Issue #15: Forward progress.

When the right decision for some becomes the right decision for everyone, it's time to make it with clear eyes, and full hearts.

In light of continually developing circumstances, we are postponing Kindred 2020 to September 14-17, 2020.

Over the last few weeks, concern has mounted rapidly about the COVID-19 coronavirus. The World Health Organization recently raised its threat level, and as a result, an increasing number of companies are proactively instituting travel bans and restrictions.

There is no suitable replacement for the physical gathering of a community of people who want and need to do more work, together. Our priority will always be the health and safety of participants, speakers, partners, colleagues, and vendors, and we want to be sure that those planning to attend Kindred 2020 are able to do that with the blessing of their employers and a clear conscience.

Kindred is relentlessly committed to our mission of advancing sustainable, purpose-led business transformation and impact, so we will enthusiastically forge ahead with Kindred 2020 this September 14-17, at the San Diego Convention Center.

Please visit us at kindred.live for more information and regular updates. We hope you'll be able to join us and look forward to working with you to build the future of purpose-driven business.

What's Good:

Room and hoard. In case you were wondering about all the amazing things that Apple could do with their stockpiles of cash, it looks like they are starting to use it for good. In this case, they created a $150 million affordable housing loan fund to provide financing for developments that are "all but ready to proceed". It's a start.

Disinfecting YouTube. YouTube is taking the steps to demonetize content related to COVID-19. As important as is is that they are doing it, it's also important to recognize that they can. In fact, every platform can choose to monetize or demonetize whatever content they want. Remember that.

Kindred 2020 x the United Nations: Kindred spirits. Hey, this is us! Kindred and the United Nations announced a new collaboration that aligns UN75, the largest, most inclusive conversation on the role of global cooperation in building a better future for all, and Kindred 2020, as a way to engage business leaders to help achieve the UN's sustainable development goals.

Unintended consequences. What if spreading understanding of conscious and unconscious stigmas and racism was just as important as stopping the spread of disease? This campaign out of Canada tackles the issues.

She did that. Just in time for International Women's Day, Black women CEOs and entrepreneurs are the stars of the newest Netflix documentary called She Did That. Filmmaker and blogger Renae L. Bluitt created the documentary to promote a more accurate representation in the media of Black female business owners. I'm very happy to see two inspiring women whom I've gotten to know over the years, Lisa Price (Carol's Daughter) and Luvvie Ajayi, featured in this great doc.

The top diversity leaders in America (right now). According to Business Insider, these are the top diversity leaders in corporate America. Having been spending spending time in this world over the last 18 months, I can say that they left out a bunch of people. but raising the profile of great leaders in this space is a start. As we look back upon this era, these are the leaders who may leave the most important lasting impact on their companies' future.

Don't just post, Boo, vote. Actress/influencer/creator Sophia Bush is partnering with Intermix for its International Women’s Day campaign, which encourages voter registration. Sophia is bringing her activism ethos to her latest role, partnering with Intermix and Rock the Vote — a nonprofit that encourages young people to vote — for an International Women’s Day campaign that celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

No time to vote? Lyft and Patagonia have something to say about that, as they are leading an effort to give 2 million employees across hundreds of companies time off to vote in the November general election. The initiative, dubbed “Time to Vote,” includes 383 companies such as Lyft and PayPal. The companies are not endorsing specific candidates or parties. Participating companies also help ensure employees are registered to vote. This great. It would be even greater if we could vote on the weekend.

Positive is the new neutral. Danone's Horizon Organic, the largest organic dairy brand in the world, is committing to becoming carbon positive by 2025. Its goal is to become the first national dairy brand to be carbon positive across its full supply chain. As a B Corporation, Danone continues to sustainably lead.

Divestment is the new normal. JP Morgan Chase is ending fossil fuel loans for Arctic oil drilling and phasing out loans for coal mining under new climate initiatives. The world’s largest financier of fossil fuels set out its plans at an investor event on Tuesday, days after the bank’s economists warned that the climate crisis threatened the survival of humanity. This decision puts JP Morgan Chase on par with Goldman Sachs -- which became the first large US bank to rule out future financing of oil drilling or exploration in the Arctic and in new mines for thermal coal.

COVID-19 is disrupting sustainability, too. Starbucks announced that it is temporarily suspending the use of personal cups at its North American (and many global) locations to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. The company will continue to offer a 10-cent discount for anyone who brings in a personal cup, even though customers can't use them.

Who says big companies can't lead? Unilever said it has reached gender balance across its global management ranks a year ahead of the company’s target. Half of Unilever's 14,000 managers are now female, up from 38% in 2010. That includes 50% of the finance department, an area where women have historically been underrepresented. About half of Unilever’s board is also female.

The lonely island of social impact entertainment. Popular culture has the power to make conversations easier for millions of people to participate in -- and the volume of those conversations too loud for institutions to ignore. This insightful piece explores the challenges facing independent filmmakers who want their work to shine a light on some of the world's most urgent issues.

Cryptocurrency is for the children. UNICEF, the UN agency tasked with providing aid to children around the world, now offers what could be a glimpse of the future: The Cryptocurrency Fund, which collects contributions in cryptocurrencies, and then doles out those donations in the same currency, no exchange needed. A key point in all of this: cryptocurrency could some day provide the international organization greater independence from the countries that make up its members.

Get to know the women leaders of Kindred. On this #InternationalWomensDay, I'm proud to work with some of the greatest leaders I have ever worked with. They are an inspiration to me every day, and are a constant reminder of the important roles that women play not just in society, but in business -- and that we should be working even harder to even the playing (and paying) field.

And that's a wrap. A new edition of Kindred's Good for Business drops every Monday (usually). If you enjoy this, please share it with your colleagues and friends. It's easy and fun to do!

Don't miss your chance to attend or sponsor Kindred 2020 (San Diego Convention Center, September 14-17, 2020) — THE event for sustainable, purpose-led business transformation. Every ticket purchase gives you an option to give a portion of the price to the charity of your choice.