Forces for Good

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 achieving gender equity in Australian workplaces and Wojciech Baginski, B Lab Global-Board of Directors and Partner at Impactive.law.  They share examples of policy and progress working in tandem ranging from the rise of the 40 hour work week to child care options increasing women's participation in the workforce.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.

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.