Business update & Scale Conscious Podcast
I can hardly believe October is already here this year - I don’t know about you, but in many ways I’m still processing 2020 as we prepare for 2023. Thankfully, we’ve had the good fortune of working with people in partnerships and on projects that matter, and we’ve made measurable progress on becoming a more inclusive and sustainable business.
We recently fulfilled our September 30, 2021 commitment to join the CCAB as a non-Indigenous SME member, and look forward to bringing our brand building prowess into partnerships that will amplify Indigenous owned businesses. We continue to give back with donations to organizations advocating to protect the environment and invite us all outdoors, including the Child and Nature Alliance. And two weeks from now, this October, I have the honour of joining the Canadian delegation to the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance for the second time, to represent Canada on the global stage advocating a robust policy platform of inclusion, innovation and regeneration in entrepreneurship. Many months ago, I said in this blog that I would devote myself to collective action and I’m humbled to have the chance to put my words into practice through my business.
We’re very proud to champion our incredible clients including Graydon Skincare and M4 Factory (companies also owned by women). From pitching wholesale listings at major retailers like Walmart Canada, a company devoted to becoming a more regenerative business, through to reporting commitments at the US Plastics Pact for a circular economy, we continue to lead at the forefront of brand building. Our mission remains the same: to challenge and change the future of consumer culture, partnering with diverse founders to drive sustainability to the mass market. Of course, I can’t reflect on how far we’ve come in 2021, without sharing more about our first podcast series, Scale Conscious.
When I felt sad and stagnant in the pandemic (as so many people did and honestly many still do), after months of lockdowns and isolation, I was craving a creative outlet. Even though I also felt burnt out. I took the leap into a new content format with our podcast, to challenge myself, and bring many of the ideas I reflected on during the pandemic to a wider audience. I’m deeply grateful that so many incredible guests agreed to join me in my first series, sharing their experience and insights with us. Each recording session, I surrounded myself with blankets, set pillows against the door and drew the blinds to dampen the Toronto-city sounds and cocooned myself into these meaningful conversations. The result was a certain softness, a sense of safe space, to draw on our empathy and vulnerability - the ‘secret’ strength we need now, maybe more than ever. I invite you to listen through our series and share how it impacts you. And if you value the advice in these episodes, as an entrepreneur or intrapreneur, please download our free podcast action guide offering 5 ways to bring that wisdom into your business, today. Thank you for joining us on this journey - the best is yet to come (so is Series 2).
Together in change,
Ange
Better Culture - In episode 1, Avery Francis joins us to discuss why she started Bloom, a full-service workplace design consultancy, and why companies today are experiencing high turnover rates and mass resignations. We dive into how companies and teammates can start doing the work to build conscious, people-first companies, and Avery shares three radical approaches she’s adopted when building out her own team at Bloom.
You can follow Avery on Twitter and Instagram.
Better Community - Karen Greve Young is the CEO of Futurpreneur, a nonprofit in Canada that’s been fuelling the entrepreneurial passions of Canada’s young enterprises for two decades. In episode two, Karen Greve Young joins us to discuss why she’s so passionate about building support for entrepreneurs and how the pandemic has affected—and empowered—many young entrepreneurs across the country. We dive into the impact Futurpreneur has had in Canada, what recovery has looked like for entrepreneurs in a global pandemic, and how these programs create more equity and support for young and diverse entrepreneurs.
You can follow Karen on Twitter and Instagram.
Better Bosses -On our third episode, Johnathan and Melissa, founders of Raw Signal Group have joined us to discuss why leadership isn’t something you are born with, and how being honest about your work environment is important. They also told us more about how the shift to remote work has only made management skills even more important. And they walk us through why they approach their work with a refreshing, curse-word-filled attitude.
You can follow Johnathan on Twitter and Instagram , and Melissa on Twitter.
Better Impact - In Episode 4, Rhiannon Rosalind, the Chief Visionary Officer and Co-Founder of The Global Institute for Conscious Economics joined us to discuss the challenges of starting her own venture, why deep listening is a huge benefit to leaders, and what it means to engage a truly diverse group of people looking towards a more equitable future. She also shares what it was like to sit down with world leaders like Barack Obama.
You can follow Rhiannon on Twitter and Instagram.
Better Future - In episode 5, Solitaire Townsend is the Co-Founder and Chief Solutionist at Futerra, a change agency. The team focuses on making “the Anthropocene awesome.” Solitaire joined us to discuss why we should dream big and set goals that are “bonkers” when it comes to sustainability. We also chat about the importance of everyday people in the climate justice movement, and why even so-called small actions make a big difference.
