The Launchpad by Second Day

Overall estimated read time: 14 minutes

Last updated: July 2021

Many people are drawn to the idea of using business to do good in the world, for good reason! The upside is clear一corporations have an outsized financial imprint on the world, and so making that imprint more socially responsible could be a huge deal. No matter what happens in the social or public sector, the private sector will be the largest employer and environmental player in society for the foreseeable future. If that power can be harnessed for a social good, then real, lasting changes could be made to the fate of humankind. No big deal. 

While the allure of working towards social impact through the private sector is appealing, there are numerous potential pitfalls as well. Thousands of people have tried to change corporations for the good and end up being changed themselves. Corporate incentives are difficult to navigate or reject, and it is easy to lose yourself in a race for advancement or total disillusionment. 

This overview guide highlights some areas in particular where we see real potential for having a positive social impact in the for-profit context. Specifically, we outline eight primary areas of corporate impact. This is just the tip of the iceberg一there are numerous links to Second Day resources throughout the guide to dive deeper based on your interests.