VISION
Empowering arts and social entrepreneurs to strategize and succeed in attaining their triple bottom line goals.
MISSION
Guiding early stage and emerging arts and social entrepreneurs to achieve triple bottom line success – making positive impact through economic, social and environmental change. We provide strategic advice, ethical guidance, best practices know-how, access to vital networks and leverage for capital resources.
CORE VALUES
My beliefs guide my work to build successful startup enterprises. I only work with clients with whom I share core values: building community, enhancing cultural diversity, protecting the environment, promoting fairness and sharing prosperity.
STRATEGIC FOCUS
I advise startup and emerging enterprises led by people of talent and integrity whom I believe will most benefit from my counsel. On occasion, I have accepted invitations from long-standing clients to join the management teams of their enterprises — either for a short duration or for the life of the business. I have also been inspired by my clients to commence my own social enterprises, working in collaboration with their companies as a partner and colleague.
MOTIVATION
Why do I do this work?
I believe we can improve the world through redefining “business as usual” – aligning the way we conduct business (including investment philosophy) — with our deepest personal values.
“Business” describes a complex web of social relationships organized organized around the pursuit of making a living.
I believe that business can challenge –even sometimes transcend– dominant power structures and oppressive ideologies. This alternative approach to “business as a force for change” is neither easily achieved nor commonly attempted. That is why it is so important to me to nurture entrepreneurs who demonstrate commitment (or interest) in exploring a kinder, gentler pathway to profitability.
THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION
We can make our best efforts to align the business means we choose to use to achieve the social ends we desire to attain — avoiding naysayers who encourage us to turn a “blind eye” to our ethical inconsistencies (e.g., “greenwashing,” tokenism, appropriation, etc.).
So, we might consider applying a “golden rule” to making our gold — as we would in our personal relationships. We might make a living that is compatible with our values – bringing about the kind of world we want to inhabit — and engaging in fair practices that reflect how we’d like to be treated by others.
When we utter hard-hearted truisms like: “It’s just business. . .it’s not personal,” we risk losing the best parts of ourselves and undercutting core of our entrepreneurial spirit that believes that we can make a unique difference through our own direct action.
WORKING TOGETHER
I believe that your business can present an opportunity for you to express your whole authentic self, your humanity and uphold the values that you cherish. If it does not, what is the meaning of the work you do? Why do it?
Together, let’s envision a caring and thoughtful approach to your business plan and practices that’s personally meaningful, ecological sensitive, culturally robust, socially accountable … and financially sound.