The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are specific targets that have been created to help address the most pressing issues globally. First set in 2015, they were designed to be a blueprint for achieving peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. These goals aim to transform the world by promoting sustainable development in areas such as eradicating poverty, reducing inequality, and combating climate change. In this article, we will look at the SDGs and how female entrepreneurs can do their part and contribute to making these goals a reality. Read on!
What Are the Sustainable Development Goals?
There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and each goal targets a specific global issue:
- No Poverty
- Zero Hunger
- Good Health and Well-being
- Quality Education
- Gender Equality
- Clean Water and Sanitation
- Affordable and Clean Energy
- Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- Reduced Inequalities
- Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Responsible Consumption and Production
- Climate Action
- Life Below Water
- Life On Land
- Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- Partnerships for the Goals
SDGs and your business
The SDG targets are ambitious and require the collaboration of governments, big corporations, and small businesses alike. The goals were designed to create change, foster innovation, spark different ways of thinking and promote doing business differently – in a more sustainable and ethical way.
Ultimately, we all need to become involved and do our bit to achieve the goal of creating a better world by 2030.
What Can You Do as a Female Entrepreneur?
But what exactly can you do as a female entrepreneur to help achieve these SDGs? A good place to start is to familiarise yourself with the goals. I encourage you to read more about the SDGs and think about how your small business can embrace these goals and play a part in building a more sustainable future.
And I know what you may be thinking – It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the SDGs and the challenge ahead. My suggestion is to start small, choose a goal that aligns with your values and embrace it!
For example, the work I do with Girl in Motion aligns with SDG number 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. This is the reason why I started Girl in Motion and the guiding force as I run my business. My mission is to empower women to start their own business, encouraging them to define and achieve success on their own terms.
To further support this goal, I provide fully funded scholarships to women experiencing hardship. I believe that every woman has the potential to do great things, and that with the right support, guidance and resources, anyone can become a successful business owner. Girl in Motion scholarships are designed to unlock that potential and help build a more equal world where every woman has the opportunity to be her own boss and shape her own future.
Embracing the SDG as a small business owner
Once you have selected the goal that is most aligned with your values, think about how you could use your business as a platform to help achieve this goal. Participating or even initiating projects with the SDGs in mind is one way to do so. You may do outreaches, environmental cleanups, forums to educate others and more.
Another way is to incorporate more ethical and sustainable practices into your business. You may opt to use environmentally-friendly packaging and methods when creating your products. You can choose to only use suppliers who embrace sustainable practices or promote social justice. Or you may also want to help educate your customers through your products or social media platforms about the SDGs and how they may contribute to the achievement of these goals.
The options are endless. You can get creative and think of different ways you can bring the SDGs to life within your business!
Making a positive impact and running a business go hand in hand
I genuinely believe that all businesses, no matter how small, can be drivers of change and contribute to making our global village a better place. I also believe that creating positive social, environmental, and cultural outcomes should become a normal part of doing business. By embracing the SDGs and keeping them at the forefront of our business activities we can create long lasting change that will make our global village a better place for generations to come.
My mission with Girl in Motion aligns with SDG number 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Which SDG aligns most closely with your values? Let me know in the comments!
Having a mentor and coach can help you achieve your goals faster and make an even bigger impact. I am Nat, founder of Girl in Motion, and a business coach who works with women that want genuine, honest and approachable coaching.I offer a proven system to help build a thriving online business in New Zealand or anywhere in the world. I genuinely believe that with the right resources, support and encouragement, every woman has the potential to become a successful business owner.