B Corp Month - Green Slovenia hosting B Corp Summit

It takes some time since you plant a seed and you see the tree starting to grow. I feel I was lucky to see the seed planted by my friends years ago and now growing into such beautiful shape.

Two weeks ago, after invitation from my friends Jana Apih and VisitGoodPlace team, I had a great privilege to take part in the first Slovenian B Corp Summit, to moderate the Round Table discussion of B Corps’ leaders. 

Unforgettable experience. I was so happy to see that numerous topics we undertook over the years we know each other, are converting into the event launching the B Community in the region. And it is done in such a great style and quality. Fantastic location in the heart of Ljubljana, eruption of positive energy, great experience sharing and spirit of interdependence. Let me quote just one line from many undertaken on the Summit: „We're at a crossroads where one path leads to irreversible damage to our home, and the other towards healing and sustainability. This isn't a scene from a movie; it's where we stand today, with a ticking clock that gives us just 6 years to choose our direction wisely. ⏰🌎”

Concern, but also a great energy to roll the sleeves, join forces and collaborate in „using business as a force for good”. The key words circulating in the air were: Future, Trust, Credibility. Should we say more? Individual paths performed in diverse industries presented by B Corps in the discussion, very diverse but with shared ambition to regenerate the world, to build new economy inclusive for all.

Thank you my friends! This is really a Very Good Place, the team known from our collaboration for more than 12 years and now delivering a  B Corp debut in Slovenia in such fantastic manner! Sustainability is in their DNA for many years already - I was lucky to see it in the past and am seeing it now. In depth  understanding that we  need to do the things differently than usually. In their business model, numerous initiatives towards a sustainable tourism, up-cycling models like cleaning Kornati Archipelago from plastic, Soca Valley project, building diverse sustainable business models for tourist industry, standards helping the journey of business transformation of this sector, and many many others. And the community spirit one can only dream about.

Can not avoid some nostalgia and personal remark: Our old Goodbrand and CR Navigator logos - a platform we started to collaborate - are still on the front door of the Good Place. Another reason for me to feel privileged and be proud of being attached to this Community!

Sometimes it starts with a chat, with sharing the same values, same concerns, friendship, sea kayaks adventures, some bottles of good wine…And obviously with the people who take some reflexions further and use their unique creativity, charisma, wisdom, to grow it into the scale one can not imagine at the starting point. Huge congratulations to my old friends and the new ones I met recently in Ljubljana on the Summit. I keep fingers crossed for your enthusiasm, skills, persistence in building the B movement in the region I am so much attached to. And hope that our collaboration will only grow, also in the terms of bringing closer to this raising community the other fantastic B Corps - from Polish B Community! We have so many shared experiences worth further exchange.  I would only love to build more bridges between our companies, today and tomorrow, as the movement will grow faster and faster in Poland too.

Jana Apih, Luka Stepan, Primoz Artac, Domagoj Boljar, Carolina Jimenez, Sotiris Pastras, Sito │ Certified B Corp, TOSLA Nutricosmetics, Earthbound™, Zoku, APIVITA SA, Visit GoodPlace, B Lab Europe