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The Power of Partnerships: Highlights from the 2024 MO Summit
Fresh from the 2024 MO Summit, our team is feeling inspired, invigorated, and grateful. We were joined in Austin, TX by some of the most innovative leaders who are redefining business, challenging the status quo, and proving that purpose is profitable. Thank you to all who attended and supported this year’s event, making it one of the most attended MO Summits ever!
Below, Big Path Team members reflect on the importance of the Summit, takeaways from this year’s event, and what they mean for the future of business. Plus, hear from event attendees and speakers who shared their perspectives on LinkedIn.
MO’s Impact on The Future of Business
For seven years, MO Summit has been a platform for mission-driven leaders to share, learn from, and collaborate in an effort to find better ways to do business and expand their collective impact. The topics discussed at the 2024 Summit — from the power of partnerships to navigating uncertain times with purpose — provided actionable opportunities and solutions to ensure that companies at the forefront of social and environmental impact can not only make a profit but thrive as their purposeful work benefits all people and planet.
During two “Action for Impact” sessions, we offered attendees insights into ways they and their companies can take small steps to have more impact on the world. We then asked them to share their commitments, which include:
Move Your Money
- Explore a line of credit with a certified B Corp bank
- Transfer international accounts to a bank with a commitment to climate justice
- Look at the Global Alignment for Banking on Values website and explore options for a financial institution more aligned with its values
Giving & Volunteerism
- Investigate the company’s current giving — how much, to whom?
- Join 1% for the Planet
- Increase annual giving from 1% of revenue to 1.5% in 2024
- Set an internal meeting with finance staff and employees around pro bono services
- Start a network for B Corps that are 1% members and also carbon-neutral certified
Here, Big Path Team members reflect on the importance of the annual convening. Read more.
Takeaways From MO Summit Attendees
Take a look at the kind words shared by event attendees and speakers on LinkedIn:
“Co-opetition is an implicit value of our #BCorp community that takes shape in the many networks, collectives, and communities of practice that are now in place. I’m grateful for the chance to discuss how we can work together with companies both inside and outside our ecosystem to build better practices and work collectively to realize an economic system that works for all people and the planet…We’re in this together. 🌍” — Jorge Fontanez, B Lab U.S. & Canada
“So much inspiration these past few days … Sometimes stories take hold that are simply incorrect, such as the misconception that businesses with a higher purpose can’t be profitable … I heard from the top 100 impact leaders on different ways they make a difference. Most of these leaders represented companies that were #BCorps and/or 1% for the Planet members, and several were #B1s, meaning they were part of both. I also heard from the leaders of these certifications in Jorge Fontanez & Kate Williams and it’s hard to understand why any business wouldn’t want to follow their leadership and partner with them.” — Jared M. Meyers, Legacy Vacation Resorts
“I just got back from Austin, TX and the most inspiring conference of my (long) career. Huge thanks to Big Path Capital and the incredible CEOs and partners who inspired action, partnerships, and so many new friendships at MO Summit. I can now attest there are no finer humans than impact CEOs from high-growth, mission-driven companies: and I’m convinced that together we’ll find a way to solve the world’s most pressing social and environmental issues.” — Shannon Morgan Stearns, Stasher
“So much heart. So much impact. If you want to know a place to find the best collection of CEOs who are smart, full of heart, and truly making a positive impact, the MO Summit by Big Path Capital in Austin last week was that for me (as it was last year too)! … I deeply appreciated having the opportunity to laugh, talk and connect at a really authentic, human, and vulnerable level with so many like-minded leaders.” — Peggy Shell, Creative Alignments
“At session number one of the MO Summit’s gathering of impact CEOs last week, we were invited into real conversation. One of the things I shared is that my word for the year is ‘emergence.’ And the next couple of days of the Summit were one big emergent conversation about the power we have as individuals and a collective to create a meaningful, positive future for planet and people.” — Kate Williams, 1% for the Planet
The enthusiasm and powerful conversations shared at this year’s event have us looking forward to MO 2025, taking place in Asheville, NC! Stay tuned for an announcement in the coming weeks on dates and registration.
What We’re Tracking
Impact CEOs Are Navigating Macro Uncertainty With Purpose | ImpactAlpha shares highlights from the 2024 MO Summit: “CEOs of Seventh Generation, Vital Farms and other purpose-driven companies who gathered at Big Path Capital’s annual MO Summit in Austin agreed that building solutions that do right by people and planet has helped them weather recent economic disruptions.” Read more.
The Hidden Culprit of Corporate Emissions? Banking. | Though a bank’s money can (and should) be used to finance projects that better people and planet, 1% for the Planet reports that an exponential amount is being used toward the fossil fuel industry. Read more.
The Paradox of Growing as a Values-Driven Company | This article from Harvard Business Review highlights how business leaders around the world have begun attempting to create organizations and offer products built on entirely new value systems, explicitly prioritizing social responsibility over profits. Read more.
Team Highlights
Big Path Team Gathers (in Person!) in Austin
As a fully remote team from six states, we try to take advantage of opportunities to get together in person when we can. To reduce our carbon footprint from travel, we have scheduled our annual team gathering in conjunction with the MO Summit for the last two years. This year, we met for a full day to dive into some systems and processes together and talk about how we can increase our impact as a company.
Celebrating Earth Month With Our 2023 Giving Certification From 1% for the Planet
We were thrilled to celebrate Earth Month by reporting our 2023 giving certification by 1% for the Planet! The certification verifies that we met our public annual commitment to donate at least 1% of our annual revenue toward protecting planet Earth for future generations through gifts of time and funds. Read more about what our 1% for the Planet membership means to us.
Meet Us on the Path
Take a look at where you can find us — and join us! — in the coming months:
- July 15-17: Impact Capitalism Summit Nantucket
- September 11-12: BLD Southeast in Atlanta, GA