Green is good. Finance Strategists recently talked with Bill Zujewski, founder of Green Business Bureau. Bill’s company creates tools and programs to encourage businesses to embrace environmental responsibility and sustainability. Q: Who are you and what’s your background? Bill Zujewski is the co-founder of Green Business Bureau and current head of marketing and operations. He is responsible for building the company’s brand and promoting the value of being a certified green business and GBB community member. He is passionate about helping businesses get greener to make the world a safer and better place. Q: Who has been your biggest influence, and why did they have such a significant effect on you? My four children have had a great influence on me over the past decade. They are passionate about climate change and saving the planet. I realized most of my past employers were not environmentally or socially responsible. I wanted to create a business and a software platform that can change that and make the business world greener... to create software with a purpose. Q: Knowing what you know now, what would you have told yourself when you were in your twenties? Find a career and company that has a purpose. Don't just go work for the highest paycheck. There are things you can do that have an impact on other people's lives and on the planet. Find those things and you'll have a more fulfilling career and life. Q: What is GBB? As a trusted authority in green business, we provide online solutions to help purpose-driven businesses of all sizes learn, prioritize, manage and certify green initiatives. Our customers use our sustainability framework and solutions to engage employees, manage their sustainability programs, and become greener. Our online tools, the GBB EcoAssessment™ and EcoPlanner™ enable businesses to understand, prioritize, implement, and certify green initiatives and sustainable business practices. GBB provides businesses with an official seal to validate and promote their green commitment and accomplishments. Businesses join GBB for a variety of reasons: to be recognized as a green business leader; to be certified by a credible, trusted 3rd party; to attract and retain customers and employees; and to become a greener business by using GBB tools to prioritize and implement green initiatives. Today, being a sustainable company is part of managing a company's risk. Investors prefer to invest in sustainable businesses. Employees prefer to work for sustainable companies. Consumers and customers seek out sustainable companies to do business with. Q: What led you to start GBB? From the start, Green Business Bureau has sought to change the world for the better through software that helps businesses become more sustainable. As a trusted authority in green business, we provide online solutions to help purpose-driven businesses of all sizes learn, prioritize, manage and certify green initiatives. Our customers use our sustainability framework and solutions to engage employees, manage their sustainability programs, and become greener. Q: What has the experience of building the business taught you? Every business can be purpose-driven and balance profit and purpose. Putting profit first at any cost will hurt your brand and hurt your business. Put your employees and the planet first. Q: Where do you see things headed for you in the next 5 years? GBB is adding Social Responsibility to the online assessment and planning tools which will give companies credit for community service, charity giving, employee fairness, and diversity. In 2022, GBB is launching a new green business directory and marketplace for members. GBB is also enhancing the personalized member “green business profile” page so that businesses can include articles, pictures, stories, and other content in addition to their EcoScorecard and list of completed initiatives. You can learn more about Green Business Bureau at GreenBusinessBureau.com.
Introduction
Who is Bill Zujewski?
Business
True Tamplin is a published author, public speaker, CEO of UpDigital, and founder of Finance Strategists.
True is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®), author of The Handy Financial Ratios Guide, a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, contributes to his financial education site, Finance Strategists, and has spoken to various financial communities such as the CFA Institute, as well as university students like his Alma mater, Biola University, where he received a bachelor of science in business and data analytics.
To learn more about True, visit his personal website or view his author profiles on Amazon, Nasdaq and Forbes.
