Leading for Good
Yvon Chouinard
Businesses doing Good AND doing well feels like it’s gaining traction.
The way we measure success is changing…at long last.
What does Good business and Good leadership look like to you?
Is it profitability, ROI, margin, sales?
When I think about a Good business, I look at what it is doing for its people, communities, customers, AND of course the planet.
I’m always looking for inspirational examples which illustrate what Good looks like to share with our members and clients.
So you can imagine how thrilled I was to hear the news that Yvon Chouinard (a hero of mine) announced the sale of B Corp Patagonia to his only shareholder; The Earth.
He said:
“If we have any hope of a thriving planet—much less a business—it is going to take all of us doing what we can with the resources we have. This is what we can do.”
The world needs courageous business leaders like Yvon Chouinard to consider their impact on ALL of their stakeholders, not just to maximise shareholder value.
But this isn’t a purely philanthropic exercise.
It’s a way of using your successful business as a force for Good to shape a better future for our children and future generations.
Recommended reading and watching
If you want to learn more about Yvon Chouinard and Patagonia I recommend:
Let my people go surfing (new edition) - Yvon Chouinard
Forces for Good - Paul Hargreaves
The Scale of Hope - a new film from Patagonia (link below)
Kakou Technologies
a B Corp creating products that add value and deliver genuine real life benefits…and so much more.
Kakou Technologies is a female-led certified B Corp.
The organisation uses the power of engineering sciences and the creative arts to promote inclusive design, and social and environmental responsibility.
It has a mission to “promote social cohesion through respect, inclusion and diversity”, and to innovate for an accessible and inclusive future.
When I talk to business leaders about their purpose, or mission, it’s always helpful to have some examples of what I mean.
Kakou is a great example of a business creating purpose beyond profit.
What a team!
Recommended reading:
Read about Stemettes, an award-winning social enterprise working across the UK & Ireland and beyond to inspire and support young women and young non-binary people into Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths careers (known collectively as STEM).
Elvis and Kresse
Kresse Wesling, Charlotte Harris, and me!
Since 2005 Elvis & Kresse have been rescuing raw materials, transforming them into luxury lifestyle accessories, and donating 50% of profits back to charities.
You may have read my posts about my Elvis and Kresse handbag?
As a customer or client, there is something very special about buying a product or service that makes you feel really good.
I think it’s that you know your hard-earned money is well-spent money, and doing some good for others and the planet.
I talk about my Elvis and Kresse Camera Bag a lot as an illustration of a business that’s doing good and doing well.
Read more about Elvis and Kresse here or better still, join our thriving community of forward-thinking business leaders online on 6th October for the UK for Good monthly meeting.
Kresse Wesling will share her B Corp journey and help us to consider ways all business leaders can grow their business for Good.
Recommended action:
Complete your UK for Good Company Membership application form here and once approved, we’ll send you an invitation for you and up to three of your team to our next monthly meeting on 6th October.
Bonus Gift:
Sign up today and as it’s still Member September we’ll plant 25 trees in your name through our partnership with Ecologi.
Hope to see you there!