Company of Good

In a recent interview with HRM Asia, NVPC - Towards a City of Good’s Director of Corporate and Industry Partnerships, Sufei Lin, discussed the evolving role of corporate purpose in Singapore. She noted that what was once considered an optional extra is now a crucial element of business strategy, driven by heightened stakeholder expectations for social and environmental responsibility.   Through the Company of Good (COG) recognition system, NVPC provides a framework to help organisations integrate and communicate their corporate purpose, focusing on five impact areas: people, society, governance, environment, and economic factors.   Crucially, Lin shared how SME participation in the COG programme has grown significantly, reflecting a broader acceptance of corporate purpose across all business sizes. To support SMEs, NVPC collaborates with partners such as DBS and Unilever on programmes that support purpose-driven businesses, and offers initiatives like the Grow with Purpose (GwP) programme, which provides tailored learning for the F&B sector. Looking forward, Lin envisions corporate philanthropy and social responsibility becoming integral to business practices, with HR professionals playing a key role in embedding these values into organisational culture. Read the insights in full: https://lnkd.in/gGjWH4CQ

Taking the first step in your corporate purpose journey is critical, no matter how small—and two of this year's conferred Companies of Good show us how integrating profitability with positive social impact is not as far-fetched as it seems. WeavAir, an SME recognised as Champion of Good, leverages sensors, AI, and imaging data to help companies cut costs and enhance energy efficiency. Founder Dr. Natalia Mykhaylova highlights their mission to make high-quality data accessible for better decision-making and climate impact reduction. Their projects include partnering with supermarkets to minimise food waste and collaborating with local charities to redirect surplus food to vulnerable communities. WeavInsight also runs an upskilling programme with the Institute for Adult Learning, aids financial institutions with sustainability reporting, and participates in initiatives like Google’s Women Techmakers to support women in tech. Soilbuild Construction Group (an entity under Soilbuild Group Holdings Ltd) is a large enterprise that aims to be a sustainable multidisciplinary company. Recognised with the Company of Good – 3 Hearts, Soilbuild is noted for its industrial, commercial, and residential projects. Executive Director Han Ren Lim emphasises that corporate purpose drives profitability and supports investment in employees and the younger generation. Since 2022, Soilbuild has partnered with the Institute of Technical Education to enhance curriculum and offer work-study opportunities, while also discussing a new experiential learning centre with Singapore Polytechnic. These companies’ innovative strategies showcase how businesses can achieve financial success while also advancing environmental and social goals. The recognition highlights their commitment to sustainable development and corporate responsibility, setting a new benchmark in the industry. Explore how they’re redefining success and leading by example: https://lnkd.in/diQr2CPQ #CompanyofGood #COGConferment2024 #CorporatePurpose #Sustainability #Innovation

Our COG Fellows might have felt like they were back at school as Week 3 of the Fellowship was all about frameworks and concepts. However, as they follow through with the process of applying those tools to their ideation, they will soon reap the rewards in crafting innovative and purpose-driven interventions in their respective organisations. Samuel Rajkumar, our COG Fellowship and capability development lead, delved into the Theory of Change, bringing the Fellows through a guided process of crafting an impact statement. This will prepare them for their own Action Projects, which they must formulate before the end of the programme. It goes without saying that our Fellows also had to ponder upon their respective organisations’ purpose, and how that forms the foundation of the impact statements that they come up with. Our Fellows also learned about the Logic Model, a process to help Fellows visualise how their intervention plan leads to measurable outputs, meaningful outcomes and eventually the intended impact. They were also challenged to reflect on the change that they sought to make and the missing pieces that may have prevented them from doing so in the past. In the next session, Dr Anna Itkin and Marisa A. from The Inceptery highlighted the importance of Systems and Design Thinking, facilitated through the use of tools and techniques such as Causal Loop Diagrams, the Iceberg Model, and Journey Mapping. Through a range of thought and simulation exercises, our Fellows learned to analyse the world and its interconnected systems, and see examples of how even the tiniest of changes at one point could lead to massive systemic changes. Such theoretical and conceptual frameworks can make the difference in providing the necessary foundations to achieving long-standing impact as our Fellows take their first steps in developing their Action Projects!

10 sector leaders took a trip to Copenhagen, Denmark, as part of our Chief Changemaker Programme 2024 earlier this month.    Aiming to shift mindsets and build capabilities, the Chief Changemaker Programme is uniquely designed to nurture a group of committed business leaders who will be able to contribute to strengthening our society in Singapore through their core business activities.    This year, we had the privilege of bringing along these passionate participants who are at the forefront of driving change in their industries:  • Abel Ariza (Sodexo) • Eu-Lin Fang (PwC Singapore) • Ruiwen Lin (Sheng Siong Group) • Chin Hong Heng (Singapore Land Group Limited) • Panneer Selvam (EY Singapore)  • Tsang Wing Phang (SG Courts)  • Robin Pho, IDP-C (Family Business Network (FBN) Asia) • Shirley Cheong (Changi Airport Group)  • Wallace Ignacio Torres (Amgen Singapore Manufacturing)  • Yvonne Siow (OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation)   Consistently ranked among the happiest and most economically competitive and productive nations, Denmark is an exemplary case study for how businesses operate in and contribute back to the country. During our visit, we explored numerous innovative organisations, each offering unique insights into the future of business and leadership. Our journey was further enriched by outstanding keynote speakers—including Claus Meyer, Jan Rafael Moller ✅, and Lennart Lajboschitz—who inspired us with their visionary ideas and strategies for creating a sustainable and impactful future.    Our Chief Changemakers have now returned, and we look forward to them drawing from their experiences to create positive change for society through business. 

Last week, we held the first Learning Circle for this year's Project V community bringing together all our corporate and community partners for reflection and discussion. A huge thank you to the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and EY, for co-facilitating the session. Participants broke into groups, World Café-style, addressing challenges from finding the 'right' corporate volunteering opportunity to measuring impact. Some key takeaways from the session include identifying intangible areas that suggest mutual value creation such as experience, depth and sustainability. Participants noted the difficulties in quantifying impact for corporates and community partners alike, looking towards how partnerships can stay solid and sustained. To conclude the session, participants put together their learnings into next steps and action planning. We look forward to seeing how our Project V partnerships progress before reconvening at the second Learning Circle! #CompanyofGood #CorporatePurpose #CorporateVolunteering #ProjectV

Week 2 of Fellowship Intake 7 kicked off with a Learning Journey at Foreword Coffee’s newest outlet at Esplanade Mall! The Fellows got to chat with Foreword Coffee’s co-founder Lim Wei Jie, who shared about how the company’s mission is to mainstream disability and normalise inclusion, moving away from a beneficiary-serving mindset, instead advocating for equitable treatment of persons with disabilities as valued contributors to society. This was followed by a tour around the outlet space to showcase how the workstations and processes are designed inclusively. The day continued on with Alastair Colin-Jones from Economics of Mutuality Alliance discussing how Corporate Purpose can guide business strategy to improve business performance, both in terms of profit and stakeholder value. The Fellows also got to learn and practise interview techniques on how to engage with and understand their stakeholders, identifying the important pain points that their organisations can address. By forming these purpose-led insights, they can then make better decisions to solve meaningful issues in a profitable way. Last Friday, Fellows engaged in a Learning Module on Transformative Leadership, where Carla Henry GMBPsS and Cindu C Staub from The Purpose Collective helped them dig deep into a process of self-discovery, learning about their own values, leadership, working styles, and what drives them as changemakers. Through an array of activities, the Fellows were able to learn tools to better understand themselves and how they can draw on their unique strengths and inclinations to effect meaningful change in their roles within and through their organisations.

Next on our Corporate Purpose in Action series, we're excited to highlight Cognizant's impressive strides in the Economic impact area. Economic advancement is more than just strategy—it’s about fostering innovation and sustainable growth that benefits all stakeholders and future generations. Cognizant, one of the largest global professional services companies, excels at helping clients stay ahead in a rapidly evolving landscape. Specialising in IoT, AI, Software Engineering, and Cloud technologies, they are at the forefront of transforming business processes and enhancing experiences. Cognizant is dedicated to using its expertise for greater good through its skills-based volunteering program, Cognizant Outreach. Their Synapse initiative is set to train one million individuals for future-ready jobs by 2026. In Singapore, they are making a tangible impact with digital skilling, mentorship, and career development programs tailored for women from low-income communities, individuals with disabilities, and students. Curious about how your organisation can embark on a meaningful Corporate Purpose journey? Learn more about the 2024 Cohort of Companies of Good: https://lnkd.in/egXWqpRH

Our Connect! Series brings ecosystem players together to form connections between corporate and community partners, and Session 2 yesterday welcomed almost 50 participants for discussions framed around nature and the environment. Covering the themes of recycling, wildlife conservation, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability, organisations such as ACRES (Animal Concerns Research & Education Society), Gardens by the Bay, Sustainable Living Lab (SL2), D2L.sg and more shed light on challenges and opportunities in the space, and how companies can contribute—as ESG performance gains traction not only in regulatory requirements, but public awareness as well. Singapore Business Federation's ESG Coordination Office covered ESG trends that businesses need to take note of, and how Corporate Purpose can be a key enabler of future-readiness. Besides exploring possibilities for collaboration, UN Global Compact Network Singapore shared about LowCarbonSG, its capability-building programme to enable local businesses to measure and reduce their carbon emissions. Semula Pte Ltd also demonstrated how it helps to draw the plastics life cycle closer to circularity, processing and repurposing plastic waste into uniquely designed furniture, tableware and gifts. Looking to do more and form partnerships to create positive impact for the environment? Write to us at [email protected].

In our next installment of the Corporate Purpose in Action series, we’re highlighting PacificLight Power Pte Ltd's remarkable contributions in the Environment impact area. In today's world, maintaining planetary health is essential. This encompasses everything from sustainable production and consumption to climate action. By enhancing practices and embracing innovation, businesses can mitigate risks and seize new opportunities. With environmental challenges like degradation, extreme weather, and resource depletion on the rise, it’s more critical than ever to adopt energy-efficient solutions. As energy demands escalate, efficiency and demand management are key. PacificLight, an electricity generator and retailer, operates a 24/7 power plant that supports over 1,000,000 Singapore households around the clock. Utilising Liquefied Natural Gas, their plant stands out for its modern, efficient design. Beyond this, PacificLight actively engages in educational outreach on STEM topics, partnering local institutions and social service agency ASPN to conduct learning journeys on sustainable power plant operations. They also support community initiatives through volunteering with Willing Hearts and Beyond Social Services, and participating in donation drives with South West CDC. Wondering how your organisation can make a difference in environmental sustainability? Explore the 2024 Cohort of Companies of Good: https://lnkd.in/egXWqpRH #CorporatePurpose #CompanyofGood #Environment #Sustainability

The seventh intake of our #COGFellowship got underway last week, with Fellows embarking on the journey towards driving purpose in their respective organisations. The NVPC - Towards a City of Good team unpacked the related yet different concepts of Corporate Giving and Corporate Purpose, and encouraged Fellows to take stock of where their organisations are currently at when thinking about the next steps forward. Raihan Harun and Void Deck Games, a participation design studio, then brought Fellows to the fictional island of Buntu where they tried to replicate Singapore's success. In this simulation of running an enterprise, they undertook the challenge of balancing the organisation's priorities with the needs of the people and environment, learning to make the necessary trade-offs along the way and define what success really means on different levels.   With the learnings from the first day, Fellows had a chat with NVPC CEO, Tony Soh, where he shed light on how the Fellowship could lead to greater impact across the ecosystem, where organisations from both public and private sectors share the responsibility of building up the community from which they benefit. Shane Yan (IHRP-CP) and Growthbeans, a growth and well-being-focused social enterprise, helped Fellows discover more about what makes them tick through their plant-themed card game called “GRO!” to set their individual and collective goals for Fellowship. Alastair Colin-Jones from Economics of Mutuality Alliance topped it all off by challenging Fellows to bring purpose to life in how their organisations currently express it. He led them through activities to understand problems and opportunities as part of an ecosystem and to dream bigger whilst being specific with what success would look like. If that seemed like it’s a lot to cover, our Fellows are just getting warmed up. Follow closely along their journey as we share weekly updates!