People, Planet & Profit // event findings coming soon

People, Planet & Profit: accelerating progress for real impact.

Event findings coming soon.

27 years since the triple bottom line was first coined, it’s time to review the progress achieved and still to come.

Against a backdrop of greenwashing and corporate names pledging allegiance to future targets and actions, we will be deep-diving into the true meaning of impact and whether ‘good’ business practice in terms of ESG reporting goes far enough, or has simply become entry-level license to operate. What more can we do as business leaders to ensure we go beyond reporting on approaches designed to lessen our negative effect, to achieving true positive impact and change?

Alongside the increased focus on ESG, is the positive upward trend in impact investment. Having hit a record high in 2020 with European investments hitting net inflows of €233 billion*, how can we continue to nurture the progress of this investment strategy to achieve positive impact against key challenges beyond operating businesses in a sustainable way?

Our upcoming Zebra Campfire Event will be an open, positive discussion around the meaning, practical applications and measurement of impact.

The recent spotlight on BrewDog highlights the danger of being impact-driven at the expense of internal actions in fostering trust, inclusion, confidence and stakeholder engagement. There’s also the potential dichotomy of oil and gas companies increasing their focus on ESG activity and the moral dilemma in pledging to minimise negative effect in the process of doing business versus the need to have a positive impact mission for the business.

The interplay between ESG and impact investing is becoming blurred in terms of messaging, but they are distinctly different. Does this present an opportunity to blend these to set a new standard for purpose-led businesses to ensure that they are not only driven by external impact in terms of what the business is looking to achieve but also in the way in which it conducts itself?

Join us as we deep-dive into the true meaning of impact, where we will ask questions such as:

• How should we, and do we need to, differentiate between ESG reporting and impact investment?

• What does a real impact-focused business look like? From investment through to a sustainable business strategy.

• How do we really measure impact?

• How do we cut through greenwashing to ensure authentic positive progress both internally and externally?

• What are the roles of businesses, leaders, governments and society in accelerating and measuring true impact, globally?

We have gathered key contributors from our Zebra cohort and network to help us explore these topics and build a positive discussion that will help to address and build upon this positive trend in a way that promotes continued, sustainable growth and impact.

Key contributors

Lisa Barclay

Executive Director of Investments, Nesta

Steve Butterworth

CEO, Neighbourly

Eleanor Kaye

Head of Operations, Newton Venture Program

When

This event was held on 2 September 2021. Event findings coming soon.

Where

Using Zoom, from the comfort of wherever you are. Full joining instructions will be provided in advance.

Zoom is a third-party platform. Please bear in mind we don’t control Zoom’s terms of service, so are unable to take any responsibility for your use of Zoom.

Who should be involved?

Senior business leaders including those responsible for the strategic direction of their business - CEOs, COOs, CIOs, CTOs, GCs, Global HRDs, founders.