The Art of Common Ground
Future 500 in Conversation with Van Jones
Future 500 Founder and Board Emeritus, Bill Shireman, has known Van Jones for almost a decade. A prominent commentator, social entrepreneur, and bridge-builder, Van brings a rare ability to convene people across lines of difference to tackle difficult challenges.
Together with Future 500 CEO Erik Wohlgemuth, Bill and Van explore the organization’s origins, the enduring importance of constructive stakeholder engagement, and the work ahead to build trust and practical solutions in a changing world.
Watch the conversations and look for new episodes rolling out over the coming months.
Future 500’s Origin Story
When two Mitsubishi executives received an unexpected invitation to meet the activist campaigning against them, they chose dialogue over defensiveness. That decision sparked new relationships, transformed corporate sourcing practices, and shaped the stakeholder-engagement model that became Future 500.
The Road Ahead
Future 500’s ultimate ambition is to make its bridge-building role unnecessary. Until then, Bill and Erik see a growing need for trusted spaces where companies and civil society can move beyond polarization, humanize one another, and turn dialogue into action.