Christopher Marquis is the Sinyi Professor of Chinese Management at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School and the author of the award-winning book “Better Business: How the B Corp Movement is Remaking Capitalism.” His research and writing focus on how businesses are creating a more resilient and sustainable capitalism by focusing on the elusive triple bottom line of environmental, social, and financial performance. Prior to joining Cambridge, Professor Marquis worked at Cornell for over six years and Harvard for over 11 years, where he developed an award-winning course on social entrepreneurship. He is the author of more than 20 peer-reviewed academic articles and more than 50 Harvard business cases on topics related to sustainable business and has won awards for scholarly achievement from the Academy of Management and the American Sociological Association. Professor Marquis earned a Ph.D. in sociology and business administration from the University of Michigan.
Event Overview
ESG investing has surged recently, but the question of how to define a sustainable company varies among every asset manager, impact investor, and index. B Corp certification has become a standout way of proving your sustainability cred, with names like Patagonia and Danone NA touting their status, but when companies go looking for investors, does it pay off? And how do you reconcile the legally binding language of taking the next step and incorporating as a benefit company with the fiduciary responsibility to shareholders?
Co-hosted with the Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise and the Capitalism and Social Good Group.
What You'll Learn
- What it means to be certified as a B Corporation
- The evaluation process that businesses go through to achieve B Corp certification
- Why being certified as a B Corp matters
- Why consumers demand more from businesses
Speakers
With over 25 years of experience in the financial sector, Vicki Benjamin has long worked at the intersection of finance and environmental sustainability. In 2017, she co-founded Karner Blue Capital, a women-owned-and-led, socially responsible investment firm building innovative investment strategies dedicated to protecting the planet’s biodiversity, fostering environmental stewardship, and conserving nature around the globe. As CEO, Ms. Benjamin helps investors drive portfolios of change, providing timely thought leadership by utilizing Karner Blue’s research platform to identify companies that are leading the transformation towards sustainability and offering investors an opportunity to invest in tomorrow’s companies today.
Previously, Ms. Benjamin led Calvert Investments, one of the largest responsible investment companies in the United States, first as chief operating officer then as President. She also acted as a Senior Partner at KPMG International, one of the world’s Big Four accounting organizations. Ms. Benjamin received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire and MBA from Bentley University’s McCallum Graduate School of Business.
Gideon Cohn co-founded Good Capital Investment Group with the idea that clear, conscious investing can be profitable and accessible. While working as a Certified Financial Planner at Highbridge Financial Group in New York, he saw firsthand how invested money could match client values and social progress. Clients took pride in doing good with their hard-earned money.
After graduating cum laude from the University of New Hampshire and Boston University’s Certificate of Financial Planning program, Mr. Cohn obtained his Certified Financial Planner certification. He also holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 securities registrations as an Investment Advisor Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network.
Mr. Cohn continuously strives to improve our world. He has led humanitarian trips in developing countries, volunteered as a mentor, and participated on several committees of a local union.
Traci Shirachi is President and CEO of The Mark USA Inc., a data analytics applied research and evaluation company comprised of about 15 employees that work with organizations both nationally and internationally to help the underserved thrive. The Mark uses rigorous data collection and research methods to evaluate and measure results for organizations and companies to achieve sustainable growth. Many of the organizations or companies that work with The Mark focus on demonstrating their social impact.
A former Peace Corps Volunteer with an M.S. in Urban Policy Analysis from the New School, Vicente Escriva has achieved FSA certification by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). For the past decade, he has worked as a management consultant with clients ranging from Fortune 500 and international organizations to local social entrepreneurial startups and nonprofits. Mr. Escriva also led one of the largest group meetings to discuss CSR issues in NYC; the network formed during that time led to the founding of the Capitalism & the Social Good Group (C&SG), where he works with fellow consultants to answer the question of how to define a “responsible business.”
Christopher Marquis is the Sinyi Professor of Chinese Management at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School and the author of the award-winning book “Better Business: How the B Corp Movement is Remaking Capitalism.” His research and writing focus on how businesses are creating a more resilient and sustainable capitalism by focusing on the elusive triple bottom line of environmental, social, and financial performance. Prior to joining Cambridge, Professor Marquis worked at Cornell for over six years and Harvard for over 11 years, where he developed an award-winning course on social entrepreneurship. He is the author of more than 20 peer-reviewed academic articles and more than 50 Harvard business cases on topics related to sustainable business and has won awards for scholarly achievement from the Academy of Management and the American Sociological Association. Professor Marquis earned a Ph.D. in sociology and business administration from the University of Michigan.
With over 25 years of experience in the financial sector, Vicki Benjamin has long worked at the intersection of finance and environmental sustainability. In 2017, she co-founded Karner Blue Capital, a women-owned-and-led, socially responsible investment firm building innovative investment strategies dedicated to protecting the planet’s biodiversity, fostering environmental stewardship, and conserving nature around the globe. As CEO, Ms. Benjamin helps investors drive portfolios of change, providing timely thought leadership by utilizing Karner Blue’s research platform to identify companies that are leading the transformation towards sustainability and offering investors an opportunity to invest in tomorrow’s companies today.
Previously, Ms. Benjamin led Calvert Investments, one of the largest responsible investment companies in the United States, first as chief operating officer then as President. She also acted as a Senior Partner at KPMG International, one of the world’s Big Four accounting organizations. Ms. Benjamin received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire and MBA from Bentley University’s McCallum Graduate School of Business.
Gideon Cohn co-founded Good Capital Investment Group with the idea that clear, conscious investing can be profitable and accessible. While working as a Certified Financial Planner at Highbridge Financial Group in New York, he saw firsthand how invested money could match client values and social progress. Clients took pride in doing good with their hard-earned money.
After graduating cum laude from the University of New Hampshire and Boston University’s Certificate of Financial Planning program, Mr. Cohn obtained his Certified Financial Planner certification. He also holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 securities registrations as an Investment Advisor Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network.
Mr. Cohn continuously strives to improve our world. He has led humanitarian trips in developing countries, volunteered as a mentor, and participated on several committees of a local union.
Traci Shirachi is President and CEO of The Mark USA Inc., a data analytics applied research and evaluation company comprised of about 15 employees that work with organizations both nationally and internationally to help the underserved thrive. The Mark uses rigorous data collection and research methods to evaluate and measure results for organizations and companies to achieve sustainable growth. Many of the organizations or companies that work with The Mark focus on demonstrating their social impact.
A former Peace Corps Volunteer with an M.S. in Urban Policy Analysis from the New School, Vicente Escriva has achieved FSA certification by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). For the past decade, he has worked as a management consultant with clients ranging from Fortune 500 and international organizations to local social entrepreneurial startups and nonprofits. Mr. Escriva also led one of the largest group meetings to discuss CSR issues in NYC; the network formed during that time led to the founding of the Capitalism & the Social Good Group (C&SG), where he works with fellow consultants to answer the question of how to define a “responsible business.”
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