If you've been following me for some time, you might have heard me share that BE MORE with Anu is a Benefit Corporation. What is a Benefit Corporation, or B Corp, and how does being a B Corp relate to DEI work, belonging, or building a Beloved Community?
Great question! You can learn more about the official legal status of Benefit Corporations by visiting B Lab, a global network that officially certifies companies who live up to the standards that B Corporations must maintain. If you're unfamiliar, though, that might be a little more jargon that you're looking for if you're just asking "What does being a B Corp have to do with any of this, anyway?", so let's start with what being a B Corp actually means.
What does it mean to be a B Corp?
The most important distinction for a Benefit Corporation, or B Corp, is that companies with B Corp status are beholden to what we call a "triple bottom line": that is, that they view supporting 1) people and 2) planet as part of their company's mission, in addition to 3) profit.
This business model resonates deeply with me -- after all, I'm someone who only got into business in the first place to impact people! I'm proud of BE MORE with Anu's B Corp certification, and I'm grateful for the structure it provides us in our mission to create a global Beloved Community, where everyone belongs.
One of the great joys of the last few years has been my opportunity to work closely with B Lab as a strategic thought partner. When they approached me to present at their November 2022 Champions Retreat, it was a fast "yes, of course!" The opportunity to share with like-minded business owners about how wellness and compassion help us advance racial equity is, of course, a topic near and dear to my heart; I couldn't have been more excited!
And what a wonderful session it was. Being in community with the B Lab network and sharing questions, reflections, and insights with other CEOs and leaders of values-driven companies was life-giving. B Lab has generously made the recordings of several sessions (including mine!) available for replay: check them out here!
I'm so, so grateful to B Lab for inviting me to serve as a keynote speaker for their Champions Retreat. Get in touch with us at info@bemorewithanu.com if you have questions about our work as a B Corp supporting DEIB work or if you'd like to bring us for your next large-scale keynote; we're booking now for 2023!