By harnessing the power of millions of citizens and consumers through new technologies, governments, corporations and societies are able to solve some of the world's biggest problems. Jeremy Heimans, co-founder of the ground-breaking company, Purpose, speaks to audiences about uncovering pioneering new ways to allow people to combine their power as citizens, consumers and cultural agents. He has developed and launched social and consumer movements using a model combining key insights from political organizing, behavioral economics and brand strategy to help mobilize large-scale, purposeful action. These movements deploy huge numbers of people, on-line and on the ground, to create the consumer demand and behavioral shifts required to bring about the kind of change that politics alone cannot.
  
  In this presentation, Jeremy will recount the creation and deployment of past 21st century movements orchestrated by him and his team at Purpose. You will hear about the challenges and successes from partnering with some of today's leading corporations, foundations, and political organizations to impact such issues as climate change, human rights, global governance, and the advancement for a cure for cancer.
• Harnessing the Power of Purpose-Driven Brands
  What was once considered a source of differentiation and competitive advantage, cause-marketing is becoming an over-used catchall with diluted results. Brands with serious intent are struggling to stand out and make a difference. What results are corporations discouraged to pursue impactful social strategies, and consumers feeling jaded, desensitized and less committed to well-intentioned brands.
  
  In this revealing talk, Jeremy will present how truly purpose-driven brands can once again attract attention and mobilize their consumers around the same goals. Looking at two distinct organization profiles—those where social benefit is built into the brand or is tangential to it (i.e., electric cars, or wind turbines or organic food); and those where a cause or social benefit is not intrinsic to the economic engine of a brand—Jeremy will discuss some fundamental rules for brands that want to meaningfully engage consumers around a purpose or genuine social mission.
  
  The audience will learn about the importance of internal transformation, the difference between championing a movement versus a campaign, and the impact of providing a platform for action and not being just a commentator on a cause. Movements that provide the tools for advocacy, social involvement, distributed evangelism and self organization will create successful social initiatives that create real social impact.

SNAPSHOT BIO

Jeremy Heimans has been at the forefront of developing and leading socio-political movements worldwide with the aim of addressing global issues for over two decades.  His expertise and thought leadership in technology, advocacy and economics are responsible for acclaimed and sustained non-profit and corporate-based movements. He is co-founder and CEO of Purpose.com, a social enterprise that mobilizes millions of citizens and consumers to help solve major global problems. Purpose has built global movements to fight cancer (with LIVESTRONG) and eliminate nuclear weapons in 20 years (with Global Zero, a new initiative led by more than 200 world leaders and endorsed by President Obama) and is currently building a national movement to change America’s food culture with Jamie Oliver. Purpose recently launched All Out, the world’s first global movement organization for LGBT people and their allies.

In 2007, Jeremy co-founded Avaaz.org, the world’s largest online citizens’ movement, with ten million members. In 2005, he co-founded GetUp.org, an Australian political movement and internationally recognized social movement phenomenon that today has more members than all of Australia's political parties combined. In 2004, he co-founded an advocacy group in the US presidential elections that ran a highly publicized online and media campaign, raising millions of dollars in small online donations.

Jeremy has been recognized by organizations worldwide for his influence and impact on social movements. In 2011, he received the Ford Foundation's 75th Anniversary Visionary Award for his work as a movement pioneer and World Economic Forum at Davos named him a Young Global Leader. His work has been recognized in publications like The Economist and The New York Times.  Jeremy began his career with the strategy consultants McKinsey and Company. He was educated at Harvard University and the University of Sydney. He is a citizen of Australia and the Netherlands, and lives in New York.

A Closer Look at Jeremy

FOCUS AREAS
What's on Jeremy's current research agenda?

Currently, Jeremy is deeply involved in research around movement entrepreneurialism, consumer activism, purpose-driven brands, gay rights, climate change, modern slavery, poverty, nuclear disarmament, and transition to electric vehicles.

ENGAGEMENTS
How have other organizations utilized Jeremy's expertise, and what's ahead on his schedule?

Jeremy will be in Merida and Mexico City to present at Telmex Hub.

He will be speaking in Dalian, China for the YGL/Annual Meeting of New Champions.

He will be at the Ford Foundation Forum Beyond Convention in New York City.

And he has been invited to speak at the Make a Difference Forum in Hong Kong early next year.