Welcome To Founders Forum

Announcer 0:01

Entrepreneur, founder, author and financial advisor, Marc Bernstein helps high-performing business owners turn their visions into reality. At March Forward, Marc and his partners and associates think out of the box to partner with their clients in regards to their visions for their lives, their businesses and their legacies. And through his innovative work with the Forward Focus Forums, Marc connects entrepreneurs to resources that help to fuel their success. Founders’ Forum is a radio show and podcast where entrepreneurs share their journeys, revealing the stories behind their successes, and the lessons they’ve learned. Join Marc and his guests for a mix of inspiration, valuable insights, and a bit of fun! Now, let’s dive in..

Marc Bernstein 0:45

Good morning, America. How are you? How are you, people in the studio? Good morning, Arlo. Whatever you're doing this morning, wherever you're walking right now. It's my dog. I miss him. He's in Pennsylvania and I'm in Florida right now. So here we are again in beautiful Florida. Another gorgeous day here at Babcock Ranch. We've had a lot of Babcock Ranch-oriented shows, and our guest today is Michele, somebody I met while walking around one day in Babcock Ranch. Welcome, Michele.

Michele Sullivan 1:15

Thank you.

Marc Bernstein 1:15

And I've also got Matt Brampson here. It's 3Ms we have. It's the 3M show. We have Michele, Mark, and Matt. I think I may have told you, Michele, that I was going to be Michele if I was a girl. So I've always liked that name, and I've always liked the Beatles song. So there you go.

What Looking Up Really Means

Marc Bernstein 1:31

So anyway, so our topic of the day, and this will make a lot more sense in a few minutes, is looking up. Michele, you've used that term a lot, and we'll talk about that in a minute. But I want to hear about in the in the literal sense, but also the figurative sense of what that means to you.

Michele Sullivan 1:49

Sure. So figuratively, we all want to be positive, and in life it's really tough sometimes. And you could say we're kind of in that environment right now a little bit for different reasons. Just a little bit. A little bit for different reasons. And you know, even when you're a child, your parents always encourage you to keep trying and and keep trying, you know, looking up in terms of what your opportunities are and so forth. And so figuratively for me, I look up to everyone. Uh my previous job when I before I retired uh involved philanthropy. And so when you focus on those in poverty and their desires and ambitions are the same as all of us. They want their children to be educated and healthy and have a good life. And when people in the poorest parts of the world can still be looking up in a positive way with their perspective and putting that into their family and their children, that's figuratively for me. We all want to look up and think positively and really thrive in life.

Marc Bernstein 2:51

So that's great. And I'm glad you just went to the figurative sense. You have a great storytelling sense and a great sense of drama to not give away the literal part. So now let me introduce Michele and you'll understand better.

Michele’s Story And Early Confidence

Marc Bernstein 3:05

Michele is unforgettable, and that is true, from a young person born with a very rare type of dwarfism, who, in spite of being looked down upon by others, learned to look up to lead with an elevated view of others, a philosophy that landed her at the helm of one of the world's most prominent philanthropic organizations, which I'll give that away now as the Caterpillar Foundation. And with inspiring style, she offers a unique perspective and inspiration for individuals and leaders that attest to the fundamental role one's perspective plays in life. So I just want to um add that she's an author, and the name of her book is Look It Up. Looking up. And uh in addition to that, I mentioned that she ran the she was president of the Caterpillar Foundation and director of social innovation there. And I might add that despite her limit, she doesn't, I don't think she looks at them as limitations, but she's had challenges and we'll talk about that. But despite all of that, she travels around the world speaking to all kinds of groups and inspiring many. Um and I I just wanted to say too, this is not your typical founder. And we talked about this this morning, but her story is so um so inspirational that I had to have her on. But in a sense, she is because she when she tells you about her career at Caterpillar and then rising to lead the Caterpillar Foundation, she's really a creator because she really created something that was impactful, but she took it to a whole nother dimension with what she did. Is that a fair way to put it? So so let's start with your story, which you describe in your book, but we'll obviously an abbreviated us uh version of that in terms of your growing up, in terms of your the influence of your parents, in terms of what you went through as a child and um how it led you into a career.

Michele Sullivan 5:05

Yeah, thank you very much. You know, we all have value and we have to figure that out as as you're a child and as you grow up. And so I was born, you know, many decades ago, where uh being born a little person, they didn't have a lot of promise, you know, in terms of society and so forth. But I was very fortunate to be born to the parents that I was born to, the family and also this country. Uh being born in the United States was the best thing too, because as I've traveled and I see other handicapped people where they're never seen. And I didn't have that. I was thrown out there. My parents wanted me and expected me to participate and gave me the courage and and I had the health care I needed, etc. Uh the education I needed. When you think about the foundation, even with those in poverty that I write a lot about, it's all about the family unit also. It starts with the family. And so for me that was vitally important in my situation. And so my dad worked a caterpillar, retired. We're typical caterpillar family. My sister worked a cat. So of course, you know, through college and after.

Marc Bernstein 6:19

By the way, you're from Indiana, right? I'm from Illinois. Oh, Illinois. Central Illinois. And that but that's where caterpillars are located.

Michele Sullivan 6:25

Right. So that was obviously where I wanted to work after graduate school. And you know, when I look back, I've been retired eight years and thirty years I worked there. When you think about almost forty years, for them to hire someone like me, four feet tall, a woman that uses crutches. That just doesn't happen. I mean, that would I would have trouble today in some instances being hired, even with my uh education and credentials. Right.

Marc Bernstein 6:55

So back then even with the moves towards inclusiveness and the other. Exactly.

Michele Sullivan 6:58

Yeah, that oh that wasn't even a play back then. Of course, yeah. And so when you think about it, my parents played a pivotal role in my confidence and my perspective.

Marc Bernstein 7:08

Well, there are great stories in your book, I just have to say, both about your father and your mother. Oh, exactly.

Michele Sullivan 7:13

Yeah, I mean I give all the credit, all the credit to the case.

Marc Bernstein 7:16

Are they living by the way? Neither one. Yeah, I didn't think so.

Michele Sullivan 7:19

So we all have value in some way. Well, I'm not gonna go help unload a truck or paint a wall. I can give other type of uh value through uh leadership and and perspective. And you know, I'm also a geek in terms of technology I love. So we we all have value that we can provide in any situation. And that's really important that we talk about that. And when I go out and speak, you know, when you think about, oh, I don't have anything to to provide, you know. Not really, you know. Yeah, and also just to help give people confidence and you know, and also give grace when when you need to. You know, if someone you think uh kind of you went to a store or something and they didn't maybe greet you or treat you right, you have to step back and think, you know, what happened today?

Marc Bernstein 8:08

You know, I just have to tell you, I think I always have done this naturally because I I had my own stuff to deal with like a lot of people did as well. We all have, haven't we? Right? So but your and I well, I always thought I was doing this, but your book really I wouldn't say changed my mindset, but reminded me of what my mindset should be all the time because it doesn't matter who you're in front of, it's a cashier or a delivery person or whatever it is that you're dealing with. There there's always a story there, and I now I now look up to people like that because and I'm not I'm not sure that I consciously did that before, but now it's conscious and you influence it.

Michele Sullivan 8:44

And that they add value to what you just did that day. Right, absolutely they helped you check out or whatever it is they did, they have value and you have to appreciate that and also let them know. And so as my career progressed, I was on the on the business side, but my passion has always been not for profits, and Caterpillar, of course, is my passion because it's with our family. And the foundation uh job rarely came open. It hadn't come open for 20 plus years, because once you get in, you don't want to get out. And it came open, and I had uh about almost eight years left of work, and my boss told me about it, and it's the most requested job when it comes open. And so I knew it was a long shot, no pun intended. But I put in and the CEO picks the person because you're kind of the front of the philanthropic arm of the company, and I got the job, and it was profound, it changed me as much as I traveled personally.

Marc Bernstein 9:45

By the way, that I just want to point out that happened to you several times along the way in Caterpillar. Right.

Michele Sullivan 9:50

Oh yeah, they were very open. I mean, I've been very blessed, you know, and and to be quite frank, Caterpillar was a very male-dominated company.

Marc Bernstein 10:00

That was another amazing aspect of it.

Michele Sullivan 10:02

And still is, and so they were very open, and um you just keep progressing, and as you do your work, people find out, you know, your type of work you do and and leadership, and I was given opportunities.

Marc Bernstein 10:16

And so when it came to the case, I just I just want to say real quick, uh because they were very open, but you were also you displayed excellence at at every level, which is one of the reasons why you kept moving up.

Michele Sullivan 10:26

I just want to make sure you I volunteered a lot. I mean, I I did everything to you know show that I could I could do whatever they wanted me to do.

Marc Bernstein 10:35

Yep.

Michele Sullivan 10:35

And so that was my dream job, and I got it. And I felt very blessed and I ran with it.

Marc Bernstein 10:40

I that was how long ago was that?

Michele Sullivan 10:42

Yeah, that was 2011.

Marc Bernstein 10:44

Right. So 15

Landing The Caterpillar Foundation Role

Marc Bernstein 10:45

years ago. And you held that for how long?

Michele Sullivan 10:48

Seven and a half years, and I retired at 30 years. We could retire at 30 years. Right.

Marc Bernstein 10:52

Yeah. So you're still a caterpillar employee in that role, right?

Michele Sullivan 10:57

I was oh yeah, you're still an employee of in that role. Yeah.

Marc Bernstein 11:00

Yeah, yeah. So tell us about that. Where you where you found it, you know, when you got there and and what happened over the time in this over those seven and a half years.

Michele Sullivan 11:10

I was only the fifth or sixth person and the first female. So the person, two people before me held it for 20 years. And over that 20 year period, a foundation was, to be honest, you just kind of wrote local checks and you did it because it you're supposed to do it. And I ran it like a business.

Marc Bernstein 11:32

Oh, by the way, I went sorry to keep interjecting, but for those that don't know, I didn't know this till I read the book. But that's I believe a three billion dollar foundation, right?

Michele Sullivan 11:40

Uh no, not three billion. The the we get a percentage of sales each year. Right. So, you know, I won't say the percentage, but it's it's significant each year. Okay. Caterpillar is incredibly generous.

Marc Bernstein 11:54

And so I didn't mean how much they raise each year, but I meant I I somewhere money? Somewhere, no, well, somewhere I thought the foundation has, you know, there's like a it's almost like an is it an endowment, like where there's also there's a big amount of money in there today.

Michele Sullivan 12:08

Yeah, the the uh the last thing I did before I retired, I created an endowment and I funded it.

Marc Bernstein 12:13

Oh, yeah.

Michele Sullivan 12:14

So now they're for seven years, eight years there's been an endowment. Yes.

Marc Bernstein 12:18

But it's very well one of the more substantial foundations I wanted to do. It is in the world. Yes, it is.

Michele Sullivan 12:23

And so treating it like a business, you know, we were kind of like the shark tank. We had three pillars

Accountability And Impact In Giving

Michele Sullivan 12:31

education, basic human needs, and the environment. So let's take water, for example. There may be a hundred organizations that can provide water to somewhere in the world. How do we decide which one you pick? So you have to give us what are we gonna get for our investment. I call it investment. And a lot of the not-for-profits didn't do couldn't do their impact reports. Well, you know we're gonna get a lot of w access to water, you just need to trust us. No. No. We want to know where the money goes, and we wanted you to show us what the impact is because we want the most for our dollars.

Marc Bernstein 13:11

They have to earn their way.

Michele Sullivan 13:12

I felt we owed that to our employees, our customers, our dealers who made all this money possible. And so once they got the hang of that, and it caused angst, I'll be honest, it was you know, that was not how it used to be. This there was accountability. So you brought that up. I brought accountability, absolutely. And I did that on the business side. You know, I had a PL and all that. So this was very much like that. So when you think about it, because they now could provide their impact report, other people were also asking for the same. Things had changed. There's there's no such thing as just giving. Even when I invest, I want to know where the dollars go and how do how do you count your impact. So now they got other investors because they can say, oh, here's our impact. So it really was a positive idea, and they eventually got used to it. And if they didn't, then we couldn't do business.

Marc Bernstein 14:13

The other piece was sounds like you impacted accountability throughout Caterpillar in your different roles.

Michele Sullivan 14:19

Well, yeah, Caterpillar's incredibly, like all businesses, accountable in every way. And then also we wanted But you raised the bar a bit. Oh, we raised the bar in many ways. And it was a hard couple of years for for some groups, and but in a good way. And also we wanted gap accounting, the the gap standards, which is national standards, because we were surprised that some of the accounting it wouldn't apply. Because we're liable for where those dollars end up. So if those dollars end up, some arms dealer, because we invest overseas, it comes directly back to the foundation illegally. So we were very, very strong in the accountability.

Break And Sponsor Message

Marc Bernstein 15:09

We have this is a really good time. We've got to take a quick break, and when we come back, I know Matt has a question for you.

Michele Sullivan 15:14

Thank you.

Announcer 15:15

The Satell Institute is the leading CEO member organization dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Under the vision and leadership of its founder—entrepreneur and philanthropist Ed Satell—the Institute brings together CEOs in Philadelphia and other cities to support the Nonprofit organizations that do heroic work in our communities. The Satell Institute believes that “community is every leader’s business.” SI’s members-only meetings and private CEO conferences give members the opportunity to hear from world-class thought leaders on crucial topics like AI, education, corporate philanthropy and more. In addition, CEO members get the opportunity to share ideas and experiences with their peers— like-minded CEOs who believe in the importance of giving back to the community and who understand the benefits companies get from embracing Corporate Social Responsibility. The Satell Institute charges no dues or fees — in order to join, member companies simply make a long-term commitment to the nonprofit of their choice. To find out more about membership, —and why so many leading companies are now part of the Satell Institute — visit the organization’s web site at satellinstitute.org. As Ed Satell says, “Think WE, not just me.”

When Standards Meet Resistance

Marc Bernstein 16:34

We're back on Founders Forum. Matt, you have a question for Michele. Let's why don't you take it away?

Matt Bramson 16:39

Yeah, I was just struck by what you said about some of the challenges of bringing standards to a situation that maybe hasn't always had uh the strongest standards, and how how that can sometimes be not so well received. You know, tell me a little bit about that. I'm interested.

Michele Sullivan 16:55

Sure. You know, when you've been a partner for you know, meaning a not-for-profit, maybe for 10 years before I got there, and then I come in and we want gap accounting, we want impact reports, we want to know where the money's going, what's your administrative cost. One nonprofit had 50% to admin, meaning only 40 cents on the dollar was going out. Now the majority didn't have that type, but but it wasn't in the direction that we wanted to go at the time. And you do have to change over time because the needs change of the people that you're trying to serve. And so Caterpillar is the same when I'm on the business side. We have the highest standards as corporations and companies, startups have also. So I applied that to the foundation. You know, we're given X amount of dollars to invest. We owe it to everyone to make the most of that money with the greatest impact. So our standards were really equal to what I was used to in the company.

Marc Bernstein 18:03

So in every way.

Michele Sullivan 18:05

And we expected them to be the same.

Marc Bernstein 18:07

Matt, you mentioned that offline as that's a gift, that's a really a gift to Caterpillar and to the culture and to the partners.

Matt Bramson 18:14

Yeah, I mean, I've seen in my career trying to bring standards to companies that were stalled in their progress towards goals like revenue growth. You come in and you bring standards and expectations, and the what I call the antibodies of the organization uh initially attack you until you know you get a certain amount of credibility, and then everybody starts to see that actually this is this is this is healing the organization.

Michele Sullivan 18:40

And you know, in today's world, with everybody watching and more with the data out there, they can see the not for profits, what's going on, which is a good thing. And not for profits are have great standards as well. I mean, especially in today's world, they really are up to snuff, most of them. And you can go online and see how the organizations are performing, and I think that's a wonderful thing. And they get more grants because of that. And and of course, they're the most passionate people you've ever met. I mean, they're doing the work. You know, we our group didn't do the work. Right. And we partnered with them because they're helping fund the work.

Marc Bernstein 19:17

Right.

Michele Sullivan 19:17

They're the best. And and you know, they're tremendous people. Just I my hat and goes off to all the not-for-profits, and you talk about value add. That's a not-for-profit.

Marc Bernstein 19:29

Michele, I want to ask you, you were you were president of the Caterpillar Foundation, but you're also director of social

Foundation vs Social Innovation Money

Marc Bernstein 19:36

innovation.

Michele Sullivan 19:36

Right.

Marc Bernstein 19:37

So tell the audience the difference and what you did on that side of your job.

Michele Sullivan 19:41

Sure, those are two. Those are really two pots of money. When the money goes into the foundation, the company can't benefit sales-wise or anything like that. It's it's a totally separate arm. The director of corporate social innovation is corporate money that does not have so many ties where you can benefit or invest in a different way. And so those were two different hats I wore during during my time. And that that was the first time the company really did that as well.

Marc Bernstein 20:14

So I'll use a word we used when we did Matt's show earlier today, which was it's like a culture culture enhancer, right? Yes, right?

Michele Sullivan 20:21

So it's Yes, yes, and you have to adapt. And there's so many different situations in the world today where number one we is to do good, to provide value, and work with partners that that can do that with our name. You know, Caterpillar carries a very strong name worldwide with our brand. And we don't want anything at all to ever tarnish

Visible And Invisible Challenges At Work

Michele Sullivan 20:46

that.

Marc Bernstein 20:46

Michele, the this show is about the creators, the founders, creators who um and their struggles that they've had, and also the strengths that they've built as a result of overcoming those challenges. Now you talk about this very well in your book, but can you just summarize that it's a lot. You've had a lot of physical challenges, and being a woman in the corporate world, you've had other types of challenges. Maybe you could just summarize in a couple sentences, hard to do, the kind of challenges you've had and what good has come out of those, because you you're very eloquent about that in the book.

Michele Sullivan 21:22

You know, you can see my physical challenges, obviously. Yeah. But there's a lot of people who have challenges you can't see, and I write extensively in the book, whether it's mental challenges, financial, sure. Any any type of challenge. So mine's kind of out there. Not my only challenge, but you know, it's out there.

Marc Bernstein 21:41

Yep.

Michele Sullivan 21:41

And you know, I do my I think I was born, you know, with the gift of gap because I have to make people feel comfortable being four feet tall. I have to start the conversation. And so I have to work to make that happen. And then once people start to get to know you, the greatest compliment at work I ever got was. Somebody said, you know, Michele, I I forget you're little. I I I don't even see that. And you know, that's really good. But also we all have to you know, work is tough today. You know it it's so so many things can happen in today's world. And you know, I had a great career. I worked for a company that was very open. I worked for IBM in graduate school and I got an internship there. So I've been very blessed. I think it's a combination of my education and I worked a lot, you know, in high school and in college. So I think I developed skills to communicate in that and I think that helped. And I've had great mentors and but every day you never knew what was gonna happen or who you were gonna run into. And I can always tell, you know, in the foundation job when I would show up and they had no idea. And it's a shock at first when I come walking in, you know, caterpillar, big yellow, and I'm the smallest employee. So, you know, it's it can be funny sometimes too. But you know, I worked with people around the world. I mean, I've I've been with you know very significant leaders that I learned from, and I get opportunities to to work with them soon.

Marc Bernstein 23:13

I just mentioned your book too. I remember I know Bono, you've gotten to know Bono and Sure, we're on the board together. And President Obama, you've had you know Caterpillar, that was Caterpillar.

Michele Sullivan 23:24

We invested in a program and Obama, it was a global program, and he wanted to um expand it. He invited three companies, Caterpillar was one, and we were in the Oval Office with him talking about it for 45 minutes. I mean, it was surreal. Yeah, you know, I'm thinking how'd I get from Washington, Illinois to the Oval Office? How how did that happen?

Marc Bernstein 23:46

Washington to Washington, right?

Michele Sullivan 23:47

Yeah, how how how does that happen?

Marc Bernstein 23:49

Yeah.

Michele Sullivan 23:49

And it was because of the Caterpillar brand. It was because of our investment. And I just happen to be in the seat. But I can talk to it and I can tell you why we should expand it. And that's what he was interested in.

Marc Bernstein 24:02

So I want to point out you're quote, retired, but I know firsthand that you're a very busy woman. You

Retirement Work Women And Poverty

Marc Bernstein 24:09

so what are you doing these days and what's your and let's talk about your vision for the next year? Because I know you have one.

Michele Sullivan 24:14

I do still work with some not for profits and also some companies, you know, who are trying to kind of do what we we did. And also my passions are still girls and women. Uh I do a little bit in that area as well. I'm very much interested in the girls and women issue, especially today. As I I think we're having some challenges.

Marc Bernstein 24:34

Right.

Michele Sullivan 24:35

And uh when I speak, I talk about that, that if half your population is is suppressed that you're not gonna succeed like you should. And that's a very good thing.

Marc Bernstein 24:44

Unbelievable that that could even occur, right?

Michele Sullivan 24:46

Yeah, but you know, if you look really closely at what's going on, and I I'm not getting political, I'm just saying we want to maintain the opportunities that we need to succeed and have the next generation succeed as well. And so, and I encourage the girls and others to, you know, follow your passion and your purpose. I think it's important.

Marc Bernstein 25:08

Could you help us get a female president of the United States? Because I think we're long overdue. I'm serious. I think about this a lot.

Michele Sullivan 25:15

You know, I I you know New Zealand does and other countries, and they're they're doing great. And so hopefully one day we will be ready. You know, we hit we gotta have a a really strong, and I think they're out there. I I absolutely think we have people that can do that. And so, but I that's a passion of mine, and then those in poverty are a passion of mine. We have a lot of food insecurity in the United States today, and we need to help a lot with that and really make sure that the funding stays. I believe in a hand up, but there are times when people need a handout for food and things like that. The foundation was uh much more involved in hand up and education is one of those hands up. So I'm I'm interested in that, and then my speaking when I do different things. We had to do some fun speaking things as well.

Marc Bernstein 26:09

So how many speaking engagements do you do in a year?

Michele Sullivan 26:12

Uh you know, it's not how many. I want to make sure I work with a group that I feel that I can make an impact with. So I'm picky about them, and I I don't travel as easily as I used to. So if I can do three or four, that that's really good. And I I do a lot of podcasts and book clubs and that you know, Zoom. So that that helps.

Legacy Purpose And Closing

Marc Bernstein 26:34

I have one last question for you. Um you've done a lot and you you have a book which I think is I mean maybe answers the question in itself. But what are your thoughts about your legacy? What would you l like to leave behind?

Michele Sullivan 26:45

That you know, we tried to show that everybody has value and that we all have a purpose. And I always felt that, even as a teenager when I worked in not for profits, I always felt that we were supposed to leave the this planet in a better place when than when we came. And really that's what I hope.

Marc Bernstein 27:02

And we're having some challenges with that right now. So your message and your thoughts are very important towards all that. Um are you a reader? Do you read it?

Michele Sullivan 27:11

A little bit. I I don't read I don't necessarily hold a book, but I read them online. Yeah. But what's your is anything you're reading now online or anything you I'm reading more, to be honest, about research in the in the spaces that I'm interested in. Oh, it makes sense. And things that legislation that may be coming that can be helpful or harmful to the my passions.

Marc Bernstein 27:35

Makes sense.

Michele Sullivan 27:36

Yeah.

Marc Bernstein 27:36

Michele, it's been as always, time flies on the show when we're having fun, which we are.

Michele Sullivan 27:41

Yeah, thank you.

Marc Bernstein 27:41

And it's been such a pleasure to have you here. Matt, thanks for joining us. Thank you. Thank you, Michele. And thank you all for listening, and we'll talk to you again next week on Founders Forum.

Announcer 27:57

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