Zebras Unite: Ghent Chapter
Zebra companies seek to find solutions to real problems in our world while fixing existing failing social systems. Zebra companies seek to balance profit with purpose, supporting democracy while focusing on sharing power and resources.
By doing so, zebra companies create a fairer and more responsible society that helps and heals, by listening to the customers and communities they serve. Zebra companies, therefore, deserve all of our attention.
However, as long as we continue to view prosperity only in material terms, and as long as 95% of venture capitalists' investments go to companies that cannot be cataloged as zebra companies, zebras - which, by the way, are not infrequently led by women - will continue to be viewed far too often as underachievers.
There needs to be more success stories about zebra companies that demonstrate that "better for me" and "better for the world" can indeed go hand in hand. And there are. It's just that they don't get enough coverage in the traditional media. With the Re-story cooperation, we are ready to embrace their stories and spread them.
Resources
Re-story: Together we can turn the tide, if we see the future as a joint venture.
story ‘Zebra companies are crucial to changing the direction of the world’
“Have just been on your site and enjoyed the post on ‘Zebra’ companies.”
Upcoming Events
2 May 2022 - 24 June 2022: 6 to 8 students will work on the bachelor project ‘zebra companies’. In our opinion, there are already many companies in Belgium and the Netherlands that operate as a zebra company, but don't realise that they are a zebra company. Yet they set a good example from who we can learn a lot.
autumn 2022: Zebra Awards
Chapter Lead
Geert Degrande
I have five children. And I have read a lot about planetary boundaries in recent years.
Because I want to see my children and the grandchildren who may yet come evolve into happy people who are secure in life, and who can truly be human, I want to contribute to a world in which we treat each other and nature with more care, and in which I can help ensure that we have to worry less about the future.
That sounds grand and ambitious, but I just want to put my heart and soul into the three talents I have - listening, writing and connecting. To create a new story about education, economy and society that makes the old redundant and in which people can fully believe.
Elke Leyman
In Ghent, there is a saying: "Everyone is a jewel.". That's how I see it: there is a beautiful pearl in everyone. Some better wrapped or tucked away than others.
My personal mission is to bring up those pearls in people so that they will shine again. Because I believe that, if people can see their own pearl and that of others, they will more easily take up their space from love and respect and give and allow space to others without feeling unsafe themselves. In this way the world becomes a lot lighter!
From this personal mission I now want to grow a community. A place where people can put their inner strength, personal individuality and dreams together. A place where people help each other to get started and get in motion. A place to come home, to really meet each other and to experience and feel connection. That connection is necessary for substantial change.