I sit down with my friend and former student, Jayson Council, alum of the Columbia University School of Professional Studies Nonprofit Management program, for a timely and thought-provoking dialogue on leadership, culture, and the evolving social impact landscape.

Jayson shares his professional journey from the nonprofit sector to founding Adjaycent Consulting and leading culture and philanthropic strategy at Gersh. His work sits at the intersection of entertainment, social innovation, and purpose-driven partnerships, helping organizations, brands, and talent align influence with impact.

Our discussion explores several pressing themes shaping the nonprofit and philanthropic ecosystem today and we also examine broader societal and sector-wide questions from DEI to AI.

Throughout our exchange, we reflect on the role of higher education, lifelong learning, and alumni networks in shaping leaders who operate across sectors while remaining grounded in mission and purpose.

This dialogue is part of an ongoing series of conversations with practitioners, alumni, and thought leaders working to reimagine the future of the nonprofit sector and its intersections with culture, technology, and social change.