Transitions. Reflections from (what I hope is) a Social Impact Thoughtful Mentor. Part IX
My purpose is to support people and organizations through transitions, especially as they seek to do good, better. Please reach out if you need support in these areas.
Photo explanation. Many of you may have seen the headlines about MaRS laying off several staff this past week. My reason for posting this photo is not to comment on the layoffs but to share how the MaRS alumni community responded.
When the news was made public, former "MaRSians" connected with those who had been terminated to let them know that there was a community here to support them. Once invited to join our social media group, people began posting jobs, or job boards, offering to meet, share networks or provide support in whatever way was needed. The magic of MaRS has always been about it's people - even when they no longer work there - and this week they stepped up in droves.
Call to Action: Being laid off in any industry can be a shock, people often need time to think and process their next steps, but consider reaching out anyway. Just to let people know they are not alone and that you are there for them, when they are ready to connect. Also, I'm sure you have similar stories, feel free to share them.
2. Social Impact Event. Social Finance Forum. Back in 2007 MaRS hosted a small group of people interested in social finance, since that time the field has grown exponentially. This coming week, Future of Good is hosting the Social Finance Forum a digital-first event with some opportunities for in-person attendance in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. There are many great sessions and I'm pleased to be facilitating one on June 12th at 2 pm on opportunities associated with the intergenerational transfer of wealth - estimated by CPA to be over $1TR CDN in the next few years. Please join us !
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3. Social Impact Legislation. The Purpose Economy. Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne introduced the 21st Century Business Act this past week, BILL S-285 is An Act to amend the Canada Business Corporations Ac t (purpose of a corporation). Here is the Bill's stated summary:
This enactment amends the Canada Business Corporations Act to provide that a corporation’s purpose is to pursue its best interests while also operating in a manner that (a)?benefits the wider society and the environment in a manner proportionate to its size and the nature of its operations; and (b)?minimizes any harm that the corporation causes to the wider society and the environment, with the objective of eliminating such harm. It also makes related amendments
Call to Action: For those of you interested in advancing the purpose economy, it would be great if you could have a look and share your thoughts.
Speaking of politics and Ottawa, last week I had a chance to meet with bureaucrats, politicians, and representatives of big business. All of them made comments about the lack of trust in them and their work and all referred to a backlash against anything considered "woke".
Question: I'm wondering if others are hearing these sentiments and what you think it might mean for you and your work?
Marketing and communications for social benefit
5 个月Ally, I always have much to think about after reading these posts! One thing I have been thinking about is the historical tendency to push a boundary and then retreat. That thought reassures me about overall forward progress. Generally, my sense is that people are very finely tuned to sense authenticity and when it feels like promotion, it feels a bit gross. My feeling is that we all want the positive outcomes, and that the detail in how we get there may differ. I love your curiousity about this. I find it’s the best way to understand and move towards a shared goal. Hard to do, sometimes rocky, but still in the longer term, more sustainable. I want to know more about the legislation; are there other international examples of something like this? What are the outcomes? Regarding layoffs: I also was warmed by the reaction from the ex-MaRSians. As we well know, sometimes when such things happen, it is the opening of a new door of opportunities. I have no doubt all of those smart people will land squarely on their feet and all the better for the experience they had. That doesn’t necessarily make it better in the moment, I know, so it’s important to have a network to catch them to make the transition a little easier.
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5 个月Thanks for such a thoughtful post Allyson Hewitt and I'm looking forward to our panel discussion at the Social Finance Forum! I love how the MaRS community came together to support those who were recently laid off. I've seen the tech community do similar things (not all firms, but those that place values first). It's beautiful. Thanks for the info about the 21st Century Business Act. I wasn't aware of this. I love the idea, but my knee-jerk reaction is that I'd be surprised if it passed. How many businesses would be offside of these rules, and how much would it cost them to get onside? How would that be monitored and enforced? I wonder whether it might be better to create a B-Corp legal structure that requires this type of double/triple bottom line to be registered as such (not to be confused with the B-Corp Certification, which isn't a legal structure). And could it come with financial incentives (tax breaks) for businesses that choose and adhere to this standard?
Principal, Bhayana Management
5 个月Allyson Tks for your deep reflections and wisdom. Hope to connect with you soon!
Impact for Social Good & Financial Inclusion | Inclusive Economy Builder
5 个月To answer your question about “woke”, I think that the best way to connect unlikely allies to advance positive change is to speak their language: Always reference data so that they can understand the business case. I also talk about companies being “future ready or future fit” and the listening ears tune in.
Executive Director | Purpose-driven leader | Social Impact | Partnerships | Corporate Philanthropy | Fundraising
5 个月Thanks for sharing your reflections in these posts, Allyson. Your final paragraph is interesting and also concerning for those of us who work with companies committed to social impact. Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship is holding a webinar this Wednesday, June 12 (free to all) called "Greenhushing: Exploring the Anti-ESG Agenda". Here's a link for those who may be interested: https://ccc.bc.edu/content/ccc/executive-education/webinars/greenhushing-2024-anti-ESG-agenda.html