The World Cup is coming. And there is more to the fierce competition than what we see on the pitch. Look at fierce competition behind the soccer ball itself. China and Pakistan aren’t likely to face off on the field, but they do go head to head in the competition of soccer ball creation every [...]

Alleviating global poverty and stemming environmental deterioration are not small or easy problems, but a new network of investors is willing to put their money towards this mission. The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN)- comprised of large institutional investors such as JPMorgan Chase, TIAA-CREF, Prudential, and Rockefeller Foundation – is working with B Lab to [...]

In 2002, I worked with small producers in a township outside of Cape Town, South Africa to help launch a small business. The official unemployment rate in Cape Town at that time was around 30% and for many of the men and woman I worked with, running their own business was the first job they [...]

One of the statements from B Corp that I consider especially powerful is, “the absence of transparent standards…makes it difficult for all of us to differentiate between a ‘good company’ and just good marketing”. In the textile industry this is sadly true with the trend toward “green” apparel. Recently, an article in The Financial Times [...]

Ambiguity is not an option. For any company that seriously intends to harness the power of the marketplace to crack society’s biggest challenges, authenticity—the capacity to do what you say you’ll do—is a core, non-negotiable attribute. And that presents a problem.

Jay Coen Gilbert of B Lab, the non-profit that certifies and supports B Corporations, distinguishes between good companies versus good marketing, and how B Lab is supporting the broader social shift from green businesses to good businesses.

B Corporations have voluntarily adopted a higher standard of legal accountability than their traditional corporate counterparts. B Corps are required to take into ‘due consideration’ the impact of their decisions not only on their shareholders, but also on non-shareholder interests, such as their employees, suppliers, community, and environment.   B Corp Legal Framework ‘Due consideration’.  What [...]

I’m a fan of the Clinton Global Initiative.  I’m a fan of former Presidents risking their political capital and I think CGI has been and hopefully will continue to play a significant leadership role engaging the private sector in creating public benefit. CGI recently hosted an event titled ‘Creating Value for Business and Society’.  The [...]