Sister Nora Nash, the director of corporate social responsibility for the Aston-based Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, spends her days lobbying senior executives at some of the nation’s biggest companies, writes Courtney Becker for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Nash is a shareholder activist who focuses on more than 70 companies, along with her top associate, Tom McCaney.

“In working with corporate social responsibility, we have an opportunity to ask all those who have a better lifestyle to remember that it’s important to support people of all dimensions,” said Nash.

They get access to executives through the Sisters’ retirement fund and use their shareholder status to influence businesses and file corporate resolutions.

Over the years, the pair has encouraged some highly publicized changes made by big companies. Nash was instrumental in the pledge made by Walt Disney to no longer show smoking in its movies, while McCaney urged McDonald’s to include healthier options on its menu.

According to Josh Zimmer, chief executive of the Interfaith Center, Nash’s genius stems from her being able to communicate both with corporate executives and members of struggling communities.

“Sister Nora may speak softly, but everyone listens,” said Zimmer.

Read more about Sister Nora Nash in the Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.