Sarah Scala Consulting
Logo Sarah Scala Consulting

Blog

Performance,  Transformed

“...The content you are pushing out is really impressive. This is really admirable. There are people like me, years behind you, that you are inspiring whether you know it or not.”
— - Organization Development Consultant

The Next Frontier of B Corp Business: Signs of a New Economy: LGBTQ+ Inclusion

 
 

What is a B Corp?

What is a B Corp? For those who are not familiar with B Corps, they are defined as “business that balances purpose and profit. They are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. This is a community of leaders, driving a global movement of people using business as a force for good.“ (Source: https://bcorporation.net/). Many great organizations are B Corps including: Patagonia, Boloco Burritos, Coursera, and Luke’s Lobster.

A few of my clients, including King Arthur Baking Company, Stonyfield Farm, and Danone are #BCORPS. When I work with BCORP clients, it often feels more inclusive and welcoming as a consultant and coach because they are focused on being exceptional companies while working to solve societal problems.

New England B Corp Leadership Conference Keynote

I was a keynote speaker at the 2021 New England B Corp Leadership Conference on the topic of “The Next Frontier of B Corp Business: Signs of a New Economy: LGBTQ+ Inclusion.” This specific topic was requested by the leaders of the conference. In this keynote workshop, I shared about gender orientation, pronouns, current challenges at work for LGBTQ+ employees, and ways to make the workplace more inclusive and LGBTQ+ friendly.

LGBTQ+ Challenge at Work

According to a 2020 McKinsey Study, the challenges LGBTQ+ employees face at work today are:

  • Coming Out

  • Discrimination

  • Microaggressions

  • Isolation

Here is a quick video of me speaking at the conference on these and other challenges:

 

Challenges LGBTQ+ Employees Currently Face at Work.

 

Financial Benefits to Inclusion

I also shared recent research about the financial benefits to B Corps and businesses that build inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees. This includes a 6.5% increase in stock performance after engaging inclusive policies. (Source: U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION (2019, April).

In addition, I shared recent research from Deloitte about inclusion and talent acquisition, where findings from Deloitte shared that “80% of respondents said inclusion is an important factor with choosing an employer. 72% said they would leave an organization for one they believe is more inclusive.”

Sources:

Deloitte, “Seventy-Two Percent of Working Americans Surveyed Would or May Consider Leaving an Organization for One They Think is More Inclusive, Deloitte Poll Finds,” news release, June 7, 2017. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/press-releases/inclusion-survey.html

McKinsey & Company: https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/lgbtq-plus-voices-learning-from-lived-experiences

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION. (2019, April). Business Success and Growth Through LGBT— Inclusive Culture. https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/sites/default/files/Business-Success-Growth-LGBT-Inclusive-Culture-FINAL-WEB.pdf

BCORP, DEI, LGBTQSarah A. ScalaSarah A. Scala ConsultingComment