Laura Dickson

What does it mean to do business while doing good?

Published by Women In Need Society - Blog

June 5, 2015

If the purpose of traditional business is to create shareholder value and that of a charity is to raise donations to further its charitable mission, is there a third option that considers the generation of profit through business activities designed to benefit society? A social purpose business, or social enterprise, creates value for individuals and the community – as a whole – by ‘doing business while doing good’. Women In Need Society (WINS) is a tenured social enterprise operating four retail locations in Calgary with the goal of helping women and their families to help themselves.

URL: http://www.womeninneed.net/what-does-it-mean-to-do-business-while-doing-good/

International Women's Day, 2016

Published by Women In Need Society - Blog

March 9, 2016

Today, we celebrate the success of women in social, economic, cultural and political achievements. And yet, the World Economic Forum predicts the gap in gender parity will not close until 2133. Research shows that over a lifetime, a woman with a bachelor’s degree can expect to earn a third less than a man with the same degree and that gains in salary made through the 1980s and 90s have levelled off with salaries earned by men once again pulling ahead.

URL: http://www.womeninneed.net/international-womens-day-2016/

A New Model of Business

Published by Zaypo - Blog

May 6, 2014

What if a business’ real reason for existence was the very purpose that drove it into existence in the first place – a collective pain resolving, light shone into the darkness kind of purpose? Enter a new way of thinking about business and the value created for a wider span of stakeholders – and yes, its shareholders (we’ll call them financers) are one such stakeholder – but equally important are its customers, employees, suppliers and the community (be it real or virtual) where it resides. In a new business model, equally important are the stakeholders upon whom the business relies to deliver its solutions. Equally important are those who depend upon their delivery.

URL: http://www.zaypo.ca/leading/a-new-model-of-business/

Achievement & Sufficiency

Published by Women In Need Society - Blog

June 15, 2015

The economics of sufficiency balance privilege with moderation and reasonableness. Business growth and sustainability, positive social impact and global citizenship can co-exist to create prosperity. The thinking behind the economics of sufficiency reveals new possibilities for doing business that balance the values shaping our society with a desire for wealth and prosperity. A social enterprise creates opportunity by offering, for example, a first Canadian employment experience while delivering value to customers through the goods and services provided.

URL: http://www.womeninneed.net/achievement-sufficiency/