What sex, soap and alcohol taught me about making an impact | Myriam Sidibe

Doing Good is Good for Business

1. The Main Idea in a Nutshell

   • Companies can actually make more money and be more successful when they focus on solving real-world problems, not just on earning a profit.

2. The Key Takeaways

   • Profit with a Purpose: A business can be designed to help people and the planet, and that can actually make it more profitable, not less.
   • Teamwork is Everything: To solve huge problems like disease or violence, companies need to team up with everyone—governments, charities, and even their competitors.
   • Real Change Takes Time: Making a genuine impact isn't a quick publicity stunt; it's a long-term commitment that requires patience and dedication.
   • Fun Facts & Key Numbers:
     • Fact: Over 1 million lives could be saved every year just by getting people to wash their hands with soap.
     • Fact: The Lifebuoy soap company successfully taught 1 billion people better handwashing habits.
     • Fact: In South Africa, a shocking 1 in 3 women face violence from men.

3. Important Quotes, Explained

• Quote: "> Your business models are failing you. Your business models are failing society, and they're failing us."

  • What it Means: The old way of running a business—where the only goal is to make money—is broken. It's not helping companies, and it's definitely not helping the world solve its biggest problems.
  • Why it Matters: This is the speaker's main challenge to big companies. She's saying they need to completely rethink why they exist and what their goals are.

• Quote: "> Soap on shelves doesn't save lives, behavior change does."

  • What it Means: Just having a product available isn't enough. To solve a problem, you have to actually get people to change their habits and use the product in the right way.
  • Why it Matters: This shows that the real work isn't just selling something; it's about education and making a real-world impact. The soap company didn't just sell soap; they taught an entire generation how to stay healthy.

4. The Main Arguments (The 'Why')

   • In a simple, numbered list, here’s how the speaker makes her case:
     1. First, the author argues that the world's problems are getting bigger, but traditional help (like charity and aid) is shrinking. So, businesses need to step in and help fill that gap.
     2. Next, she gives powerful examples to prove her point. She talks about a soap company (Lifebuoy) that saved kids' lives by teaching handwashing and became a billion-dollar brand. She also mentions a beer company (Carling Black Label) that fought violence against women and became more popular with both men and women.
     3. Finally, she points out that this works because it's a win-win. The company succeeds, and society gets help with a serious problem. When you create value for both business and people, real change can happen.

5. Questions to Make You Think

   • Q: Can any company really do this, or does it only work for simple products like soap?

   • A: The speaker says her plan can work for any business. She uses soap and beer as examples because they are connected to big social issues (health and violence), but she believes the core ideas—committing for the long term, working with others, and creating value for society—can be applied to any company.

   • Q: Why did some companies try to "do good" and then just give up?

   • A: The speaker calls it a "purpose gold rush." A bunch of companies rushed to look like they cared about social issues, but they gave up when they realized it was hard work. She also says some brands became afraid of being criticized for being "woke" (a term used for people who are seen as overly sensitive about social justice issues).

6. Why This Matters & What's Next

   • Why You Should Care: This talk shows that you don't have to choose between having a successful career and making a difference in the world. The businesses of the future might be the ones that do both. It also means that as a customer, you have the power to support companies that are trying to make a positive impact.
   • Learn More: Check out the story of TOMS Shoes on YouTube. It was one of the first famous "buy-one-give-one" companies. For every pair of shoes they sold, they gave a pair to a child in need. It's a simple, powerful example of the ideas in this talk.