Forces for Good

The ability for employees to speak up is critical to creating a system that is fair, representative, and works for all. Our guests today, Jenny Holdcroft and Antoine Heuty, are both on a mission to make sure people are heard by their employers. Jenny is Deputy Director of Business Engagement at the Shift Project, the leading center of expertise on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. She and Shift champion unions and organized labor. Antoine is Senior Vice President of Human Rights at EcoVadis and founder of Ulula.  Ulula is a B Corp that gives workers the ability to communicate with their employer anonymously. It can be used to make complaints about working hours or conditions in real time.If you see or know about human rights violations in the workplace, you can report them to the UN:https://www.ohchr.org/en/reporting_violations Learn more about B Lab at www.bcorporation.netViews and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of B Lab or Hueman Group Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The best way to build a thriving business is to build a thriving workforce. In this episode, we look at two ways both a business and its people can prosper.First, we’ll learn about worker cooperatives from Julian McKinley, Co-Executive Director for Partnerships and Growth at the Democracy at Work Institute. A business co-op is a group of workers coming together to co-own the business for which they work. Generally, workers in a co-op have better working conditions, higher wages, and more power. The business also benefits from more democratic decision making, lower administrative costs, and even tax benefits in some cases!In the second half of our episode, we're going to take a look at the B Corp, Naturesweet.  CEO and President, Rodolfo Spielmann and Sustainability and Social Impact Officer, Fernanda Suarez tell us about how having a prosperous work force is a part of their business model. Learn more about B Lab at www.bcorporation.netViews and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of B Lab or Hueman Group Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alternative ownership structures, like cooperatives and employee ownership trusts, are some of the most powerful wealth and power distributors we have at our disposal. Are they the key to creating better jobs?Today’s guests would tell you yes!In this episode, we hear the story of how B Corp and outdoor clothing brand, Patagonia donated itself to Planet Earth and we learn more about alternative ownership structures.Greg Curtis is the Executive Director of Holdfast Collective, the nonprofit that owns all of Patagonia’s non voting stock and distributes its profits to environmental causes. Our second guest is Mark Hand, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Texas at Arlington. He’s an expert in democratization and teaches us about the alternative ways to set up a company that you might not learn in business school.Learn more about B Lab at www.bcorporation.netViews and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of B Lab or Hueman Group Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it really mean to go green? As the climate crisis accelerates, businesses are under pressure to transition away from fossil fuels, adopt sustainable practices, and reduce their environmental impact. But this shift isn’t just about the planet—it’s about people, too. In this episode, we hear from Marina Gning, CEO of ApiAfrique, a B Corp proving that sustainable businesses can create both environmental impact and quality jobs. She shares how manufacturing locally in Senegal—despite industry norms—has empowered workers, especially women, and strengthened the local economy. We also speak with Andrew Prag, Managing Director for Policy at We Mean Business Coalition, about why businesses must center workers in their sustainability strategies and how a just transition benefits both people and profit.Learn more about B Lab at www.bcorporation.netViews and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of B Lab or Hueman Group Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do we make sure everyone feels welcome when they show up to work? Our unique qualities are what make us great at our jobs and we have to build inclusive workplaces where we can show off those talents. Our guests today are Tom Strong, Director of Employer Activation at the National Fund for Workforce Solutions and Sarah White, CEO and Founder at Fairware. Sarah shares why social justice is a business imperative for her and how she promotes inclusivity on her team. Tom shares his experience working with companies to simply ask workers what they need and provide that support. Overall, this episode provides a guide book to increase worker's access, wellness, and sense of belonging.Learn more about B Lab at www.bcorporation.netViews and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of B Lab or Hueman Group Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People want meaningful, purpose driven jobs now more than ever. In this series so far, we’ve talked about what makes a job "good" - we’ve looked at pay, economic mobility, benefits, hours and scheduling. But what about purpose? In this episode, we dive into why workers are demanding more meaning in their careers and how it keeps them engaged for the long haul. Annemiek Nusmeijer is the owner of Greenjobs.nl, a B-Corp and the largest job board in the Netherlands for sustainable positions. In this episode, she tells us how young people are flocking to her site in hopes of finding meaningful employment. We also welcome Julie Richards, Guardian News & Media director of sustainability and operational transformation to the show. Julie tells us how The Guardian pursues impact in their day to day operations. Finally, we asked some members of the B Corp community to tell us what they look for in a ‘good’ job. Spoiler Alert - It’s almost always purpose! Learn more about B Lab at www.bcorporation.netViews and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of B Lab or Hueman Group Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamila Rizvi, Deputy Managing Director at Future Women, advocates for gender equity in the workplace, while Wojciech Baginski, a B Lab Global Board member, emphasizes stakeholder governance. They dive into the symbiotic relationship between policy and progress, highlighting the historical context of the 40-hour workweek. The conversation touches on the critical role of inclusive policies in enhancing women's workforce participation and the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements in sustainability. Both guests underscore the need for collaboration to drive meaningful change.

Maine’s Lobster Industry is at a breaking point. Jobs all over the state depend on lobster fishermen bringing in over 100 million pounds of lobster each year. But with fewer and fewer legacy lobstermen this is becoming harder and harder. That’s where retraining and economic mobility come in. Young people and immigrants from all over the country, and the world, are filling the labor gap in Maine.In this episode we’re joined by Ben Conniff, Co-Founder of Luke’s Lobster and Ryan Rippel, Director, Economic Mobility and Opportunity at The Gates Foundation. We’ll discuss how businesses can create economic opportunities for workers in their communities and meet the challenges of a changing economic landscape through training, development and mentorship programs.Learn more about B Lab at www.bcorporation.netViews and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of B Lab or Hueman Group Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘A good job’ is a phrase we hear all the time. But what does it really mean?  Perhaps some combination of fair pay, flexible hours, and a strong purpose? In this episode we set the foundation for our series on good jobs with Sarah Kalloch, Executive Director of Good Jobs Institute and Joachim Krapels, Head of Strategy & Global B Corp Movement at B Lab Global.  We dive into the current employment landscape, how we got here, and how businesses in the B Corp community are supporting employees to thrive, not just survive. Learn more about B Lab at www.bcorporation.netViews and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of B Lab or Hueman Group Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Forces for Good from B Lab is back with host Irving Chan-Gomez. Our show takes a hard look at how businesses are helping to solve the biggest social and environmental challenges of our time. This season we dive deep into what makes a good job. Across this 10 episode series, we'll use examples, anecdotes and data from experts and the B Corp companies to explore how workers can demand more from their employers. We'll make the business case for good jobs, look at how society and economic systems are contributing to rising inequality and we’ll hear what businesses are doing to improve.Forces for Good Season 3 launches January 21st! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.