August 2023 Meeting Recap

Our August meeting was held this past Thursday, and it was amazing! Here's a brief recap for those who missed it!

Michael Freer, Ensoco – “What’s your priority? People, planet, or profit?”

Just a few highlights:

✔️ “Social enterprise is about the DNA of a company. You say from the beginning that ‘profit is equally important as our people’.”

✔️ But… “you can’t have a social enterprise without profit,” which is why, “a non-profit is not a social enterprise. You need a solid business that makes money; then you can think of the impact.”

✔️ Focus on:

Labor practices

“Do your employees know their rights?”

Family-friendly practices, like daycare

Local community support

Customer commitment

✔️ “You can give them more than just a product but also a feeling that they are doing something good.”

✔️ Greening the company

Supplier selection

Sustainable materials

Environmental activism

Ideas

✔️ Share profits with employees through dividends, bonuses, and team building.

✔️ Make strategic donations so employees can see repetitive improvement over time.

✔️ Internal passion projects.

✔️ Invest in other people’s ideas – “Your company can fund the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

Favorite social enterprises in Croatia

✔️ Humana Nova – Upcycling, tailoring

✔️ Hedona – Chocolate

Do a free self-evaluation of your company here: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/certification/

Member introductions: Keith Kirby – NatureSafe Marine and Nick Hathaway – 45 Degrees Sailing .

Upcoming presentations

21.09 – Mirela Petrovic, mAI – “Unlocking the Power of AI: A Marketing Guide for Businesses”