The WBII event of 24 June was very inspiring where Josephine Agbeko shared her many great insights into the important subject of entrepreneurship and sustainability.
Josephine started by asking each of us to think about what sustainability means to us. We went around the table and there were numerous interesting thoughts on how people viewed sustainability.
For example, being more mindful about what we buy and what we eat and the impact this has on our environment. Finding a balance in the funding of certain green projects and the importance of wind power and natural materials. Or, how can we incorporate sustainability into our businesses as entrepreneurs.
Josephine started by explaining that where once businesses were driven solely by profit, the 21st century is showing an interesting dynamic compared to 20 years ago. The mindset is shifting.
We were introduced to the Pillars of Business Sustainability:
- Governance – board of advisors who will drive impact to the business.
- Workers – majority of workforces are checking company vision before becoming partners. Small businesses also need to pay attention to staff development, communications, wages, human rights policy, benefits etc.
- Community – what the community entails, the people that supply us with materials, the type of jobs your business can create for people, skills, training, volunteering. Also, diversity, opening up opportunities for women, civic engagement and local involvement.
- Environment – are we monitoring our consumption to see where we can reduce usage? Example, company property, offices, use of water, materials, emissions and waste outage, transportation, distribution and suppliers.
- Customer – what value do you offer to your customers? Does your product/service benefit underserved populations?
All the above are brief points to consider for making a difference in the area of sustainability. There is a lot more that we can do than we think.
Importantly, we also learned tips on how to build a more sustainable friendly business:
- Have clear policies for all areas
- Understand what your suppliers are doing
- Be an active listener
- Educate your staff about the implications of impact to the environment
- Be recycle and energy efficiency savvy
- Engage regularly with your government institutions
- Understand policies and incentives
Spread the word, also across borders. Together we can make a difference!
Check out bimpactassessment.net to take your own free test on where you are on the theme of sustainability within your business.
Thank you to Josephine for a very informative event.
Michelle Baird, Virtual Assistant
Remote Assist Solutions
