How might we design our businesses to support an economically just future?
Equitable Business Incubator
A Collective Investigation in Economic Justice
If you're reading this, you know that something is seriously wrong with 'business as usual'.
You're likely already asking questions around creating a more just business—how to take better care of your people, how to handle the money that's flowing through your business, how to live out your personal values through your business...
And at the same time, you are probably also experiencing the frustration that comes with bucking the system:
- Do I have to choose between putting my own oxygen mask on and creating more equity?
- Can I find ways to connect and design my business that support myself, as well as my community?
- Are there examples and models out there already so I don't have to hack it alone?
The good news is that the businesses we run are microcosms that allow us to experiment with and practice better, more just worlds.
As small economic engines, we can choose practices that move us, collectively, in the direction of justice.
During this 7-week course we will examine our own stories & contexts, the economic system of Capitalism that we operate within, and then collectively workshop practices for change and learn how to translate intentions into action.
Because we're going against the grain, we do this work together. Though our businesses are unique, and the paths and practices we choose will be unique, we will work together with a shared purpose of creating a more equitable world.
This fall cohort will support seasoned leaders who are both interested in building equitable businesses themselves, and who want to become more fluent in leading others in the same: you are a coach, community leader, consultant or advisor (or leader of such a company) who work with other businesses or individuals. This incubator is not for those new to business or just starting out.
If we only talk about personal healing and mindset shifts, we’re ignoring the larger systems.
If we only talk about the larger systems, we miss an opportunity for self-growth and healing.
If we don’t also become financially literate, we won’t be able to effectively change the system we’re in.
Our work is all three parts.
AGENDA
Session 1: Our Money Stories
During week one will dive into our own stories and mindsets around money. Where we come from, our families, lineages, backgrounds, privileges and experiences of oppression all impact our relationship to money. We need to understand our own contexts and stories to be able to understand how we interact with the larger systems, how those stories show up in our businesses, and to create the awareness needed to make changes.
Session 2: The System
During week two we will zoom out to look at the larger economic system we're all swimming in, to understand the characteristics of Capitalism and how they show up in our businesses. We will investigate the question "Can a business be anti-capitalist?" and look to concrete examples of what that looks like.
Sessions 3-5: Incubating an Equitable Business
Through tailored tools, lessons, and resources, you will work on a roadmap for change within your business as we work to translate intention into action. We will together explore and discuss practices and models for building a more equitable world. Kate will provide structure, guidance, and resources from Wanderwell's library to support individual planning and experiments.
Topics may include:
- Creative Financing & Pricing Models
- Internal Practices for Care ( taking care of yourself & your team )
- Equitable Business Model Design
- Cooperative & Democratic Practices
- Building an Ecosystem of Resources
- Frameworks for Redistribution & Reparations
- The Revolution Must be Budgeted!
Create Your Version Of An Equitable Business
By the end of the seven weeks you will have gained fluency in the complex questions and mindsets to speak to building an equitable business.
While everyone will implement these ideas differently, here are some of the changes you might make in your business after taking this course:
- Rework your team compensation structure to better reflect your values
- Create visible public commitments for justice for your website
- Re-design your services & pricing to include accessible options to reach new communities
- Create a reparations & redistribution plan for your profit
FORMAT
Live gatherings will take place on Wednesdays at 2:30pm EST and will last about 90 minutes. Classes will include a mix of teaching and facilitated discussion.
FOR YOU
- You are a leader who is both interested in working on equitable practices in your own business, and who wants to become more fluent in leading you clients & community: you are a coach, community leader, consultant or advisor (or leader of such a company) who work with other businesses or individuals.
- You are somewhere on the spectrum between curious and committed to economic justice.
- You'd like to experiment, in a group setting, with ways to create new models for being in business.
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
- Five live classes taught by Kate.
- Two Q&A Coworking sessions: space to ask questions and/or quietly work alongside others.
- Weekly emails with topical readings, resources, and worksheets with reflective prompts.
- An assigned accountability buddy, if you choose to have one, for further support and discussion outside of class times.
- Additional resources, tools, and customized teaching tailored to the needs of the group.
- Option of adding two 1:1 consulting sessions with Kate to support your work and your business.
Questions? Email hello @ wanderwellconsulting.com
I could not recommend this work highly enough. It's been super valuable in processing new ways of thinking and coming up with creative strategies to work outside the box, towards new definitions of success. Thank you Kate (and my brilliant cohort whose creative thinking got my own stirring!). - Sarah Hummel, Formation Sauna
About Wanderwell and how we work.
Additional logistics & terms:
- You will receive an email to confirm your registration and an intake form prior to course start so that we can learn a bit more about your interests and business.
- Space is limited. All enrollment for the course ends Friday, October 2nd.
– The amount of time you spend working on your own is up to you, however we recommend setting aside at least an hour weekly for independent work.
– Recordings of the lecture portion will be made available. The recordings and worksheets are yours to keep. Please do not copy or share them outside of the course.
– We will do our best to accommodate accessibility needs, including providing transcripts of the teaching portion of the course by request. Please email us.
– Registration is per person; if you have partners or teammates who will be working alongside you, please email us at hello@wanderwellconsulting.com so we can discuss the best way to make the work accessible for teams while honoring our fee structure.
– Due to the nature of this course and the content provided, refunds are not offered.