Leading with Purpose – From Statement to Practice

Our Internal Compass: How B Corp Values Guide Every Decision

B Corp certification evaluates a company across multiple areas:

• Purpose and stakeholder governance: Embedding purpose into corporate strategy and decision making
• Fair work: Ensuring quality jobs, fair wages, and worker voice
• Climate action: Measuring all GHG emissions and developing 1.5°C-aligned action plans
• Human rights: Conducting due diligence to identify and mitigate risks across operations and value chains
• Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion: Fostering inclusive workplaces and contributing to equitable communities
• Environmental stewardship and circularity: Assessing environmental impact and implementing circular economy principles
• Government affairs and collective action: Engaging in advocacy for systemic change and maintaining transparent lobbying/tax practices

This holistic approach ensures we’re accountable, not just for profit, but for people and planet.

For us, being a B Corp isn’t a marketing badge – it’s an internal compass. We help our members align with these values too, creating a virtuous cycle of ethical and sustainable practices.

Our commitment to ESG goes hand-in-hand with our mission: to create spaces where teams can thrive while making a positive impact. We were proud to host an open and practical discussion on how businesses operationalise purpose, moving beyond statements and intentions and exploring how purpose is embedded into governance, culture, systems, and day-to-day decision-making at our St Cross Street premises in early 2026.

Work.Life & Friends: Proof That Purpose Drives Growth

B Corps have played a key role in raising expectations around responsible business, and with the latest updates to the B Corp standards, having a clearly defined purpose to make a positive impact is now a mandatory requirement, not an aspiration. An important moment for leaders across all types of organisations to pause and consider: how purpose actually shows up in the way a business is run. A relevant discussion not just if you’re a certified B Corp, but also if you’re working towards it, or simply navigating what responsible leadership looks like in practice.

Thank you to our panelists for all their insights:

🌱 Rebecca Lawson, Global Head of Sustainability, Aesop
🌱 Emma Detain, Sustainability Manager, Huel
🌱 Phil Hails-Smith, Managing Partner, Joelson
🌱 Ana Bernardo, Head of Operations, Work.Life
🎤 Hosted by Daisy Lavington, Senior Consultant, Greenheart

And our partners:
Redemption Roasters, OHMG Water, Proper Popcorn, Lucky Saint and XOXO Soda.

This candid discussion proved sustainability isn’t a trend; it’s a responsibility. Work.Life demonstrates that you can grow a business, empower teams, and contribute positively to society – without compromise.