It’s an exciting time to be part of the business world these days--every week there seems to be a new startup, or an app developed to help you cut down on wholesale dropshipping costs, or a new way to showcase your business on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. But one thing that makes it particularly exciting is that there’s an opportunity to be progressive in business, whether that means having more strategies to make your office more inclusive with a new hiring program or attending conferences to promote feminist policies in the workplace.
So if getting progressive is something you’re passionate about, you’ll definitely want to check out these podcasts, which combine being a business leader with the goals of progressivity:
1 She Did It Her Way
When it comes to being progressive, one of the most important things is to listen to the stories of people who may not have had a typical entrepreneur experience--whether that’s because of their race, gender, or sexual orientation. Often we may not know just what a struggle it can be, which is why She Did It Her Way is such an important podcast to listen to. According to the Huffington Post, host Amanda “outlines the ups and downs of being a female entrepreneur, interviewing top female entrepreneurs on how they ascended to the top, in their own way. One of the most alluring aspects of her podcasts are the frank conversations that she has with her interviewees about their lives and how they dealt with changing life plans and goals.”
For any woman looking to become an entrepreneur, it’s a great resource, with a blog and online community, too. In 2017, only 17 percent of startups had a female founder, and it’s time for that to change.
2 Ethical Business Podcast
If you’re passionate about being green and leaving the world a better place after making your own gains in business, then you’ll definitely want to listen to Ethical Business Podcast. Only 20 minutes long, what makes this podcast so great is that it’s not just about environmental policy or changes in the environment (which are good to know about, but not as useful)--instead, it features interviews with entrepreneurs who have found ways to stay green while simultaneously running their businesses.
According to greenbiz.com, “Topics include the creation of a clean supply chain, health-conscious products, waste reduction and fair labor practices, and the focus skews to startups and small and mid-size businesses.” Ways of being green that are much easier to accomplish than installing solar panels all over your office building, that’s for sure (though we aren’t discouraging that, either). Considering that in the US, the value of natural capital used by businesses exceeds $1 trillion a year, you’ll definitely want to find new ways to go green.
3 Business Ethics and Diversity
Did you know that 70 percent of startup founders said that their company has “no program in place to increase employee diversity?” Despite the fact that we’re living in 2018, two years away from 2020, the startup and small business world can be a bit alienating for minorities. Oftentimes, this isn’t something employers even want--after all, diversity helps your business grow, especially when it comes to effective problem-solving and stronger company culture - but it is instead a result of inequalities already existing in society making it more challenging to recruit from a larger pool.
This is why you need to listen to the Business Ethics and Diversity Podcast. Created as part of the La Trobe University Masters of Business Association, the creators of this podcast are passionate about the fact that “Maintaining diversity and ethics practices is important to most businesses who want to gain the loyalty of employees and trust of consumers. These podcasts explain the ethics and diversity issues in the modern workplace.”
4 The Tech Inclusion Podcast
Finally, when it comes to tech, we know just how problematic the world of hiring can be. Even with businesses now focusing on improving the gender gap, employment data from 2007 to 2015 now shows, according to USA Today, that “Black and Hispanic representation is declining even as strides have been made in closing the gender gap in San Francisco Bay Area technology companies.”
That’s why it’s important to listen to The Tech Inclusion Podcast, which provides a voice for changemakers, diversity and inclusion leaders, and innovators driving inclusion and diversity. Brought to you by Change Catalyst, this podcast will open your mind about all the possibilities regarding the integration of tech culture and inclusivity.
As you can see, whatever kind of business you’re running, there are some great podcasts out there that will help you make it more progressive. Not only will this improve your business, but it will also give you an opportunity to make real, exciting change in the world.
Do you have any progressive business podcasts you’d recommend to other business leaders?
