In the Spotlight: Scott Koloms

Morning, friends! Evan here.

For today’s episode we sat down with Scott Koloms. He is the founder of Canopy Kentucky, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the Good Business Movement in Kentucky. They support businesses in making a positive impact on society and the environment by offering certification, education, and resources. Canopy's programs focus on guiding companies to incorporate ethical practices and sustainability into their operations, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and responsible business community.

What We Discussed:

What it looks like to create a business culture that fosters a positive impact on society and why that matters.

This conversation really hammers home why striving to build a business that promotes social impact is not only a feel good decision but also a profitable one. Scott argues that stakeholder capitalism is the truly sustainable model compared to shareholder capitalism. Many consider this to be a heated debate, but when framed correctly, there is no debate. For profit businesses are the greatest way to influence society and when done correctly, they can be extremely profitable and impactful. A classic example is Salesforce.

What You Can Learn by Listening:

1. What does it mean to create a culture of impact? We all have to get up each day and work to earn a living. We all want to make a positive impact on the world. When you can marry a job with a culture of impact, people work harder, the business makes more money, and the impact that business has on the world grows.

2. How can social impact and profitability coexist? In today’s world, people’s beliefs are so polarized and social enterprise become a topic of debate. DEI, ESG, and many other movements and terms have been politicized so Scott made it clear that Canopy is on a mission to promote responsible profits regardless of the political climate. He argues its not political, its just profitable.

3. Clear and tangible examples of decisions that lead to a healthy culture. Scott has been running and growing Facilities Management Services for over 20 years and has built a culture that stands out in his industry and wins them business. He walked us through several of those cultural decisions and their impact.

That’s all we’ve got for you this week! Thanks for reading. Don’t forget to forward if you enjoyed this one!

LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube | MiddleTech.com

Real Estate more your speed? Check our sister brand, DevelopLex.