386 – Blended: Let’s Change The World! Organizations Doing Good Now
Welcome back to Blended! It’s episode 40, I’m joined by another amazing group of professionals and, today, we’re all about the positivity – because we’re talking about organizations that are doing good.
We can all be guilty of being a little bit cynical sometimes when it comes to brands, especially big ones, and their impact on the world. Greenwashing and pinkwashing have both been well-publicized in recent years, as we strive towards achieving greater sustainability and more diverse cultures in business.
But there are so many organizations that are doing great things – not just saying them – and making a positive impact in our world. And this episode is dedicated to them, to what we can learn, and how we can all be inspired, in our personal and professional lives, to do better.
Today, our guests will be talking about the impact that businesses, large and small, have on our world; personal accountability versus corporate responsibility; the fine line between people and profit; and the different ways people and organizations can drive change and create a positive impact, locally and worldwide.
Introductions to our Blended panellists. Leslie – Co-founding Executive Director at Next Economy Trust Serena – Owner at Pulse Marketing and author Amy – Founder at Gender Fair Emily – Chief Strategy Officer at CARE Impact Partners
The group discuss personal responsibility versus the impact that big businesses have globally; and why it’s so important for organizations to take a proactive approach to doing good. Government and legislation Making an impact by changing the worlds biggest 2,000 businesses Responsibility of the individual to add pressure The danger in asking the people with the least power to create the most change The huge impact corporations have on the world Impact of poverty, gender inequality and climate crisis on supply chain risk Doing good with a purpose – creating the business case Improving brand reputation Driving value for shareholders Doing good internally, as well as externally Hiring and retention Creating positive cultures Staff engagement and satisfaction Giving workers a voice Incentivizing doing good Empowering teams Creating awareness of organizations doing good Wastage Companies moving away from traditional structures of corporate social responsibility Embedding efforts into core company values Integrating social and environmental sustainability agendas Working with organizations that align with your values and ethics Taking a people-centered approach Impact of purchasing practices Circular economy “Companies are dependant on the ecosystems in which they operate. It’s not only important for businesses to take a proactive approach to doing good. I’d argue that it’s absolutely critical to their long-term success, specifically when we’re looking at a supply chain perspective.” Emily
The panel discuss some of the ways that people and organizations can make a difference. Employee research groups Changing incentive structures Metrics for success – moving away from cost-only and typical ROI Layering a gender lens across initiatives Making commitments Giving back to local community Opening up conversations Acting with intent Shared goals B Corporations “It’s very important to have measurements. People want to do good, but they don’t know how… when people can see what they can do to be better, they do it; the more systems we have, the more helpful it is.” Amy
.04] The group share organizations that companies can engage with to help them do good in the world; spotlight brands that are doing good; and give suggestions for how individuals can take action. Blended Pledge Habitat for Humanity Tory Burch Kiva Water.org The Parks Project Vote Run Lead Moms First Billion Strong Trans New York Oddbox Mars Target Micro Scooters Vestiaire collective Buy from female-owned businesses Social media support Educate yourself on ethical practices Buy local Commitment to purpose Volunteering Accountability “It starts with us, with the leaders. We have to be willing, not only to sacrifice, but to fight for the things that we believe in, in order to create companies that are going to give back to everyone, where people are excited and passionate to come to work, that are making our world better. We have to change ourselves first before we can change the world.” Serena
Resources & Links Mentioned
- You can connect with Leslie, Emily, Serena and Amy over on LinkedIn.
- If you want to hear more conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion, why not check out 366: Blended – Leveling The Playing Field: What Women Have To Think About Vs Men or 323: Blended – How to Foster an Inclusive Workplace.
- Check out our other podcasts HERE.
