Good Business Network programs cover topics ranging from Silicon Valley and the green movement, to the relationship between corporate philanthropy and corporate social responsibility (CSR), to branding social responsibility efforts. These expert-led discussions draw heavy hitters from Ashoka, Yahoo!, Hewlett Packard, GAP Inc., Visa, Starbucks, The Tides Foundation, eBay, and the Haas School of Business, as well as countless smaller companies. The Good Business Network, in many cases, has become a matchmaking service for businesses and social entrepreneurs who share an interest in solving a common social problem.

“A Conversation With Dan Pink” Motivates Thought-Provoking Discussion

Posted on January 26, 2010 – 4:14 pm

CSR in a recessionIt takes a truly great speaker to motivate more than 100 for-profit, nonprofit, and social entrepreneur leaders to show up for an 8am, Friday morning event, but Daniel H. Pink is such a speaker.

The Good Business Network was delighted to host him at a sold-out conversation about his new book, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.

Presenting an entertaining summary of Drive’s fascinating findings, Dan explained how organizations and individuals can use the latest research on human motivation to advance their personal and professional goals and discussed the implications of these revelations for better motivating employees, colleagues, consumers, donors, children, and even yourself.

As follow up to our conversation with Dan, we hope you’ll be motivated to buy his book here and donate to Haiti relief – The Good Business Network was delighted to donate the proceeds from this event (more than $1,000) to three Haiti relief efforts: Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health, and Mercy & Sharing. We appreciate everyone’s additional contributions at the event.

The Good Business Network would like to thank Dan Pink for sharing his morning and thought-provoking insights with all of us, and we deeply appreciate Hanson Bridgett for graciously hosting.

The Good Business Network Presents: A Conversation With Daniel H. Pink, 1/15

Posted on December 15, 2009 – 5:01 pm

With New Year’s resolutions top of mind, January is the month for motivation.

Please join The Good Business Network for a thought-provoking (and highly motivating) discussion with bestselling author, Daniel H. Pink, about his latest book, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.

Author of the bestselling A Whole New Mind, Dan will unveil a paradigm-shattering look at what truly motivates us and how individuals and organizations can use that knowledge to work smarter and live better.

Event Details

Date: Friday, January 15
Time: 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Location: Hanson Bridgett (Directions here)
425 Market Street, 26th Floor (corner of Market & Fremont)
San Francisco, CA 94105

Light breakfast will be served.

REGISTER HERE ( $10 advance registration only)

Special thanks to our host, Hanson Bridgett.

About Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
Forget everything you thought you knew about how to motivate people – at work, at school, at home. It’s wrong. As Daniel H. Pink explains in his new and paradigm-shattering book, the secret to high performance and satisfaction in today’s world is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world.

Drawing on four decades of scientific research on human motivation, Pink exposes the mismatch between what science knows and what business does – and how that affects every aspect of our lives. He demonstrates that while the old-fashioned carrot-and-stick approach worked successfully in the 20th century, it’s precisely the wrong way to motivate people for today’s challenges. Overturning the conventional wisdom about human motivation, Drive offers a more effective path to high performance – helping you change how you think and transform how you live. Along the way, Pink takes us to companies that are enlisting new approaches to motivation and introduces us to the scientists and entrepreneurs who are pointing a bold way forward.

About Daniel H. Pink
Daniel H. Pink (www.dankpink.com) is the author of several provocative, bestselling books about the changing world of work. The author of the long-running New York Times and BusinessWeek bestseller A Whole New Mind, as well as The Adventures of Johnny Bunko and Free Agent Nation , his articles on business and technology appear in many publications, including the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Wired, where he is a contributing editor. He has provided analysis of business trends for CNN, CNBC, ABC, NPR, and other networks in the U.S. and abroad, and lectures on economic transformation and the new workplace at corporations, associations, and universities around the world.

“Recession Salon” Conversation Reflects Cause for Optimism

Posted on May 13, 2009 – 5:08 pm

CSR in a recessionThe Good Business Network welcomed more than 100 attendees to Temple Nightclub for a realistic – yet optimistic – discussion on navigating CSR in a recession and how to do well by doing good, even in not-so-good times.

Again, we’d like to thank our terrific panelists for sharing their useful insights and practical advice:

While panelists echoed national sentiments about unemployment and the down economy, they also expressed optimism about the future of corporate social responsibility and prospects for Bay Area business growth, especially in areas like green/clean technology, stem cell research, and healthcare, where the region is leading the way. As one panelist concluded, “We’re so lucky to be here…. It’s all happening here. I think if we can just get through 2009, it’s gonna be a lot of fun to be back in the Bay Area.”

If you weren’t able to attend (or if you want to relive the event), you can click on the image above for more photos from the evening or view video below.



The Good Business Network extends extra special thanks to Mike Zuckerman and Temple Nightclub, Rubicon Bakery, popchips, FORA.tv, and Chris Conroy Photography for their generous support of this program.

As always, please contact us with feedback or suggestions for future Good Business Network program topics and connect with us on Facebook.

CSR in a Recession: Doing Well By Doing Good in Not-So-Good Times, 4.29

Posted on April 6, 2009 – 12:45 pm

With the economy in uncharted territory, anyone who cares about values-based business – companies, nonprofits, social entrepreneurs and individuals – must learn how to navigate corporate social responsibility through a Great Recession era.

Join The Good Business Network to discuss how we can all still do well by doing good, in conversation with:

Event Details
Wednesday, April 29, 6pm to 8pm
Temple
540 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Tickets: $10 online/$20 cash at the door

Light refreshments will be served.

AWEARNESS Launch Party Featuring Kenneth Cole, Mayor Newsom, Robert Redford Draws Record-Breaking Crowd

Posted on December 3, 2008 – 3:33 pm

The Good Business Network welcomed its largest crowd yet – 625 enthusiastic attendees –to celebrate the West coast launch of Kenneth Cole’s new book, AWEARNESS: Inspiring Stories About How to Make a Difference and the Bay Area change agents who contributed their essays for the project.

In addition to inspiring remarks by Kenneth Cole, Mayor Newsom and Robert Redford, GBN co-founder Brad Hennig presented Kenneth Cole with the Good Business Network’s 2008 Changemaker Award for his groundbreaking humanitarian work and innovative social cause marketing initiatives.

If you weren’t able to join us (or if you want to relive the evening), you can always:

  • Read the San Francisco Chronicle’s coverage here and here



The Good Business Network extends special thanks to Mayor Gavin Newsom and his staff, FORA.tv, Skyy Spirits and Trinchero Family Winery.

As always, we’d like to hear your feedback, suggestions for future programs and ideas for working together so please contact us.

AWEARNESS Book Launch

Posted on October 30, 2008 – 3:46 pm

AWEARNESSPlease join Mayor Gavin Newsom, Kenneth Cole, and The Good Business Network to celebrate the launch of AWEARNESS: Inspiring Stories About How to Make a Difference.

Monday, November 17th, 2008, 6–7:30 pm
Program begins at 6:15pm sharp
Kenneth Cole San Francisco Retail Store
166 Grant Avenue, San Francisco

RSVP here

AWEARNESS: Inspiring Stories About How To Make A Difference is an engaging, informative, and empowering collection of 86 essays and conversations by individuals who have been inspired to do their part to effect meaningful social change. Celebrate Bay Area contributors: Alice Waters, Delancey Street Foundation, Lights Out SF, the Institute for OneWorld Health and World of Children.

Guests must be 21+.  Invitation is nontransferable and RSVP is Required.

View the HTML invitation

Good Capital Salon Expands Conversation about Social Investing and Entrepreneurship

Posted on September 29, 2008 – 1:36 pm

The Good Business Network’s salon on the emerging “good capital” movement sparked thought-provoking discussion and energetic networking among our 130 guests.  We thank everyone for contributing to the program’s success.

We’d like to remind you that our salon sponsor, Good Capital, is convening a groundbreaking, in-depth Social Capital Markets conference (http://socialcapitalmarkets.net) in October. The Good Business Network is pleased to offer a special 20 percent conference discount to those on our mailing list. Please use the discount code “GBN20” when you register.

Special thanks again to our salon host and sponsors Good Capital, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, FORA.tv, Trinchero Family Winery, and Rubicon Bakery.

As always, please feel free to contact us with feedback or suggestions for future Good Business Network program topics.  The FORA.tv video of the salon is now available:

The Good Capital Movement: How Everyone Can Be A Social Investor, 9.9

Posted on August 21, 2008 – 1:35 pm

The Bay Area is home to a new generation of entrepreneurs and investors who are doing well by doing good, and transforming the landscape of business, investing and philanthropy.

Come learn about the emerging “good capital” movement that is changing the world through sustainable businesses designed to impact global and local problems, and how everyone — for-profit companies, nonprofits and individuals — can be part of it.

Leading our discussion are social entrepreneurs and investors propelling this new wave of business, including Kevin Jones of Good Capital, Tracey Pettengill Turner of MicroPlace, Ben Black of New Cycle Capital, Dina Bitton of Digital Divide Data, and John Olson of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Center for Community Development Initiatives.

Event Details:
Tuesday, September 9th, 6pm to 8pm
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
The Orrick Building
405 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

CLICK HERE TO RSVP or email molly@thegoodbusinessnetwork.com.

Our salon sponsor, Good Capital, is also convening an in-depth Social Capital Markets conference in October. Please visit http://socialcapitalmarkets.net to learn more.

Art of Leadership Seminar for Social Entrepreneurs and Socially Responsible Business Leaders, September 8-11

Posted on July 25, 2008 – 1:30 pm

Rockwood Leadership InstituteThis fall, The Good Business Network is joining the Rockwood Leadership Institute to host a leadership seminar for social entrepreneurs and socially responsible business leaders.

Our goal is to bring together senior leaders who are focusing on triple bottom line outcomes in both the nonprofit and private sector and offer them the best in personal and collaborative leadership skills.

Rockwood’s acclaimed four-day Art of Leadership seminar has been delivered to more than 2,000 for-profit and nonprofit professionals across North America and internationally, training senior managers to successfully build strong organizations and networks.

The Good Business Network is also pleased to offer a special 30 percent discount to those on our mailing list. Please feel free to share this invitation with colleagues and others, and simply indicate that you learned about the seminar from The Good Business Network in order to receive the discount.

—

What: The Art of Leadership for Social Entrepreneurs and Socially Responsible Business Leaders

When: September 8-11, 2008

Where: Westerbeke Conference Center, Sonoma CA

Cost: For individuals and colleagues from 501(c)3 organizations, the seminar fee is on a sliding scale depending on annual budget. Click here for scale.

For for-profit companies, the fee is $3,000, all inclusive (including room and board and all materials).

Good Business Network Discount: Simply mention The Good Business Network discount at registration to receive 30% off these seminar prices.


For more information and registration: Visit http://www.rockwoodleadership.org/businessleaders.html
or contact Michael Sowle at (510)524-4000 x 109 or mike@rockwoodleadership.org.

Building a Values-Based Business Salon Draws Standing Room Only Crowd

Posted on June 3, 2008 – 3:10 pm

Building a Values-Based Business
more photos

The Good Business Network’s inaugural East Bay event, “Stirring It Up & Raising the Bar: A Conversation with Clif Bar & Company and Stonyfield Farm” drew a standing room only crowd of over 150 business leaders and social changemakers from companies and nonprofits such as Levi Strauss & Co., The Boston Consulting Group, New Leaf Paper, Numi Tea, CREDO Mobile, Benetech, Scientific Certification Systems and Transfair USA.Hosted at Clif Bar & Company’s Berkeley headquarters, attendees enjoyed hearing Clif Bar & Company co-owners Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford and Stonyfield Farm “CE-Yo” Gary Hirshberg discuss how to build and run thriving, “triple bottom line” businesses that focus on profits, people and the planet. While pointing out that they ran two very different businesses, Hirshberg, Erickson and Crawford highlighted several similar factors as being key to their respective companies’ success — sound business fundamentals, commitment to a long-term perspective, and integrating social and environmental responsibility into every area of the business.The Good Business Network founders wish to thank Kate Torgersen, Sue Hearn, Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford of Clif Bar, and Gary Hirshberg of Stonyfield Farm, as well as everyone at Clif Bar who provided support for this event.The Good Business Network also appreciates ForaTV and Green 960 AM for their event coverage. << Click here to listen to the Green 960 radio piece andclick here to view the Fora TV video.

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