As companies across the Triangle continue to navigate a competitive labor market, many are rethinking how they approach employee engagement, workplace culture, and community involvement.

The upcoming Triangle Businesses for Good Summit, hosted by Activate Good on May 13 at Lenovo, will bring together business leaders, HR professionals, and community partners to explore how purpose-driven strategies are shaping the future of work.

For years, corporate social responsibility efforts were often treated as standalone initiatives. Today, more companies are integrating community impact into broader business goals, recognizing its role in talent recruitment, retention, and overall performance.

The shift comes at a critical time. U.S. employee engagement dropped to just 31% in 2024, a 10-year low, according to Gallup data. (Empact Blog) At the same time, companies with highly engaged teams see up to 23% higher profitability and significantly lower turnover. (Empact Blog)

Corporate responsibility efforts are also proving to be a business driver. Companies that prioritize these initiatives can see up to a 35% increase in employee retention over time, according to industry research. (Procurement Tactics)

“Companies are realizing that employee experience, culture, and community engagement are closely connected,” said Rose Thompson, Executive Director of Activate Good. “This is no longer a secondary effort; it’s becoming a core part of how businesses operate and grow.”

The half-day summit will feature a series of interactive sessions designed to provide actionable insights for business leaders.

Topics include:

• Stakeholder mapping to align business priorities with community impact opportunities
• Strategies to improve employee well-being and prevent burnout while maintaining performance
• Skills to strengthen communication, trust, and team effectiveness
• Approaches to building resilient organizations that can respond to community needs during times of crisis
• Leadership strategies that foster engagement and drive innovation

Emcee – Alex Dumas
Opening Energizer – Paul Miller
Power-Up for Purpose: How Stakeholder Mapping Can Level Up Your Impact – Jessie Hathcock
Drive Powerful Action WITHOUT Burning Out – Dr. Susie Hansley
Level Up: Skills That Move Us Forward – Paul Miller & Dawn Daria
The Engagement Power-Up: What Leaders Must Know About Employee Wellbeing – Dr. Amna Shabbir
The Long Game: Business Impact in Blue, Gray, and Dark Skies – Panel moderated by Briles Johnson, Panelists: Daniel Altenau, Kathleen Evans, & Ret Boney
Vulnerability as a Leadership Advantage – Chris Hendricks
Closing Keynote – Mary Jacques

While interest in purpose-driven business is growing, many organizations still face challenges in moving beyond one-time volunteer efforts to more strategic, sustained engagement.

Only about one-third of U.S. employees report being fully engaged at work, highlighting a gap between workplace satisfaction and a meaningful connection to the company’s mission and culture. (HIGH5 Strengths Test)

The summit aims to help leaders bridge that gap by offering tools and frameworks that connect impact initiatives directly to business outcomes.

For Triangle businesses, the conversation is increasingly focused on balancing performance with purpose, and doing both effectively.