Jennifer Beason, Author at 麻豆原创 News Center Company & Customer Stories | 麻豆原创 Room Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:11:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 Why Smart Companies Are Betting Big on Youth Leaders (And You Should Too) /2025/11/why-smart-companies-betting-big-on-youth-leaders-waff/ Fri, 14 Nov 2025 13:15:00 +0000 /?p=238882 A rockstar, a CEO, and a teenager walk into a room. It鈥檚 not the start of a joke, but the essence of a decade-long partnership between 麻豆原创 and We Are Family Foundation (WAFF). Together, they鈥檝e built a model that shows how young leaders can move from token voices to strategy shapers, from climate action to AI regulation. And the results offer practical lessons for every company looking to future-proof their business.

The challenges facing businesses today demand fresh ideas, digital fluency, and bold thinking. These are the qualities youth leaders bring in spades. For more than 20 years, WAFF, co-founded by music legend Nile Rodgers and his lifelong partner Nancy Hunt, has mentored young leaders from more than 100 countries. Over the past decade, WAFF and 麻豆原创 have partnered to deepen that global impact, moving youth voices from symbolic gestures to central drivers of innovation.

From roundtables where teenagers challenge senior executives, to shaping initiatives at the UN Climate Change Conferences and the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, WAFF and 麻豆原创 have developed a blueprint for embedding youth-led ideas into corporate strategy, supply chains, and culture while delivering measurable business and societal impact.

Here are five lessons from the collaboration on how intergenerational partnerships unlock value for both business and society.

1. Problems that span generations require leadership that does too

Traditional business models silo generations: executives design the strategy, then hand it down for others to execute. In today鈥檚 world, that handoff wastes momentum and risks irrelevance.

WAFF鈥檚 2024 global study, , found that when senior leaders and young changemakers co-create from the start, ideas are stress-tested in real time. This results in strategies that are bolder, more resilient, and more adaptable to fast-moving challenges.

In short, instead of passing the baton on the final leg, build your strategies together from the starting line.

2. Intergenerational collaboration is a smart strategy

Youth leaders aren鈥檛 just 鈥渇uture leaders.鈥 They already bring expertise that legacy teams lack. Digital natives understand platforms, trends, and user behavior instinctively. They also bring the urgency of living through the climate crisis and global inequality.

Take WAFF Youth Leader , who uses AI to track plastic debris and apply data-driven models to malnutrition. Her work bridges grassroots innovation with scalable solutions, which is exactly the kind of thinking that can de-risk corporate strategies and ensure relevance from day one.

麻豆原创 is powering equitable access to economic opportunity, education and employment, and the circular economy

For companies, including youth voices isn鈥檛 an act of goodwill; it鈥檚 strategic de-risking.

3. Where business, policy, and community align, impact follows

Global challenges cannot be solved in silos. The biggest breakthroughs happen when companies, policymakers, and social entrepreneurs collaborate.

One example is Mozamel Aman, a young Afghan impact entrepreneur and immigrant in Germany, who built to create inclusive employment pathways. In 2023, he began a partnership with 麻豆原创 Germany connecting women to the opportunity for tech jobs in the 麻豆原创 ecosystem, blending corporate support with government stipends. His organization leverages government stipends from the Bundesagentur f眉r Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) to train unemployed individuals and connect them with job opportunities. 

Germany鈥檚 technical is nearly the same size as its refugee population. Partnerships like this solve social challenges while closing critical business gaps in talent and innovation.

4. Purpose, profit, and the power of inclusion

Authentic inclusion of young experts, especially Gen-Zs, builds credibility, trust, and stronger business performance.

Employees notice:

  • Engagement: of U.S. employees were engaged in 2024, the lowest level in a decade.
  • Retention risk: Employees who feel with their company鈥檚 mission and values are much more likely to stay, while misalignment drives turnover.
  • Business impact: Highly engaged employees drive higher profitability.

WAFF’s global study findings underscore these statistics, indicating that young people see inclusivity and accountability as non-negotiable factors. By authentically including youth, organizations set a standard of purpose that fuels stronger engagement, deeper loyalty, and, ultimately, higher profitability.

5. Strategic procurement for social good

The most powerful financial corporate tool for change isn鈥檛 in giving, but perhaps in spending.

麻豆原创 Business Network facilitates in annual commerce. Compare that to an average corporate social responsibility (CSR) budget of among FTSE 100 companies, and the potential is clear: redirecting even a fraction of procurement spend toward youth-led, sustainable enterprises can transform impact at scale.

Watson Institute, with leadership from former WAFF alumni, James Okina, has recently published a new research report on the opportunity for young social entrepreneurs in impact-led procurement. The found that young, impact-driven entrepreneurs who succeed in selling to corporations report an average revenue increase of $170,187.50, while those who fail to secure deals lose between $7,000 and $300,000 in potential revenue. Okina offers that he “doesn鈥檛 understand why youth involvement in business is still so controversial.” 麻豆原创 and WAFF agree. By integrating expert impact entrepreneurs who happen to be young into procurement pipelines, for example, companies embrace innovation and align with corporate goals and values while maintaining quality, price, and performance. It is a smarter, systemic approach than writing philanthropic checks.

A blueprint for the next decade

Over the past decade, 麻豆原创 and WAFF have shown that partnering with young impact leaders creates a true competitive edge.

Companies that co-create with the next generation design strategies that are bolder, more relevant, and more sustainable. They build workforces that are engaged, trusted, and innovative. They align business goals with societal needs in ways that deliver measurable results鈥攁nd, across generations, they operate on longer runways to implement lasting solutions.

Businesses that win in the next decade won鈥檛 just listen to youth; they will build with them. And that鈥檚 smart business.


Jennifer Beason is global director of Corporate Social Responsibility at 麻豆原创. Annie Greene and Jamie Roach are global program leads at We Are Family Foundation.

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Collaborating Across Generations: Problems That Span Generations Require Leadership That Does Too /2024/06/collaborating-across-generations-waff-global-study/ Wed, 26 Jun 2024 11:15:00 +0000 /?p=226567 More than half of the people on earth are under the age of 30, yet in political arenas and board rooms they are scarcely present. Why are we building a future without the voices of those who will inherit it?

In a new 2024 global study on the power of intergenerational collaboration published by (WAFF) in partnership with The Possibilists and the Vienna University of Economics and Business, 87% of respondents cited believe youth have ideas and solutions that can improve or solve global issues. Yet, only 19% agree that youth are currently given enough opportunities to lead and contribute. We need young people to help rethink, reshape, challenge, and collaborate alongside today鈥檚 decision-makers as we solve the world’s unprecedented problems.

No single generation has all the answers. 麻豆原创 embraces this methodology of intergenerational collaboration, bringing dynamic perspectives together across its business in hopes that young experts can work alongside today鈥檚 leaders to shape the future of both business and our world. As evidenced by , here are some additional insights as to why this strategy is one you should consider too.

Youth Are Digital Natives in a Tech-Driven Era

Technology can help address the most profound environmental, economic, and social challenges of our time. Software and analytics can help predict and prevent disasters, make cities smarter, and foster equity in workplaces. In this era of rapid technological evolution, leaders of all generations have valuable perspective and expertise to augment the power of technology as well.

麻豆原创 is powering equitable access to economic opportunity, education and employment, and the circular economy

WAFF鈥檚 global study reminds us that Gen Z are digital natives who grew up online and 鈥渉ave adapted to learn, grow, and build skills in an entirely new and accelerated ways.鈥 The study goes on to remind leaders that by investing in young people now, global leaders and corporations alike can sooner harness their technological expertise and unique lived experiences.

麻豆原创, for example, is curating partnerships and opportunities that invest in the expertise of young social entrepreneurs, like 19-year-old Sneha Revanur, CEO and founder of and one of Time鈥檚 100 Most Influential People in AI 2023. At World Economic Forum鈥檚 Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, this January, Revanur sat alongside Chief Technology Officer and Member of the Executive Board of 麻豆原创 SE Juergen Mueller, hosting a powerful conversation on the future of AI and the opportunity to bring youth to the table. 鈥淚n spaces rife with credentialism, young people can offer perspectives that are rooted in lived experience,鈥 Revanur shares.

Mueller affirms this approach: 鈥淚 strongly believe in the power of intergenerational leadership 鈥 involving young talents in decision-making processes helps to bring the best in innovation to market. For instance, I have an early talent board in my organization who I regularly exchange with and get valuable guidance from. I also had the opportunity to meet with several young changemakers at events like the World Economic Forum in the last years and could learn a lot from them. Giving young leaders a seat at the table brings the right connections, mindsets, and energy together to create innovative and responsible solutions.鈥

Youth Demand Accountability

The tech industry and young people are united by a common cause: ensuring responsible data use and harnessing its power for good. Data allows us to generate accurate and actionable insights to transform the way the world works. When companies and governments have access to data-driven information, they can use those insights to achieve their vision 鈥 be it to clean the ocean, transform industries, or redefine the future of work. Effective solutions and responsible technology require collaboration, however. Data provides a foundation, but real change occurs when the public, private, and social sectors work together to create solutions.

This collaborative spirit echoes the work of Revanur and Encode Justice to leverage the power of data to shape the future. Encode Justice launched an intergenerational and multisector . 鈥淩ecent breakthroughs are transforming social, political, and economic realities, but they have not come without unanticipated risks鈥s AI grows more and more capable, harms will only proliferate. Our shared future is more precarious now than ever before. It is young people who have the most to gain 鈥 and the most to lose,鈥 Encode Justice鈥檚 website reads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAVVF8oV8oc
Sneha Revanur sits down with Juergen Mueller at World Economic Forum鈥檚 Annual Meeting to discuss all things AI.

Finding the Tipping Point

麻豆原创鈥檚 Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Alexandra van der Ploeg points out that 麻豆原创 has been working alongside organizations like We Are Family Foundation and The Possibilists to unlock and scale the power of young social innovators for nearly a decade. 鈥淭ransformative change takes ages, but this is not something that we can afford to take ages on. 2030 is around the corner. We must identify the levers and find the tipping point as a community to move from data and evidence to solutions that work for the world,鈥 van der Ploeg acknowledges.

Leveraging the is a great place to start when considering how to create a more sustainable future. It offers case studies and recommendations for meaningful intergenerational collaboration that any organization can act on, including co-creating projects alongside young experts.

鈥淎 new generation of young leaders has emerged 鈥 well-informed, resolutely committed, and emboldened by the challenges they face firsthand,鈥 says Annie Greene, director of Programs at We Are Family Foundation. 鈥淏y investing in these young leaders today, we benefit from their unique insights and extend their runway to help us solve our most pressing problems.鈥

To advance solutions for humanity, we must change the dynamics in rooms of power. Given the opportunity to collaborate with the leaders of tomorrow on today’s challenges, why wouldn鈥檛 we?


Jennifer Beason is global director for Impact Entrepreneurship at 麻豆原创.

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Empowering Anthems: A Playlist for International Youth Day /2023/08/international-youth-day-2023-anthems/ Thu, 10 Aug 2023 10:15:10 +0000 /?p=206360 Music and lyrics hold the power to resonate with the masses and influence positive change, especially as we commemorate on Saturday, August 12.

As I sat down to pen an article honoring this special occasion, it was these lyrics that came to mind: 鈥淚 believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.鈥 Imagining Whitney Houston鈥檚 mesmerizing rendition in my mind, I think she got the message mostly correct. Children are the future, but just as much as we need to teach them, we need to listen to and collaborate with them.

According to the (UN), 1.8 billion people are between 10 and 24 years old, the largest youth generation to date. Half of the people on earth are younger than 30 years old. As they will soon be inheriting this world from us, it will be their voices we hear on the public stage 鈥 not those who currently fill our boardrooms or public offices. Have we done all that we can to prepare them for the near-impossible task that lies ahead? To celebrate the next generation stepping up, in my true Millennial style, I have compiled a special Spotify playlist to inspire us to work better together.

Anti-Hero 鈥 Taylor Swift

Repeat after me: 鈥淚t鈥檚 me, hi. I鈥檓 the problem, it鈥檚 me.鈥 Swift probably wasn鈥檛 writing about economic equity or single use plastics when she wrote this 2022 classic. But the only way to create sustainable development solutions to the world鈥檚 most pressing issues is to admit that you, yes you, are part of the problem.

For every global goal, there is a role you can play. Ask yourself, 鈥淲hat will my role be?鈥

Ice, Ice Baby 鈥 Vanilla Ice

This one-hit wonder with hundreds of millions of streams worldwide has a very memorable opening line that bears repeating, 鈥淪top, collaborate, and listen.鈥 The best ideas do not always come from those with years of wisdom.聽 Or, as James Okina, a young social entrepreneur and strategic 麻豆原创 Corporate Social Responsibility (麻豆原创 CSR) consultant says, 鈥淚f you can collaborate with the ‘next generation of young leaders,’ consider yourself fortunate. They will inspire you with fresh ideas. My advice is to look past age and recognize when the prefix ‘young’ is unimportant. They are not just ‘future’ leaders, they are leaders.鈥

If you are not sure where to start, check out the advice shared in the latest .

Something About You 鈥 Roosevelt

Two years ago, I began mentoring an incredible young woman, Natalie Gahre, a member of the sustainability product team at 麻豆原创. What started as a mentorship transformed into a learning and leadership experience for both of us. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always easier to work across generations if people are open to trying something new,鈥 shares Gahre. 鈥淢ore 鈥榚xperienced鈥 professionals offer advice to young people with the caveat that 鈥榶ou should learn from my mistakes.鈥 We all need to be brave, optimistic, and excited to try new things together.鈥

As my favorite DJ Roosevelt points out, there is something [incredible] about you 鈥 share it. If you are looking for an opportunity to share your unique expertise, join me and thousands of colleagues from Unilever, EY, Reckitt, and 麻豆原创 on the , powered by MovingWorlds. This virtual pro bono consulting platform connects experienced professionals everywhere with young social innovators anywhere to expedite world-changing solutions for organizations like , , or .

Youth 鈥 Glass Animals

When it comes to thinking about the future of your company, Jess Teutonico, executive director of We Are Family Foundation has some sound advice: 鈥淐enter inter-generational collaboration into everything you do. Engage young people to authentically be a part of your organizations鈥 decision-making tables. This generation has the creativity, ingenuity, and tenacity to move our planet forward more equitably and sustainably. Why are we waiting for them to 鈥榞row up鈥 when they have already proven they are solving our problems now?鈥

Juergen Mueller, CTO and member of the Executive Board of 麻豆原创 SE, agrees and says, 鈥淭his year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, I had the opportunity to meet several young changemakers and I learned a lot from them. Inviting young leaders to global events like these has the power to bring the right energy, connections, and perspectives together that can ultimately result in advancing solutions to the world鈥檚 most pressing issues. I鈥檓 convinced that this holds true for many decision processes 鈥 involving young talents helps to bring the best in innovation to market.鈥

Juergen Mueller at Davos
Mueller meeting with youth leaders at Davos

We Are Family Foundation is launching new research on the power of inter-generational leadership and they need your voice. when it launches on September 8.

Jerusalema 鈥 Master KG ftg. Nomcebo Zikode

I was introduced to this song by Busang Maruping, a young Atlas Corp Fellow from Botswana. Master KG had already written the hook and convinced Zikode that she had the ability to write the lyrics that evening, even if she did not believe it herself. They finished the song that night and in 2020, Jerusalema became one of the most songs in the world. This song reminds us to have faith — trust your gut and know that sometimes it just takes two. Someone with a different perspective can have a profound impact on the outcome of a project, or a song.

If you are a leader in the U.S. looking for an opportunity to add diverse perspectives to your team and invest in the leaders the world needs, you may want to hire your own .

We Are Family 鈥 Sister Sledge

Fun fact: what started as a song became a global movement. Nile Rodgers, the legend behind this jam, has made it his mission to invest in the world鈥檚 leading young 鈥 inspiring us to do the same.

With only seven years left until 2030 — our to create a world without poverty, a just and peaceful society, and a planet that can sustain us — we need the soundtrack of a lifetime. I hope that these songs and their sound advice will pump you up and encourage you to keep moving forward. I welcome you to add your song to by sharing your advice on how we can build a more sustainable future together and tagging @麻豆原创 on social media.


Jennifer Beason is global director of Social Entrepreneurship at 麻豆原创.

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麻豆原创 Community Holiday Shopping Guide: Ideas to Excite, Inspire, and Make an Impact /2022/11/holiday-gift-guide-shopping-ideas-sap-community/ Fri, 25 Nov 2022 05:01:28 +0000 /?p=201193 It鈥檚 the thought that counts, not how much you spend on a gift — right? In 2021, consumers in the U.S. alone making purchases. According to the , collective spend amounted to $886.7 billion, up 14.1% from 2020.

What if making a small shift in your purchasing decisions this holiday season could collectively create billions of dollars in investment into solving for mounting issues of poverty, waste, and inequality? Would you make a change?

As consumers, we have a unique opportunity to make purchases that have real impact. By supporting social enterprises, local small businesses, and diverse business owners this season, the money you spend will have a direct, positive impact on your community and the people and ecosystems in need around the world. It鈥檚 a win-win: find the perfect gift you鈥檙e looking for and invest in causes that matter to you! Maybe you’re thinking, 鈥淭hat sounds nice, but where do I begin?鈥 麻豆原创 and our global ecosystem of social impact partners have you covered!

This year, we worked with our community, including many of the members of the , to compile a comprehensive list of places to shop from around the world. These holiday shopping suggestions are sure to delight and inspire you and deliver impact as well.

Jeroo Billimoria, co-founder of Catalyst 2030, shared that the Catalyst Marketplace originally started out as a crazy idea, but turned into something wonderful: 鈥淐atalyst Market is a perfect example of hundreds of entrepreneurs coming together — in only one year — to create a new kind of marketplace that prioritizes people and planet in a regenerative model of commerce.鈥

Along with last year鈥檚 guide, this is a one-stop resource for all your shopping needs this holiday season, and all throughout the year. We thank the social enterprises, social impact communities, and 麻豆原创 colleagues who have all contributed to make this a globally relevant gift guide, and are hopeful that our efforts will make it a little easier for you to find something magical and memorable to give the ones you love.

And if there are other incredible social enterprises or gift guides you love that are not listed here, share your suggestions on social media, tagging @麻豆原创4Good on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. Let鈥檚 continue to build on this collective list of businesses that truly represent the meaning of the season.

Happy holidays!

2022 Holiday Gift Guide

What to keep in mind when making meaningful purchases:

  • Greenwashing is real. Just because a product or service claims it has economic, social, or environmental impact, it is not always true. Take a moment to read about an organization鈥檚 impact and understand how your support will make a difference.
  • When you鈥檙e getting gift items for your loved ones, friends and family, be sure to buy from social enterprise where you can. Don鈥檛 forget to also show yourself some love by getting yourself a gift too.
  • Guides like this are a great start, but there are many more social enterprises out there. A great place to find them based on your interests is on social media like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. Take the time to check them out first to make sure you will receive the product you are expecting.
  • If you can鈥檛 buy social, small, or local, you can still make conscious choices and save money too by buying secondhand. This is made even easier with services like a browser plug-in that shows you secondhand versions of the product you are searching for.

Global

  • : A brand-new community-curated global marketplace, collaboratively run by purpose-driven enterprises. The allows consumers to shop across more than 100 global social enterprises.
  • : Products support the work of more than 40 nonprofits and social enterprises in 19 states and 65 countries around the globe.
  • : An online marketplace and curated community platform for purpose driven businesses; free to set up a profile for your social enterprise.
  • : The wholesale marketplace for conscious buyers.
  • : An online store for people shopping for unusual and beautifully crafted items. Every purchase supports local artisans around the world and unlocks a donation to UNICEF. ; note that shipping only available in the U.S.
  • : A trade association of fair trade enterprises fully committed to equitable and sustainable trading partnerships.

Africa

Kenya

  • : Aims to champion meaningful progress in people鈥檚 lives through high-quality shoes, gear, and goods that celebrate their Kenyan heritage (shipping available to U.S. customers).
  • : A marketplace for high- quality, locally designed, and ethically produced African fashion, home decor, and crafts products.

Nigeria

  • : Provides intensive training and employment opportunities for rural women in Imafon, Nigeria. These women learn to make beautiful crafts from waste materials, produce body butters, and other agricultural products, which are then sold and gives them a source of livelihood.

South Africa

  • : A children鈥檚 book by Amonge Elethu Sinxoto to inspire confidence and positive change around the world (ships internationally).

Uganda

  • : Up-cycled fashion brand, training and employing persons with disabilities.
  • : Sustainable, waterproof accessories made from plastic waste.
  • : Empowers refugee women in East Africa with the education and opportunities they need to become skilled, confident, economically independent entrepreneurs.

Asia

India

  • : India’s first crop-to-cookie brand crafts delicious, clean, super nutritious baked goods using ancient grains.
  • : A female-led social enterprise that produces hand-crafted stationery and engages women from marginalized communities to co-create the stationery, providing a new path to financial independence through the new trade of upcycling, recycling, and making (ships internationally).
  • : Handmade, hand painted, eco-friendly products for home decor and gifting, made by artisans who can earn consistent and dignified livelihood from their craft. Their products are made with fusion of more than one art form and are inspired by the rich heritage of India.
  • : A social enterprise that takes waste-bound saris and up-cycles them into beautiful clothes and accessories. Along the way, it employs women who did not have the opportunity for an education and path to financial independence and security (ships internationally).
  • : A social enterprise upskilling women from rural and indigenous communities of The Nilgiris into fine first-generation artisans. Indian Yards uses only natural fibers to handcraft a wide variety of products using craft forms such as macrame, crochet, quilting, needle work, embroidery, and more.
  • : Works directly with artisans, empowering them and their communities with a sustainable livelihood. Available in multiple countries outside of India.
  • : A social enterprise that works with artists across more than 70 styles of traditional arts and crafts to create live online workshops, masterclasses, and DIY kits, and also retails beautiful art handmade by these master artists. Their work creates sustainable new livelihoods for traditional and folk artists and provides experiences and products to consumers.
  • : A purpose-driven brand that focuses on revival of dying craft clusters across India with the aim to connect consumers and global businesses with the rare crafts of India. Resham Dor aims to empower the Indian artisans and create a sustainable life for them.
  • : A sustainable brand for home decor and gifting products. Backed by a large network of women artisans, Sirohi is on a mission to create income opportunities for women from marginalized populations in India with existing craft skills (ships internationally).
  • : A social enterprise dedicated to preserving heritage craftsmanship by adapting the heritage handcrafting process, artisanal skills, and know-how to create new products suited for contemporary homes and living.
  • : Endeavors to give form to discarded paper through hand spinning, weaving, and handcrafting, amalgamating the traditional skills and knowledge with contemporary appeal (ships internationally).
  • : A social enterprise that produces biodegradable disposable dinnerware through community-owned micro-enterprises spread across Northeast India. The tableware provides quality, green alternatives while helping to generate sustainable livelihoods amongst rural women and youth, locally.
  • : A designed and curated collection of contemporary terracotta crafts from heritage pottery clusters of India, with a vision to bring the indigenous pottery crafts into the main stream.
  • : A curated subscription or one-time purchase box filled with ecoconscious products. To Verth, it matters how these products are made and who they empower.

Indonesia

  • : an emerging brand of eco-sustainable fashion that takes advantage of the abundance of waste materials. By doing so, Rubysh has successfully recovered hundreds of kilograms of waste to turn into pieces of jewelry.
  • : health and beauty products with zero chemicals and support to local rose farmers.

Malaysia

  • : Works with over 200 artisans to make gifts, apparel, and merchandise with hand-dyed textiles and eco-friendly materials (ships internationally).
  • : Celebrating craftsmanship and advocating conscious consumption, Earth Heir serves traditional artisans in underserved communities by supporting them with market access and education in ethical business operations.
  • : A women-led conscious jewelry brand that educates, employs, and empowers refugee children and youth, Fugeelah is deeply devoted to quality and dedicates itself to thoughtful sourcing, fair wages for the female artisans with whom they co-creates collections, as well as give-back initiatives that truly have an impact.

Nepal

  • : A social enterprise dedicated to preserving traditional Nepali arts and crafts while improving the economic conditions of disadvantaged and marginalized producers 鈥 primarily women 鈥 through sustainable development.

Philippines

  • : A pioneering UN-recognized Filipino social enterprise that produces a line of sustainable, green, biodegradable, and non-toxic home and personal care products.
  • : A livelihood project-turned-social enterprise that specializes in making ecofriendly charcoal made from coconut waste, called the Eco-Uling. It aims to end poverty, save the environment, and empower people in their own little ways.

Thailand

  • : A social enterprise that offers customizable and unique products, handmade by marginalized women with locally sourced materials, as an alternative to traditional corporate gifts.

Australia & New Zealand

  • 膧kina: A social enterprise that offer a range of consulting and business development services to support businesses in creating positive impact.
  • 膧kina has created a list of .
  • : Australia’s first national directory of Certified Social Enterprises. The linked list has been filtered down to social enterprises offering giftable items, but the filter can be removed to search for other services.

Europe

Austria

  • : An online baking school and coffee shop concept for seniors baking cakes and teaching baking classes to earn additional money to supplement their minimum pension and avoid old-age isolation. In-studio, live online, and on-demand courses available.

France

  • : Fair and circular football brand.

Germany

  • : With the first charity bag label in Germany, every purchase enables a vulnerable child in Africa to attend school for one year. The bags are created by two women from Hamburg from fine leather returns and surpluses from designer houses.
  • : Standing for design that changes society, the label produces sustainably and fairly in Hamburg with socially disadvantaged people as well as with refugees who have only recently come to Germany. Both are united by their enormous craftsmanship beyond certificates and diplomas.
  • : The founders of Conflictfood travel to the trouble spots of this world, looking for specialties typical of the country and deal with local farmers: honest, directly, and fair. They strengthen economic structures, fight the root causes of flight, and create peaceful perspectives. Enjoy culinary treasures from all over the world through Conflictfood.
  • : A social startup from Munich where senior citizens bake delicious granny cakes. Its goal is to make life more worth living! Senior citizens pursue a meaningful activity and become part of a community, avoiding loneliness and isolation while pursuing their passion for baking.
  • : Fair Ethiopian coffee with profits going directly to farmers and cutting the middleman (ships to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland).
  • : Coffee and tea with social impact directly 100% transparent from the producers. Ohana builds a bridge between family-run coffee and tea farms and socially responsible companies. With purchase prices well above the world market and sustainable partnerships, the company supports farmers and at the same time ensure long-term high quality for customers. Ohana plants a tree for every kilogram of coffee or tea that binds CO2, contributing to biodiversity and creating jobs.
  • : A social beer brand from Berlin-Kreuzberg. Every bottle of Quartiermeister support the work of social and cultural projects in the neighbourhood. Every beer is a donation. The company distributes all of its profits where the beer is sold. Consumption becomes a good deed. Quartiermeister has been campaigning for a fair economy for the good of all since 2010.
  • : Glass bottles with beautiful designs to discourage plastic waste from bottled water consumption, with profits going to water charities.
  • : Founded in 2014, Stadtbienen e.V. takes care of a species-appropriate habitat for honey and wild bees in the city. Inspired by the natural approach of the Mellifera association, a bee house was developed that allows beekeeping even on your own balcony. Support the work with the eco-fair gift box.
  • : In large concert halls and at festivals, there is often a certain distance between artist and audience. It is completely different with sofa concerts. With these, a completely new musical experience is created. Experience the music up close and real with friends in your own home 鈥 or zoom call.
  • : Online chocolate shop focused on socialecological fairness, quality, and craftsmanship.
  • : Since 2013, 脺ber den Tellerrand has contributed to the integration and social participation of refugees in society. The company creates spaces that enable encounter and exchange at eye level and promotes friendships between people with and without a refugee experience. In these diverse encounter activities, mutual prejudices are broken down, openness and respect are promoted, and language skills and cultural knowledge are passed on.

Greece

  • : High-quality bags and backpacks from broken refugee rubber boats (ships within Europe).

Ireland

  • : An online charity shop that ships internationally.

Netherlands

  • : Clothes and other textile products made from secondhand textiles and created by newcomers to the Netherlands (ships internationally at additional cost).
  • by Social Enterprise NL: Buy Social Market is the simplest way to buy with impact; all products and services are offered by sustainable and inclusive companies. Check out its for gift ideas.

Slovakia

  • : Laptop sleeves and slow fashion accessories, all made ethically and from upcycled materials (ships internationally).

U.K.

  • : An initiative aimed at helping social enterprises thrive online, elevating the work of social enterprises that are supporting economic opportunities for marginalized communities.
  • : A social enterprise that employs women, particularly mothers, from the Rohingya refugee community in India to create one-of-a-kind, multi-purpose baby blankets, which are hand-stitched from reclaimed and ethically-sourced cotton.
  • : The UK鈥檚 membership body for social enterprises leads the world鈥檚 largest network of businesses with a social purpose who together are helping to create a fairer economy and a more sustainable future for everyone.
  • : Brings together businesses that are a force for good all under one virtual roof.

Middle East

Lebanon

  • : An organization producing the finest quality handmade artisanal products and maximizing employment opportunities for female artisans (ships internationally).

Turkey

  • : Unique eco-friendly creative building kit that enables children to transform everyday objects into unique toys (ships within the EU).

North America

Canada

  • : Indigenous owned business committed to nature and values the interdependency between all living things. Aurora Heat designs and hand creates sustainable, new-to-market products made from natural fur (ships within Canada and the U.S.)
  • : Indigenous artists share stories of resilience through authentic art, culture, and fashion to empower the next generation (ships internationally).
  • : Indigenous owned, eco-friendly collections of women’s wear and home decor textiles (ships internationally).

U.S.

  • : Coffee grown in Ethiopia, with all proceeds going back to scholarships and education programs for refugees of Sudan in the region the coffee is grown.
  • : Corporate gifting that is engaging, measurable, and meaningful.
  • : Offers 15 flavors of fair-trade, non-GMO whole and ground coffee beans with specialty and seasonal flavors through a delivery and subscription service (ships to the U.S. and Canada).
  • : A social enterprise offering ethically and sustainably sourced, durable, reusable bags that inspire people to reduce, reuse, recycle and re-imagine the world we live in (ships internationally).
  • : Personal care products that are fancy and free of harsh chemicals.
  • : Philadelphia-based manufacturing startup on a mission to construct stylish, sustainably sourced fashion. They aspire to support women from disenfranchised groups, especially those who are formerly incarcerated, in leading self-sufficient lives by creating fair wage employment opportunities.
  • : A place to shop for meaningful gifts, jewelry, and housewares. All of the merchandise was created by participants in Art with a Heart鈥檚 workforce development program, and by committed volunteers. Sale proceeds are shared between Art with a Heart and the artist or community partner.
  • : Stunning 3D portrait art made with synthetic hair you can feel and 2D reproductions and accessories from the mind of critically acclaimed visual artist Tyler Clark.
  • : Remarkable and handmade wall statements for a thoughtful home, Kazi alleviates poverty in Africa through job creation.
  • : Empowering artisan families in the Phillipines to overcome poverty by reimagining time-honored local craft for the global marketplace.
  • : Artisanal manufacturer of moisture-rich personal care products, especially formulated for highly textured hair and dry skin (ships internationally).
  • : An online baking shop that ships nationwide, products include custom cakes, cake jars, and celebration boxes.
  • : A mission-driven jewelry company that puts people and products at its forefront as a social enterprise. Rebel Nell use profits to support programs that promote mental well-being, financial training, career education, and other wrap-around programs.
  • : A lifestyle brand specializing in thoughtfully made goods, Rochelle Porter combines passion for patterns with a commitment to responsible manufacturing.
  • : A low-carb baking mix company that offers sugar free and gluten free dessert baking mixes. The range of products consist of sugar and gluten free cake mixes, frosting mixes, and sprinkles.
  • : With moccasins for children, TPMOCS gives back to Native American communities through employment opportunities and resources.
  • : Empowering small farming families in Ghana to bring 100% pure cold-pressed moringa oil to conscious consumers worldwide.
  • : Supporting the financial security of women coffee farmers (ships internationally).
  • : Partners with NGOs around the world that employ women from disadvantaged communities and pay them fair wages to create beautiful and unique cloth bags from fabric scraps.
  • : Each Yellow Leaf hammock is handwoven by the expert craftswomen of the Mlabri Tribe in the hills of Northern Thailand. Across three weaving communities, Yellow Leaf Hammocks works to create jobs for mothers and build a foundation for positive community transformation (ships internationally).

South & Central America

Guatemala

  • : A social impact business located in the community surrounding the Guatemala City garbage dump, mi eelo is a 100% women-run team, utilizing honest, handmade processes, and recycled materials to create high-quality products (ships to the U.S. and Canada).
  • : Home decor that explores synergies between designers and artisans, and empowers rural communities to rescue their cultural techniques, mitigate migration and preserve culture (ships internationally).
  • : Conscious skincare with Mayan wisdom, that is both kind to your skin and the earth (ships internationally).
  • : A cooperative of female Mayan backstrap loom weavers across Guatemala, Trama Textiles works directly with 100 women from 17 weaving communities across five regions to offer textile products as well as weaving classes at the Trama office in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala (ships internationally).

Mexico

  • : Contributes to artisans鈥 wellbeing, the development of small businesses, and preservation of traditional crafting techniques through fair trade by providing secure incomes and community.

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麻豆原创 Named Best Corporate Steward by U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation /2022/11/sap-named-best-corporate-steward/ Fri, 18 Nov 2022 11:15:48 +0000 /?p=201159 The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation named 麻豆原创 “Best Corporate Steward: Large Business鈥 at the 23rd annual Citizens Awards in Washington D.C. The recognition is given to the company that best demonstrates itself as a 鈥渞esponsive and responsible member of society, whose overall values, operational practices, and decision-making exemplify shared value.”

麻豆原创鈥檚 Jennifer Beason, Carmen Krueger, Jim Sullivan, Robin Manherz, Kevin Richards

It was accepted on behalf of 麻豆原创 by Global Chief Operating Officer Robin Manherz.

麻豆原创 technology helps companies embed sustainability into core business processes, which, combined with an industry-leading social responsibility strategy, is delivering global solutions to unlock a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

Manherz shared that this award means a lot to her personally and to the company. 鈥淭his is such a tremendous and important honor for me to represent 麻豆原创 tonight,鈥 she said. 鈥淔rom the planes in the sky to the electricity on the grid, we run most of the world with our technology. We take that responsibility very seriously and look forward to working with you today and every day to make sure we are living up to our purpose.鈥

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Helping the World Run Better, Together

麻豆原创鈥檚 mission is to help every business become a sustainable, intelligent enterprise. In practice, that means we create solutions to manage the most mission-critical business operations, like finance, human resources, and manufacturing, that, at the same time, address some of the most profound economic, social, and environmental challenges of our time.

For example, 麻豆原创 Cloud for Sustainable Enterprises helps companies manage their carbon footprint and . In addition to the portfolio, 麻豆原创 is investing in supply chain transparency through 麻豆原创 Ariba and 麻豆原创 Business Network to promote human rights, circularity, and socially responsible procurement standards. With more than $3 trillion traded across 麻豆原创 Business Network, 麻豆原创 has an opportunity to help companies shift procurement spend from traditional trading partners to companies like , , and . Procuring quality goods and services from organizations like these increases investment in economic equity, social impact, and environmental sustainability in a way that cannot be done through corporate philanthropy alone.

鈥溌槎乖粹檚 vision to help the world run better and improve people鈥檚 lives is evident through its investments and innovative technology to make a profound impact on the most vulnerable populations,鈥 said Marc DeCourcey, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. 鈥淭heir purpose-driven culture serves as a model for companies around the world.鈥

As DeCourcey affirms, technology by itself is not the answer. That is why 麻豆原创 is also investing in equitable access to economic opportunity, education, and employment, as well as a green, circular economy.

鈥淎s a company, we have an unwavering commitment to innovation and to the communities around the U.S. and the world where we operate,鈥 shared Lloyd Adams, president of 麻豆原创 North America. 鈥淭his award belongs to our employees, customers, and partners who have committed to sustainable and equitable business practices that focus on supporting people and protecting the planet.鈥

These values are embedded throughout the leadership culture at 麻豆原创, along with the way we engage and develop future talent. Adams, for example, personally champions the Autism at Work program and spearheads 麻豆原创 North America鈥檚 Emerging Talent Advisory Board. In the past year alone, Adams and the North America leadership team engaged 30 next-generation leaders in the , a virtual pro bono consulting initiative, solving strategic business challenges for B2B social enterprises tackling issues of plastics and waste, inclusion, and responsible supply chains. And there are plans to continue embracing experiential learning through pro bono across North America in the future.

In 2021, 麻豆原创 Corporate Social Responsibility programs and partnerships trained more than 119,000 teachers, educated 3.5 million youth, 50% of whom were girls, and impacted more than 8.3 million lives. More than 20,000 employees globally engage in skills-based volunteerism through 麻豆原创, representing a $20 million in-kind contribution to impact organizations through pro bono consulting in the last decade.

Looking ahead, 麻豆原创 has reinforced its partnership with and Generation Unlimited, announcing the 麻豆原创 Educate to Employ initiative, a program that supports learning-to-earning pathways in the digital and green economies for youth in need. Additionally, to help combat the global refugee crisis, 麻豆原创 is fulfilling associate and bachelor鈥檚 degree scholarships with , the first nonprofit, tuition-free, American-accredited online university dedicated to providing global access to higher education.

Based on 麻豆原创鈥檚 own success engaging employees and partners, 麻豆原创 — together with EY, MovingWorlds, TRANSFORM, and Unilever — partnered to launch the , helping employees everywhere connect to social enterprises anywhere, through pro bono consulting, coaching, and more. The open, online platform is a place where new and existing partners can come together to expedite world-changing solutions. If you share our commitment to building a more sustainable world, we hope you will !

To learn more about 麻豆原创 and its purpose in action, visit and follow us on social media using @麻豆原创4Good.

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