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 champi...

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...

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 ...

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 q...

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 s...

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 larges...

Policy and progress can’t exist without each other. Without progress there would be no demand for new policy and without new policies we wouldn’t see progress continue. In this episode we focus on policy and the workplace - is it business-focused policy or societal progress that really improves the livelihoods of employees? Our guests for this episode are Jamila Rizvi, Deputy Managing Director at Future Women, a B Corp committed to...

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 B...

‘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 ...

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. ...

Why don’t Black and brown entrepreneurs have the same access and opportunities as their wealthy, white counterparts?  How can access, opportunity and support empower these entrepreneurs so that their great ideas are able to thrive and make a difference in the world?

Jay Bailey is the President and CEO of the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs. When we sat down in Aspen, we talked about how access is the key to empo...

What is philanthropy’s role in finding the next world-changing great leader? What if the solutions to some of the world's biggest problems are out there, but they just need a little help scaling? 

Anne Welsh McNulty is the co-founder and president of the John P. and Anne Welsh McNulty Foundation.  When we sat down in Aspen, we talked about impact centered leadership, what moral courage means and how the McNulty Foundat...

Why does purpose matter? How can for profit companies have a positive impact on their communities? How are purpose and profit linked? 

Rob Falzon is Vice Chair at Prudential Financial and a Member of the Board of Directors and Lata Reddy is Senior Vice President of Inclusive Solutions. When we sat down in Aspen, we talked about impact investing, community work, and balancing purpose in the financial sector. 

Learn m...

How are food and justice linked? How can we change the way our society approaches nutrition? How can businesses and individuals be a part of that?

Maya Feller is a nationally recognized, registered dietician-nutritionist who brings a culturally sensitive approach to her work. Curt Ellis is the CEO of FoodCorps, a nonprofit focused on food justice and education. When I sat down with the two of them in Aspen, we talked about how t...

As we increasingly witness the effects of climate change, what can we expect for the future of our planet? How can we mitigate these harmful effects? What is the importance of coming together to find solutions?

Greg Gershuny is the Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Program, – and co-director of Aspen Ideas Climate. When we sat down in Aspen, he underscored the importance of convening. He says comin...

How are for-profit companies changing the way businesses operate to benefit people and the planet? What challenges do they face along the way? How is B Corp certification helping? 

Melanie Chow is the Vice President of Mission and Sustainability at Danone. When we sat down in Aspen, we had an honest conversation about how Danone is grap-pling with creating impact in an agricultural industry that demands innovation and effor...

Driving positive impact for people and the planet takes collaboration, innovation, and inspiration. In this special series, B Lab’s Forces for Good is featuring live conversations from the 2023 Aspen Ideas Festival. In partnership with Danone North America, one of the largest Certified B Corporations, this podcast will share groundbreaking ideas and stories about putting purpose into action. From inclusive nutrition to reimagined m...

B Corp Certification is a journey, not a destination. Making your business a Force for Good – and ensuring it stays that way – means constantly working to improve your practices. Whether or not they are part of the B Corp community, all businesses looking to improve their social and environmental impact can benefit from a continuous improvement mindset. The goal for every B Lab employee, non-profit leader, and business we’ve talked...

So much of what makes up a ‘good’ business is external. They promote the positive impact of goods and services to customers, they put out PR statements about their purpose, and they make commitments that shareholders and customers call for.

But what about the people who make a company run? In this episode we answer:

• How can companies ensure that workers are satisfied and share their sense of purpose?
• How can businesses give em...