Aspire Leadership

As Mary Portas OBE—businesswoman, activist, author, and founder of Portas Consultancy & Agency—explains in her book Rebuild: How to thrive in the new Kindness Economy, we’re entering a new era: the Kindness Economy. This new economy moves beyond "more, bigger, faster" to a value system where businesses enrich our lives, contribute to social progress, and respect the planet. The #BCorp movement is leading this transformation, showing that businesses can thrive while making a meaningful impact. As a community, B Corps are creating a kinder, more inclusive, and equitable economic future—where success is measured by businesses' contributions to people and the planet, not just their bottom line. 💡 Explore how B Corps are bringing the Kindness Economy to life at bcorporation.net Photo credit: Sally Crane

Rising populations are putting pressure on forests, but the idea that we must choose between “trees or food” is a false dichotomy, says Tom Skirrow in this short film from Nature4Climate. Agroforestry and farming practices led by indigenous people and local communities provide practical nature-based solutions by: 🌳 Restoring degraded lands 🌱 Enhancing soil health and water retention 🍚 Improving food security while protecting biodiversity To build a sustainable future, we must listen to frontline voices, invest in climate funding, and recognise the critical role of #NatureBasedSolutions in addressing the climate crisis. Gertrude Kenyangi Asian Farmers' Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) First Australians Capital FSC Investments & Partnerships Sharon L. https://lnkd.in/etWngyYr

Integrating human rights into climate and nature-based investments is not just ethical, it’s critical for sustainable development and smart business. Insurers, too, have a vital role to play, driving ecosystem restoration efforts and unlocking innovative pathways to combat climate change in developing countries. Eric Usher from the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) shares more in these two articles: Human rights & climate finance: https://lnkd.in/eKfrqadR Insurers & ecosystem restoration: https://lnkd.in/euqpk8BD #ClimateAction2024

🌍🌱 COP29 has arrived—and it’s putting climate justice front and center. As world leaders, advocates, and businesses gather in Azerbaijan, the spotlight is on climate justice—ensuring that the communities most affected by climate change have the resources and support they need to thrive. From enabling capital flows to strengthening local resilience, #COP29 is an opportunity to address the inequalities amplified by the climate crisis. At B Lab, we’re committed to mobilizing businesses as a force for climate justice. That’s why the draft standards for #BCorpCertification entail companies to advance climate justice in their climate transition plans. This means actively supporting frontline communities in business practices. ➡️ Swipe right to learn more, and download B Lab U.S. & Canada’s Business Guide to Advancing Climate Justice to see how your business can make a difference: https://bit.ly/3QxvcGR

🎉 Save the date: Tuesday, 17th December! Join us in Lincoln for the Eagle Labs Black Founders Festive Networking Event – an afternoon celebrating Black founders and connecting with like-minded professionals this holiday season. Don’t miss it! #Beyondoctober #BlackHistoryMonth https://lnkd.in/g_yz4Hji

A trap I used to fall into as a presenter, and what I've learned to do instead 10 years ago, if someone had asked me to deliver a presentation, here’s how I would have prepped: ➡️ Open up a PowerPoint template  ➡️ Dump thoughts in  ➡️ Pull in content from other decks  ➡️ Write paragraphs into a script  ➡️ Feel lost in too many ideas  ➡️ Deal with it by reshuffling slides and fiddling with formatting  ➡️ Find something else to work on until the last minute when I was forced to take a hacksaw to it and cut things out This seemed pretty normal and efficient, because at least I was diving straight into prepping the deck. But the cracks of this approach began to show when I was in a Customer Success role at a startup, leading weekly webinars and workshops for managers in tech companies. I loved actually delivering the presentations and being with customers. But the lead-up was unfocused, unmoored, and overwhelming. How’d I get out of the trap? 💡 A mentor challenged me to play the "Why does it matter?" game as my first step to preparing for presentations. And doing this BEFORE putting together any slides or notes. So much got better when I started anchoring my prep this way. I’ll play out a quick example from my Customer Success role at the startup: I’d be invited to lead a launch event for managers and walk them through our e-learning platform. I'd ask myself: Why does that matter? 🟢 So that the managers are familiar with when and how to use our platform. Why does that matter? 🟢 So that they use it regularly. Why does that matter? 🟢 So that they benefit from the valuable guidance in our videos and articles. Why does that matter? 🟢 So that they feel less lost in their roles and waste less time and energy troubleshooting situations alone. Why does that matter? 🟢 So that they focus more time and energy on actually developing their team members and delivering results in their roles. ⚡️ You can keep going with this until you strike something that speaks to a meaningful pain point and / or goal for your audience. Prepping like this helped me in loads of ways: 🟣 I could frame meetings and talks in terms that mattered for the people in the room. 🟣 That meant people were more engaged and willing to give their attention vs giving me the chilly “I’m here because I was told to be” vibe 🟣 I was more efficient putting my notes and materials together -- I could distill main messages and then make my visuals / prompts after 🟣 This meant my trust in myself and my confidence at every stage, from prep to delivery to getting feedback after, went way up. If you start by diving straight into slides or writing a big script and feel overwhelmed in the process, try starting instead with a quick round of: "Why does that matter? So that...". 5 minutes of that high-quality thinking could save you loads of time and energy down the line. It’s a gift to yourself and to the people you’re speaking with 👍🏼

Black History Month has passed and as the year moves on we reflect on what more can be done to hold its importance year round? Our new blog post by Alexander Mushore is an engaging dive into year round awareness and activation! Follow the link below to check it out! “I believe the lessons and conversations sparked by Black History Month should extend beyond the month itself, encouraging a year-round celebration of differences. It’s through continued action and understanding that we can begin to prevent the unrest we’ve seen and work together towards a more inclusive future.“ #blackhistorymonth #diversity #inclusion

Another really interesting read from @JennyGarrett OBE - I love her ‘bottom line’, Recognising differences isn't about labels; it's about celebrating the richness of human experience. It's about creating a workplace where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued for the amazing individuals they are. As ever, thank you Jenny

🌍 Breaking Together: A Radical Approach to Climate and Societal Challenges 🌱 In this fascinating and deep conversation, Jem Bendell reflects on his journey from corporate sustainability to advocating for a transformative response to climate change and societal collapse. Known for his groundbreaking paper, Deep Adaptation Jem introduced a framework that challenges the sustainability movement and calls for preparation for societal breakdown. Now, through his new framework, Breaking Together, Jem emphasizes community resilience and eco-libertarianism as pathways to navigate the complexities of our future. This approach highlights the importance of collective action, localized solutions. 🔑 Key Takeaways: The traditional sustainability movement hasn't met the urgency of the climate crisis. Deep Adaptation reframes the narrative, encouraging honest conversations about collapse. Eco-libertarianism contrasts with eco-authoritarianism, promoting empowerment over control. Building community resilience is essential for navigating societal disruption. Personal experiences often shape bold, transformative worldviews. True fulfillment lies in inquiry, creativity, and connection, not just longevity. Prof. Bendell’s journey reminds us of the importance of reclaiming control over our resources and challenging dominant societal narratives to create localized and meaningful change. His work inspires a collective approach to address the realities of our time. 📘 Learn More: Jem's latest book, Breaking Together, outlines his collapse-based political framework and provides actionable insights. 🎓 Explore his course, Leading Through Collapse, here: https://lnkd.in/ed9vTBsp. Together, let’s move beyond fear and toward a future defined by resilience, creativity, and connection. ✨ #ClimateAction #DeepAdaptation #BreakingTogether #CommunityResilience #Sustainability #EcoLibertarianism #Leadership The Deep Adaptation Forum Climate Psychology Alliance Climate Action Innovation Zone Eco-Leadership Institute EU Environment and Climate Climate Psychology Alliance of North America https://lnkd.in/evbMkU9v