Podcasts about b impact assessment

Last month, B Lab Global made an announcement that affects some small-to-medium existing B Corps. If your B Corp is due to submit for recertification between July 1 and December 31, 2025, and you would like to be evaluated under Version 6 (i.e., the current version of the standards), you must submit your assessment by June 30, 2025 — six months earlier than many of us expected.If you miss that deadline, or your submission date is in 2026 or later, you will be moved onto the new standards (new B Corps still have until the end of 2025 to submit under Version 6 of the standards).Emmy and Ryan explore why this change caught many off guard, what it means for businesses of different sizes, and how companies can navigate the revised timeline. Whether you're directly affected or just keeping up with the evolving B Corp landscape, this episode offers essential insights to help you stay prepared.View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/last-call-current-version-v6-b-corp-standardsSupport the showWe want to hear from you! Please reach out at beyond@lifteocnomy.com with suggested topics and/or feedback about the show.

In this episode of Behind the Numbers, host Dave Bookbinder sits down with David Van Adelsberg and Bart Houlahan from Irrational Capital to explore the game-changing role of human capital in business valuation and investment strategies. Irrational Capital is at the forefront of quantifying the employer-employee relationship's impact on a company's equity value. David and Bart introduce the human capital factor, a groundbreaking investment metric independently validated by leading financial institutions like J.P. Morgan. Key Topics Covered: ✅ The science behind the human capital factor and why it matters to investors ✅ How intrinsic motivators—pride, trust, appreciation—drive stock performance ✅ The rigorous validation process that links employee engagement to financial returns ✅ The shift in investment strategies to integrate human capital metrics Join us for this fascinating discussion on how people truly are a company's most valuable asset—not just in words, but in measurable financial impact.

In a world grappling with declining trust in institutions, businesses face increasing pressure to become agents of societal change. This episode of Mission Forward explores this evolving dynamic with Sarah Schwimmer, co-lead executive at B Lab Global, the non-profit behind the B Corp movement. Host Carrie Fox cedes the interviewing chair to her colleague, Bridget Pooley, Mission Partners' chief operating officer, for a deep dive into the forces reshaping corporate responsibility.They explore the Edelman Trust Barometer's findings, revealing a fascinating dynamic: as trust in traditional institutions wanes, the pressure mounts on businesses to step up. Sarah highlights the B Corp movement's explosive growth as evidence of this trend, with thousands of companies seeking ways to balance purpose and profit. She shares compelling examples of B Corps actively engaging in their communities, like Legacy Vacation Resorts' efforts to empower employee voting.The conversation also touches on the crucial issue of shareholder vs. stakeholder capitalism. Is simply declaring a commitment to all stakeholders enough? Sarah and Bridget discuss the importance of accountability and the role of B Lab's rigorous B Impact Assessment in driving real change.Finally, they explore the age-old tension between mission and profit. Can businesses truly prioritize both? Sarah showcases Patagonia as a shining example of a company successfully integrating purpose and profitability, highlighting innovative ownership models that prioritize long-term mission. The landscape for businesses is complex, but there is always room to become true forces for good.

It's the final episode in our mini-series on sustainable leadership and in this episode we're joined by Professor Chris Marquis. Chris talks to us about his experience studying, writing about and working with organisations on sustainability. Author of, “Better Business: How the B Corp Movement Is Remaking Capitalism,” we explore Chris' first experience of B-Corp, a movement setting new standards for how business should operate. Chris believes we can learn a lot from B-Corps, “we should be studying B corporations, companies that are putting the social at their core.” We discussed the critical component of the internal pieces which need to happen to “align with the idea of mindset and leadership,” but aren't necessarily “the remit of just the leaders around ability and driving the impact.” As has been a consistent theme throughout this mini-series, “leadership can happen anywhere.” So, if you are looking to find out more about the B-Corp movement, are curious about what steps you should consider or, want to explore internal engagement and sustainable leadership a bit more, then tune in and have a listen! Join us on this episode as we talk to Chris about: The B-Corp process The B-Impact Assessment (link below) The challenges of being a leader today Key skills of a sustainable leader The importance of internal communication and engagement The need to be accountable to a broader set of stakeholders For more, follow and connect with Chris on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-marquis/ B Impact Assessment - can be accessed here: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/programs-and-tools/b-impact-assessment/ Thanks to Chris for a great episode to conclude our Sustainable Leadership mini-series. Stay tuned for more episodes and mini-series, we've got a packed schedule. And if you love the podcast, do share with colleagues, peers and friends.

It's the final episode in our mini-series on sustainable leadership and in this episode we're joined by Professor Chris Marquis. Chris talks to us about his experience studying, writing about and working with organisations on sustainability. Author of, “Better Business: How the B Corp Movement Is Remaking Capitalism,” we explore Chris' first experience of B-Corp, a movement setting new standards for how business should operate. Chris believes we can learn a lot from B-Corps, “we should be studying B corporations, companies that are putting the social at their core.”We discussed the critical component of the internal pieces which need to happen to “align with the idea of mindset and leadership,” but aren't necessarily “the remit of just the leaders around ability and driving the impact.” As has been a consistent theme throughout this mini-series, “leadership can happen anywhere.”So, if you are looking to find out more about the B-Corp movement, are curious about what steps you should consider or, want to explore internal engagement and sustainable leadership a bit more, then tune in and have a listen!Join us on this episode as we talk to Chris about:The B-Corp processThe B-Impact Assessment (link below)The challenges of being a leader todayKey skills of a sustainable leaderThe importance of internal communication and engagementThe need to be accountable to a broader set of stakeholdersFor more, follow and connect with Chris on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-marquis/B Impact Assessment - can be accessed here: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/programs-and-tools/b-impact-assessment/Thanks to Chris for a great episode to conclude our Sustainable Leadership mini-series. Stay tuned for more episodes and mini-series, we've got a packed schedule. And if you love the podcast, do share with colleagues, peers and friends.

Send us a Text Message.Embarking on a global journey has never been more enlightening than with Lorna Davis by our side—her vibrant tales from the corporate world reveal how businesses can thrive by adopting sustainable and socially responsible practices. Gracing us with her presence, Lorna draws from a kaleidoscope of international experiences to illuminate the path for leaders and companies eager to make a positive mark on the planet. Traversing from her South African roots to the transformative landscapes of China, she unveils the intricate dance between personal fulfillment and professional triumph across continents, and how these experiences shaped her commitment to a better future.As we wade through the complexities of human-centric business leadership, Lorna lifts the veil on the emotional core of organizational success. It's a profound shift from conventional managerial styles, where love and empathy prove to be the linchpins of a thriving workspace. This episode is a deep dive into B Corporations and the ripple effect of the B Impact Assessment, with Lorna sharing her first-hand experience at Danone. She points out that the sustainability journey is not a solitary road, but one of camaraderie, learning from the strides of pioneers like Patagonia and fostering an ecosystem of mutual growth and accountability.Concluding our conversation on a personal note, Lorna opens up about her own steps towards a sustainable lifestyle, offering sage advice to her future self and tips for those ready to embrace an eco-conscious existence. From the simplicity of community agriculture to the complexities of fashion consumption, every choice we make carves our impact on the environment. As we wrap up this inspiring session, I urge you to carry these insights into your daily lives. Feel free to connect with me for a deeper engagement on these topics—it's only through shared knowledge and passion that we can hope to inspire change for a brighter tomorrow. Keep the inspiration alive and join me, Srikanth, in sparking conversations that matter. Available on all podcast platforms, including, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify

Veerless recently released our first ever Impact Report. Aligned to the five areas of focus in the B Impact Assessment, our first annual report details the steps we have taken to achieve excellence in each of these areas in 2023. It also lays out our goals for 2024 in terms of certification and sustainability alignment in our business. But it wasn't enough for us to release an Impact Report for our small business. We want to inspire other companies like us to do the same. Today's podcast shares our 5 Reasons Why Small Businesses Can and Should Produce an Impact Report.

Here's a controversial opinion: profit and meaning go hand in hand. Traditional approaches to business focus on profit first, without people and the environment being part of the equation. In this episode, learn how to develop a completely different approach to business that balances people, planet, and profit. Our guest Lisa Geason-Bauer joins to lay out fascinating business concepts in this area around sustainability, Triple Bottom Line theory, the B corp movement, stakeholder capitalism, and the interconnectedness of all systems. Lisa is the president of Evolution Marketing, a Wisconsin-based woman-owned Certified B Corporation® specializing in the area of sustainability consulting, impact storytelling, environmentally responsible creative design, and ethical marketing. Lisa is a sustainability, ESG practitioner and has been helping companies tell their impact stories for over a decade.  As a consultant she has worked on projects in supply chain sustainability, social sustainability (i.e. workforce engagement, culture and DEI), renewable energy, energy efficiency and the green building space.  Lisa is a co-founder of B Local WI and the current Chair.  She is also the Vice Chair of the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington County Workforce Development  Board.  In 2023, Lisa was part of the first cohort of US & Canadian B Consultants to complete the new B Lab US & Canada Trained B Consultants Program. Lisa on Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisageasonbauer/ Evolution Marketing on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolution-marketing-llc/ Evolution Marketing: https://www.greenmkting.com/ Resources mentioned in this episode: UN sustainable development goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals 2022 Global impact report from B Lab Global showcasing the impacts of the B corp movement and stakeholder capitalism: https://infogram.com/1te9x6k1pgzx0lbwo7490melglizo4md81 B Lab Global: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us B Lab US & Canada : https://usca.bcorporation.net/ About the B Impact Assessment (tool is free):  https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/programs-and-tools/b-impact-assessment/ (you only pay if you want your score to be verified) 2018 Article on the 25th anniversary of the phrase “Triple Bottom Line”: https://hbr.org/2018/06/25-years-ago-i-coined-the-phrase-triple-bottom-line-heres-why-im-giving-up-on-it

Carolyn Pistone joins us to discuss using business as a force for good. We talk about measuring impact beyond dollars, building community, focusing on contribution, and more. Carolyn shares stories from her work in commercial real estate and provides advice for starting the journey towards more conscious business.In this episode, you'll hear about:Carolyn's journey to focusing her work on doing good through businessWhy she started her company Clear Blue Commercial as a B Corp and certified green businessHow she approaches green initiatives and community building in her property management workWhy contribution brings meaning, and matters more than dollarsAdvice for taking the B Impact Assessment as a first step on the journeyThe importance of celebrating our wins while also continuing to growHow focusing on sufficiency and gratitude creates happinessResources:Clear Blue Commercial: https://clearbluecommercial.comB Impact Assessment: https://bimpactassessment.netThe Geography of Bliss with Rainn WilsonKey Quotes:-"Don't listen to anybody who tells you you can't save the world. You can. You just can't do it alone."-"I can't pay people what they're worth. Because there is not enough money in the world to adequately honor the value of a human being."-"Becoming a B Corp for us was just documenting things we were doing anyway."

Flere og flere interesserer sig for virksomhedscertificeringen B-Corp (Benefit Corporation), som måler og forpligter virksomhederne på mange forskellige parametre. Men hvad er fordelene? Kan alle være med, eller er det en lukket klub? Det taler Steffen og Steffen med efternavnene Kallehauge og Høgh om i dagens episode. ”Lige nu bliver virksomheder udelukkende dømt på økonomi, og det skal vi væk fra”, siger Head of Sustainability and Growth i B-Corp Steffen Kallehauge. Og noget tyder på, at vi er på vej over i en helt anden måde at måle succes på. For B-Corp-certificeringen vinder indpas blandt danske B2B-virksomheder. Bliv klogere på B-Corp, krav, parametre og fordele når du har lyttet til denne episode. Du kan høre om: • At man som B-Corp-certificeret virksomhed forpligter sig til at inkorporere fem parametre ind i bestyrelsen: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment og Customers • At det oftest er kvinder, der initierer, at en virksomhed bliver B-Corp-certificeret • At man skal re-certificeres hvert tredje år, og det efter en standard, der udvikler sig kontinuerligt Nævnt i episoden: • The B Impact Assessment: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/programs-and-tools/b-impact-assessment/ • UN Global Compact: https://unglobalcompact.org/ • Steffen Kallehauge på LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skallehauge/ Tips, idéer eller ønsker? Skriv til mig på LinkedIn Du er velkommen til at skrive til mig på LinkedIn, hvis du har idéer til emner, jeg skal tage op i podcasten Bæredygtig Business. Find mig her: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffenmax/ Ros og konstruktive forslag modtages også gerne. Og hvis du vil give Bæredygtig Business en god anmeldelse i din podcastapp, vil det være fantastisk.

Venture into the transformative world of sustainable practices thriving in Wisconsin with Lisa Geason-Bauer from B Local Wisconsin. As an ardent sustainability practitioner and sociologist, Lisa illuminates our pathway with insights into B Local Wisconsin's mission, unfolding journey, and the impact of their projects. From the genesis as a group of committed volunteers to emerging as a fully recognized entity under B Lab, and their aspirations of becoming a 501c3 organization, this episode promises an in-depth exploration into sustainable development at the grassroots level. Swim against the current with us as we navigate through the partnerships and education initiatives fueling sustainable business in Wisconsin. Unearth the beauty of collaborations as B Local Wisconsin joins hands with diverse groups - spanning organizations, businesses, and local governments, to weave social sustainability into the fabric of their communities and public policies. Listen in to the fascinating discussions around the influential B Impact Assessment tool and the impact of the co-organized Crash Course in Sustainability event held in partnership with the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council. As we steer through the tide, we open up conversations on B Corp advocacy and action, shining a spotlight on B Local Wisconsin's endeavors. Lisa unravels the intricacies of the shifting work environment in the face of COVID-19, and the transformative dialogues around emotional and mental well-being, safety, and social emotional learning. And that's not all. Expect to gain insights into the pivotal role of manufacturers, how B Local Wisconsin is fostering a more equitable, inclusive environment, and the intriguing evolution of career paths. Join us on this enlightening journey full of inspiration, insight, and the future of sustainable business.Benefit Corp vs B Corp episode to share more insight into the differenceB Local Wisconsin B Corp VideoCurrent B Local WI Board Members 2023:Lisa Geason-Bauer, Chair - Evolution Marketing Sarah Lasar, Past Chair - Envest MicrofinanceMfoniso Ekong, Events Chair - gener8torDarrie Matthew Burrage, Liberatory Action Chair - Integrated Work Melina Marcus, Marketing Chair - Rebel GreenKelsey Moses, Events Committee - Lakefront BreweryDavidson Kane, Marketing Committee - Kane CommunicationsRen LaDassor, Graphic & Media Designer (Marketing Committee) - Just Coffee Co-opAugust Ball, Liberatory Action Committee -  Cream City ConservationLaura Loucks, Events Committee - Edge ImpactRachel Winter, Volunteer Community Member on Marketing CommitteeKathleen Nicherson, Chair of emerging Climate Action Committee - 3Degrees Tom Eggert - Board Member working on our nonprofit paperwork Co-Founders of B Local WI:Mary Stelletello, Co-founder & Past Chair - Vista Global Coaching & ConsultingTom Eggert, Co-founder - Retired Sustainability Professional & Executive Director Emeritus - Wisconsin Sustainable Business CouncilScott Anderson, Co-founder & Past Chair - Artisan Dental Mark Starik, Co-FoundDirigo Collective Website

Episode Notes Stories of Sustainability Episode 2: Hannah Clevett, Impact Manager at World of Books, certified B Corp. World of Books Group is a leading global seller of used books online. Leading the way to a circular economy, the brand is a for profit business that supports charities and protects the planet by enabling more goods to be reused. Printed books are still popular as ever. In 2020, the UK printed book market was worth £2.6 bn (387m books), of which 32% of sales were for preloved books. The WOB Foundation launched in 2022, and donates books to charities that work with disadvantaged groups who find it hard to access books such as schools, prisons and women's refuges. Q1Hi Hannah, thanks for joining me today. Please tell us about yourself and WOB. ·         Impact Manager at World of Books, been with the company for over 6 years, within Impact for 18 months. ·         My role is the full ESG – everything from carbon reporting, B Corp certification, and various social initiatives that allow Wob have an even greater impact. ·         Always been passionate about Impact and sustainability, never dreamt it could be a career choice until I started with Wob. A company that is ahead of the game when it comes to sustainability strategy. ·         Wob is circular economy by nature, purchases unwanted used books and media from charity shops and selling on at affordable prices. ·         We are a circular economy, for profit company, that protects the planet and supports charities by helping people to reuse and recycle for less. ·         We have 3 main strands: o    Through Wob we sell o    Through Ziffit we buy – customers can sell back their books to Wob via the Ziffit app. Keeping books in circulation for longer. o   Through Shopiago we support others – Charities are able to trade their stock to Wob through Shopiago. It is also a software service that enable charities to sell their own items online to increase sales. A great example is The British Heart Foundation sold a vintage Cartier watch for £10,000 through their use of Shopiago! o   In total, we have helped charities raise over £55 million through their use of Shopiago! ·         In 2019 we became a B Corp, recently recertified, which really cements our values and helps to guide our sustainability strategy. Q2 Please can explain to our listeners the connection between the circular economy and publishing? ·         We are purchasing unwanted books from charity shops. So these are books that have potentially been read only once, maybe 10 times, or in cases such as within our Rare Book department, hundreds of times! They would be pulped by charities if we didn't buy them for our stock, and open up the possibility to rehome to customers around the world. We feel it is important to keep literature alive and keep books in circulation. ·         We also always refer to sales as rehoming our books, because we don't want it to be the end of the journey for our books. ·         Some of our customers have told us how they buy used books as an affordable option, which helps encourage them to read more and then opens up a whole new world for them. They then begin buy a mix of new and used. ·         It's a tricky relationship for sure – we find that some customers want to buy new books because they feel they are supporting the industry and authors, yet other want to purchase used to save money, and also to feel more eco-conscious. ·         Wob helped found the AuthorShare initiative alongside Society of Authors and various publishers in order to allow royalties to be given to authors from used books sales. This is the first of its kind, and a way to show our support for the author's whilst encouraging people to buy preloved. Q3: Almost 16 million preloved books rehomed via Wob in 2021/22, What are the environmental benefits of buying and selling preloved books, compared to purchasing new ones? ·         By buying preloved items, we are keeping them in circulation and reducing waste. ·         One of our main KPIs that we have always measured against is what the tonnage of books equates to in saving trees. So for our last FY, we saved the equivalent of 516,000 trees through the resale of books! That is a lot more tangible for our customers to understand their impact, rather than quoting carbon numbers. ·         We do measure our carbon impact of course, and we have always reported on our ‘existence' – this is something that is now being termed ‘Avoided Emissions' so we are slightly ahead of the game with that which puts us in a great position to help educate on the impact of buying preloved books. ·         Something we are looking at over the next year, which is really exciting and unique, is to conduct a LCA on used books. This will allow us to put an accurate, science based, amount of carbon saved per item. This will enhance our internal carbon reporting, but really help us to show customers the amazing impact they are having every time they purchase a preloved book, or sell back to Wob through Ziffit. Q4:  WOB saved 79 tonnes of CDs, DVDs and games from landfill. What role does innovation and online platforms play in facilitating the buying and selling of preloved books and mother media with WOB? ·         The fact that we purchase ‘unwanted' books from charity shops and sell them online shows there is a big market out there. ·         We did some research at the beginning of 2022 which shows that 34% of books purchased were preloved, and 55% of those were purchased online! We sell through Wob.com directly, and also platforms such as eBay which are trusted by customers looking at the preloved market. ·         Wob's values are Responsibility, Action and Pioneering – so innovative thinking is celebrated at Wob. All of our internal softwares are developed in-house and we are working around the clock to think of new ways to improve efficiency and impact. Q5:  2/3 of younger consumers (16-24 yrs olds) prefer to shop in the circular economy, citing reduction in environmental footprint as the main reason. How do you engage with this customer segment? ·         With the research we conducted last year, it showed us that 83% of our customers buy preloved books because they feel they are helping the planet. The fact that our customers feel the same as we do is great! ·         We also understand that the majority of our customers are younger, so we reach out to them on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and FB. We have made carbon neutrality announcements, B Corp recert announcements on these platforms. We have shared our Impact report this way too. ·         The difference in just one year was massive. Our brand team, since using socials to reach out to customers, saw a rise of 240% in impact report views! ·         We also have brand ambassadors that talk about the sustainability benefits of buying from Wob on their own socials which brings in even more younger customers who want to make eco-conscious decisions. ·         By understanding our stakeholders, we are able to present important information transparently, whilst also being engaging. Q6: WOB is now recertified B Corp with an impressive score of 102. Why did WOB decide to gain B Corp certification, and what has the benefit been? ·         YAY! 102 is a massive score boost and we are so proud! It was a year of hard work and the team were incredible! It was so amazing to see how enthusiastic people were take on board actions within their departments and team, in order to boost our score and ultimately have an even greater impact. ·         We certified as a B Corp in 2019 with a score of 84.8. Our business model for 20 years has been circular, but the decision to become a B Corp was the first step to showing our stakeholders how committed we were. ·         As part of our commitment, we are also mission locked – meaning any change in investment must also keep on board our mission and therefore our sustainability strategy is safe. ·         We now build an improvement plan every year, which helps guide us, through the B Impact Assessment, on what we need to do to make things even better at Wob. It has helped us engage staff with our sustainability mission. ·         We have found that being a B Corp has been an attraction for new talent joining Wob. Many of our new starters understand what it means to be a B Corp and are excited to be a part of a company that is doing amazing things. ·         As the B Corp movement grows, particularly within the UK, more consumers are becoming aware of B Corp brands and choosing to purchase from those as trusted sustainable options. We don't have a product on the shelf like other companies, so we rely on our website, emails and socials to promote that side of our business, and so far it is definitely working :)   Q7 Do you have any easy tips that listeners can implement to become a bit more sustainable? Or In what ways can individuals and consumers actively participate in promoting the principles of a circular economy in their daily lives? From a consumer perspective, I would definitely say look out for sustainable brands. Look for companies that are transparent in what they have achieved, look for certifications such as B Corp, Carbon Neutrality. Don't take everything at face value and be sure you check credentials. It sounds tough, but when you start looking it gets so easy to see the truth amongst the greenwashing! Don't feel like you have to commit to everything at once either. Make one new pledge for each year – for example you could pledge to only by used books from Wob for a year!! Or maybe to buy more from charity shops, giving preloved items a new home. Some changes you make can have such a bigger impact than just environmental too. Walking to the shops rather than driving is great for the environment, but also for your mental health too. One of the reasons I enjoy my role as Impact Manager so much is because of the variety! I don't only focus on carbon reporting, or environmental management. I look at social and ethical impact too.   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-clevett-429717112/ WOB: https://www.wob.com/en-gb Stats ·         World of Books Group hits goal of becoming carbon neutral ahead of target ·         Almost 16 million preloved books rehomed via Wob in 2021/22 - the equivalent of1,400 trees every day ·         Plus 79 tonnes (equivalent to 11 double-decker buses) of CDs, DVDs and games saved from landfill by the leading B Corp ·         https://www.wob.com/en-gb/preloved-report             This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

In this episode, we hear from Jenn McGarrigle, Mica Janiv & Aisling Connaughton: the co-founders of  sustainability consultancy CYD Connects. With extensive backgrounds in beauty, technology and sustainability, the team came together in 2019 to help other founders and businesses become more sustainable and benefit a wider group of societal stakeholders other than just shareholders. As experts in becoming B Corp certified, Jenn, Mica and Aisling share practical advice on how to achieve B-Corp certification and how every business has the potential to be a force for good. CYD Connects advice: Before you can make public statements about your company you need to explore the background internally; be the first to ask the tricky questionsRemember that consumers can now ask questions directly thanks to social mediaSustainability (the UN definition) means meeting the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needsRemember sustainability is an essential not a luxuryThe three pillars of sustainability are:The environmentSocietal imperatives like gender equality/black lives matter/mental healthThe economy and how we make money.All three are essential and need to be balanced with each otherB Corp expects a legal commitmentYou can download B Impact Assessment to measure and track your performance; there are online tools to measure your impact (use of energy, carbon footprint)When starting up, having a plan to be sustainable from the outset will make you more efficient in the long runSimple steps to accreditation: complete your impact assessment; then if you score over 80 points, you will join a queue; then you await verification (this will depend on the type of business you are)Verification will give you enormous self-assurance and confidence which will help you build your businessAnd remember to share the experience you have gained doing this, with other foundersThe 15 commitments to conscious leadership book: https://conscious.is/15-commitments CYD Connects can be reached at jenn@cydconnects.comFF&M enables you to own your own PR - contact us to find out more. Email us at hello@fallowfieldmason.com or DM us on instagram @fallowfieldmason. Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2023 MD & Founder of PR & Communications consultancy for startups Fallow, Field & Mason.  Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.  MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link & LicenceSupport the show

Listeners of this podcast might be familiar with the term B Corp, but like many – perhaps don't have a clear understanding of what B Corp stands for and what is involved in becoming a B Corp. B Corps are businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency and as a result have received certification. The B Corp certification is the most holistic and rigorous independent certification for businesses today.  Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, envision a better economic system where businesses can benefit people, communities, and the planet. They choose long-term investments over quick wins, and measure their success based on the positive impact they create. My business, The Cause Effect is proud to be a certified B Corp. We achieved certification in October 2021. You can see our B Corp profile here and read a short blog about it here. On the For Love & Money podcast, our mission is to explore the intersection of love and money (or purpose and profit) in business, to inspire a movement for positive change – business as a force for good; brands driving profit through purpose.  The B Corp community and movement aligns to this 100%. Their mission: Make Business a force for good. We won't stop until all business is a force for good. So it is with great pleasure that I introduce today's guest Mindy Leow. Mindy is Director of Impact and Growth at B Lab Australia & NZ, the certification arm of B Corp. At the time of this interview she is also acting CEO. Mindy is a champion of business as a force for good. Instrumental in building the B Corp movement in Australia and New Zealand, She has worked with more than 200 companies to achieve certification. She has also worked with hundreds of other businesses to measure and improve their social and environmental impact through the free online B Impact Assessment tool.  In this episode, Mindy shares her journey to becoming a B Corp champion and gives us some great insights into what B Corp certification is all about, what value the process of becoming a B Corp offers to business leaders; and the strong benefits that being a B Corp delivers. If you haven't already - my hope is that this episode will motivate you to check out the B Corp Assessment and start doing the assessment, regardless of whether or not you are committed or you have commitment from within the business to undertake the B Corp certification process. Hands down you will learn so much from simply doing the assessment. Some of the highlights of this interview: Mindy's background and how she came to be part of the B Lab Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand team Mindy shares the concept that B Lab use to describe shareholder primacy – as a “source code error”. Great analogy! The three levels that B Corp certified businesses need to meet: Performance, Accountability and Transparency. Mindy talks about these in some detail. Mindy shares the five pillars of the B Corp assessment and shares some examples within the pillars We discuss the value of undertaking the free B Corp Assessment She also shares the benefits of being a B Corp Connect with Mindy and the B Lab community: Mindy Low on Linkedin B Corp Website The B Impact Assessment    

Season 3 is back...featuring 3 founders mostly talking about 3 things...E, S & G and why it's relevant for business leaders and marketeers.Specifically, the importance of becoming a B Corp-certified business. The accreditation all businesses need to highlight their ESG and positive impact they're really having on the planet.BH&P CEO and host, Becky Holland speaks with Y.O.U. Underwear founder, Sarah Jordan and Fit For Purpose Consultancy founder, Sophie Brooks. Get started with the B Impact Assessment.Register for the Oxfordshire B Corp Month Celebration Event. Join the community at the Oxfordshire B Corp Facebook Group.Follow BH&P on:Instagram LinkedInTwitter

Today, the idea that business can be a force for good is mainstream…but it wasn't always that way. The early pioneers, including host Carol Cone, invested and contributed to the creation of Business for Social Responsibility, a sustainable business network and consultancy focused on creating a world in which all people can thrive on a healthy planet, in 1992. Fourteen years later, three college friends launched a new movement: one that would transform the global economy through a standards and certification process designed to benefit all stakeholders.This was the launch of B Lab, the nonprofit organization that sets the standards for and certifies businesses driving an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. These businesses make up the B Corporation movement – distinguished by their special “B” logo.We invited Eleanor Allen, B Lab's new Lead Executive, who has taken the reins from its original founders to speak to the present and future of both B Lab and B Corps.Listen for insights on:What B Corp certification is and why your company should pursue itThe future for B Corp certification standardsWhy large, publicly traded companies are becoming B CorpsHow B Lab's tools can help companies evaluate their ESG performance without applying for certificationResources + Links:Eleanor Allen's LinkedInB LabB Corp CertificationB Impact Assessment (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360 (00:13) - B Lab • Eleanor Allen (03:02) - Eleanor's Background (04:41) - Advice (06:28) - What Is a B Corp (07:53) - B Corp Community (08:46) - Mainstream? (09:42) - B Impact Assessment (11:26) - Benefits (13:17) - Best Practice Sharing in the Community (14:38) - Common Questions (15:20) - Standouts (18:00) - Demand (19:12) - Rollout Duration (20:10) - Response (22:17) - Evolution (23:02) - 10 Year Vision (24:40) - Advice (26:32) - Why Become a B Corp? (28:10) - Wrap Up

Jorge Fontanez shares with us his journey to B Lab, the amazing work he is doing with students, and shares how B Lab is building more than just a certification, they are building a movement. We talk voting, B Impact Assessment, and so much more. Full Show Notes on Responsibly Different™ WebsiteDirigo Collective Website

This is the final episode in a rebroadcast of our four part interview series with Vincent Stanley from Patagonia.Tired of all the rebroadcasts? We have been working on a new project that will be launching 8/22/22. More info to come in the coming weeks!Vincent Stanley, co-author with Yvon Chouinard of "The Responsible Company", has been with Patagonia on and off since its beginning in 1973, for many of those years in key executive roles as head of sales or marketing. More informally, he is Patagonia's long-time chief storyteller. Vincent helped develop the Footprint Chronicles, the company's interactive website that outlines the social and environmental impact of its products; the Common Threads Partnership; and Patagonia Books. He currently serves as the company's Director, Patagonia Philosophy, and is a visiting fellow at the Yale School of Management. He is also a poet whose work has appeared in Best American Poetry. He and his wife, the writer Nora Gallagher, live in Santa Barbara.Interview Highlights:How Patagonia thinks about social, environmental, and financial goal setting and key performance indicatorsThe thought process behind how Patagonia sets prices for its productsInternal and external reporting practices, including the B Impact Assessment and the “Footprint Chronicles'“How Patagonia baked its values and benefit purposes into its company bylawsFor more, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/patagonia-4The spring cohort of the Next Economy MBA is officially open! Save 20% when you register before 1/29 with our early-bird sale ➡️ https://lifteconomy.com/mba

Ingrid chats with Ashley Taylor, from Citizen Yard, about certifying your business as a B Corp. They talk about what a B Corp is and how assessing your business against B Corp standards can help you to make steps towards running a more sustainable business. Ashley Taylor is the founder of Citizen Yard, a Certified B Corp committed to helping small business owners use their companies as a force for good. She's a native of sunny South Florida who loves the outdoors — even when it's humid or hurricaning. A PADI Divemaster and certified freediver, she has a personal love of the ocean and preserving it is ultimately what started her journey into the business impact and B Corp space. She currently resides in West Palm Beach, Florida with her boyfriend and furry kiddos, Meeshi, Oliver and Lily. Find out more about Citizen Yard on the website - citizenyard.com Instagram @citizenyard Ashley Taylor LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-marie-taylor B Corp Website www.bcorporation.net B Impact Assessment bimpactassessment.net Podcast created and presented by Ingrid Fernandez from Dec + Dash Legal Consulting. Edited by Emily Crosby Media. Podcast artwork designed by Hadrien Chatelet of The Wern

“The Produce Moms would not be B Corp certified if it weren't for Kerrie.”   Lori Taylor (2:57-3:01)   You've heard us share about the exciting process of becoming a B Corp Certified business, but you're probably wondering why this is so important. Kerri McDevitt is a Senior Consultant at Impact Growth Partners, a small consulting firm working with businesses across the world to become B Corp Certified who care about (as Kerri says) the “three P's”: people, purpose and profit.   The B Corp Certification is given to businesses meeting high levels of standards that show they are global leaders in inclusivity, equitability and helping create a regenerative economy. Companies must go through a rigorous, long process of providing an application and documents that are analyzed and scrutinized to ensure only companies meeting a B Impact Assessment score of 80 or above pass. The B Impact Assessment allows you to create a plan for your business and is broken down into five sections: governance, workers, community, environmental and customers. Companies must also legally change their corporate governance to be accountable to all stakeholders, and be transparent in their performance level on the B Lab's website.    For Lori and The Produce Moms, this was an opportunity to become more structured and strategic in business operations and, as Lori says, “it was a huge graduation for my business to become B Corp certified.”   The beautiful part about putting your company through the B Corp certification process is it allows you to embed your values into your business so they'll last generations to come. The Produce Moms worked on getting certified for over 15 months and was under assessment from a specific person at the B Lab. How did TPM stack up? Well, even though the minimum score needed to pass the assessment is 80, we had a total of 117 points!  “The B- Corp journey makes one more mindful of decision making and more conscious as to what you're doing at your company. You are going to think a little bit more through a decision than you might have otherwise when you're looking at the bigger picture and considering all of your stakeholders.” Kerri McDevitt (18:12-18:29)   A great example of how TPM operates with a B Corp level standard happened recently when one of the team members took off work for a family member's medical leave. It was a tough call as to what to do for Lori. This team member is unique in her gifts and skill sets with some of our publications and we couldn't ask anyone else for the same level of creative output. At the same time, we had partners waiting for these deliverables and couldn't delay. Lori took into consideration all of our stakeholders, farming partners, internal team members and audience to figure out how to serve everyone. She decided to slightly change the creative deliverables and when our team member came back, Lori looked at what work could be shifted back on her plate so she didn't  lose out on pay from the time she was gone.   Businesses get credit under the B Corp Assessment for having an “impact business model”. The Produce Moms was recognized for their contributions giving back to 1% for the planet, giving back to organizations that support the Earth, and being involved in the beautification of Indianapolis. TPM was also recognized for being advocates for the produce sector and farmers, and educating the public about healthy eating and nutrition.   The beautiful part about the B Corp community of other certified businesses is how collaborative it is. Everyone seems to be focused on how to help each other out, lift one another out and welcome new businesses, like TPM, through sub-committees and forums. Lori's entrance into the B Corp community has been extremely warm and welcoming thus far!    Wondering why businesses are looking to become B Corp certified, or if there's been an uptick in interest? COVID was certainly a catalyst for many businesses to turn in their B Corp applications. It really gave us all an opportunity to pause, reflect and open our eyes to how major of an impact climate change is making on our world, along with the inequity and injustices we may have been ignoring. A lot of companies started to reflect on how they could do better and help our community be better… like Kerri says, “businesses trying to be the best for the world, not just the best in the world, and the best for everyone.”    “This generation is looking for products and services that benefit the world, whether it's looking for secondhand items versus firsthand, slow fashion versus fast fashion… There's a consciousness going on and it is crossing all generations.” Kerri McDevitt (27:23-27:41)   All of us are focused now more than ever on creating a positive impact – whether it's in how we treat the environment, how we treat our employees, how we include one another, and becoming B Corp certified is one of the best ways a business can ensure this. The Produce Moms' score is now public on the B Corp directory and you can see other businesses who are certified too. The process to become certified is lengthy, and although that can be a major setback for a company (finding the time), Kerri says you can achieve a “pending B Corp certification” first, which can benchmark your mission and make the process later on easier!   If the B Corp certification should inspire anything in all of us it's to focus on working together for a greater purpose and the common good for us all! It's an honor to become a part of this prestigious community and The Produce Moms will continue to strive to be a force of good, bringing you the education, information and connection you need to help support our farming and agricultural industry workers, supply chain, women, environment and more.   How to get involved Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!  Reach out to us - we'd love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.    If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we'd love for you to help us spread the word!  

“Which is the surfboard that we are going to use to surf the wave of sustainability? I hope that board can be the B Impact Assessment”. Businesses are changing and the B Corp movement is growing by the day, reaching now 5,000 certified companies. And as consumers, we have a responsibility for how we influence and vote every day. Luis Amado, the leader of the B Corp Movement in Portugal, takes through his decade-long experience in working with European businesses riding the wave of sustainability and unlocking real impacts. He discusses some cases and shares insights of value for businesses that want to become a force for good. As usual if you like it, comment, rate on the platforms, and share.

How can businesses be more sustainable? And from the consumer's side, what can we do to push businesses to make more sustainable choices? This episode marks the final installment of our sustainable business series.  Today, we unpack the seven most common prescriptions on how to become more sustainable, and three ways to become a more conscious consumer. We touch on the role of the Fashion Transparency Index, and the B Impact Assessment, along with taking an analysis of every company you spend money with.  We use the examples of Patagonia and Mud Jeans to illustrate companies who make value-driven decisions, and touch on why, to address global warming, you need to address current needs.  The majority of waste is created when we don't use materials that have taken energy and resources to manufacture. We discuss how bearing that in mind to make sustainable choices works for the good of the planet, rather than just serving as a marketing tool. -- --

Today my guest is Maria Peltokangas from Corporate Good. Maria has been working in Sweden, Malaysia, Singapore and Norway in the IT and oil- and gas industry with marketing and communications. In 2015 she changed direction and has since then dedicated her time and effort to corporate responsibility and sustainability. She is also a Climate Reality Leader, and she is active in the Nordic network of The Climate Reality Project. In addition Maria is a B Leader and can offer guidance and support to companies working with the B Impact Assessment and the B Corp certification process. Links for more information about initiatives mentioned in this episodeThe Climate Reality Project https://www.climaterealityproject.org/B Corps https://bcorporation.net/Corporate Good (in Norwegian) https://www.corpgood.com/Buy the book (in Norwegian) https://www.corpgood.com/bok/And do not hesitate to contact Maria to learn more about sustainable business or if you would like to get a Climate Reality presentation at your company, school or any other group you are a part of.Maria's LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariapeltokangas/Maria's personal Instagram profile https://www.instagram.com/maria_peltokangas/Corporate Good on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/corpgood_norway/For all resources and everything mentioned in the episode, go to Storiesforthefuture.noThere you can also sign up to receive my newsletter and to get noticed every time I release another episode.InstagramLinkedInFacebook

Nancy is talking with Jenifer Gorin, the CEO and founder of Impact Growth Partners.   She founded Impact Growth Partners after identifying a need for businesses to streamline how they measure, improve, and communicate the good they do. Jen leverages her traditional business experience to lead best in class social and environmental impact consulting services.  What is a B Corporation?   It is a certification for companies that are operating in a good way across all platforms.   “Certified B Corporations are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. They are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. This is a community of leaders, driving a global movement of people using business as a force for good.”  This is a global standard, and only 1700 companies in the US are currently operating as a B corporation.   How did you get started as a B Corporation Specialist?   Like many of us, Jen's journey didn't start here. She worked in corporate banking and finance first. She learned about impact businesses about 5 years ago and realized it was possible for companies to be profitable and do well, in all aspects of their operations.   How would a company start this process?   The process starts with an online questionnaire that is based on the size and type of business.   It covers these 5 areas: governance, customers, workers, community and environment. Two things to note: this process is free. If you want to explore you can go to the website and take the B Impact Assessment.  Jen's company can help, as the assessment is complex and detailed. The goal is to get to 80%. She explains that the process itself is likely to help you gain clarity around your company's vison and mission.   Interested in becoming a B Corporation?   That's where Jen can help. Companies contact her that absolutely know becoming a B Corporation is for them and want help with the process. She also explains that some companies reach out if they try to get certified and realize they don't have all the documentation they need.   She is passionate about helping more companies and encourages anyone to reach out for a conversation to see how this works.   It's not just a certification, it's a movement!  Being a HAYVN member has help Jen find resources from other members and she's helping 2 members on their B Corporation journey!   Connect with Jen  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn 

It seems like every day we see headlines about some public company behaving badly. Whether it is environmental disasters, abuse of workers, or just plain theft, companies often don't have an overarching mission to do good. This shouldn't be a surprise, because the main job description for the CEO of a public company is to maximize shareholder profits.But there is a different way, B-Corps. So stay tuned to find out more.Hey everybody, welcome back to another FUTR tech podcast. Today we are talking about a topic I have wanted to discuss on here for a long time, B-Corps, or Benefit Corporations. In 2010, Maryland became the first US state to pass benefit corporation legislation, and to date, 38 states including the District of Columbia have followed suit. Today there are many prominent companies like Patagonia, Athleta, Allbirds and Ben & Jerry's that are B-corps.I first learned of B-Corps from the social media postings of Tim Frick, an early proponent of B-corporations in Illinois. Tim is a Co-founder B Local Illinois and Tim's company, Mighty Bytes is celebrating 10 years of being a B Corp. So, Tim is here to fill us in on why they are important and how they work.Welcome Tim.Mightybytes: https://www.mightybytes.com/Mightybytes Impact Report: https://www.mightybytes.com/benefit-reports/2020-impact-report/Sustainable Design: https://www.mightybytes.com/blog/sustainable-web-design/Corporate Digital Responsibility: https://www.mightybytes.com/blog/what-is-corporate-digital-responsibility/Web Accessibility: https://www.mightybytes.com/blog/web-content-accessibility-guidelines/Data Privacy: https://www.mightybytes.com/blog/data-privacy-checklist-free-download/Mightybytes code of etches: https://www.mightybytes.com/code-of-ethics/About Mightybytes B Corp: https://www.mightybytes.com/b-corporation/Eco Grader: https://ecograder.com/B Local Illinois: https://illinoisbcorps.org/B Lab Tools: https://www.mightybytes.com/code-of-ethics/B-Corp Climate Collective: https://www.bcorpclimatecollective.org/B Work: https://www.bwork.com/B The Change: https://bthechange.com/B Impact Assessment: https://bimpactassessment.net/

Arbonne is an international health and wellness brand. All their products are vegan, cruelty free, and formulated gluten free. They also have a foundation to support mental well being in youth around the globe. In this episode, I share with you a conversation I had with Andrea Chase. Andrea is a fellow B Corp enthusiast, the executive director of B Local Los Angeles and the Director of Corporate Responsibility and Social Impact at Arbonne. She answers all my questions about Arbonne and their B Corp certification process while also sharing some sustainability tips and B Impact Assessment insights. Support the show (http://responsiblydifferent.com)

How can businesses become more of an Authentic Influence in the world? On this episode I talk with Karen Porter about B-corp certification and how that is impacting the world of business.   Karen is the founder of Underground Communications, a B Corp certified communications agency that helps companies increase their impactful success by building community around their brand, and also the Founder of The Benefit Consultants, helping purpose-led organisations navigate the B Corp certification process and embed more impact into their organisation. B Impact Assessment: https://bimpactassessment.net/Connect with Karen at Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenporteraus/https://undergroundcomms.com.au/  https://www.thebenefitconsultants.com.au/ Support the show (http://socialmissionrevolution.com/community)

Meet Lisa She is the President of Evolution Marketing, a Wisconsin-based women-owned certified B Corporation specializing in the area of global sustainability consulting and storytelling, environmentally responsible creative design, and ethical marketing. I keep hearing about the social side of sustainability, but I thought sustainability was only about recycling and addressing environmental issues. Can you define that for us? In all sincerity, the average American really believes that when you say sustainability, you're talking about the environmental side. True sustainability comes in a holistic manner and what that means we like to talk about it as like three legs of a stool. So those three legs of the stool are people which would be the social side. So that equates to corporate social responsibility. Planet would be the environmental stewardship side, which is the environmental side. Then profit or economic viability would be making sure that the business you're doing is making money while you're doing sustainability. So all three of those parts interconnected together are what true holistic sustainability is. So you can't really address an environmental issue without also addressing the people side, or the community side or the supply chain side. So everything is all connected together. Here's the definition that I really love because it puts it pretty clearly: Sustainability means ensuring prosperity and environmental protection without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. So really, at its heart, it's all about people. Why is it important for businesses to begin addressing and adopting sustainable business strategies and actions? It kind of goes back to what we were just talking about with COVID. The reality is, Americans today want business to solve social problems. 20 years ago, Americans expected government and or nonprofits to solve the world's problems or the social problems that we have in our communities. But after the last couple of years in this United States, there's a lot of data that talks about how consumer attitudes have changed, and specifically Americans attitudes have changed, saying that they really want business to be the one to solve social problems. If you look at what happened Last year, business was the one that really jumped up or stood up in many cases to address not all their worker issues, but address community sustainability. So I would say transparency is a big part of this. Customers, consumers, the public, want to know what a business is doing, and that's why I think sustainability strategies are really important right now because they help to tell the story of the actions that you're taking in your organization. If I want to get help to make sure my business was more sustainable, are there references available? Do you have resources for Wisconsin and even beyond? I am a walking resource for sustainability because I love sustainability and its parcel to what our business does! So if you're in the state of Wisconsin and your listener, we have a program, it's through the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council. It's called the Green Masters Program which was established in 2009. Evolution Marketing, actually, was one of the original 13 businesses to pilot the program. What it is, is it's an assessment and recognition program for Wisconsin businesses interested in improving and being recognized for their sustainability initiatives. So what it means is, if you've never done anything and sustainability, and you're kind of looking for the on-ramp on like, where do you begin to learn about sustainability and what you could do in your business, I would say, go check out https://www.wisconsinsustainability.com/ and then go to the Green Masters tab on the website and you can actually download the questions. So the program runs all year round. For new businesses is free to apply until October 31 2021 and if you're an existing business, who already participates in the program, it's free to apply before August 31. So after August 31, you pay a small fee, which isn't in the grand scheme of things a big deal. Then we close the program on November 1, and in December at our annual conference, which happens to take place in Wisconsin, we announce the Green Masters Companies. So those are the 20% of the companies that apply to the program, who are the top score getters. With the program, there are three levels, and the apprentice level is the beginning. So as long as you're taking one action, each of the nine different areas of sustainability, you can come in at the apprentice level. As I said, it's a recognition program so it really helps you to start on your trip, and then on your road to sustainability. Then over time, you can compare your year-by-year data. So if you're a company like mine, we've been a Master Company for several years and each year, we benchmark against the previous year for our data. We use that as a way to do improvements within our organization. So that's a free program if you're a Wisconsin business, and if you're new to the program, the first year is free and the second year, as long as you apply by August 31 is still free to participate. Then there's this program called the B Impact Assessment. This is for national companies and global companies. So there's part of this Certified B Corp movement and what that means is the BIA (B Impact Assessment) is a global tool that is free for any business in the world to go and to use. I don't know how many countries we're in right now, I think we're in over 50 countries that have companies that have become Certified B Corp and there's 4000 of us now in the world. So your business gets audited through completing this BIA and it is free if you don't want to get certified. So all of the questions for the BIA are there, you can go and you can put your information in, and you have to get a minimum score of 80 points in order to qualify to become certified. So again, if you're a little bit more advanced in the sustainability realm or if you're in the UK, or you're in Mexico, and you want to look at what's the global tool that's out there, the B Impact Assessment is free. Last year 46,000, businesses were new to it, and they put their information. Now, granted, they didn't all try to become certified, but I think that's really amazing! That shows that this is a global movement, and more and more businesses are wanting to see kind of where they're at across the globe. It's based on a global way of looking at sustainability, which is awesome! Can you share with our listeners one of your most successful or favorite networking experiences that you've had? Again, I love sustainability. So for me, I really enjoy going to conferences, workshops, webinars, really any event tied to sustainability. For me, finding like-minded folks or people who might think the same way I think or who are working in the same space is just is wonderful. The discipline of sustainability is relatively new, we're only 15 years old. So it's been more challenging for me to network, especially when I started Evolution Marketing, 14 years ago, there weren't a lot of folks in Wisconsin that were engaged in the sustainability space. So for me going to our Wisconsin Steel Business Council, we have a conference over December, that will always be my favorite networking event of the year, because I get to go and see everyone I know in the state and some folks from other states, too who are engaged in sustainability. This group, especially women in the group has been my foundation, as I've grown my business. Because again, being in a new discipline, it's a little bit more challenging to find colleagues to network with. So I'm really happy that we've been able to grow that space through our WSBC. My friend Jessie and I started a group called Women and Sustainability in 2014 which is another group of women who are working in sustainability in Wisconsin, and we network across that group as well. So to me, it's having folks that are working in the same space as me, that's been my best way to network. Because they understand the challenges and the ups and downs, of what goes into sustainability.  Regardless of the size of your network, it's important to stay in front of and nurture these relationships. How do you best do that? What we've done is we send newsletters out to all of our clients, as well as our colleagues and friends. In those newsletters, we share resources and tell really good impact stories. We try to help our network be more informed about what's going on in the space because there are a lot of things happening really quickly in sustainability because it is such a new discipline. So really doing the E-newsletters on a regular basis, we do basically every two months, we do an E-newsletter, I think that's been super useful. But the other thing is getting out and doing speaking. For years, I've done public speaking programs or engagements at conferences, events, and community-level events talking about different facets of sustainability. I'm amazed at the things that the public I think they know that they don't know or the questions that the public has. So that's helped me become a better marketer for sustainability products. Sometimes you're in your own space, and you know what you know, but you don't always know what's going on outside of that space, meaning the community. So I can tell you a story if you want! A couple of years ago, the Waukesha County Green Team reached out and they said, "Hey, Lisa, we're doing our countywide sustainability fair in August and we'd like you to be a speaker at the program." I said, "Okay, great! What would you like to speak about?" They're like, "We really want you to talk about sustainable shopping," and I was like, "Sustainable shopping?! Let's unpack this a bit." As we were talking, it came out that they wanted me to talk about certifications that are on products. So when people go shopping, they know if the product is environmentally responsible, or socially responsible. I was like, "Oh, sure that makes sense to me," and then they kind of went through the rest of the speakers for the day. All of the speakers were highlighting different facets of sustainability, to help the general public who came to the event to learn more and to basically use their money in a better and more environmentally socially responsible manner. So there was education about yard care and not spraying chemicals and all of the different things that if you want to live a sustainable lifestyle you could do. So I put together this program and as I was working on it, I realized that there are over 3500 certifications out there for sustainability for products. That's crazy, right? So I'm like, Alright, what are the top 10 that I think are the most important. So I built my talk around that and I gave it the sustainability fair. The room was standing room only and everybody loved to talk. After that talk, I have given that same talk over 20 times now to other groups. Now, when I put the program together, I thought this is interesting, this is neat, it's about certifications. I was on a podcast where literally I talked about the entire talk I gave on a podcast. This messaging about third-party certifications and what they mean and how that can impact your product buying or your food buying, that is huge! I already knew this information, but I didn't think it was something that the public was craving. I have been proven wrong like the public loves this topic and it really showed me that sometimes even the most basic things about sustainability, most people don't know. So I thought that was a good eye-opener for me and also now when I do community engagement, that's one of the topics I bring in. If you could go back to your 20-year-old self, what would you tell yourself to do more or less of or differently with regards to your professional career? I laugh, because when I was in my early 20s, I was like, gotta get a degree, gotta go to graduate school, education, education, education. Looking at the state of the workforce today, I have some really great data at my fingertips and one of the projections that we've seen which we've talked about for a couple of years is that by 2025, 73% of jobs in Wisconsin will not require a four-year degree. So I think back to when I was 20 and I was like, go to undergrad, get my degree, go to graduate school, education is so important.  Now I look at my nephew who's 19 and I'm like, "You know what? You can go out and work in the work world, you don't have to have a degree," because so many jobs today are training their workforce and there are so many different types of opportunities that a four-year degree is not required anymore. You can get a certificate, you can get an associate's degree, so many more options exist. So I think my advice would be that, maybe, because everyone tells you this is how it is, it's not what you needed to do. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I went to graduate school and I'm glad I had the experiences I had. But I think so much has changed in the nature of work from the time I was 20 till now and I think younger people who are listening to this podcast, and even employers, I think we all need to really be aware of the fact that so much more of the training today can happen in the workplace. We do the same thing, all of my interns have they go through sustainability training with me and it just a different way of looking at things, but I think it's a better way for the future that we're looking at right now. Especially because there are 7.5 million jobs that are being unfilled right now. So I think putting barriers in place saying somebody that works for you has to have a four-year degree or has to have an advanced degree, I think that that's unrealistic when we look at the future of how do we attract and retain talent.    Sustainability resources available to listeners:    https://greenmkting.com/resources  Social Sustainability: https://greenmkting.com/social-sustainability  Environmental Sustainability: https://greenmkting.com/environmental-sustainability  Economic Viability: https://greenmkting.com/economic-viability  Free tools: https://greenmkting.com/free-tools    Connect with Lisa   Contact Us LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisageasonbauer/  Evolution Marketing's LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolution-marketing-llc/

Blue Wave Solar's Project Development Managing Director Chad Nichols and their Civic Engagement Office Manager Rachel Clogston jumped on a call with me to answer all my solar questions. Rachel and Chad share with us about dual use solar, how they support community solar projects, and how they navigate the B Impact Assessment. And, I learned about B Lab's audit process!Support the show (http://responsiblydifferent.com)

Nel nuovo podcast di NOIS3 about Design indaghiamo una trasformazione dell'idea di azienda che, oltre agli obiettivi di profitto, mira a raggiungere un impatto positivo sulla biosfera: le società Benefit. L'ospite di oggi è Ilaria Mauric che ci racconta l'esperienza diretta avvenuta in Tangible, evoluta in Società Benefit e di cui è Head of Design e socia. Tangible, che ricordiamo con piacere come sponsor di WUDRome, fa Service e Experience Design, progetta servizi e prodotti digitali che generano impatto positivo per il business, per le persone che li utilizzano e per l'ecosistema in cui sono integrati. Il team è composto da designer, ricercatori e sviluppatori frontend che con entusiasmo si sono impegnati nella trasformazione in SB. Ilaria ha sottolineato quanto sia stato importante per Tangible interrogarsi sull'impatto ambientale delle cose che si progettano. Il percorso è iniziato per prima cosa compilando il questionario B Impact Assessment per testare il livello di partenza e confermare le intenzioni. Poi si è passati a stabilire la strada da intraprendere, stabilendo gli obiettivi, i parametri per misurarli, i rischi, fino a scrivere un codice etico, dichiarando la mission, attivando policy di trasparenza visibili, mettendo tutto a statuto e impegnandosi nel presentare un rapporto. Nell'episodio S02E11 approfondiamo il concetto di B-Corp e Società Benefit, lasciandoci ispirare da chi ha già messo in atto un cambiamento perché un altro modo di lavorare è possibile. Buon ascolto! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/nois3/message

Christopher Marquis is the author of Better Business: How the B Corp Movement Is Remaking Capitalism, which is the topic of today’s discussion. He offers a compelling look into the B Corp Movement and why it’s in everyone’s best interest to be a socially and environmentally responsible company.   A compelling look at the B Corp movement and why socially and environmentally responsible companies are vital for everyone’s future—"a valuable guide to an important force" (Financial Times)   "An important blueprint for how businesses can and should be both successful and a force for good."—Rose Marcario, President and CEO, Patagonia   "Better Business is the book to read if you want to put values and purpose at the center of your company. It’s an inspiring book with great insights to share."—Jerry Greenfield, co-founder, Ben & Jerry’s   Sponsored by...   Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling   We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed.  Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more.   Key Takeaways [3:15] Better Business, was an idea that was originally born from his students. [5:15] Christopher explains what a B Corp is. [6:15] Patagonia is an excellent example of a B Corp. [10:15] Capitalism is a good thing, but its core message has shifted in the United States. [11:45] Christopher shares what some of the drawbacks are that make it difficult for people to register as a B Corp. [15:25] Christopher dives further into the legal components of a B Corp and why it’s better to have this extra layer of protection. [16:50] More and more younger people want to be part of an organization where the values line up and companies with B Corp status highlight this purpose-driven message. [17:40] Retention and attraction of talent just go through the roof when you have a B Corp. [19:00] Jan once heard a CEO apologize that their company was “too profitable.” The CEO was basically apologizing for being a capitalist. [19:40] Christopher highlights a French company that he respects a lot where they did something a little bit differently when COVID-19 hit. [23:20] Christopher is curious to see where the B Corp movement will go in the next couple of years, but from what he’s seeing so far, things look very promising. [24:40] Some of the downsides of going down this path is that the certification is very, very hard. [29:15] Christopher shares what employees of a B Corp need to be aware of. [35:15] Christopher talks about Greyston Bakery and how they have an open hiring approach. This bypasses a lot of discrimination in their company. [38:10] There is a new job position out in the world now: The Social Engineer. Christopher explains why this role helps companies succeed. [42:05] Because B Corps are seen as having more of a “soul” and purpose, Jan wonders if this makes it difficult to find qualified buyers who can buy into the vision for when founders are ready to exit. Christopher thought the same at first, but the environment is changing. [45:50] Listener challenge: For leaders, take a look at the B Impact Assessment. For individuals, buy from companies with social missions.   Quotable Quotes “Capitalism brings us amazing things. You see the amount of people who have been lifted out of poverty and it’s because of markets and capitalism at its core.” “The type of capitalism we’ve been practicing, particularly in the United States, has been focused on meeting shareholder needs... in the short term.” “When people ask me about the main financial benefits of becoming a B Corp, it is on the HR side.” “There’s been so much research that has shown companies that are focused on environmental sustainability and delivering good employee benefits are much more sustainable over the long run.”   Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty. Websites: Chrismarquis.com & Christopher on LinkedIn Christopher’s latest book: Better Business: How the B Corp Movement Is Remaking Capitalism The Responsible Company: What We’ve Learned from Patagonia's First 40 Years, by Vincent Stanley and Yvon Chouinard Danone Greyston.org Bimpactassessment.net  

B Corp is a certification for businesses that meet the highest certifiable standards of social and environmental performance as well as transparency, and accountability.  These businesses form a thriving community that drives a global movement of people using business as a force for good. To date, over 3,500 businesses have been B Corp certified in 70 countries and 150 industries, and more than 100,000 companies manage their impact with the B Impact Assessment. In this interview we chat with B Lab CEO on creating a community of business that positively impact the world.

Let's say you're a services business — you know, you make websites for people and sell them at fair market value. But, every so often, you get a little jealous about all of these product people running around printing money. You want a piece of that action. Managing customer expectations are daunting. Your master product plan comes together over night and you decide to cut off the deal flow coming into your business and even raise some capital to make this dream come true… …but then two major moments happen: A huge client contract that you thought went dark pops up their head and says “Yes!” aaaaaand the world hits a global pandemic. Now what? You're going to find out from today's guest Amber Hinds, CEO of Road Warrior Creative and Equalize Digital. Hey, if you like the show, how about a review on iTunes. And I'm looking for a quote or two put on the website — tweet at me @mattreport with a quote about how this Podcast has helped you. MattReport.com/subscribe to join the mailing list — I may or may not be working on something new so stay tuned there. Okay, tune in to find out how Amber handled all of this! Download the Accessibility Checker Plugin

就在上周，世界知名旅行指南出版商Lonely Planet（《孤独星球》） 发布了“2021年世界最佳旅行目的地榜单”， 以往的“国家”、“地区”与“城市”消失不见、“目的地”的简单概念得到拓宽，取而代之的是可持续性、社区发展和多元化三个分类。©️Lonely Planet 微信公众号2020年，瘟疫给全世界带来重创，也让人们放缓脚步，反思自我。未来旅行会是怎样的呢？什么才是一种更可持续的旅行方式？我们又该如何重新认识我们生活已久的地方和我们自己呢？是否有一种人人都可以参与的行动呢？本期聊了什么：5:17｜Dani和她创办的imPACKED Travel6:16｜城市烈人项目：如何发动和赋能有觉知和行动力的年轻人，做社会和环境向善版的”城市攻略“和“大众点评”14:13｜负责任旅行、伦理旅行、慢旅行…为什么说可持续旅行不只和环保有关？16:26｜神奇的傣纸、朴素的乡干部、热情的开门节…Dani在家乡云南之旅中寻找可持续旅行的真谛29:01｜在一千多年历史的印尼村落里体验“时空穿越”般的旅行，在不同文明中反观自身34:59｜在全球政治的紧张局面下，旅行让人类建立自下而上的团结35:54｜低价竞争、同质化…集约式的旅游行业有怎样的问题？38:03｜如何带领爸妈打开“旅游团”以外的新世界的大门？42:57｜旅游的中产化和城市的士绅化有“异曲同工之妙”，从颠覆传统的房地产商Shift Capital中我们能学到什么？45:50｜巴塞罗那的过度旅游：游客挤占当地人的日常生活空间，把菜市场变成纪念品商店49:57｜新冠元年后的旅行：我们有了更多时间探索本地的折叠空间56:50｜行动者是如何诞生的？Dani从《蓝毛衣》、《如何改变世界》这些经典书籍中学到了什么？1:01:37｜星星之火一定要“燎原”才算数吗？1:03:06｜长沙城市烈人、学旅游专业的Phoebe的故事；聋哑人面包店、文师傅的老杆秤、南门口菜市场……亲身体验才知道的长沙气质你解锁了吗？1:09:31｜广州城市烈人、精品咖啡爱好者麦麦的故事；犀牛路老街坊社区里的小店“三剑客”和“向善环”，在烟火气的广州发现可持续的细节本期主播园儿｜北京ONE·艺术共创项目运营主管本期嘉宾王妲妮｜Dani，一个热衷于钻研如何科学旅行的普通人。imPACKED Travel发起者。以solo自由行、沙发客的形式走过30多个国家、100多座城市之后，开始思考旅行的地球向善效应。希望通过发声和联结打破人们通往可持续旅行路上的信息障碍与偏见，让世界因旅行而改变*imPACKED=Packed with impact，imPACKED Travel是一个倡导可持续旅行的社会企业，致力于通过「意识倡导」、「出行工具」、「向善线路」、「KOL孵化」与大家一起探索如何在旅行中更好地在意地球、关心人类。我们相信人人都可以在旅途中给自己和目的地带去正向的影响力，让世界因旅行而改变。*B Corps (B Corporations的简称，中文译名：共益企业）是由名为”共益实验室”(B Lab)的非营利组织提出，通过共益影响力评估工具(BIA, B Impact Assessment)筛选出一批在社会与环境绩效、透明度，以及责任感方面达到高标准的营利性企业。获得 B Corp™认证的企业们都有一个共同的理想：不仅成为世界上最赚钱的企业，更要成为对世界最有价值的企业(Not only BE the best in the world, but the best FOR the world)。

Bart Houlahan, along with his partners, Jay Coen Gilbert and Andrew Kassoy, co-founded B Lab in 2006. B Lab is a non-profit organization serving a movement of people using business as a force for good. B Lab is redefining success in business by shining a light on leaders through a corporate certification (2500+ Certified B Corporations in 50+ countries), and then providing easy pathways for others to follow. B Lab encourages all companies to measure and manage their social and environmental impact using the B Impact Assessment (70,000+ companies engaged). And it works to create opportunities for companies to align their mission with their governance (Benefit Corporation legislation passed in 37 states and in process in 11 countries). Prior to B Lab, Bart was President of AND 1, a $250 million basketball footwear and apparel company. Bart is a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute; a recipient of both the 2014 Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship and the 2015 John P. McNulty Prize; and an advisory board member of the Duke University Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE). Bart Houlahan joins me today to give us a clear picture of B lab, for benefit corporations and, and certified B corps. Bart shares with us how he started B lab and the motivation behind it. He goes into great detail about the law modifications of a for benefit corporations (B corp) and why startups should consider structuring as such. We discuss the international aspects of benefit corporations and some of B-labs partnerships. Bart closes the episode with some advice for up and coming entrepreneurs when contemplating a a for benefit corporate distinction.“The secret is this isn't just the right thing to do, it's also good business. And if you are looking to create long-term value for yourself and for your shareholders, having a greater commitment to the environment and to society and governance practices should result in long term increased profitability. - Bart HoulahanToday on Startups for Good we cover:How B Lab started and its missionWe discuss the corporate certification that B Lab offersBart explains a For Benefit Corporation and why a company would choose such a distinctionHe shares how this effects venture capitalists and other investorsWe learn the legal implications and the support for this distinctionTo more information about B Lab: bcorporation.netTwitter: @BCorporation Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes!Thanks for tuning into today's episode of Startups For Good with your host, Miles Lasater. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast listening app.Don't forget to visit our website, connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn, and share your favorite episodes across social media.

All around the world are B Local chapters that exist to support B Corps and create opportunities for the B Corp community to come together. Collectively they support this global movement to utilize business as a force for good. B Local Boston Board Co-Chair Kelsa Summer Roidt shares with us how B Local Boston works, how it can help your business, and some pro tips on navigating the B Impact Assessment.Support the show (http://responsiblydifferent.com)

We hear from innocent and B Lab UK about the B Corp movement and why you might want to certify as a B Corp.The Covid crisis has done much to shine a light on business practices, highlighting those businesses stepping up to support their communities and employees as well as those taking a less socially-responsible approach.We'll hear from the following experts:Sally McCombie, a responsible business consultant and B Leader, trained to support aspiring businesses to certify as a B CorpJames Ghaffari, Director of Certification at B Lab UK (the charity driving B Corp certification in the UK) on what it takes to certify and what to expect from the B Impact Assessment which underpins certificationRozanne Davis, Head of Sustainability & Nutrition at innocent drinks, on why they chose to certify as well as the lessons they learnt along the wayFind out about FDF membershipFuture and upcoming FDF eventsFor more about FDF visit our website: www.fdf.org.ukRecorded Oct 6th 2020

Start of interview [1:38]Rick's "origin story" [1:55]His "traditional" corporate law practice for 25 years with Morris Nichols in Delaware ("the core of our advice followed two simple rules: shareholders get to elect the directors, and directors run the company for the benefit of those shareholders... all the rest is commentary") [3:45]How his focus changed in 2010 with B Lab's effort to push legislation in DE on benefit corporations [5:45]How B Lab's benefit corporations proposal differed from "constituency statutes" [07:50]Three sets of cases worth thinking about: 1) Pre-constituency statutes (shareholder primacy); 2) Constituency statutes ("it's a may, not a shall"); 3) Benefit corporations (only one case has been filed, in Virginia, and it quickly settled)  [10:41]The first benefit corporation statute was enacted in Maryland in 2010 [12:59]B Lab's push in Delaware, and how Rick joined B Lab. Some influence from Lynn Stout's "The Shareholder Value Myth."  [13:50]Although originally shunned by VCs, public benefit corporations incorporated in Delaware have raised ~$2.5bn between 2013 and 2019 per a recent study (based on 275 early-stage financings). Per Rick, total US fundraising by benefit corporations is in the order of $4 billion. [15:54]Evolution of legal structures for benefit corporations, expanding the BJR: B Lab's proposed MBCL, PBCs in Delaware, ABA version, British Columbia, etc.) [17:55]Accounting for social value "what gets measured, gets managed": SASB (sustainability metrics), GRI Standards, B Impact Assessment (score and certification). Pressure on the SEC and EU's metrics [26:16]Distinguishing benefit corporations (generic term, ~10,000 companies around the world), public benefit corporations (Delaware form, ~2,000 companies) and B-corps (certification by B Lab, ~3,500 internationally, of which only ~300 are benefit corporations). Danone's conversion to "Entreprise à Mission." [29:57]Traditional VC investors are investing in benefit corporations (not only impact investors) [34:20]Benefit corporations in public markets (3 IPOs, 3 conversions): Laureate Education (2017), Lemonade (2020), Vital Farms (2020). Brazil's Natura (certified B Corp) acquisition of Avon (2019), Danone and Amalgamated Bank  [36:22]How does Rick respond to criticism of the benefit corporation model and the need to get support from institutional investors to succeed [40:43]How to reconcile the current debate of the purpose of the corporation, plus ESG trends, with the benefit corporation movement [45:51]The focus of Rick's new project The Shareholder Commons (2019), with initial funding from the Ford Foundation. "We want to change the paradigm for institutional investors (through advocacy, guardrails, policy and litigation)" [50:03]His book "Benefit Corporation Law & Governance: Pursuing Profit with Purpose." (2017) [56:41]His favorite books: [58:36]The Mind's I (Douglas Hofstadter and Daniel C. Dennett)Wherever You Go, There You Are (Jon Kabat-Zinn)Morality, Competition and the Firm (Joseph Heath)His mentors: [01:01:07]John Johnston (Former partner at Morris Nichols)Lewis Black (Former partner at Morris Nichols)His favorite quote: [1:02:54]"No effort is wasted""Strategy is what you don't do"Music/Soundtrack (found via Free Music Archive): Seeing The Future by Dexter Britain is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License 

Subscribe: Let us do the hard work and send the podcast to you: https://bit.ly/2NZjODA Review: Share the love and leave a 5* review from your phone: http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1375904962 (from anywhere else hit the ‘Write a Review’ button in the Apple Podcasts app or iTunes) Guest and Episode Links Karen Porter https://undergroundcomms.com.au B Corp Certified: https://bcorporation.net B Impact Assessment: https://bimpactassessment.net/ (B Corp Certification is a global certification so it's relevant for everyone). Enjoy the Episode - Happy Marketing! Website Thingy: www.marketingstudylab.co.uk The Professional Bit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petersumpton/ Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marketingstudylab/ Tweet Tweet: https://twitter.com/cousinp81 Intro What do these words mean to you? Sustainable, Ethical, Environmentally Friendly. Many use these as buzz words that are thrown about like used paper in the wrong bin! What if you want to make a real impact and not just pay lip service to these words? Taking it further than just corporate social responsibility and create real social impact and purpose. What does it take and how can we make sure its meaningful? Karen Porter is a strategic communications specialist who helps to deliver communication strategies with a positive social impact. But this doesn’t mean just saying how many paper cups you’ve recycled, this is about being true to your brand, actively making a difference and supporting what is important to you and your business! In this episode we uncover; - How do you develop a social purpose (I foolishly call this Corporate Social Responsibility which isn’t exactly correct)? - Being seen as credible - Getting internal buy-in - The pitfalls that companies usually fall foul to We also cover becoming a certified B Corporation (more about this in the episode). If you are interested in becoming a certified B Corporation, it’s a wise move to take the B Impact Assessment which will show you how far off you are, here's the link: https://bimpactassessment.net/ (link is in the show notes). With all this kindness floating around in need to know first off - Karen, what is your most memorable selfless act? Watch the episode video: https://youtu.be/gtFzlQSFiLg Top Tip If you are going to talk the talk, then you need to walk the walk. Taking the B Impact Assessment and subsequently striving to become B Corp Certified show you are doing exactly that and you are not just typing words onto recycled paper. Favourite Quote If you want buy-in from your team, they all need to contribute to how (as an organisation) you are going to show up in the world and you are going to do good. And Finally, the Most Important Takeaway from this Tpisode Even if you are not looking to become B Corp Certified there are multiple other ways to establish you credentials within your own industry’s, through accreditations and partnerships. Just make sure that these are true to your brand and meaningful to what you believe in. Music Featured on this Podcast: Sleepy in the Garden Lobo Loco www.musikbrause.de Creative Commons License

For the full write up and any episode bonuses: https://growensemble.com/b-impact-assessment/ In this episode of the Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast, Cory is joined by Grow Ensemble Co-Founder, Annie Bright. They chat about the B Lab's B Impact Assessment, "The most credible tool a company can use to measure its impact on its workers, community, environment, and customers." Tune in to this episode to catch a few things: What exactly is the B Impact Assessment? What companies could benefit from taking it? What sort of questions and criteria are covered in the roughly 2-hour assessment For the full write up and any episode bonuses: https://growensemble.com/b-impact-assessment/

Are you proud of how your successful organization makes your community a better place to live? Do you want to be? Craig Ryan, Director, Purpose Entrepreneurship, leads BDC’s team to help grow Canada’s national movement of certified Beneficial corporations (B Corps). He shares with us how this thinking fits with B Corp leaders, what he sees as the resilience of B Corps and the importance of this as a model for more organizations as we come out the other side of COVID-19, with people more connected to people and place, and the impact they can make on their community.  While B Corp certification is for businesses, the free tool is a great planning tool for nonprofits and businesses alike.    Resources Craig Ryan: linkedin.com/in/craigryan1  BDC:  https://www.bdc.ca/en/pages/home.aspx BDC - 3 Steps to Becoming a Certified B Corp:  https://www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/business-strategy-planning/manage-business/pages/3-steps-to-becoming-certified-b-corp.aspx  B Corp Canada: https://bcorporation.net/about-b-lab/country-partner/canada  B Impact Assessment: https://bimpactassessment.net/bdc  BDC’s B Corp Effect podcast – Chandos Construction: https://www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/entrepreneur-toolkit/podcasts/pages/chandos-construction-building-better-together.aspx Milton Friedman Was Wrong:  https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/08/milton-friedman-shareholder-wrong/596545/ . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: https://socialimpactadvisors.ca .  

Im heutigen Muttersprache Podcast Interview habe ich Anika Horn Founder von Social Venturers zu Gast. Schon in seit beginn Ihrer Karriere bis zu Ihrem jetztem Unternehmen Social Venturers, unterstützt Anika Horn zielgerichtete Gründer und ihre Teams bei der erfolgreichen Gründung, Verwaltung und dem Wachstum sozial verantwortlicher Unternehmen.Als Gründerin von Social Venturers erforscht sie, wie wir unternehmerische Ökosysteme für Gründer fördern können, die das Geschäft als treibende Kraft nutzen.Zuvor war Anika Mitbegründerin von Unreasonable Lab VA (Virginias erstem Mini-Beschleuniger für Sozialunternehmer), Co.Starters VA (ein Startup-Programm für Gründer von Ideen) und Rebelle Con (eine Konferenz für Unternehmerinnen). Sie betreute auch Gründer beim Pre-Accelerator an der Virginia Commonwealth University und bei Lighthouse Labs (einem gemeinnützigen Beschleuniger für wachstumsstarke Unternehmen). Als B Keeper für die lokale IT-Beratung Impact Makers half Anika beim Aufbau und Ausbau der Community von Certified B Corps und Benefit Corporations durch Networking, Vorträge und Präsentationen, Veranstaltungen, Online-Kommunikation und Gedankenführung.www.anikahorn.comwww.socialventurers.com LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/anikahorn/ B Corps: https://bcorporation.net/B Impact Assessment: https://bimpactassessment.net/Buchempfehlung: The Infinite Game, Simon SinekSponsor dieser Folge ist www.mygermany.com der Shipping, Forwarding und Concierge Service. Schau auch mal auf der LinkedIn Gruppe Muttersprache vorbei.Mehr Infos zu Monique Menesiwww.meetus.us German/American Recruiting & Executive Search und Global Leadership & Career Coachingmonique@meetus.us

Executive Director of B Lab UK (B Corp), Chris Turner, and Co-Founder of Grantbook and UnWrapit, Peter Deitz, join Alberto Lidji to discuss the B Corp movement and social entrepreneurship.   B Lab UK is the non-profit organisation in the UK behind B Corp. The B Corp movement is a global movement of more than 3,000 businesses that are all acting as a force for good around the world. There are 250 B Corps in the UK, and the movement has been around for 10 years.   At the heart of the movement is the ‘Certification’ process, which involves two commitments:   1) to score highly on a B Impact Assessment (80 points or more are required) – this means a candidate company has taken a deep look at governance, workers, environment, community and customers.  Those companies being assessed accumulate points for the positive impact they’re creating.   2 the second commitment is more symbolic and relates to the governance of the business – it differs depending on the jurisdiction, but in the UK it means that a B Corp amends its articles of association and changes the duties of the directors of the business to essentially give equal weight to people, planet and profit. It puts this triple bottom line principle at the very heart of a business.   Certification lasts for three years once it’s awarded.    Peter is a social entrepreneur who has already gotten one of his ventures, Grantbook, B Corp Certified and, now, he’s in the process of getting UnWrapit certified as well.  He notes that the certification process itself will help an organisation’s development – looking at things such as governance, employee positions and policies, how you involve yourself in the community and so forth.     There are many benefits of being a B Corp – whether it’s internal such as attracting great people and retaining them, or external, such as attracting investment, sending the right signals to the market, procurement and more.   Peter’s key takeaway: If your company is a meaningful place to work for your employees and you’re creating opportunities for formative experiences, and potentially for ownership in your company, then you’re on the right path. B Corp and the B Corp assessment will help you create that meaningful environment for your employees.   Chris’ key takeaway: At the end of the day businesses are a collection of people. Chris encourages business leaders to think about what motivates people. The inspiring business leaders are those who have a real point of view in terms of what their business is for, the role it plays in society, the way in which the people in that business can all contribute.   Visit Lidji.org for guest bios, episode notes and useful links.  Please subscribe and share if you enjoy the podcast -- thank you!  

Today we’re talking about the Business For Good movement with a deeper dive on B-Corps. We’ll be diving into exactly what a b-corp is and is not. Our host today is Randy Berridge, CFO at Industrial Resolution, and he is joined by Joel Walker CEO of Industrial Resolution along with Sarah Payne, Impact Consulting Manager at ASSETS. At ASSETS Sarah focus on helping businesses measure and improve their impact through their department Impact Consulting. One way that businesses have begun to measure their impact and validate it is through the B-Impact Assessment administered by B-Lab out of Philadelphia.

Kristy Wallace, CEO of Ellevate Network, discusses cross-industry community building, utilizing tech to facilitate connections, scaling without losing personal impact, and becoming a certified B Corp. Ellevate Network The Five Love Languages: Gary Chapman Pipeline Angels B Corporation B Impact Assessment Ellevate Podcast: Conversations With Women Changing the Face of Business Kristy on Twitter Kristy on LinkedIn See open positions at thoughtbot! Become a Sponsor of Giant Robots!

Tim Frick is the CEO of Mightybytes, a certified B Corp digital agency based in Chicago. Mightybytes connects conscious companies and nonprofits to the digital solutions they need to create greater impact through online success. In addition to running his 22 year-old agency, he is an avid writer and a leader in the B Corporation community with a passion for sustainability. Through blog posts, his own books, and conversations like ours, Tim shares his successes and challenges in building an enduring company in the ever-changing digital industry all while maintaining focus on their mission of sustainability and making an impact in the community. In this episode, he provides insight into how he has been able to balance his roles as a writer and a CEO, the process of developing Mightybytes’ mission-driven identity, and the potential to achieve sustainability goals within the existing framework of your company. A few takeaways from our conversation: How to manage a schedule with writing, being the CEO of a substantial business, while supporting the growth of the sustainable business community. How Tim’s desire for greater impact led him from working as a freelancer to growing Mightybytes to where it is today. How impact-motivated companies can use the B Corp certification process and B Impact Assessment as a roadmap for their company’s development and vision. The benefits of approaching sustainability and company problem-solving by engaging in whole-systems thinking. Full show notes: https://growensemble.com/mighty-bytes-tim-frick/

Heather Paulsen Consulting (HPC) works with mission-driven businesses to create an economy (and a world) that works better for all of us: owners, employees, suppliers, customers, our communities and the environment. We provide practical strategies for clients to create positive impact through their daily operations, taking care of the environment and stakeholders while also improving the bottom line. HPC specializes in B Corp and Zero Waste certifications, sustainability-related strategic planning and facilitation. Heather Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: Trends in the business world including collaboration and coopetition The benefits of B Corp certification What the B Impact Assessment teaches businesses Top resaons companies decide to pursue B Corp certification Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders Heather's Final Five Question Responses: What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? First thing I would say is to just do it. I hear a lot that people are tentative about making that transition from whatever they're doing to working in the sustainability realm, or even within their current roles in their current companies. I met with a company a while back and as I was describing to them what the B Corp certification is all about, they just stared at me in silence after I was done talking and they said, "This is who we are outside of work. This is how we live our everyday lives. It never occurred to us to bring these values into the workplace and clearly we should." They just couldn't believe that it hadn't yet happened. So, I think that everybody can be a sustainability professional, whether it's making a career change and just having a consulting company, or staying within their existing role in their existing company and bringing those sustainability issues forward within those companies. Just do it. What are you most excited about right now in the world of sustainability? There are two things. One is the shift from the focus on sustainability to regenerative development. The idea that sustaining what we have isn't enough and we have to shift towards a more regenerative approach. The second thing that I'm really excited about, that I touched on before, is the hope and the inspiration that comes from seeing so many businesses doing their unique piece of the puzzle to solve these issues. The more we're in communication about those things, the more we can see how our own piece fits into that mosaic of the whole. What is one book you would recommend sustainability leaders read? Well, I'm going to have to say there's two. One recent read is The Regenerative Business by Carol Sanford. She masterfully points out why so many of our best practices that we see in business today are actually undermining to the agency and to the creativity of our employees. She describes this in some detail and then offers alternatives to those toxic business practices. She offers a framework and an approach to build businesses that bring the whole person to work so that people can be creatively engaged, and it makes for a much more resilient, productive company. The next book is the second edition of the B Corp Handbook by Ryan Honeyman and Tiffany Jana. I'm super excited about this because it's a great resource for any company that is thinking about taking that B Corp journey. It highlights hundreds of companies, why they did it and what they're getting out of it. It also gives you a really great best practices guide or being a business for good. What are some of your favorite resources or tools that really help you in your work? My growing network is my favorite tool actually, if you can call awesome human beings a tool. I think I mentioned before that I am not naturally an extroverted person, yet through this work of being in the B Corp world I have discovered that pretty much everybody that I've met at the B Corp Champions Retreat, for example, is awesome. Everybody's got these great tools, skills, talents and perspectives to bring. So, my network is my favorite thing to tap into when I'm facing a challenge. Where can our listeners go to learn more about you and the work that you're leading? I do have a website: hpaulsenconsulting.com. I'm also on LinkedIn and Twitter. About Sustridge Sustridge is a sustainability consulting firm providing consulting in sustainability strategy development, GHG emissions calculating and management, zero waste planning and guidance in TRUE Zero Waste, B Corp, LEED and Carbon Neutral certification.

SWBR is a different kind of design firm. Their culture is defined by their integrity, technical excellence and providing quality work on time and on budget to our clients’ satisfaction. For over 49 years, they have pioneered a multidisciplinary approach, with structural engineers, interior designers and landscape architects all on the SWBR team, allowing for innovative and collaborative design projects. The core belief at SWBR is that architecture and place-making matter. They have been at the forefront of designing buildings sustainably, but they also understand how great buildings and spaces can inspire, influence and enhance the lives of their users and the community. In other words, the design of your building can have a major influence on your "conscious" culture. Recently, SWBR took the B Impact Assessment as part of the MeasureUp Finger Lakes Initiative. Not only did it give them a way to measure their sustainability practices, but also caused them to reflect on themselves and think about how they could continue to evolve their company culture. Dave Beinetti has been with SWBR since 1979, starting as an intern, then architect, then moving into project management, and is now Principal and Chairman of the Board. Listen to the interview with Dave on how SWBR is designing for (Human) sustainability!

Jay Coen Gilbert is co-founder of B Lab, the non-profit organisation that serves a global movement of people using business as a force for good. B Lab certifies B Corporations, companies that meet the highest standards of verified, overall social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability.Since its inception in 2006, the B Corp movement has grown so that there are currently over 2,300 certified corporations operating within 150 industries in 50 countries. Jay also serves on the board of Investors' Circle, an organisation dedicated to the acceleration of patient capital markets towards a sustainable future. Prior to founding B Lab, Jay enjoyed a successful career in the private sector, notably through AND 1, a 250 million dollar basketball footwear and apparel company which he co-founded and later sold. In this encouraging interview, Jay provides some fascinating insights into an exciting global movement that aims to re-define success in business. He describes how institutions are typically slow to react to social change and how there is ample opportunity to cater to millennials' greater concern for social and environmental issues, both as consumers and as a workforce. He outlines how B Corps unlock the full potential of business by harnessing the power of competition so that businesses not only compete to be the best in the world but “the best for the world.” He also describes the “B Impact Assessment,” the comprehensive accreditation system which accounts for supply chains, workers' rights, the environment, community engagement and governance, thereby providing a holistic and genuine picture of a company's impact. This assessment is fully transparent and is regularly updated through solicited public engagement. Joel also touches on B Corps' relationship with finance by describing how larges investors can use B Corps as a blueprint for managing systemic risk. Joel is optimistic about the prospects for expansion of the movement, pointing to Danone as the first Fortune 500 Company with aspirations to join, but stresses how the ultimate goal is to change attitudes in the business community. Finally, he outlines the need for a more inclusive and distributive form of capitalism, stressing how the rise of populism is symptomatic of a growing disenchantment with an economic system that rewards an ever shrinking portion of the population. The post Episode 40: Interview with Jay Coen Gilbert on the growth and success of B Corps and how the movement aims to re-define success in business appeared first on The Sustainability Agenda.

Bard MBA graduates Sam Levine and Alex FitzGerald spoke recently with Rebecca Hamilton about Badger's business model and how it goes beyond the B Corps standard. Hamilton is a co-owner and the vice president of research and development at Badger, where she sources new raw materials and oversees the sustainability and quality of Badger's supply chain, among other responsibilities. She is also involved in safe cosmetics legislation and toxic chemical reform and has served as the chair of the Natural Products Association National Personal Care Steering Committee. As of January, there were 1,000 certified B Corps — companies certified by the B Lab, a nonprofit, to create social and environmental benefits — in the U.S. alone. This number is even more impressive when you realize that fewer than two years ago, there were only 1,000 B Corps worldwide. Badger, a family-owned, mission-driven certified B Corp company nestled in the woods of Gilsum, New Hampshire, exemplifies and extends the B Corps model. The company was started by Bill Whyte in 1995 when, as a carpenter working in the cold New Hampshire winters, he created a balm that helped his cracked hands. The company has grown to over 100 personal care products and 60 employees. Honored this year as a "Best for the World" and "Best for the Environment" B Corp, Badger scored in the top 10 percent of all businesses on the B Impact Assessment, the gold standard of corporate responsibility metrics.  

From Break to B Lab   Introducing Joyce Sou and B Lab It seems we all live busy lives. We all have obligations and commitments that take up our working and non-working hours and often this leads to a lack of time to sit back and reflect. As our Boiling Point guest this week could tell us, taking some time away from your daily grind can help you reassess your situation and put you on a completely different path. Joyce Sou went to business school and didn't really know what she wanted to as a career path. At the time, she decided to take the path of least resistance to become an accountant and later an auditor in consumer markets. Though she credits her experience in these roles for developing her leadership skills, she knew that her current career path wasn't what she wanted to do long term. After getting married, Joyce and her husband decided that they were going to take a break and had a sabbatical year to travel around the world and as an unintended consequence she learned a great deal about social enterprise. To learn more about the results of her sabbatical and her work with B Lab, check out this episode of the Boiling Point.   In this episode  We meet Joyce and hear about her work with B Lab in Canada. Joyce tells us about her background and what led her to take a sabbatical that would change her life. Joyce tells us how her time away gave her the ability to reassess her career path and to realize that the world still spins when you step back from your commitments. Dave and Greg consider the merits of taking a sabbatical themselves. We discuss how taking time away would lead to a different perspective. Joyce tells us how she then got involved with B Lab and how business can help impact the world for good. We discuss the merits of being a B Corporation or just taking the B Impact Assessment. Joyce tells us how two hours of your time on the B Impact Assessment could give you a benchmark of how your company stands. We also hear how Joyce is getting involved in hockey to one-day pay with her daughter. Dave is inspired by the way that Joyce found her way to B Lab. Greg considers how using a sabbatical as a reset is so interesting.   Links - Joyce on Twitter - Joyce on Linked In - B Corporation Website - B Corporation on Twitter - B Corp Canada on Twitter - B the Change Website - B Impact Assessment       Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Companies see that there is so much value that comes from doing good in the community and it adds so much business value as well."  “And I realized that through my many zigs and the zags I picked up experiences that really helped me to grow as a consultant." ~Frank Scarpaci Frank Scarpaci, a sought-after B corp and corporate social responsibility consultant, reviews a vast array of benefits related to becoming a "B" corporation (short for a "Benefit" corporation), a new type of corporation that puts social, community and environmental causes and stakeholders at equal value with corporate profits. Today, certified "B" corps span 47 countries and more than 130 industries and encompasses a growing community of more than 1,600 businesses! In this episode, Frank recounts his unique experience and the journey that led to him to becoming a leader in the space and a well-known consultant for aspiring businesses looking to become B corp certified. Frank shares many smart insights in this episode, including: How the B corp came about The TOP well-known brands/companies that are B corps How he came to be recognized by AMEX as one of only 150 employees (out of 85,000) as a team member who embodied their "Good Citizenship" Value How to FIND A JOB with a B Corp How to take the "B Impact Assessment" for your existing company Why it's important to share the good that you and your company provide for your community For business owners: Be sure to share and talk about the causes that matter to you and your company! Great places to work — a ranking of great companies to work for as well as other resources How to check up on non-profits you are interested in and look under the hood Frank's best habits, favorite books and how he defines "success" “We are in a perfect time where we are seeing this shift in the business community to start taking a look at a lot of these challenges..." ---------------------------------------------------- Frank has more than 30 years experience with corporate social responsibility, strategic planning, meeting facilitation, and event management experience and helps companies connect their business success to social good.  Frank is a passionate advocate for the growing B Corp movement— simply a better way to do business. Frank's company, VIANOVA, was one of the first companies to earn B Corp certification in 2008. Subscribe Don't miss a single episode. Subscribe to the podcast to get each episode sent directly to you.    Resources VIANOVA - Frank's Company Learn More - Become a B Corp — bcorporation.net The Habit Factor app The Habit Factor template The Habit Factor book Big Brothers Big Sisters

Flory Wilson is the Director, International for GIIRS at B Lab.  She joined B Lab in April 2010, working on the core team that has launched the Global Impact Investing Rating System (GIIRS) Ratings & Analytics.  Flory chairs the Emerging Markets Standards Advisory Council that crafted the GIIRS rating methodology, and led a beta-test of the GIIRS assessment in early 2011 that involved over 200 companies and 25 leading impact investing funds in 30 different countries.   Flory also focuses on business development, working with emerging market based mission-driven enterprises, investment vehicles and impact investors who are using GIIRS Ratings & Analytics, and GIIRS' communications efforts. Furthermore, as the Director of Analytics at B-Lab - the non-profit behind B-Corps - Flory has oversight of the B Impact Assessment, which is the responsibility of B Lab's Standards Advisory Council, an independent committee of 20-22 members, each respected in the field for their wisdom and with deep industry or stakeholder expertise. The Standards Advisory Council is divided into two subgroups — one to oversee the content and weightings for the version of the B Impact Ratings System that is appropriate for companies and funds in developed markets; the other for the version that is appropriate for companies and funds in emerging markets. Previously, Flory was a Senior International Economist in the Office of Investment Policy at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) in Washington, D.C.  At OPIC, she focused on measuring the developmental, social and environmental impacts of private sector-led investment across OPIC's $12 billion portfolio. Prior to OPIC, Flory established a new protocol for tracking international remittances from the U.S. to developing countries as an economist in the Balance of Payments division at the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Department of Commerce. Ms. Wilson holds a M.A. in international relations from Johns Hopkins Nitze School for Advanced International Standards (SAIS), with a concentration in economics, and graduated cum laude from Colgate University with a B.A. in History and EconomicsShe   What is the Global Impact Investing Rating System (GIIRS)? GIIRS Ratings are the gold standard for impact measurement in impact investing. GIIRS Ratings are rigorous, comprehensive, and comparable ratings of a company or a fund's social and environmental impact. How does GIIRS work? Find Companies & Funds - GIIRS rated companies and funds are highlighted in the search features of B Analytics as being best in class in terms of measurement practices.   Measure & Evaluate - Gain a holistic picture of a company's or fund's impact through a GIIRS rating, not just a component of their model or operations.   A GIIRS Rating is comprised of a Fund Manager Assessment Rating and two Investment Roll-Up Ratings: an Overall Impact Business Model (IBM) Rating and an Overall Operations Rating. The Investment Roll-Up Ratings are weighted averages of the portfolio companies' impact business model and operations ratings based on the amount invested in each company.   Criteria to Get a GIIRS Fund Rating Funds in Formation can become GIIRS rated by committing to being rated for the life of the fund. Until 25% of capital is deployed, initial GIIRS Fund Impact Rating Reports will only feature the fund manager's assessment score and each portfolio company will receive an individual company rating (no portfolio aggregation rating is generated).(1) Actively Investing Funds can receive a GIIRS Fund Impact Rating once 25% of capital(2) is deployed. A typical fund is required to have at least 75%(3) of their portfolio companies complete the rating process in order to receive a GIIRS fund rating. Fully Invested Funds can receive a GIIRS Fund Impact Rating using the standard fund rating methodology, though at least 80% of the total portfolio (in terms of capital deployed) must receive a company rating in order to receive a fund rating.   How can you use B-Analytics to research companies? Find Companies & Funds - Conduct research on the 1400+ individual companies and funds in B Analytics. Follow Trends - Track market trends in the impact investing space. Measure - Collect impact data on the companies and funds in your portfolio, platform, supply chain, or association. B Analytics offers you the flexibility to measure what matters to you. Benchmark - B Analytics houses the largest database of social and environmental performance data on private companies globally. Use B Analytics to benchmark your portfolio's impact and easily export data for reporting to stakeholders. Improve - Through B Analytics companies can access “do-it-yourself” consulting tools to improve their impact.   METHODOLOGY: GIIRS Ratings are the gold standard for impact measurement in impact investing. They are rigorous, comprehensive, and comparable ratings of a company or a fund's social and environmental impact. The GIIRS Rating is powered by the B Impact Assessment. It measures the overall impact of a business on all of its stakeholders. The B Impact Assessment has been accessed by over 15,000 users in 57 countries in 176 industries. Learn more about the B Impact Assessment. B IMPACT ASSESSMENT STRUCTURE: Impact Business Models: Specific models designed to create social and/or environmental impact through a company's products or services, target customers, value chain, ownership or operations. Operations: Impactful practices, policies and achievements related to a company's: Governance structure, Workers, Community, Environmental footprint. Each company receives an overall score and two ratings; one for its impact models and one for its operations.