To close off my final blog as part of the Marketing Sustainability class, I would like to discuss the simple concept of power for good. Recently, an in class presenter (Joel Solomon*) discussed how the millennial generation will inherit a great amount of wealth and how the decisions we make regarding that wealth will impact the world. From his perspective, he inherited wealth from his parents. He additionally described that his father explained to him to not waste the opportunity. 

So at its core, use the power you have to influence matters in a positive way. Every person can debate what “Good” means to them and how they would go about using power. This helps as it spreads out the area of impact to different areas of need. The crucial part to this and where it ties into business is that when these people inherit roles as senior business executives or corporate leaders, the power becomes much more complicated in its use. For example, a Walmart CEO could understand that Walmart itself may be an integral part of the consumer system and consumers enjoy the service they provide. However, he may also understand how Walmart drives out local business and how the products themselves don not have a positive effect on the supply chain or product cycle. (previous blog post talked about Modern Consumerism)

What is key about this situation is that he could use his power to donate corporately and privately to the charities or issues of his choice. Although, he could also try influence the model of the business to become more sustainable. He could incorporate a section of Walmart to local vendors in which the products may be similar but they have come locally or more sustainably than global products.

People in positions of power in which they can influence a massive change in culture have an ultimate right to think positively about the future from social, environment, and economic perspectives.

Joels Website: https://www.joelsolomon.org/ *