44 min
The Major Impact Becoming B Corp Certified Makes With Kerrie McDevitt, Senior Consultant At Impact Growth Partners The Produce Moms Podcast
-
- Health & Fitness
“The Produce Moms would not be B Corp certified if it weren’t for Kerrie.”
Lori Taylor (2:57-3:01)
You’ve heard us share about the exciting process of becoming a B Corp Certified business, but you’re probably wondering why this is so important. Kerri McDevitt is a Senior Consultant at Impact Growth Partners, a small consulting firm working with businesses across the world to become B Corp Certified who care about (as Kerri says) the “three P’s”: people, purpose and profit.
The B Corp Certification is given to businesses meeting high levels of standards that show they are global leaders in inclusivity, equitability and helping create a regenerative economy. Companies must go through a rigorous, long process of providing an application and documents that are analyzed and scrutinized to ensure only companies meeting a B Impact Assessment score of 80 or above pass. The B Impact Assessment allows you to create a plan for your business and is broken down into five sections: governance, workers, community, environmental and customers. Companies must also legally change their corporate governance to be accountable to all stakeholders, and be transparent in their performance level on the B Lab’s website.
For Lori and The Produce Moms, this was an opportunity to become more structured and strategic in business operations and, as Lori says, “it was a huge graduation for my business to become B Corp certified.”
The beautiful part about putting your company through the B Corp certification process is it allows you to embed your values into your business so they’ll last generations to come. The Produce Moms worked on getting certified for over 15 months and was under assessment from a specific person at the B Lab. How did TPM stack up? Well, even though the minimum score needed to pass the assessment is 80, we had a total of 117 points!
“The B- Corp journey makes one more mindful of decision making and more conscious as to what you’re doing at your company. You are going to think a little bit more through a decision than you might have otherwise when you’re looking at the bigger picture and considering all of your stakeholders.” Kerri McDevitt (18:12-18:29)
A great example of how TPM operates with a B Corp level standard happened recently when one of the team members took off work for a family member’s medical leave. It was a tough call as to what to do for Lori. This team member is unique in her gifts and skill sets with some of our publications and we couldn’t ask anyone else for the same level of creative output. At the same time, we had partners waiting for these deliverables and couldn’t delay. Lori took into consideration all of our stakeholders, farming partners, internal team members and audience to figure out how to serve everyone. She decided to slightly change the creative deliverables and when our team member came back, Lori looked at what work could be shifted back on her plate so she didn’t lose out on pay from the time she was gone.
Businesses get credit under the B Corp Assessment for having an “impact business model”. The Produce Moms was recognized for their contributions giving back to 1% for the planet, giving back to organizations that support the Earth, and being involved in the beautification of Indianapolis. TPM was also recognized for being advocates for the produce sector and farmers, and educating the public about healthy eating and nutrition.
The beautiful part about the B Corp community of other certified businesses is how collaborative it is. Everyone seems to be focused on how to help each other out, lift one another out and welcome new businesses, like TPM, through sub-committees and forums. Lori’s entrance into the B Corp community has been extremely warm and welcoming thus far!
Wondering why businesses are looking to become B Corp certified, or if there’s been an uptick in interest? COVID was certai
“The Produce Moms would not be B Corp certified if it weren’t for Kerrie.”
Lori Taylor (2:57-3:01)
You’ve heard us share about the exciting process of becoming a B Corp Certified business, but you’re probably wondering why this is so important. Kerri McDevitt is a Senior Consultant at Impact Growth Partners, a small consulting firm working with businesses across the world to become B Corp Certified who care about (as Kerri says) the “three P’s”: people, purpose and profit.
The B Corp Certification is given to businesses meeting high levels of standards that show they are global leaders in inclusivity, equitability and helping create a regenerative economy. Companies must go through a rigorous, long process of providing an application and documents that are analyzed and scrutinized to ensure only companies meeting a B Impact Assessment score of 80 or above pass. The B Impact Assessment allows you to create a plan for your business and is broken down into five sections: governance, workers, community, environmental and customers. Companies must also legally change their corporate governance to be accountable to all stakeholders, and be transparent in their performance level on the B Lab’s website.
For Lori and The Produce Moms, this was an opportunity to become more structured and strategic in business operations and, as Lori says, “it was a huge graduation for my business to become B Corp certified.”
The beautiful part about putting your company through the B Corp certification process is it allows you to embed your values into your business so they’ll last generations to come. The Produce Moms worked on getting certified for over 15 months and was under assessment from a specific person at the B Lab. How did TPM stack up? Well, even though the minimum score needed to pass the assessment is 80, we had a total of 117 points!
“The B- Corp journey makes one more mindful of decision making and more conscious as to what you’re doing at your company. You are going to think a little bit more through a decision than you might have otherwise when you’re looking at the bigger picture and considering all of your stakeholders.” Kerri McDevitt (18:12-18:29)
A great example of how TPM operates with a B Corp level standard happened recently when one of the team members took off work for a family member’s medical leave. It was a tough call as to what to do for Lori. This team member is unique in her gifts and skill sets with some of our publications and we couldn’t ask anyone else for the same level of creative output. At the same time, we had partners waiting for these deliverables and couldn’t delay. Lori took into consideration all of our stakeholders, farming partners, internal team members and audience to figure out how to serve everyone. She decided to slightly change the creative deliverables and when our team member came back, Lori looked at what work could be shifted back on her plate so she didn’t lose out on pay from the time she was gone.
Businesses get credit under the B Corp Assessment for having an “impact business model”. The Produce Moms was recognized for their contributions giving back to 1% for the planet, giving back to organizations that support the Earth, and being involved in the beautification of Indianapolis. TPM was also recognized for being advocates for the produce sector and farmers, and educating the public about healthy eating and nutrition.
The beautiful part about the B Corp community of other certified businesses is how collaborative it is. Everyone seems to be focused on how to help each other out, lift one another out and welcome new businesses, like TPM, through sub-committees and forums. Lori’s entrance into the B Corp community has been extremely warm and welcoming thus far!
Wondering why businesses are looking to become B Corp certified, or if there’s been an uptick in interest? COVID was certai
44 min