Business for Purpose Network (B4PN) Weekly Announcement.
Update #16 — March 12, 2021
1.0 UPCOMING EVENTS. Sarah Saso and Verity Dimock have launched a new series called: Conversations on Purpose. Their next session is described as follows: “Trust in institutions is at a record low in 2021. How can leaders be part of the trust solution? And what role can purpose play?” The event will be held on March 24th from 1 to 2 pm and it will feature Lisa Kimmel Edelman Canada CEO and Megan Fielding, VP Brand and Culture Communications at Nutrien. It is free to register — sign up here. Thanks Sarah for the link it sounds like a fantastic session
2.0 EVENT FOLLOW UP. Benevity Goodness Matters Conference. Did you attend this event? What were your key takeaways? Please feel free to share on LinkedIn
· Their four pillars of purpose are:
1. The Rise of the Power of the Individual — be part of something bigger than yourself
2. An Expanded Definition of Impact — hybrid world
3. The Most Admired Brands are Authentic
4. Purpose Paves the Way to Profits — ESG performance tied to Executive Compensation
· “Corporate purpose is a business imperative”
· “How do you start to figure out your corporate purpose? Focus on connecting with your individual sense of purpose…mobilize your company and people to come together”.
3.0 NEW VIDEO. HBR Quick Take: Accenture Interactive’s Brian Whipple on Why Purpose is Good for Business. 10 minutes.
“It used to be that purpose and profit were maybe not mutually exclusive, but certainly not brothers or sisters. And that’s not really the case anymore, and there’s some interesting dynamics as to why that is not the case. The path to profit is now through purpose, and the reason is really maybe threefold. First of all, some 80% of millennials, as an example, want their employers to also share their values in things like social responsibility. The second thing is that younger consumers demand seamless experiences…And the last is that these consumers want their brands to include them in things like, how do I feel like I’m participating in something bigger, whether it be helping the environment or sustainable labor practices, but supporting some level of cost?
“And leaders better get ready, because these new consumers, these new wealth owners care very much about how their products are made and sustainable practices … purpose. And so purpose will be the future path to profit and a significant part.”
4.0 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. A Blueprint for Better Business is an independent charity based in the UK whose purpose is to create a better society through better business. “They help business to be inspired and guided by a purpose that benefits society and respects people and planet”. Check out their website for resources that includes definitions; principles and frameworks; reports and events.
Their next webinar is called Agitating for Change which features a discussion on how to facilitate and enable change within organizations. The event will be held on March 31st at 8 am EST (1 pm London, UK) and it is free to register — sign up here and you can join their mailing list here. We are excited to discover the work of this group which we hope will help accelerate our efforts in Canada — thanks for the connection Coro Strandberg!
5.0 AWARDS. The Schwab Foundation celebrates Corporate Social Intrapraneurs whom they describe as “leaders within multinational or regional companies who drive the development of new products, initiatives, services or business models that address societal and environmental challenges.” The B4PN lead on intrapraneurship is Chryssa Koulis who is with The League of Intrapraneurs and The School for Social Entrepreneurs.
Enjoy the reading and enjoy the week-end … on purpose
Allyson
What is the Business for Purpose Network? The B4PN is an initiative catalyzed by the JW McConnell Family Foundation and the MaRS Discovery District to help build a movement engaging companies to put purpose at the core of their work.
Past editions of the B4PN Weekly Announcements are available on LinkedIn and on Medium.
Interested in joining this movement? Please contact Allyson Hewitt, VP Impact at MaRS at ahewitt@marsdd.com to indicate your interest in this work, to join the mailing list or to unsubscribe. We’d also love your comments on anything you read here or to promote any relevant articles you would like to share with others.
