Updated Handbook Features Strong Focus on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
As summer reading lists appear closer on the horizon, we’re excited to announce a recommendation that should be on every business leader’s desk: the second edition of The B Corp Handbook: How You Can Use Business as a Force for Good.
Hitting the shelves on April 23, 2019, this book delves into the what, why and how of B Corp Certification, with a strong focus on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and its foundational importance to the Certified B Corporation community, our global society at large and the inclusive economy we’re empowering. We spoke with Dr. Ellonda L. Green, B Lab’s Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and Dr. Kathryn Buford, B Lab’s Director of Inclusive Economies, after reviewing the book. Here are some highlights from our conversations:
How does this new edition of The B Corp Handbook support the meaningful EDI work that’s taking place at B Lab and B Corps around the world?
Dr. Ellonda L. Green (Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at B Lab): Becoming a B Corp means successfully meeting rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. That process — although both rewarding and beneficial — can be a heavy lift for organizations. The handbook is a tool that every business owner who is interested in creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive economy should read.
It’s an informative, inspirational and practical guide that offers insight on how organizations can use their business for good with direction from members of the B Corp community. The handbook offers the opportunity to hear directly from the community about the benefits and challenges of becoming a Certified B Corporation.
Dr. Kathryn Buford (Director of Inclusive Economies at B Lab): The inspiring and practical interviews in this handbook remind us, more and more, why we do this work: The leaders who redesign business will redesign the world. A world that recognizes equity, diversity and inclusion as indispensable.
Like each leader in The B Corp Handbook, B Lab recognizes that organizational and social innovation thrives in diverse environments. We are committed to welcoming those who are currently underrepresented in the B Corp movement — especially those who do not identify as white, male, hetero-presenting, cisgender, physically able, or neuro-typical. Welcoming more of these diverse voices means welcoming them with a respect for their shared histories, invaluable contributions, and the enduring social and economic oppression that disproportionately disadvantages them. Moreover, it means relying on knowledge from diverse groups themselves as we continue to imagine new ways of creating a shared and durable prosperity for all.
Can you tell us a bit more about EDI work at B Lab?
Dr. Green: Working to create a more inclusive business is hard work — creating that shift globally is even harder. B Lab has a vision of an inclusive and sustainable economy that creates a shared prosperity for all.
While the challenges and insights of equity, diversity and inclusion have long resonated in business, across the nation and the world, it is important to remember that they also manifest in each of us on an intensely personal level. We all have an opportunity to gain insight from both inspiring and devastating events in history, as well as to apply new understanding to our own life experiences.
As a result of the workplace inclusion survey conducted in 2017, B Lab committed to leading its equitable practices in a more strategic and sustainable way, as noted in an earlier B the Change article: “Of all the work B Lab has done for the Inclusive Economy Challenge, the single most important step we took was to survey our full staff on their experiences of our workplace.”
The survey findings prompted introspection from the organization and challenged B Lab to start in-house to lead the movement. The Executive Team and the Board of Directors approved funding for new employees focused on equity, diversity and inclusion. In January 2019 I came on board with B Lab as the inaugural Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and even more recently, in February 2019, my new colleague Dr. Kathryn Buford debuted as our Director of Inclusive Economies. In addition to these hires, B Lab increased operating budgets allocated for EDI professional development and trainings while reinforcing a steadfast commitment to creating an inviting environment for all through more equitable practices and initiatives.
B Lab continues to look ahead as we concentrate on the continued execution of our mission and goals. We will find our greatest success through the contributions that each one of us makes. Diversity enhances our work by exposing and challenging us to consider, weigh and value the thoughts, experiences and practices of others different from ourselves.
Why is B Lab committed to sharing these EDI practices with the B Corp community and broader movement?
Dr. Buford: Businesses will not realize their full social or economic potential in a society that allows social and economic marginalization. We all suffer when oppressive systems privilege some but not others. The work of recovering from and repairing the damage of social and economic exclusion is not work for marginalized groups to do alone.
This article was originally published by B the Change.
