Leading with purpose: What it means to be a B Corp CEO

Being the CEO of a B Corp means leading with a broader definition of success. It’s about aligning stakeholders around a vision that balances commercial performance with measurable social and environmental impact. For us, B Corp wasn’t just a certification, it’s a chance to unlock new opportunities for growth, collaboration, and accountability. Indeed, it has required a shift in how we lead: tracking non-financial metrics with the same discipline as financial ones and recognising them as equally vital to our long-term success.

But what resonates most with me is the commitment to continuous improvement. One of our core values at Gerald Edelman is to be quality-obsessed, which means we are committed to delivering high-quality services and to build a business known for its standards. The only way to do that is to improve constantly, across all areas, without standing still. B Corp reinforces that mindset and challenges us to keep pushing forward.

B Corp and our 10-year vision

B Corp gives us a framework that supports our 10-year vision: to become a top-tier, differentiated accountancy firm known for producing the best advisors in the market, and to be seen as an aspirational brand for both clients and employees.

As mentioned above, a big part of that vision is about quality. We don’t just want to grow—we want to grow with integrity, with consistency, and with the highest standards. That means delivering great work, nurturing deep expertise, and giving clients an experience that sets a benchmark in our industry. B Corp reinforces that. It challenges us to live up to our vision and put quality into everything—not just the work we do, but how we show up as leaders, how we hire, and how we engage with the world around us.

In a crowded industry, B Corp helps us stand apart for the right reasons. It makes us think holistically, and because the certification requires ongoing transparency and improvement, it keeps us on our toes. We’re always being challenged, and as a result, we’re always getting better.

This year, we introduced our new firm values: we are quality obsessed, entrepreneurial, and collaborative. Those weren’t chosen lightly. I see B Corp as a key foundation that supports all three. It’s already shaping the way we hire. It does make recruitment harder at times, because we’re looking for people who truly align with our values, but long term, that alignment creates consistency, and that consistency builds trust with clients and other stakeholders.

Leading a B Corp

Leading a B Corp adds another layer of responsibility. It asks us at the very top level to look beyond profitability and think about our impact on employees, clients, communities, and the environment. That’s not always easy—especially in professional services, where commercial outcomes often dominate.

It also means tracking more than just financial KPIs. We must be just as serious about how we’re doing on things like employee retention, training and development, DEI progress, and sustainability. Getting buy-in on those metrics takes time, but when we pay attention to the full picture, we create a better place to work, and a better business overall.

A long-term commitment

As a CEO, I believe leadership today demands more than just delivering results. It’s about taking responsibility. B Corp helps define what that responsibility looks like. One thing that’s often misunderstood about B Corp is just how deep it goes. The B Impact Assessment doesn’t skim the surface; it holds up a mirror to your entire business. It asks you to examine how decisions are made, who’s making them, who’s in your supply chain and how you work with them, your environmental impact, your team’s wellbeing, and so much more. I can’t overstate the depth and rigour of the process. Becoming a B Corp isn’t a one-time achievement; it’s a commitment to ongoing accountability and improvement across every part of the business, for the long term.

By aligning with B Corp, we’re sending a clear message: we’re serious about doing high-quality work, in the right way, with the right people.