454. Barbie's Impact: Closing the Gap Between Girls and Their Full Potential - Nancy Molenda and Jessica Beatus

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Overview

The Barbie hype is real - let’s learn how it’s powering good 💗💅🛍🫶

You think you know Barbie? Think again. In this thought-provoking conversation, we uncover the world of Barbie beyond the plastic doll - her role as a cultural phenomenon, a beacon of social impact, and a tool for empowerment. Meet Jessica and Nancy. Jess is Group Vice President of Social Impact Solutions at Warner Bros. Discovery, and Nancy is Executive Director of the Mattel Children’s Foundation and Corporate Philanthropy at Mattel Inc. We’re chatting about the power of media, social responsibility, and diving deeply into the partnership between Mattel, Save the Children Global, and Warner Bros. Discovery for the Barbie movie. Learn about the Dream Gap Project—an initiative that breaks down barriers for girls and empowers them to dream big - and how evolved partnerships can align with a brand’s mission, bringing about positive change. The convo is filled with kindness, passion, humor + how giving back can spark a movement. Tune in 💕

Today’s Guests

Nancy Molenda, Executive Director, Mattel Children's Foundation & Corporate Philanthropy at Mattel, Inc.

Jessica Beatus, Group Vice President, Social Impact Solutions, Warner Brothers Discovery

“It’s not about credit, it’s about the children that we’re serving and we have to find the biggest, best way to do that.”

— Nancy Molenda, Executive Director, Mattel Children's Foundation & Corporate Philanthropy at Mattel, Inc.

Episode Transcript

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Episode Highlights

The Barbie phenomenon (0:40)
Nancy’s and Jessica’s stories and journeys to where they are today (3:30)
Barbie’s philanthropic projects (8:15)
The origin of the Save the Children partnership (13:35)
How to build lasting partnerships (25:30)
Being open for partnership and open for business (30:15)
A powerful moment of philanthropy in Nancy’s life (32:50)
A powerful moment of philanthropy in Jessica’s life (35:10)
Nancy’s and Jessica’s One Good Thing (41:50)
Support The Barbie Dream Gap Project by texting BARBIE to 707070 (45:45)

Powerful quotes

“Barbie has had over 200 careers and counting. There are so many projects that this brand takes on when they launch very special campaigns. They always have a touchpoint to philanthropy.” -Nancy

It's not easy to create a movement. But I think that clarity of vision is everything." - Jessica

“I think a lot of companies are very busy being proprietary that they forget that you make more noise and do more good when you have partners. That’s what business is, it’s partnerships.” -Jessica

“I cannot get done what I do without partners and collaborations.” -Nancy

“It's not about credit, it's about the children that we're serving and we have to find the biggest, best way to do that.” -Nancy

“Imagine the energy in the reverberation of these moments if you could just follow one person to the end of their days to see what might have changed for them in a moment of kindness or receiving something that was theirs or seeing themselves in their most beloved toy.” -Nancy

“Where is the moment that caught your breath? Those are the stories we need to tell those are the stories that replicate, and go on and on and on.” -Becky

“Wherever you see dark we all have the opportunity to push through that and get the lights back on.” -Jessica

“Just keep connecting and collaborating in your industry and move the needle every day.” -Nancy