Stories of True Changemakers: How These Companies Grew Their Impact
Lessons From and Practices of the 2017 Best for the World: Changemakers
Running a business requires constant review, analysis and reactions based on what you find. When you add improving the world around you as part of your business goals, getting better at running your business takes on another level of responsibility and an added layer — or two or three — of challenges.
The 2017 Best for the World: Changemakers have met those challenges head on. The honorees on this list are calculated based on verified positive change across all impact areas of the B Impact Assessment over time. They never “settle” and don’t believe in “good enough.”
We asked six companies on this list to share what drives them, how they keep iterating and innovating, and what successes they’ve had along their journey.
Rachio
Denver, Colorado
The Wi‐Fi enabled Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller and mobile app make using sprinklers easy and convenient while saving homeowners water and money. To date, the Rachio community has saved more than three billion gallons of water together.
“Recognition helps spread the word that saving water can be easy and personally rewarding, letting homeowners know conservation doesn’t have to be a chore. The more our community grows, the more water we can save together! Being honored next to other conscientious companies bolsters the resolve of our customers and stakeholders — it is exciting to be a part of a mission that makes a difference on both an individual and global level.
“Rachio has built a platform where success depends upon community participation, as the gallons of water saved grows exponentially with every new user. All full-time employees at Rachio are equity owners that share in success of the company, and feedback from employees, manufacturers, suppliers and the local community are taken into consideration as we develop the most useful, impactful products possible to achieve our mission.
LimeRed Studio
Chicago, Illinois
As a UX agency, LimeRed is committed to create meaningful experiences that make a difference. LimeRed is a thinktank of design and technology experts who use a research-based method to solve design challenges and create stunning, human-centered experiences.
“The whole team at LimeRed has spend the last two years microscopically examining everything about our business — from the way we sell to the way we structure agreements; the way we think about our advocacy role in the company and the community; from the kinds of work we take on to the kinds of projects we pursue outside the office. We’re a B Corp, so we walk the talk, but we know it can always be better and our VISION for ourselves and the world is: Make It Better.
“In the last two years, we’ve made a major shift to double down on the social justice and advocacy work that started the company in 2004. This was a whole team effort, with staff participating at every turn. We took a hard look at our customers and who we were creating the most impact for, talked to them, and bet our business that we could carve out a smaller, more impactful line of business and make real change. We had to let some legacy clients go. We had to say ‘no’ to a bunch of new opportunities. We had to get politically active and speak out for injustice. And since we’ve done that with our community of people we see and work with every day, we’ve been happier and healthier.
“This is hard work and it’s not just the business that needs to be examined. The people have to change. And that starts with the leadership, it starts with me. This has been as much of a personal experience as it has been professional. I’m excited for the future.”
North Berkeley Investment Partners
Berkeley, California
North Berkeley Investment Partners is an independent investment advisory firm that offers comprehensive financial planning and investment management for a small group of clients who want comprehensive help with most financial aspects of their lives and a long relationship with someone who “gets” the whole picture.
“One practice that we’ve implemented is a really simple exercise for any company or group to use. Each Friday, at the end of the day, we gather and share gratitude and stories. Gratitude is shared between team members to highlight ways in which we’ve helped each other through the week. The stories we share relate to ways in which we’ve had impact in our clients’ lives. In both cases, everyone gains better insight into our individual- and firm-level impact on a regular basis.
“A second thing we’ve done this year is to set up a Giving Program. This is a formalized program for us to engage with our community. We work with community partners, sponsor local organizations, and give every employee an individual giving allowance for the year. All of these pieces are tied to a targeted giving percentage that is tied to our yearly revenue. Our firm has always participated in givingm but with a formalized document we’ve become much more effective.
“We have a group of B Corp ambassadors that periodically meets to discuss how we can improve. We review the B Impact Assessment questions to target areas where we can improve. Recently, in coordination with the Inclusion Challenge, we have been examining how we can make our work place and industry more inclusive. Our inter-office goal is to develop specific policies for working parents and telecommuting. Our goal for community engagement is to establish an internship that provides working experience in the financial industry to groups that have been historically underrepresented.”
NEEV
San Jose, California
NEEV, which means ‘foundation’ in Hindi, is a luxe home furnishings company that creates and brings to market ethically produced home décor and personal accessories through its online store.
“NEEV was founded as a benefit corporation and has been committed from day one to a) empower artisans, particularly women; b) help preserve the ancient handloom textile technique; c) use organic products and adhere to environmentally friendly business practices; and d) give 50 percent profits to charitable organizations aligned with our mission.
“We follow the fair-trade principles as put forth by World Fair Trade Organization. Our Ethical Purchasing Policy ensures that all of our suppliers meet our performance standards. Moreover, NEEV partners with majority women-owned handloom cooperatives who already follow their own self-governing policies, labor-policy requirements of the Indian government, and their state’s handloom industry labor laws. Additionally, 90 percent of our products are made of fabrics and dyes that are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified. NEEV’s founder has personally visited and reviewed the working conditions and social and environmental policies of our significant suppliers. We also have periodic meetings with our supplier cooperatives regarding matters of wages, benefits and other pertinent issues.
“There is always room for improvement in a company. When one gets bogged down in the day-to-day grind of running a business, the B Impact Assessment is a humble reminder that there are larger things at stake. We are happy that our improvement in scores from 2014 to 2016 means we continue to be attentive to our mission.”
PixelSpoke
Portland, Oregon
PixelSpoke is a marketing agency that helps companies to connect with their customers using all the different “spokes” in the digital ecosystem, including websites, social media and more. They focus on community financial institutions, member-focused organizations, and businesses with social or environmental missions.
“Our team is able to work remotely and have flexibility in their schedule. We provide full health insurance, onsite massage, ergonomic work stations, investment matching, paid volunteer time, charitable donation matching, a cooperative bonus plan, transit stipends, bike incentives, and ongoing training. Most importantly, we live our company values every day.
“One of our values is Everybody Wins. Before we make any decision, we consider how it can be a win for all involved. Sometimes this means turning down a potential client because they’re not a values fit and it wouldn’t be a good project for our team’s morale. On a different level, we’re continually getting rid of trash cans, and we have a compost bin that a team member takes out by bike.”
West Arete
State College, Pennsylvania
West Arete works closely with clients to build custom software solutions such as web applications, mobile applications, and internal workflow applications.
“West Arete’s most mind-blowing benefit is a mandatory one-month sabbatical for every employee, every year. This is in addition to an already generous vacation policy. Yes, every person in the company must take one. No, you can’t check your work email — we shut off all of your accounts when you leave. Why do we do this? Because the annual sabbaticals are easily one of the most transformative things that we can do for our employees’ lives. Because we each come back incredibly refreshed and motivated. And because it’s actually incredibly powerful for streamlining operations and validating responsibilities.
“We are also relatively unique in the way that we give every person a direct hand in our commitment to 1% for the Planet, a movement that we have been part of since our first day in business. Every year, each employee is assigned the responsibility of deciding where to donate their equal portion of 1 percent of the company’s revenue from last year. It must go to an environmental nonprofit organization. One percent of revenue (as opposed to just profit) means that we are committed to donating through thick and thin. Everyone takes the responsibility seriously, and it results in lengthy discussions and discovery each year of how you can have as much environmental impact as possible with the money that you have. The sense of daily purpose and satisfaction that it brings us is significant. And the collective intelligence of a motivated group of empowered donors is formidable.
“While it’s not glamorous, the biggest financial commitment that we make to our workers is in the form of health care. West Arete pays for zero-deductible health care for every single employee, and all of their immediate family members, at no cost to the employee themselves. This completely eliminates the financial burden of health care from our employees’ minds — they never incur a single dime of medical bills. Many companies would consider this kind of plan to be financially untenable. While it comes at a significant expense to us, we know that in times of medical crisis this is the kind of priceless gesture that a family remembers for a lifetime.”
B the Change gathers and shares the voices from within the movement of people using business as a force for good and the community of certified B Corporations. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the nonprofit B Lab.
