In its latest State of Purpose report, the creative idea company Barkley provides a rich trove of new research and insights to validate three key points:

• That purpose still drives sustainable growth even amid inflation.
• That ESG remains important for most consumers.
• And that the majority of employees want to work for values-led companies.

Among the notable research findings, more than 65 percent of consumers said they want to buy sustainable products, and 94 percent said supporting ESG brands is as important or more important now than 12 months ago. Additionally, 78 percent of employees said it is important to them that the values of an organization align with their personal values, such as inspiring a sense of belonging and creating a supportive, collaborative work environment.

In this episode of Beyond Profit, a podcast of the ANA Center for Brand Purpose, Lindsey DeWitte, president of public relations and EVP of purpose and sustainability at Barkley, joined host Ken Beaulieu to discuss the survey findings in more detail, including whether business leaders now embrace purpose as a growth driver.