As a long-time B Corp devotee, host of the Soil to Soul Podcast, Senior Director of Regenerative Impact at Bonterra Organic Estates, and one of Wine Enthusiast’s 2023 ‘Future 40’, Jess Baum has extensive experience in sustainability, environmental education, farming, and permaculture.
Jess joins us today to share her insider’s perspective on the world of B Corp, how Bonterra is working towards building a regenerative future, and the role of the B Corp Certification in transforming the industrial system.
Tuning in, you’ll hear about the recent Champions Retreat, the BIPOC Network’s empowering work, and relationship-building in the context of the B Corp community.
Jess also offers her thoughts on the tension around allowing big corporations to be a part of the B Corp community and we discuss some tools and avenues to support a personal path to embodying B Corp principles (and why this is necessary for every leader). For all this and much more, don’t miss this episode of Beyond the B.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Jess’ experience in environmental education and farming before conscious business.
- Where she was first introduced to the world of B Corp.
- The difference between culture in a B Corp context and other environments.
- Jess’s experience of the B Corp Champions Retreat and what the BIPOC Network is.
- Ways in which she approaches this conference differently from other events.
- The crucial role of building relationships in research.
- Barriers to attendance at the Champions Retreat.
- What Jess’ team is working on, including recertification and working with a student team.
- The Biofiltro system that is currently in use at Bonterra.
- How the B Corp system seeks to turn the existing industrial model on its head.
- Why it’s so important that B Corp systems can scale to fit businesses of all sizes.
- Navigating the tension of allowing bigger businesses to join the B Corp ecosystem.
- Tools and avenues for personal transformation and embodying B Corp principles.
Quotes:
“The way that we heal a broken system is by internalizing [the] externalities and paying the true cost.” — Jess Baum [0:03:16]
“There’s a delicate dance and a balance to be had between the [B Corp] standard, the certification, and the community. It continues to evolve.” — Jess Baum [0:17:45]
“If the B Corp standard can’t scale and grow [to fit] businesses of all sizes, how are we moving the needle transform the system from the inside out?” — Jess Baum [0:32:33]
“More and more, I feel that the perfect is the enemy of the good.” — Jess Baum [0:36:05]
"Discomfort is not a sign that we are in the wrong place doing the wrong thing. Discomfort is a sign that we are growing.” — Jess Baum [0:38:40]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
- Jess Baum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-baum-bb063795/
- Soil to Soul: https://soil-to-soul.simplecast.com/
- Bonterra Organic Estates: https://www.bonterra.com/
- B Corp Champions Retreat: https://usca.bcorporation.net/champions-retreat
- B Corp Networks: https://usca.bcorporation.net/networks/
- BIPOC Network Newsletter: https://pardot.bcorporation.net/l/39792/2020-10-23/9l1y8g
- Email Beyond the B: beyond@lifteconomy.com
- Ryan Honeyman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanhhoneyman/
- Ryan Honeyman on X: https://twitter.com/HoneymanConsult
- Emmy Allison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mnallison/
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