what we believe
The Principles for Responsible Banking are one year old. Launched in September 2019 at the UN General Assembly in New York, the Principles are a unique framework for ensuring that signatory banks’ strategy and practice align with the vision society has set out for its future in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. What makes the …
Fifty years ago, on September 13, 1970, the New York Times published an essay advocating that regardless of a company’s impacts on people, communities, or the planet, shareholders’ interests must come first. Half a century later, we’re reaping the results: racial injustice, deep economic crises, and an existential climate emergency. As the Times itself said on Sunday, “It was the …
Doubling down on business as usual is an understandable reaction in a crisis. Some see it as a noble way to weather the storm. The orchestra playing on the Titanic in the midst of chaos is celebrated, even legendary. We are told that leaders should act this way, even when it’s an irrational or excessively risky strategy, because… that’s what …
The global pandemic continues to unfold around the world, showing us the fragility of economies, social systems, and even ourselves. As we think about how we might ‘emerge stronger’ and ‘build back better,’ many of us are calling for recovery planning to carry us into a purpose-led, 21st century economy. We know now, beyond doubt, that businesses that put social …
The view to my right, off the starboard side of a BC Ferry is magnificent. The ocean reflects the summer sky and is textured by the warm breeze. The distant mountains on the Sunshine Coast fade into the hazy distance, a towering reminder of the unceasing patience of nature. Despite my surroundings, a knot still sits at my solar plexus—a …
What is a vision statement for? A common foundation of all approaches to social impact is a plan for creating the intended change. This plan specifies how, and why, specific activities will bring about change, including a vision, or description, of the intended change. A vision statement answers the question: “How is the world made better by our work?” A …
Just when you got the hang of measuring your carbon footprint, things got more complicated again. Do you have what it takes to measure social impact the right way? There isn’t a single “right way” to measure social impact, but that doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all. You can’t simply measure whatever you want and post it on your blog as …
Have you been shocked by the American protests and police violence over the past week? Are you feeling fearful at what to say about George Floyd? About his killer, Derek Chauvin? Your shock and your fear aren’t what you think they are. We wrote this post with some of our clients in mind—dozens of them are like-minded, change making organizations …
When I was a kid, my favourite toy cars were those with a pull-back motor in them. I used to love to point them in a particular direction, wind them up and let them go. The speed as the spring uncoiled was a rush! But what I really loved was when they went precisely where I aimed them. If they …
