Responsible Business
Balancing People, Planet & Profit for a more sustainable, equitable world.
Responsible Business to me means not always putting money first; it means caring about society and environment and taking corporate action to drive positive change. This balance between People, Planet and Profit is also referred to as "the triple bottom line" or short, "the 3P", and they're not mutually exclusive - if you nail the balance, it will help your business thrive.
Responsible Business in Digital
What might this look like? Responsible Business in the technical world is a wide field, but to give you an impression, here is a list of potential areas this might translate into:
Digital Inclusion & Web Accessibility
Ethical & sustainable (Agile) Delivery
Green Software, AI & Big Data
Ethical AI
Impact measuring through software
Work illustrations by Storyset
My approach to Responsible Business
After years of working in tech, I know that I am at my best when I can do work that has a positive impact on people and planet. Making it part of my work is one of the ways I try to drive change for the better. I do so by (meaning if I can do it, you could probably do it too!):
Being an active champion for structural inclusion and sustainable business practise at work
Continuously exploring emergent strategies with particular focus on Digital Sustainability and Accessibility
Actively engaging with the wider professional community to build a network of likeminded professionals
Running and attending events focussing on relevant topics
Promoting responsible initiatives and communities close to my areas of expertise, such as Agilists4Planet and Green PO
Signing the Agile Sustainability and the Sustainable Web Manifesto to show my commitment
Getting involved in Responsible Business-related matters in whatever company I work for
Looking for business that are willing to support these efforts, or have a space where we can drive responsible business together
Projects
Coming soon: Your climate-friendly Ikigai
Ikigai, a Japanese concept meaning "a reason for being", combines that which you love, that which you are good at, that which you can be paid for, and that which the world needs. I'm working on a workshop that will allow professionals to explore this in the context of turning their career into ESG-friendly/climate-compatible jobs.
Beyond the Hype: Podcast episode
As part of my work at Scott Logic, I've shared my views on ethical tech, with particular focus on AI, in their podcast episode: Beyond the Hype: Does innovation have to come at the expense of ethics?. Tune in for a lovely discussion with Alix Dunn from Computer Says Maybe and Oliver Cronk and some tips on how to balance people, planet and profit!
Sustainability: Making it a job
An initiative to help passionate professionals - myself included - uncover how to turn Sustainability into a paid job to make a real difference, delivered in a series of free, collaborative discovery workshops.
Volunteer work
To keep myself in touch with the things right at my door step, as well as walking the talk, I volunteered as trustee for a local park charity, Friends of Gyle Park (SCIO). This helped me learn more about low-cost options and support available, as well as teaching me lots about governance, politics, and social structures in Scotland.
Agile Sustainability Manifesto: Interview
As part of an ongoing initative from the Agile Alliance, I've joined Ines Garcia, a known figure in the sustainability space, to speak about my reasons for signing the Agile Sustainability Manifesto.Interview Recording on LinkedIn
Awareness campaign for Sustainability
As part of the Scottish Climate week, I released a series of educational posts about all things sustainability with specific focus on the human and the digital world on LinkedIn. Check them out here:Sustainability Posts on LinkedIn
Don't know where to start, or worried about getting it wrong?
I know that many companies as well as individuals are trying to be better - and it's not easy. There's regulations, risks, concerned stakeholders. Every company is run by humans - and humans are perfectly imperfect! That includes people in leadership positions, on boards, and of course, on the ground. Like all humans, they get overwhelmed by stuff, sometimes make poor decisions and mistakes, albeit meaning well. That's ok. I'm not here to judge anyone for that. I'm not looking for a picture-perfect company either. What I'm looking for are companies/employers that are genuinely wanting to try, or are already on the way, to do business in a better way. The only thing that matters is that you get started - ideally today, not tomorrow. If you think I could help - please get in touch through my contact form.