DB|BD at Aspen: Judy Samuelson is Still Thinking About the Purpose of a Corporation

If you’re in the business world, you’ve heard of Judy Samuelson. Even if you’re not in the business world, you may have heard of Judy Samuelson. That’s because Judy is one of the most influential voices thinking about and wrestling with the purpose of business in the modern world and how capitalism can be a force for good. 

Judy founded the Aspen Institute’s Business and Society Program back in 1998. But perhaps one of her most important contributions is her leadership in the Business Roundtable’s 2019 decision to change the nature of a corporation from a singular focus on shareholders, to a broader stakeholder focus. 

In this conversation with DB|BD host Ellen McGirt, Judy reflects on what impact the statement had and if it is even still relevant. She also tells some stories about what it was like to gather with some of the business world’s most powerful leaders to try and define that stubborn thing called the corporation. 

On this season of DB|BD, we are thinking about radical collaboration. Host Ellen McGirt sat down with visionary designers, leaders and thinkers at the 2026 Aspen Business & Society Summit to ask them about the radical act of collaborating with others in a time when it often feels impossible to find common ground.

Visit our site for more on this episode and to view a transcript.

Scene on Radio’s Capitalism Series

Business Roundtable’s 2019 Statement