Why Purpose Can Help Small Businesses Stand Out (Stay Ahead)

In the face of climate disasters and increasing political polarization, it is no wonder consumers’ faith in institutions is at an all-time low. Whether government or business, nearly every institution has been impacted by the new age of cynicism with one curious exception: small business.

While over 43% of consumers say they have “very little” or “no” trust in big business, over 70% say that they have a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of trust in small business, according to a recent Gallup poll. Consumer faith in small business is particularly strong amongst millennial consumers, the largest consumer segment today: 72% say they’re more committed to supporting small businesses than they were pre-pandemic. But will this goodwill last forever?

One way for small businesses to stand out vis-a-vis their larger counterparts is to lean into purpose. By infusing principles of sustainability and social impact from the start, these companies can sidestep the troubled legacies of incumbents and lean into their ability to be more nimble and innovative.

In this piece for APCO Worldwide’s Stay Ahead, I identify a few reasons why small businesses should seek to differentiate themselves by emphasizing best practices in sustainability and social impact.

4 Things Small Businesses Can Do Right Now To Help Working Moms (Fast Company)

More than 50% of small businesses said they couldn’t fill open positions last month, according to the National Federation of Independent Business—a 48-year peak. 

What if small businesses became a safe haven for hardworking moms?

As the numbers of women leaving the workforce attests, businesses need to improve their benefits to retain talented moms. One constituency in particular stands to gain from implementing mom-friendly policies: small businesses. 

In this piece for Fast Company, I identify small shifts that can be major game-changers for both moms and small businesses. These recommendations stem from research I co-authored as part of a playbook titled “Making Workplaces Work for Moms: Building a Mom-Friendly Workplace for the Post-Pandemic Future,” produced in partnership with Marshall Plan for Moms.

The “Return-to-Workplace” Policies That Will Bring Moms Back (Stay Ahead)

Women were treading water before the pandemic. Now, as more companies return to the workplace, employers must examine how we support women in the workplace, especially mothers, and make bold changes so they don’t sink under the heavy responsibilities of work and caregiving. It’s time to help them swim—providing them the long-overdue support they need to thrive.

In this piece for APCO Worldwide’s Stay Ahead blog, I identify the solutions that will not only help keep women in the workforce, but help bring them back. These recommendations stem from research I co-authored as part of a playbook titled “Making Workplaces Work for Moms: Building a Mom-Friendly Workplace for the Post-Pandemic Future,” produced in partnership with Marshall Plan for Moms.

Africa's $20 Billion E-Commerce Opportunity (Business of Fashion)

I spoke with Business of Fashion about “Africa's $20 Billion E-Commerce Opportunity” and noted that opportunity for homegrown e-commerce brands on the continent to aggregate local luxury brands and tap into the international market. You can read more here.

Interested in learning more about Africa’s creative and cultural industries? Read the latest Botho Group report, guest-edited by me, on unlocking expanding opportunities in the sector.

5 African Designers Changing the Face of Fashion

Fashion is big business in Africa. Today, the region’s apparel and footwear market is worth an estimated US $31 billion. From the cultivation of raw materials to finished products, millions of jobs exist along this fast-growing value chain. Rising interest in African culture on the continent and in the diaspora coupled with a growing, mobile-first middle class has driven a rise in interest in Africa-inspired design and locally-produced goods across many countries.

As #MadeinAfrica makes a bigger statement, I shared a list of African designers shaping the trends on catwalks from Abidjan to Kinshasa for Botho Emerging Markets Group, where I’m Esther Ocloo Fellow.

Towards An Anti-Racist Workplace: Tools and Strategies to Support Black Employees

In the wake of recent protests following the death of George Floyd, it is clearer than ever that companies must become the change they tweet and hashtag about. Organizations that commit to doing this must adopt a philosophy of anti-racism, which describes the active process of “identifying and eliminating racism by changing systems, organizational structures, policies and practices, and attitudes to redistribute and share power equitably.”

I shared some tangible steps that organizations can take towards being the change they wish to promote in a recent Medium article. Read more here.