With AI quickly becoming part of the digital marketing world, what should purpose-driven leaders know about it? How might AI affect your marketing efforts? What kind of information might AI platforms be gathering about you and your small business? For these answers and more, we turned to an expert in our community.

According to Michelle Lagos of Get Lagos Now, a digital marketing firm, there are ten AEO questions you as a leader should be asking:

At Benefit Corporations for Good (BCFG), we believe small businesses are uniquely positioned to lead this shift. When values are embedded early and intentionally, businesses can grow with integrity, resilience, and purpose.

Becoming a benefit corporation—and earning BCFG certification—is one powerful way to make that commitment real.

As we move into 2026, uncertainty is the backdrop for almost every leadership decision. I hear it from purpose-driven business owners all the time: How do we lead when so much is unclear?

My answer is simple—we don’t need all the answers. We need clarity.

When values are clear—how we treat people, how we make decisions, and what we won’t compromise—leadership becomes steadier.

For years, “purpose” was treated like a nice-to-have. It was a brand story or a shiny badge on a website.

But that era is ending.

Young talent, talent that your organization needs, now demands more than a paycheck:

-Around 89% of Gen Z and 92% of Millennials…

If you’ve ever wondered whether a B Corp and a Benefit Company are the same thing, you’re not alone. They sound similar — but they’re not interchangeable. Here’s the simple breakdown:

A Benefit Company is a legal structure. It’s something you register with your state, just like forming an LLC or corporation. The difference? You’re making a legal commitment to consider people and the planet alongside profit.

A B Corp is a certification.

If you’ve been thinking about aligning your business more closely with your values, certification with Benefit Corporations for Good might be exactly the step you’re ready to take. And according to many of the purpose-driven leaders in our community, there are three standout reasons to do it.

Last week, I had the pleasure of engaging in conversation with the Global Wellness Institute community thanks to Renee Moorefield of Wisdom Works.

My topic: the future of business as a healing force. And here are a few of the thoughts shared during that webinar.

What if business could do more than just sustain — what if it could heal?

For small purpose-driven businesses, healing begins with how we treat people, our communities, and the planet. When wellbeing is woven into how we work — not tacked on as an extra — it transforms both culture and impact.

What if business could do more than just sustain — what if it could heal?

More small business leaders are asking this question as they recognize the deep link between wellbeing, purpose, and performance. But making wellbeing part of the system — not just an add-on — takes more than good intentions.

How can your small business improve its green practices and create more positive planet impact? While this all depends on your business and market, there are some simple ways to get started. Here are a few in no particular order. Pick 2-3 actions from this checklist and make them part of your routine. Over time, add in more as these small steps can add up to meaningful impact.

What does certification through third-party-standard Benefit Corporations for Good mean?

Could this tool be the purpose-driven leader’s single most powerful guide to aligning values with strategy, gaining credibility, and attracting the conscious customers, team members, and investors who share your vision?

The crux of building a BETTER BUSINESS

If you want to build a better business, you start with better leadership.

To me, that means being the kind of leader who lives by strong, meaningful values.

Words like integrity, empathy, kindness, honesty, and transparency come to mind.

These aren’t just buzzwords—they’re the foundation of what we call conscientious leadership.

It’s not about sitting idly by and doing nothing to grow revenue.

It’s about conscientious leaders taking the time to assess where they’re at, what their next steps are, and how to approach growth in a more meaningful, sustainable way.

Put the accent on “meaningful, sustainable way.”

Here at BCFG, we want businesses of all shapes and sizes to know that certification is doable, credible and within reach. For smaller businesses that may feel intimidated by this process, we are here to support you and make this possible, because ultimately our blue stamp is a symbol of authenticity and trust. But that trust isn't just a label; it’s built on accountability.

Rising with DEI.

Recently, I saw the news that major companies like Walmart, McDonald’s, and Meta—along with many others—are pulling back from their DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) commitments.

This shift left me not just saddened but genuinely confused.

In our small business community, DEI isn’t just a buzzword. It’s one of the eight core standards we uphold to be certified.

And it’s not just a moral stance.

There is plenty of research showing that businesses, especially small ones, thrive when they embrace diversity.

The B-wildering World of Benefit Corporations

By Russ Stoddard • 21 Jan 2025View in browser

There isn't a unified logo for the Benefit Corporation movement, so we played around with a few ideas.

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Please Pitch In

Riddle me this, Batman:  Can you be a benefit corporation and NOT be a B Corp?

If you answered “Yes,” you are 100%, as Fonzie used to say, correctamundo.

If you answered, “No,” then you’re just as confused as most of the world on the difference between a benefit corporation and a B Corp.  And with good reason.

A little background.

My company, Oliver Russell, was first certified as a B Corp in 2011 and became Idaho’s first benefit corporation in 2015.