In our final episode of Season One, we’re flipping the script and interviewing none other than Anne Richardson, Principal and Media Director of Richardson Media Group.
In this peek behind the curtain, we’ll hear from Anne about RMG’s origin story, why she founded Richardson Media Group almost 7 years ago, the true inspiration for the BSuite podcast, and the plans she’s making for Season Two!
Thank you for tuning in!
KEY TAKEAWAYS
How a pandemic inspired a B Corp certification journey.
The decision to apply for our B Corporation status stemmed from the discord of 2020 and a general feeling that we needed to stand up for our beliefs and present our values to the world in a more formal way. As a marketing agency and media planning team we felt a responsibility to consider the different challenges that advertising and media platforms have introduced, specifically in the ways they collect and share user data. Being well-informed, asking tons of questions and helping our clients make the right decisions for their brands is how we see our role.
Anne had learned about the B Corp certification years ago, but didn’t really know how to approach it until she joined the marketing committee at a nonprofit organization called New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility.
At the virtual 2020 NHBSR Spring Conference she was listening to some guest speakers talk about the B Impact program at UNH and decided to apply as a business partner. The experience working with the team of student advisors was incredibly meaningful. We encourage everyone to listen to Episode 9 to learn more about that experience.
To date, we are only 4 points away from attaining our B Corp certification and we expect we’ll be able to achieve that lofty status in 2021.
How business and bees led to the BSuite Podcast.
Anne describes having always loved listening to podcasts. It’s a powerful medium and a great place to learn and find new audiences. Without a doubt, she always knew she wanted to start her own podcast someday.
The “B” in BSuite connects to two meanings: “business” and “bees”.
Three years ago, Anne lost her best friend to cancer. Coincidentally, this friend’s maiden and married name began with a “B.”
Before she passed away, Anne’s friend asked if there was an animal that could be their touchstone – an animal that would remind Anne of her. After a lot of thought Anne landed on the honey bee – because of the ‘B’ connection and the fact that she loves what bees represent.
After that loss, Anne began seeing bees everywhere! She took a beekeeping class last winter and is making plans to become an amateur beekeeper in the spring.
We were tested in 2020, but we remain bullish on 2021.
2020 wreaked havoc in so many ways. Some businesses didn’t make it and there’s not a day that goes by that we don’t think about how fortunate we are. We are grateful that we pushed through and that we were able to get scrappy and creative. One example of this was finding a tenant to sublet a portion of our downtown Portsmouth office space when we realized we would be working from home for the foreseeable future.
Despite the sleepless nights we all had in 2020, our goal is to maintain a positive attitude, stay bullish, and not be afraid to keep moving forward. Keeping an eye on each other and giving back with compassion is always the best way to be.
What you can expect next.
Season Two is in the works and we’re excited to invite companies to the podcast who have earned or are in the process of earning their B Corporation status.
Thank you for tuning in and supporting the podcast! If you like what you’ve heard on the BSuite, we hope you’ll subscribe and leave us a rating and review.
SOME QUESTIONS BRENDA ASKS ANNE:
- What is the origin story of Richardson Media Group?
- What does a partnership model look like, and why is Richardson Media Group organized in this way?
- Why did you decide to pursue B Corp certification and why should more marketing agencies consider it, too
NOTABLE QUOTE FROM ANNE:
“Change is good. We should constantly seek a higher ground and push ourselves into uncomfortable places with the goal of being better humans on the Earth.”
LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED
Episode 9: Talking B Corp Certification with the UNH B Impact Team
Episode 7: How Bees Inspire Art Activism, with Matt Willey
Episode 8: Pollinator Awareness and Social Change with Matt Wille
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