Bringing together the B Corp community during B Corp Month
Managing events that engage a community and provide outcomes and results for an organisation is challenging during normal times but during a global pandemic, where health and safety are paramount, the responsibility is taken to a whole new level.
As part of our commitment to the B Local Sydney community, our Founder Karen holds the Events Chair, which involves the planning and delivery of events that will build the local B Corp community.
The first half of 2020 has presented challenges for this role but, with restrictions gradually easing and in celebration of B Corp Month in July, we created a COVID-safe in-person and online panel event to share ideas and information on how B Corp businesses have survived the pandemic and can help to create a better business world after the crisis.
Held at Fishburners, we were able to take advantage of the tech facilities and team, as well as the large physical space that allowed for a socially distanced and safe event, following new protocols and rising to new challenges in this unusual environment.
The event brought together leaders from successful B Corps in Sydney to discuss how business owners can utilise their purpose and community to help build back better after COVID. These B Corp business leaders shared how they have disrupted traditional industries, managed remote teams and overcome challenges.
Featuring Lead Organisational Designer at Mentally Friendly Saakshi Muralidhar, Future Super COO, Leigh Dunlop, Founder of Osana Kevin Cheng, Beyond Bank Australia NSW State Manager Gavin Cook and co-founder of NGNY – Ngakkan Nyaagu, Liam Ridgeway (who dialled in digitally to protect his community), the panel discussion was facilitated by Susie Bayes, Head of Partnerships & Philanthropy at Guardian Australia.
With an audience of 30 at Fishburners and another 40 joining online there was robust discussion on a range of topics, including the impact of the pandemic on their business, managing the operational, health and well-being challenges of remote teams and helping their community where they can. When it comes to remote work, all the panelists agreed that staying in regular contact with their team through a variety of methods was essential to maintain morale.
As purpose is a core focus for B Corps, the panelists discussed how to maintain and leverage this when faced with adverse circumstances like the past few months. The panel finished by highlighting how diversity, equity and inclusion is a crucial principle for these businesses, what they are doing to maintain it and how it will help to create better businesses in the future.
We are happy to mark this as a very successful event, especially in the grip of a global pandemic. We’re looking forward to putting the knowledge to work so we can help to #BuildBackBetter.
