The Intersection of Business Leadership and Community Advocacy

Most people keep their professional life and their advocacy work in separate boxes. I used to do the same thing. Business over here. Community work over there. Never the two shall meet.

That changed when I realized the skills that made me effective in the boardroom were the same ones that made me effective in the statehouse. And the empathy I developed through advocacy work made me a better leader in business.

Business leadership and community advocacy aren’t a conflict. They’re a competitive advantage.

TL;DR: Over 70% of job seekers consider a company’s social impact before accepting an offer (Benevity, 2025). Employees who participate in purpose programs are 52% less likely to leave. Business leadership and community advocacy aren’t competing priorities. They’re complementary. The skills transfer both directions, and the leaders who show up in their communities build stronger companies.

How do leadership skills transfer between business and advocacy?

Employees who participate in their company’s volunteer programs are 79% more satisfied with their jobs, compared to just 55% of those who don’t (Benevity, 2025). That satisfaction gap tells you something about how purpose and performance connect. Running a business teaches you how to read a room, build consensus, manage budgets, and make decisions under pressure. Those are exactly the skills you need to be an effective advocate.

When I sit down with legislators to talk about gun violence prevention, I’m not just telling an emotional story. I’m presenting data. I’m proposing solutions that have measurable outcomes. I’m anticipating objections and addressing them before they come up. Those are business skills applied to a social cause.

Going the other direction, advocacy teaches you things that business schools don’t. How to listen to people whose experiences are radically different from yours. How to stay committed to a cause when progress is painfully slow. How to motivate volunteers who aren’t getting paid a dime. Try leading a team of unpaid volunteers through a two-year legislative campaign. That will make managing salaried employees feel straightforward.

How personal loss shaped my leadership

My mother Joyce completed suicide with a gun when I was two years old. I grew up carrying that loss without fully understanding it for years. When I eventually chose to become an advocate for gun violence prevention, it wasn’t a career decision. It was a deeply personal one.

But here’s what surprised me: the more I engaged in advocacy, the better I got at business leadership. The emotional intelligence I developed by working with survivors and families translated directly into how I managed people. The ability to have hard conversations about policy made hard conversations about performance feel less daunting.

At Roofed Right America, I led 180 employees across four markets while simultaneously doing advocacy work at the state and national level. People would ask how I had time for both. My answer was always the same: I don’t do them separately. They feed each other. When was the last time you connected your personal values to your professional work?

Why more business leaders should get involved in their communities

Benevity’s 2025 State of Corporate Purpose Report found that nearly two-thirds of companies significantly shifted their corporate purpose strategies in the past year, and employee volunteering participation jumped 57% year-over-year. There’s a perception in corporate America that getting involved in social issues is risky. That it might alienate customers or partners. That it’s better to stay quiet and focus on the bottom line.

I disagree. Employees want to work for leaders who stand for something beyond profit. Over 70% of job seekers consider a company’s social impact before accepting an offer. And employees who participate in purpose programs are 52% less likely to leave (Benevity, 2025).

You don’t have to take on the most controversial issue in America. Community advocacy includes mentoring programs, workforce development, local education initiatives, environmental stewardship, and plenty of other areas where business leaders can make an impact without alienating anyone.

The real requirement is authenticity. Don’t pick a cause because it’s trendy. Pick one because it matters to you personally. People can tell the difference between a leader who genuinely cares and one who’s checking a corporate social responsibility box.

Practical ways to start

Organizations with dual programs covering both volunteering and giving see 11.7% engagement compared to 4.5% for giving only (Benevity, 2025). The data is clear that combining hands-on involvement with financial support produces the best results.

Join a local board. Nonprofits need business-minded board members who can read financial statements, develop strategy, and provide operational guidance. Your business skills are exactly what most community organizations lack.

Mentor someone. Find a young person in your industry or community who could benefit from your experience. The time investment is small. The impact is enormous. I’ve mentored dozens of people over the years, and every single one of those relationships taught me something too.

Use your platform. If you have a personal brand or a professional network, use it to amplify causes you care about. Share information. Attend events. Introduce people who should know each other. These small actions create real momentum.

Bring it into your company culture. Encourage your team to volunteer. Create paid volunteer time. Sponsor community events. Companies with structured programs like Volunteering Time Off see significantly higher participation rates (Volunteering Quotient Report, 2025). When employees see that leadership values community engagement, it strengthens your internal culture and your external reputation at the same time.

The bottom line

Business leadership and community advocacy aren’t competing priorities. They make you more effective at both. The empathy, resilience, and communication skills you gain from advocacy work will make you a better executive. And the strategic thinking, resource management, and decision-making skills from business will make you a more effective advocate.

Nearly 30 years in the construction industry have taught me a lot about building things. But the most important things I’ve built weren’t structures. They were relationships, trust, and a sense of purpose that extends beyond any one company.

If you’re a business leader sitting on the sidelines of community involvement, consider stepping in. That’s where the best work happens.

Connect with me on LinkedIn to continue this conversation, or visit my Advocacy page to learn more about the work I do outside of business.

Frequently asked questions

Can community involvement actually help my business career?

Yes. Over 70% of job seekers consider a company’s social impact before accepting an offer, and employees who participate in purpose programs are 52% less likely to leave (Benevity, 2025). Advocacy builds emotional intelligence, communication skills, and relationship networks that directly improve your business leadership. The skills transfer both directions.

How do I get involved in community advocacy as a business leader?

Start by joining a local nonprofit board where your business skills (budgeting, strategy, operations) fill real gaps. Mentor someone in your industry. Use your professional network to amplify causes you care about. Companies with structured volunteer programs see 11.7% engagement versus 4.5% for giving-only programs (Benevity, 2025).

Won’t taking public positions on social issues hurt my career?

Not if you’re authentic. Community advocacy includes mentoring, workforce development, education, and dozens of non-divisive areas. Nearly two-thirds of companies shifted their corporate purpose strategies in the past year (Benevity, 2025). The risk of staying silent, losing talent who want purpose-driven leadership, often exceeds the risk of getting involved.

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Last updated: March 9, 2026