Common Purpose
Common Purpose is a Ireland-based social enterprise that brings together people from a wide range of backgrounds to help them become more effective leaders in society. They run a range of leadership development courses in Ireland that offer participants the inspiration, knowledge and connections to help them become more active and engaged in society. Their courses provide unique insights into how leaders from all walks of life tackle day to day challenges in towns and cities. Participants are able to see at first hand how different organisations - at a local, national or international level - work together; how their areas of responsibility can overlap and interconnect; and how effective leadership depends on having a broader perspective and better understanding of the people, places and organisations around them.
The social enterprise is committed to also offer their leadership training programmes to marginalised and vulnerable groups. They supported for example Madi Sharmar, a survivor of domestic violence, who didn’t have former educational or professional qualifications. Madi needed to start her own business to survive as a single parent but didn’t know how to become a successful entrepreneur. She participated in the Common Purpose Matrix Programme in 2000, which gave her the necessary tools and skills to become a leader and drive change through her business Madi Group on the topic of gender equality. This is one of many stories from alumnis, sharing how Common Purpose made them grow.
To date, the social enterprise has delivered 4,200 programmes in 30+ years with 124,000 participants. They have worked with more than 20,000 organisations including large brands such as Uilever, Google or American Express. To make their programmes accessible, Common Purpose also offers funded scholarships to 3 in 10 participants. 87% participants reported that the programme they took part in was good value for time.
The partnership with Salesforce
Salesforce is an American cloud-based software company headquartered in San Francisco, California. It provides customer relationship management software and applications focused on sales, customer service, marketing automation, e-commerce, analytics, and application development. The large company was approached by Common Purpose and started a long-term partnership with them in 2023. The social enterprise delivers leadership training programmes to Salesforce employees across various levels, with a focus on developing inclusive leadership skills and fostering personal and professional growth. The training is about sparking curiosity, passion, and purpose in the participants, empowering them to work beyond their cultural, institutional, and social boundaries, both in the workplace and in wider society. The contract represents approximately 30,000 euros per annum.
Impact
The leadership training provided by Common Purpose has had a significant impact on Salesforce employees, fostering a deeper sense of curiosity, passion, and purpose. Through this partnership, participants are empowered to transcend cultural, institutional, and social boundaries, both in the workplace and within society at large.
Key impact metrics include:
91% of participants feel better prepared to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
97% of participants report feeling more equipped to lead and collaborate with diverse teams.
50% of participants are better able to recognize and address their blind spots, enhancing their self-awareness and leadership effectiveness.
This training not only enhances individual leadership abilities but also strengthens Salesforce’s commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and creating a positive social impact.