Being a Corporate Changemaker

John Harper is the CEO of FSG, a global nonprofit consulting firm that partners with foundations and corporations to create equitable systems change. Throughout his career, John has been a thoughtful and inclusive leader with a deep commitment to advancing equity, shifting power, and uplifting the voices of historically marginalized communities. At FSG, John has successfully led engagements with notable organizations such as W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Cleveland Foundation, Ares Charitable Foundation/Ares Management, the James S. McDonnell Foundation, and numerous multinational corporations. Prior to joining FSG, John worked in the nonprofit sector for over a decade, leading strategy and development for both direct service and field-building nonprofits. As a highly sought after speaker, he regularly writes and speaks on topics of systems change, place-based philanthropy and collaborative civic infrastructure, and translating global corporate purpose into local impact.
 

Kate Wilson is Executive Director of Public Affairs at Gilead and President of Gilead Foundation where she leads its strategy to advance health justice and human rights, increase representation and cultural competence among the healthcare workforce, and other initiatives. As a leader in philanthropy, Kate is committed to addressing disparities in healthcare and education, and turning allyship into action to advance true diversity, equity and inclusion. She has been a key architect in the design and development of numerous strategic initiatives focused on advancing health equity for underserved communities, including the Gilead COMPASS Initiative, a 10-year signature initiative working in partnership with communities to address HIV disparities in the Southern United States.

Prior to her role with Gilead, Kate was an attorney with a special interest in the intersection of law, science and health policy and had a career spanning several years in health equity including studying health and education disparities among rural agricultural communities. She received her bachelor’s degree from UCLA, her law degree from UC Hastings College of the Law, and is a member of the California State Bar.
Kate is a champion of multi-sector collaborations and public-private partnerships to systemically advance equity at scale and serves on the board of managers for Life Science Cares Bay Area and Leadership Council of San Mateo County.