Business
Looking for positive and inspiring business stories? From green operations to employee rights, from innovative corporate structures to diversity and inclusion, the Business section at The Optimist Daily has got the latest innovative solutions from the corporate sector.
What companies can learn from social scalers
Social entrepreneurs show that big results can come from small initiatives. Social scalers are companies that focus on market-based solutions that do not consume the scarce resources of donors and government agencies. Their goal: transform social problems into business opportunities on a national Read More...
Can a more fair and equitable free market help companies that do good?
The free market can save us, but first the free market needs to change whom it rewards. In 1970, Milton Friedman famously declared, "The social responsibility of business is to increase profits," and anything else was "pure and unadulterated socialism." According to this doctrine, business activity Read More...
From toys to turbines: Lego branches out into wind energy
Danish toy manufacturer Lego has inaugurated a wind farm off the coast of Germany. In an interview with DW, Lego’s CEO talks about the company’s efforts to run off 100 percent renewable energy – and otherwise go green. On Friday (09.10.2015), the Lego Group – together with Read More...
Social entrepreneurship enters the mainstream
Elizabeth Boggs Davidsen is acting chief of the Multilateral Investment Fund's Access to Markets and Skills Unit, with particular expertise in its regional economic development and value chains portfolios. She also advises on partnership opportunities for the MIF's grant and investment Read More...
Amazon, GE and the 'geniuses' reshaping sustainability
Summer's over, New York Climate Week has passed and the rest of 2015 looks sure to be busy for those steeped in corporate sustainability. Although the Volkswagen emissions cheating scandal has rocked the world of sustainability in recent weeks, there also has been a more positive flurry of Read More...
VW scandal could herald revolution in investment industry
Volkswagen’s emissions scandal could revolutionise the investment management industry because it has proved that a company's corporate governance and environmental credentials must be taken seriously, the chief executive of Hermes Investment Management has said. Saker Nusseibeh said that Read More...
How the power of optimism helped build a world-renowned brand
It seems like people are labeled as either a pessimist or an optimist. But I think the truth is we all have moments of both ends of the spectrum throughout life. When things are looking bad, it’s easy to be “realistic” which can easily become pessimistic. But is there value is Read More...
The social innovation benefits to the business bottom line
How do highly recognizable multinational brands and corporations contribute to social good? Historically, their impact on issues such as poverty, disease and environment has come through charitable giving of special corporate social responsibility units (CSR) or separate foundations. What if Read More...
Almost every economist agrees: Uber makes us better off
Much of economics is controversial. Asked to give their take on any given issue, you can expect two economists to put forward at least three different arguments. But on the issue of competition, there is an unusual level of harmony. That is why, when asked on the question of whether services like Read More...
More than 6 million companies vow to act on climate change
Not a handful, not a few hundred, not even thousands, but 6 million companies have made it very clear during the final business meeting of Climate Week in New York City that they want a strong climate deal at the UN Climate Convention in Paris this December. In just the past week alone we’ve seen Read More...