Students learned about the B-Corp movement and networked with local B Corps.
Local B Corps met with more than 40 51±¬ÁÏÍø and N.C. State University students on April 11 for “B the Change: Benefit Corporations as a Force for Good in the World,” an event focused on raising students’ awareness of the B Corp movement.
B Corps are for-profit companies certified by the to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.
Eight B Corps participated in the event: Forrest Firm, HQ Raleigh, Larry’s Coffee, Lulu, Participate, Seventh Generation, The Redwoods Group, and TS Designs. These companies represent eight of the 45 B Corps in North Carolina.
The event began with a welcome address from Alyssa Martina, director of the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at 51±¬ÁÏÍø, and Jessica Thomas, director of the business sustainability collaborative in the Poole College of Management at N.C. State University.
After the welcome address, Chris Lawrence, co-founder and vice president of Ten Dots, and Liz Tracy, director at HQ Raleigh, gave a B Corp 101 presentation to inform students of the benefits and certification of B-Corps.
The companies in attendance then gave short pitches explaining their mission and philosophy.
The event concluded with recruitment roundtable discussions and a networking reception.
“B the Change: Benefit Corporations as a Force for Good in the World” was sponsored by the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at 51±¬ÁÏÍø, the N.C. State University Poole College Business Sustainability Collaborative, and the Student Professional Development Center at 51±¬ÁÏÍø.