One of the main reasons I’m so interested in B Corp is the women leading their businesses to create meaningful change.
Currently only 23% of B Corps in the UK are owned or led by women, but their efforts to encourage women and marginalised entrepreneurs through their 40% Equity Discount, allows those who may face systemic barriers, to enter an empowering community of better business.
‘Business as usual‘ remains a male dominated game; the gender pay gap actually increased, so the average woman is paid 15.5% less than a man.
… That’s not to mention the disparity in opportunities, promotions, workplace support of mothers and menstruators… and the challenges are only amplified if you are LGBTQ+, disabled, a Person of Colour, and neurodivergent.
The reason I say this is: 1. we have to talk about it in order to do something about it; 2. interestingly, the representation of women in sustainability tells a different story.
Women in senior sustainability roles actually increased to 54% in 2021, from 2019. It must be said, there’s progress to be made in reaching greater intersectional diversity among this 54% of women.
Representation is powerful; seeing more women and LGBTQ+ people in leadership positions, as change-makers, activists, and friends, shows us what is possible, and helps to diversity and increase that % of women in sustainability roles.
I think that’s why International Women’s Day is so important; a chance to celebrate women past and present, and remember that the power to create change is in all of us.
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much” – Helen Keller
We need greater diversity in decision-making positions, and representation at the table, in order to find the right concoction of solutions (and detangle that ball of string).
You can read in this article by the World Economic Forum, why female leadership is crucial to tackling climate change and other crises.
In the spirit of celebrating women leading for change on International Women’s Day, and B Corp Month, I wanted to share my thoughts on some really cool women who are flying the B Corp flag…
Co-Founders of Oxious, Esther Smit & Loes Stapper, have built a brand with purpose at it’s core: sustainability, gender equality, empowering women through deserved workers rights.
“We hope to spread the message that by acting together, we can change the world.” – Oxious
For all of the B Corp geeks out there… Oxious have a B Corp score of 173 (for all the non-B Corp geeks, that’s pretty incredible!)
With a focus on Supply Chain Poverty Alleviation, they set up their Women Project, using their sphere of influence through their production in Kızılcabölük, Turkey, to empower women and address that “gender inequality is a big issue not just in Turkey, but also in the textile industry across the globe.”
You can watch the impact of their Women Project here.
I’ve also been really impressed by Founder of Luscious Garage, Carolyn Coquillette. Carolyn is taking the lead on innovation and sustainability, in a male-dominated, fossil-fuel hungry industry.
Carolyn says “Once again it’s time to evolve… Service the next generation of electric vehicles”
I’d like to showcase Co-Founders of TomboyX, Fran & Naomi set about promoting belonging through sustainable, size and gender inclusive clothing.
“As queer founders we started TomboyX because we didn’t feel seen or heard in the fashion industry” -Fran & Naomi
And they’re really walking the talk…
“Our team is 30% LGBTQ+, 77% female-led, and 35% BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Colour). When it comes to suppliers, we prioritise women-owned businesses”
I find it so inspiring to see women and LGBTQ+ people leading businesses which truly make a difference to our planet and to people’s lives… that’s what it’s all about!
