Of all the CSR priorities today, why are HIV/AIDS, TB, and/or malaria high on your agenda?

HIV/AIDS is a priority for BET Networks because it's an issue of utmost importance to our community and our audience. Nearly 50 percent of new infections are people under 24, and a majority of those new cases are people of color—which means our target audience is an at-risk population for the disease.

What can business do to move from fighting to winning against these epidemics?

It's difficult to determine what the exact formula would be, but I believe that the key is for every business to use their superpowers for good. Each company has a core strength—something within their realm of expertise—that they can contribute to the fight. For BET Networks, we have media time that we can use to educate our audience about sexual health issues, and we've partnered with the Kaiser Family Foundation and other health organizations to get those messages out. And with every company making an effort, the fight then becomes about partnering together towards the common goal of winning.

What are your highest priorities for action in the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria?

The highest priority for BET Networks is to educate our audiences about HIV/AIDS and increase their awareness about sexual health issues. Through our Rap-It-Up initiative, we spend a lot of time in schools and communities, holding teen forums and speaking with young adults about this disease. Our goal is to empower our viewers and have them embrace the responsibility of spreading the knowledge themselves. We want to give them the proper tools and foundation so they can, in turn, educate their peers and community.

GBC is in the process of launching a major new program— Impact Initiatives—designed to produce a series of collective actions that bring together companies, NGOs, governments, and local players. In what ways do you think collective action is important? What do you think is required to ensure Impact Initiatives are successful?

As I said before, collective action is critical to success. We can do much more together than we can alone. Everyone brings a different skill set to the table, so we can bring things to fruition much more quickly. There is true power in numbers and the right combination of resources. And in order to have successful initiatives, open and constant communication among all the involved parties is essential. That leads to smart coordination and a shared understanding of everyone's roles and the overall objectives— all of which will lead to a more impactful initiative that will achieve extraordinary results.

» Rap-It-Up: Visit the Rap-It-Up website

» Global Media AIDS Initiative: Learn more about BET and other companies' work with the GMAI