Meaning Well vs. Doing Good: Where Philanthropy Meets Fiction
A Conversation with Alisha Fernandez Miranda, Author of Someone’s Gotta Give and Emily May, President, Co-Founder and Lead Executive Officer of Right to Be.
What happens when philanthropy gets personal — or goes hilariously wrong?
Join Alisha Fernandez Miranda, founder of I.G. Advisors and author of the sharp, heartfelt novel Someone’s Gotta Give, for a candid conversation about the messy, funny, and deeply human side of trying to do good in the world.
Based on two decades of real experience inside the social impact space, Alisha’s novel offers a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the minds of philanthropists — and what happens when good intentions meet complicated realities.
This session will explore:
The gap between meaning well and doing good
What fiction can reveal that strategy decks can’t
How storytelling might help us reimagine the future of philanthropy
Join Alisha and Emily for a dynamic, no-holds-barred conversation about the current state — and future — of giving.
Whether you work with funders, advise them, or are one yourself, this session will leave you laughing, thinking, and questioning everything you thought you knew about generosity.
About Emily May
Emily May is a visionary C-Suite Leader, Author, Global Thought Leader, and People Champion, dedicated to creating spaces where individuals can authentically grow and succeed. Over her 20-year career, she has dismantled harmful structures and built pathways for connection, healing, and equity.
As the President, Co-Founder, and Lead Executive Officer of Right To Be, May has grown the nonprofit into a globally recognized movement over the past 20 years. Her efforts have fostered safer, more inclusive environments in over 50 cities across 25 countries. Her work redefines how harassment is addressed in public spaces, workplaces, and digital platforms, inspiring a culture where people feel empowered and supported.
A recognized Ashoka Fellow, May has delivered three TED Talks, co-authored I’ve Got Your Back – a guide to bystander intervention, and partnered with Cornell University to publish research advancing global understanding of harassment prevention. Featured in over 1,000 media outlets, including The New York Times, NPR, and People Magazine, she is a global leader in systemic advocacy and inclusive solutions.
With an MSc in Social Policy from the London School of Economics and a BA in Politics, Cultures, and Identities from New York University, she brings a deep understanding of systemic inequities.
May envisions a future where systems uplift and unite, making equity accessible to all, and every person feels valued and empowered to drive change. She believes deliberate individual acts can create momentum for communities and the systems that shape them.