Beyond the B: Latest on the B Corp Movement

Steward ownership is emerging as a powerful step for B Corps that want to safeguard their mission beyond what the benefit corporation legal protection provides. In this episode of Beyond the B, Ryan Honeyman talks with Achim Hensen of the Purpose Foundation and Luis Duarte of Amoofy about how steward ownership can shift power dynamics, protect purpose, and build a more values-driven economy. From Patagonia to emerging startups, they explore why this model may be the “gold standard” for B Corps seeking lasting impact.View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/is-steward-ownership-the-gold-standard-for-b-corps-w-achim-hensen-luis-duarteCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values

In this episode, we dive into the Environmental Stewardship and Circularity (ESC) Impact Topic of the new B Corp standards (v2.1) with Brigitta Nemes, the sustainability expert who led their development over the last few years at B Lab. We discuss why environmental stewardship was separated from climate action, how the new standards balance rigor with accessibility for small businesses, and what true circularity means beyond just recycling. Brigitta also shares behind-the-scenes stories of the tensions in creating the new standards.View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/new-b-corp-standards-environmental-stewardship-circularity-w/-brigitta-nemesCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values

What does it mean to build a truly fair workplace—and how do the new B Corp standards define it? In this episode, we’re joined by Bernard Gouw, Senior Manager of Social Standards at B Lab, to explore the Fair Work topic. Bernard unpacks how the new requirements balance ambition with flexibility, from family living wages and collective bargaining to pay transparency and stakeholder engagement. He also reflects on the hard tradeoffs, why some outcomes are prioritized over others, and what he believes is the single most powerful lever for change.View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/new-standards-unpacking-fair-work-w-bernard-gouwCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values

In Part 3 of our “Are B Corps Too Woke?” series, we sit down with Annie Korver and Hayley Roulstone from Rise Consulting, an Indigenous-owned firm advancing Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. Annie and Hayley offer a powerful invitation to center rights-holders, not just stakeholders, and to embrace a relational approach to impact rooted in trust, reciprocity, and lived experience.View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-3-annie-korver-hayley-roulstonePart 1 w/ Raj Aggarwal: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-1-raj-aggarwalPart 2 w/ Nathan Stuck: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-2-nathan-stuckCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values

In this three-part series, we examine the B Corp community’s evolving relationship with justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI)—celebrating progress and grappling with uncomfortable truths.In Part 2, we’re joined by award-winning B Corp leader, educator, and author Nathan Stuck to explore the complex intersection of business, purpose, and politics in today’s polarized climate. In this episode, he offers insight into the ongoing conversations around DEI and urges a return to outcome-driven work over performative gestures.View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-2-nathan-stuckPart 1 w/ Raj Aggarwal: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-1-raj-aggarwalPart 3 w/ Rise Consulting: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-3-annie-korver-hayley-roulstoneCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values

In this  three-part series, we examine the B Corp community’s evolving relationship with justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI)—celebrating progress and grappling with some uncomfortable tensions that have emerged in recent years.In Part 1, Raj Aggarwal—founder of Provoc and long-time B Corp leader—joins to explore whether the B Corp movement’s approach to JEDI needs any changes. Drawing from his deep involvement in B Lab’s early inclusion efforts, Raj shares stories of transformation, struggle, and resilience within the community, while grappling with critiques of performative DEI and the challenges of building authentic, relational change in a politically polarized time.View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-1-raj-aggarwalPart 2 w/ Nathan Stuck: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-2-nathan-stuckPart 3 w/ Rise Consulting: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/are-b-corps-too-woke-part-3-annie-korver-hayley-roulstoneCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values

As the B Corp movement grows across Asia, leaders in Japan, China, and Singapore are finding creative ways to adapt global standards to local cultures, business norms, and social priorities. This episode explores the challenges and breakthroughs of building a values-driven business movement in this important and fast-growing region.View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/b-corps-in-asiaCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values

In this episode, Ryan Honeyman is joined by Erinch Sahan (Doughnut Economics Action Lab) and Vincent Stanley (Patagonia) for a candid, thought-provoking conversation about the ongoing tensions within the B Corp movement. From Nespresso to Dr. Bronner’s, we examine the question of whether multinationals threaten the credibility of the B Corp community—or whether they are essential to scaling impact. Together, we examine the fault lines between purpose and profit, ownership and extraction, and integrity versus storytelling—raising timely questions about the future direction, identity, and integrity of the B Corp movement.View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/b-corp-tensions-erinch-sahan-vincent-stanleyCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values

In this episode, Grace Son, Senior Manager on the Standards Team at B Lab Global, unpacks the new Government Affairs and Collective Action (GACA) impact topic within B Lab’s updated standards. Drawing from her experience in finance and four years at B Lab, Sun explains how these requirements push companies beyond individual actions toward systemic change through responsible lobbying, collective action, and tax transparency.View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/new-b-corp-standards-government-affairs-collective-action-grace-sonCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values

B Lab has released its first-ever brand awareness report--providing valuable insights into the current state of recognition for B Corps worldwide. In this episode, we delve into the findings with two influential leaders from B Lab: Charlotte Levitt, the Global Director of Marketing and Communications, and Michele Bradley, the Data Analytics Manager on B Lab's Insights Team.View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/b-corp-brand-awarenessCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they’re under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values