Since this month is Pride Month, Great Outdoors Month, National Indigenous History Month, and Filipino Heritage Month, Jonathan Carter, CPA, CMA of KATA Accounting Solutions Professional Corporation thought it would be a good time to speak with a few of his unique clients about their socially responsible businesses.
Akeem Gardner, Founder of Canurta Inc.
Akeem is the founder of an industrial hemp start-up with a strong connection to the environment, Atlas 365 Inc., and its first spin-off, Canurta Inc. He is a black business owner with a unique perspective on social responsibility.
What is a socially responsible business?
AG: It is a business that does things with more than profit in mind. There are motivations that drive the business beyond ROI for the shareholders.
What are some specific challenges that you’ve face in your business?
AG: Traditional business models focus on ROI and revenue generation, making it difficult for businesses such as Canurta Inc. to gain investment and key support to be able to develop ideas. The biggest thing I’ve learned in my journey is that regardless of your motivations, goals, and lofty ideas, it needs to be a business.
How can people and businesses support social responsibility and marginalized communities?
AG: Learning about the issues and challenges that people face, actively listening to what people say about what they’re going through and not being afraid to show your support – these are ways people and businesses can help. It can even be as simple as not being afraid to have a conversation with a stranger. That’s how I met Jonathan!
Sean James of Sean James Consulting & Design
Sean is an eco-landscape designer who runs a business out of Milton, Ontario. As both a gay man and an environmentalist, Sean has experience with running a socially responsible business.
What is a socially responsible business?
SJ: One that does its best to help every aspect of society from team members to the entire plant. It focuses on satisfying our needs and reconciling our actions with our values, while doing business better.
What are some specific challenges that you’ve face in your business?
SJ: Doing business in a manner that lets me sleep well at night while being firm enough to run a successful business. There are a lot of causes our company can donate to, both in time and money, but we have to say no sometimes.
How can people and businesses support social responsibility and marginalized communities?
SJ: Speaking with your wallet, getting actively involved in causes you care about, and doing things without a profit motive can all help. Socially responsible businesses need to find a way to balance doing the right thing while staying profitable.
Dr. Andreas Krebs of Resonant Strategies Inc.
Andreas runs a digital marketing and support business that caters to Indigenous peoples and organizations. He is deeply involved with Indigenous issues.
What is a socially responsible business?
AK: A business that is values based. That is, having compassion for all the stakeholders – employees, clients, and society at large. Any business can be socially responsible, they don’t have to be involved in social justice.
What are some specific challenges you’ve faced in your business?
AK: Building a business that will be here in 20 years, that will keep good people in place and will grow in a manner that upholds the values of the corporation. Creating transparency in policies and procedures that apply equally among all team members is what we’re working on now.
How can people and businesses support social responsibility and marginalized communities?
AK: It is possible to search out and support businesses that are owned by marginalized peoples or are socially responsible. Also, in conversations within your business and your community, speaking with people about the effects of social issues can open your eyes to more possibilities, especially in the realm of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Jonathan Carter, CPA and CMA
Jonathan founded KATA Accounting Solutions with some socially responsible concepts from the very beginning. We turned the tables on him and asked him the same questions that he asked his clients.
What is a socially responsible business?
JC: Being values focused is the starting point. At KATA, we focus on communication as our top value – and it means we attract people who also value communication.
What are some specific challenges you’ve faced in your business?
JC: In the beginning, we accepted any customer who walked in the door even if they didn’t align with our values. Over the years, we’ve been able to be pickier about who we choose to work with. Allowing your values to take precedence over your financial results is a tough decision to make, but in the long run we’ll be a better company for it.
How can people and businesses support social responsibility and marginalized communities?
JC: Working with diverse customers, supporting women and marginalized communities in business, and keeping our values first really helps us learn and understand more about the unique challenges that different kinds of entrepreneurs face.
To learn more about social responsibility in business, visit KATA Accounting Professional Corporation online.