ME to WE promotes putting profits to positive social use
The chief operations director of ME to WE, a social enterprise that creates employment and economic empowerment in communities around the world, said employees are now looking to work for companies that are socially more conscious and who want to make the world a better place.
Ross McLeod, who grew up in Prince George and is now based in Toronto, returned to Prince George to give a presentation to KMPG on how to become a better steward of the world.
McLeod focused on the key points in his bestseller WEconomy, particularly having a purpose, an essential motivator for today’s employees.
“The idea behind my book is that there is an emerging economy system driven by purpose and profit and there’s kind of this intersection of how our economy, the environment and our social welfare come together and how it’s becoming more and more important for businesses to be thinking about purpose as a way to succeed where before it used to be a charitable initiative they might do on the side.”
Millennials have really high expectations around purpose when choosing a business for their employment, McLeod said.
“We see 76 per cent of millennials want to make a difference through their work,” McLeod said. “They want to inject more meaning into their jobs and will work harder for companies that don’t make them park their humanity at the door.”
McLeod also notes consumers will support businesses whose products do some good and patrons will support businesses that have a positive impact on the world, he added.
As a good example of an organization that impacts the world with positive change, McLeod sites the Our Satya Foundation, which is an international organization committed to taking global action to improve maternal and infant health and well being in India. Shobha Sharma, the founder of Our Satya, lives in Prince George and experienced a health crisis immediately after childbirth herself and the healthcare she got to save her life inspired the creation of the foundation.