Cat Ward writes about how people, purpose, and power collide in today’s economy—and what that means for the future of work and social impact. She is the CEO of Taproot Foundation, where she leads efforts to scale civic engagement and bring cutting-edge capacity-building—including AI-driven support—to the social sector. Taproot has delivered more than $300 million in pro bono services to over 25,000 nonprofits, in partnership with companies like Adobe, PwC, and Wells Fargo.Previously, Cat was Vice President at Jobs for the Future, advising Fortune 500 employers on people-first strategies such as skills-based hiring, frontline mobility, and inclusive talent development. Her work explores social impact innovation, the evolving role of institutions, and the power of public-private collaboration to drive lasting change.