The Authors

Derrick Feldmann

Derrick is recognized as a leading researcher and advisor on global social movements and issues, and his work is regularly cited by such outlets as Forbes, Fast Company and The Wall Street Journal and as a reliable source of data on today’s cause engagement. 

He is the author of three books, The Corporate Social Mind: How Companies Lead Social Change From the Inside Out, published by Fast Company Press, Social Movements for Good: How Companies and Causes Create Viral Change and Cause for Change: The Why and How of Nonprofit Millennial Engagement.

He leads the research team for Influencing Young America to Act, a study of how young adults (18-30) are influenced by and influence others to support social issues and movements. In addition, he leads the research team for Movement of Movements, a comprehensive global research initiative on social movements at the Skoll Centre at Oxford University. During the prior 10 years, he led the research team for the Millennial Impact Project with The Case Foundation, producing the comprehensive Millennial Impact Reports on how the generation has engaged with causes from varying perspectives. 

Derrick currently splits his time between INFLUENCE|SG and the Ad Council. He is Managing Director of INFLUENCE|SG, a social issue, campaign and movement research and advisory firm, and is the Managing Director of the Ad Council Research Institute and Ad Council Edge, where he oversees public research studies on pressing issues affecting Americans,

Derrick holds the position of Visiting Research Fellow and teaches at the Impact Lab at the Skoll Centre, Saïd Business School, Oxford University. He is a member of the Ad Council’s Advisory Committee and on the Board of Trustees at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University and a regular contributor to Philanthropy News Digest.

Michael Alberg-Seberich

Michael is Managing Partner at Wider Sense. He is responsible for the development of business and people. He heads the advisory work of Wider Sense and handles all questions relating to philanthropy, CSR and impact investing. Michael is especially passionate about social justice work with a focus on education. Besides the advisory assignments, Michael also works with clients as an organizational developer, facilitator, and coach. Michael regularly writes for Alliance Magazine, Center for Effective Philanthropy and other blogs. He has been asked to speak on a variety of industry topics. Michael volunteers as the chairman of the Deutsche Youth For Understanding Stiftung (Foundation). He is also a member of the board of trustees of the Deutsche Youth For Understanding Komitee e.V., Schüler helfen Leben e.V. and Philanthropy Impact. He is a member of the supervisory board of Karuna Sozialgenossenschaft eG (social cooperative). Before taking over Wider Sense (formerly Beyond Philanthropy), Michael was managing director at Active Philanthropy and  held various operative positions at the Bertelsmann Foundation. He was a Project Manager in the field of Democracy, Human Rights and Tolerance Education and for strategy development in politics and federalism reform. Michael also managed the Carl-Bertelsmann Prize 2007 “Civic Engagement as an Educational Goal.” Michael studied North American Studies, Anthropology and International Law at the University of Bonn and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. After his graduation, he worked as language and cultural affairs lecturer at the University of Oxford.