Show Notes: Kara Peck (B Lab US & Canada)
As Senior Director of Strategy and Partnerships for B Lab U.S. & Canada, Kara Peck has her hands in Business Development, Community Development, Strategy, and Partnerships for companies of all shapes and sizes -- which is no accident, since B Lab's mission is built around the idea that the power of business should be used for good.
Globally there are more than 4,000 Certified B Corporations in 77 countries, each of which opens itself up to be tracked and evaluated on things like environmental performance, public transparency, and legal and social accountability. The idea is to redefine success as a more comprehensive metric that includes not just bottom-line profit, but also the level of positive impact companies have on employees, communities, and the environment.
Kara dropped in (via Zoom) from her home in Colorado to talk about women in leadership, the cost of true innovation, and what it means to be a conscious consumer. (For good measure, we also cover climate change, cookie dough, and the carbon footprint of her running shoes.) Enjoy.
THE BASICS
What does it mean to be a “Certified B Corporation?” Who benefits? Who does it serve? What are the barriers?
At about the 14:17 mark of our conversation, Kara breaks down the principles, the process, and the players. She points to some real-world examples and clears up a few common misconceptions.
Here are a couple introductory videos, too:
THE GOOD EXAMPLES
What does a successful B Corp look like? Who are some of the most recognizable companies leading the way? Starting around the 20:45 mark, Kara shares a few feel-good stories of businesses who have taken the initiative to make tangible, measurable, positive changes.
At about the 50:00 mark, Kara shares some of the major news stories she’s following closely — including two massive developments in the world of energy:
Article: Exxon Loses Board Seats to Activist Hedge Fund in Landmark Climate Vote (Reuters)
Article: What a Dutch Court Ruling Means for Shell and Big Oil (Washington Post)
Immediately after that we dig into some tips for being a more conscious consumer, including what product certifications to look for and which hollow buzzwords to flat-out ignore.
THE OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Our conversation kicks off with Kara’s insights into the realities of being female in a corporate environment that is still top-heavy with middle-aged and elderly men. She talks about the subtle ways women are forced to alter their demeanor; the hidden biases we all share while sitting in staff meetings; the mixed messages delivered to Millennial girls; and the profound experience of seeing a woman elected Vice President.
Starting around the 35:20 mark, Kara breaks down the differences between shareholders and stakeholders — an important distinction, and well worth knowing.
At about the 63:00 mark, here she is on the importance of pursuing personal growth as well as professional growth: “The same skills that are necessary to just be a good human are the skills that are necessary to be a new kind of leader, and to be successful in this transformed economy…”
SOMETHING(S) TO LOOK FORWARD TO
And finally, here are a few things Kara recommended during our conversation — two books, a podcast, and a forward-thinking shoe company.
RABBIT HOLE LINKS
If you’d like to connect with Kara or learn more about Certified B Corporations, here’s how to do that:
Correction: In this episode, Danone is referred to as the world’s largest B Corp… but in fact, Danone (the parent company) is still working toward their certification and Danone North America (their largest subsidiary) is currently the largest Certified B Corp.