In mid-October 2016, over 500 representatives of nearly 300 ‘B Corps’ from 19 countries converged on Philadelphia for three days of service, collaboration, and celebration.

The theme of the three days – ‘Towards an Inclusive Economy’ – provided each of us with the challenge to understand what this actually means for us and our organisations as well as what that should look like in practice.

As we deliberated on how Global Leadership Foundation would take up this challenge, I found inspiration in a document developed by the co-founders of B Lab. They call it the ‘Declaration of Interdependence’, a document created by drawing on perspectives from across the world. It provides a focus on, and guiding principles for, what is important as a B Corp – particularly in relation to ‘inclusivity’.

I wanted to share this declaration with you.

‘We envision a global economy that uses business as a force for good.

This economy is comprised of a new type of corporation – the B Corporation – Which is purpose driven a. and creates benefit for all stakeholders, not just shareholders.

As B Corporations and leaders of this emerging economy, we believe:

            That we must be the change we seek in the world b.

            That all business ought to be conducted as if people and place mattered c.

That, through their products, practices and profits, businesses should aspire to do no harm and benefit all d.

To do so requires that we act with the understanding that we are each dependent upon another and thus responsible for each other and future generations.

The universal values and aspirations of the Declaration of Interdependence have no borders, no native tongue, no spiritual or religious limitations, and draw inspiration from around the world.’

The document then provides further explanation about where the principles it contains come from:

  1. ‘purpose driven’ is an attempt to build a language bridge between a faith-based community, a business community, and a sustainability/impact community that don’t typically see themselves as sharing a common cause.
  1. ‘that we must be the change we seek in the world’ refers to a famous aspirational statement attributed to Gandhi, who is less well known for his advocacy for economic systems and business models that offer dignity and opportunity for marginalised communities of low income people.
  1. ‘that all business ought to be conducted as if people and place mattered’ is derived from the subtitle of Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered, the seminal work of English economist E.F. Schumacher. ‘Place’ is added in recognition of the insights from the global local-living economies movement.
  1. ‘that business should aspire to do no harm and benefit all’ is an interpretation of the universal Golden Rule and a reference to the opening line from verse 8 of the Tao Te Ching (‘The best, like water, benefit all…’)

I wonder what the world would look like if everyone followed these principles and saw interdependence as a way of building an inclusive economy?