Founders Q+A: ESGmark® on our second birthday
ESGmark® on our second birthday
July marks our second business birthday and who better to speak to than our very own founders Justin Bates and Portia Patel - we take a moment to look back at two years of community, sustainability and hard work.
ESGmark®: What inspired you to start ESGmark®?
Justin Bates (JB): Personally, I was becoming more attuned to how I could live a more considerate life, from an environmental perspective. Also, we were becoming increasingly aware of ESG matters in our professional lives but noted the immense confusion and lack of clarity on the subject matter. This, coupled with the two questions we kept asking ourselves i.e. i) where can people and organisation's go for simple advice and actionable ideas to help demystify this complicated subject; & ii) How, as an organisation, do you demonstrate your positive ESG credentials to your stakeholders? resulted in us founding what you see today.
ESGmark®: What has been your biggest learning in the two years you have been in business?
Portia Patel (PP): The business formally launched two years ago but it has been over four years in the making. During that time, our key focus has always been credibility, credibility, credibility. Only engage with people and organisations who are genuinely committed to doing better and are passionate about the subject matter of ESG and sustainability.
ESGmark®: How have you seen business attitudes change since founding the business?
PP: When we launched, the early adopters were generally younger, smaller and founder-led businesses who were fully immersed in all things, "sustainable." Increasingly, we are seeing larger organisations embrace ESG themes as they recognise the benefits it can bring, not just financial but within their communities.
ESGmark®: What are the main challenges you see ethical companies facing in the next couple of years?
JB: The battle against greenwashing will continue. Being able to genuinely differentiate oneself from other companies making false claims can be frustrating, but ultimately the truth will always out.
ESGmark®: Where do you see ESGmark® in the five years time?
JB: We have so many exciting plans, and deeply held ambitions, far too many to mention here. However, in short, I would say we expect to have grown the community significantly, but it will always be high quality organisations rather simply growth in numbers. It is very important to us that we maintain the supportive, friendly environment that our community exudes today. Every organisation in the ESGmark® Community is willing, able and wanting to support each other. That is very special.
ESGmark®: As co-founders, how do your roles differ?
JB: We consider ourselves very lucky in that we have complimentary skill sets, albeit are very different in many, many respects. Despite this, maybe because of it, the partnership works brilliantly. We don't consciously split roles, we just fall into them. For some unfathomable reason I appear to have been promoted to Global Head of IT!
ESGmark®: How do ESG values inform your business making decisions?
PP: Quality, credibility and decency are how we would like people to think of ESGmark®. ESGmark® is a team, a high performing team of passionate individuals and organisations, all seeking to do things better.
ESGmark®: Do you each have a favourite SDG?
JB: That is difficult. They are all so important and we all want to live in a world characterised by No Poverty (SDG 1) and Zero Hunger (SDG 2). However, my personal favourite is SDG 4, "Quality Education." The cure to all our long-term challenges is surely made easier by a better educated global population.
ESGmark®: Who is your biggest business inspiration?
JB: It's not a who but a what. The ESGmark® entity, its team and the organisations and people that make up its community never cease to inspire and delight. It is incredibly motivating and humbling to be involved in this business, one that's sole purpose is to help others be and do better and achieve even greater things, day in, day out, all for the greater good.
ESGmark®: What are you reading at the moment?
PP: CVs! ESGmark® is growing rapidly.
