Teak Media + Communication wrapped up B Corp Month with an inspiring evening of networking. March was full of celebration and community for B Corp businesses that personify the #WeGoBeyond campaign by going beyond profit to “make their mark on the world.” B Corp certification is a structure established to recognize for-profit businesses that are accountable to a triple bottom line: people, the planet, and profits. Teak Media has been part of the solution as a certified B Corp for a decade.
Teak Media employees Hayley McManus and Taylor Hallabuk organized an event on March 30 at Boston’s District Hall in collaboration with B Local Boston for likeminded changemakers to network and connect on the B Corp mission. Businesses become B Corp certified by B Lab, a nonprofit organization that creates standards, policies and tools that move the B Corp community to be a Force For Good. This event connected B Corp certified, and B Corp aspiring, organizations and individuals in powerful discussion about the movement toward responsible business.
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The speakers included Jackie Russell, founder and president of Teak Media, Christie Lindor, founder of B Corp certified Tessi Consulting, and Bob Scoville, who spoke on behalf of Conscious Capitalism Boston. Conscious Capitalism is a national nonprofit that similarly advocates for elevating humanity through business and spreading the principles of purpose, culture, stakeholder orientation and conscious leadership. Conscious Capitalism members and B Corp certified organizations are aligned on the mission of responsible business.
Here are some of the takeaways from the evening:
- B Corp certification shows your company’s actions are aligned with its values. While it may not be easy to get certified, the business connections and opportunities that come from B Corp certification are immensely valuable. Russell spoke about learning from other B Corps and the inspirational discussions and events of the community.
- Consider the planet as an investor. The B Corp movement considers all stakeholders in business decisions. This includes the environment. Both Russell and Lindor spoke about the importance of this stakeholder group. Russell explained that the development of the B Corp movement was an outgrowth of the sale of Ben & Jerry’s to Unilever, which was done out of fiduciary responsibility to investors. It was then that Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, founders of the business CSR asked, “What if the planet was considered an investor? What if the people were the investors?” That might have changed the outcome of the sale. Lindor’s company, which is a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultancy, has been B Corp certified for about one year. The company is investing in the environment through an active partnership with a global reforestation nonprofit.
- B Corp is a roadmap for business decisions. For Lindor, belonging to the B Corp movement provides a framework for the future that takes all of humanity into consideration. She plans for her company to become an employee-owned business to provide employees with equity when it comes to business decisions.
- When leaders grow, their organizations evolve with them. Conscious Capitalism Boston and B Local Boston overlap in their emphasis on mission-driven business. Scoville spoke about this alignment. Conscious Capitalism Boston focuses on corporate membership and leaders of middle market businesses, which are more flexible than larger businesses. It fosters an environment to help leaders grow, thus leading to more conscious business practices.
In both Boston and beyond, business leaders are looking to become part of the solution. B Corps are responsible businesses that considers all stakeholders in decisions and works toward a mission beyond profit. Teak Media is proud to be a part of this community and movement. As a purpose-driven public relations agency, #WeGoBeyond profit to spread impactful messages and grow nonprofit organizations and responsible businesses.
