Shabana Siraj MBE WBE’s Post

What’s an award worth these days? In the age of participation trophies and endless accolade inflation, it seems like everyone has a shiny statue to show off. But let’s be honest, do these awards truly represent excellence, or are they just another checkbox in the race for recognition? Don’t get me wrong, being acknowledged feels great, but when every other post is about yet another ‘industry award,’ it makes you wonder about the real value behind these honors. Are they driving genuine innovation and setting industry standards, or simply boosting egos and marketing campaigns? Maybe it’s time we shift our focus from collecting accolades to creating real impact. After all, true success isn’t measured by the number of trophies on your shelf, but by the difference you make and the legacy you leave behind. #IndustryThoughts #RealImpact #BeyondAwards

Most weeks I try to take time to reflect- what’s going well, what’s not, and what to work on. A few weeks ago, I wrote in my Reflection Journal the word "Congratulations", and listed the highlights for the year, and here's the thing...   In just listing highlights off the top of my head, winning the Supreme Award for the David Business Awards came in at No. 11 (out of 12). I wasn't ranking the highlights in order of importance- just listing them as they came to mind (and I am certainly incredibly grateful (and to be honest, still shocked) at having won that accolade).   My point is this- in your position, in your business, in your life, there will have been highlights that are worth noting and reflecting on (and even celebrating). Awards aren’t a “thing” in and of themselves- they are recognition of a whole bunch of good “things”. No doubt many of the other David Awards Applicants have many, many aspects to their businesses that are worth recognizing and celebrating, whether they won an award or not.   It's great to stop and consider what’s gone well this year. It’s worth sharing that with family, co-workers, your team. The chapter of 2024 is about to open with a wave of new challenges (both seen and unforeseen), and once it does, the opportunity to stop and reflect on the “wins” of this year will be gone.   I encourage you to do this, especially if it’s been a tough year. Like you I’ve had challenges, and this exercise is not, in any way, a strategy to avoid tackling the tough issues, but it is a great platform from which to tackle them.   Well done on doing your best again this year.

Upcoming event, in-person in London. Useful for folks who are part of/heading to B-corp but also others in parallel initiatives (e.g. certification, benchmarking). B-corp has created lots of shifts, and yet I also find it's limits frustrating. Glad to see that the agenda here includes: "The Future of the B Corp Movement and driving the change we need to the economic system"

Curious to know more about the B Corp™ movement? 🤔 If you’d like to discover more, here are two events that could be of interest… Firstly, on Tuesday, June 11th, from 6 pm until 9 pm, my fellow Kent B Local Co-Chairs - Sally Burtt-Jones, Josh Pitman, Louise Vickerman and I are hosting an event at The Foundry, Canterbury, 🍻where you can hear from local, certified B Corp companies about their motivations and experiences of becoming B Corp certified. After joining Jon Mills for a tour of his fantastic distillery, 🥃 you’ll have the opportunity to hear from Lucy Jeffrey, Founder of Barekind, Paul Gannaway, Director of BETTERIDGE & MILSOM LIMITED, Maria Soleil ☀️, Founder of Soleil Marketing | B Corp™, and Helen Bogie, Director of Marketing and Business from Kreston Reeves who will talk about their respective journeys and be ready to answer your questions. You’ll also hear from Sally, who will discuss the benefits of being a B Corp, how to make the most of it, and where to begin your own B Corp journey. Then, on Tuesday, 25th June, at 9.30 am, I'll deliver a one-hour webinar, “How to Be More B" – An Introduction to B Corp™. Everyone is welcome to attend this Growing Kent & Medway event, where we will explore the process, expectations, time frames and financial commitment of being a B Corp. I’ll discuss how adopting a stakeholder engagement model with high standards of social and environmental responsibility can create a business that is not only impactful for people and the planet but can also give businesses a competitive edge. I’ll be sharing information about: - How to become B Corp™ certified 🦸🏻♀️ - The challenges, benefits, and opportunities of being a B Corp 🧗🏻♀️ - How to use the B Corp framework to help your business become a leader in sustainable and regenerative business practices. 🌱 Both events are FREE to attend. I’ll pop the links to the book below, but if you have any questions, please feel free to message me or comment below. Hope to see you at one or both events! 😊 #bcorp #businessforgood #socialimpact #environment #bcorporation

Winning and displaying company awards can be a real game changer for companies who want to showcase what makes them great in a focused, third-party endorsed and “official” way. Learn more about why awards are important for your company and how to leverage them to your company’s advantage 👇 Thread 1/6 #MegafestBusinessAwards #midlandsbusinessawards #MegafestBusinessMagazine

Success is NOT defined by the amount of... - trophies you are awarded. - limelight you receive. - features you have. Rather, It's from - the kind of value you provide. - the number of people you have provided for. - the number of problems you have solved. - the change you have created. Build something not just for scale. Build something meaningful. Build something with intention. The intention of CHANGE. #business #change

Success is NOT defined by the amount of... - trophies you are awarded. - limelight you receive. - features you have. Rather, It's from - the kind of value you provide. - the number of people you have provided for. - the number of problems you have solved. - the change you have created. Build something not just for scale. Build something meaningful. Build something with intention. The intention of CHANGE. #business #change

"Navigating Awards and Credibility in Business “ Hi fellow business owners! I kindly need your honest opinions on something. I've recently received messages from over 10 organizations informing me that I've been nominated for their awards schemes. While it's flattering to be recognized, I'm skeptical about the credibility of these awards. - Have you received similar nominations? - Are these awards genuinely prestigious or just a revenue stream for the organizers? - Would accepting such an award positively impact my business, or is it just a vanity metric? How do you evaluate the credibility of awards and nominations? Do you think they truly recognize excellence or are they just a marketing ploy? Would appreciate your thoughts! #awards #credibility #businessowners #events

Thinking about entering our awards but unsure which category suits you best? Here are some tips! There are 19 categories in 2024 and a special judges award, picked from all the selected finalists. 🌟Choosing the right category to enter requires careful consideration of your strengths, achievements, and goals. Pay attention to the criteria and descriptions provided for each category. 🌟Consider how winning in a particular category will be perceived by your target audience and existing clients. 🌟Assess whether winning in a specific category aligns with your broader business objectives and strategic goals. Will it help you gain visibility, attract new clients, or strengthen partnerships? 🌟Once you've selected the category(s) you want to enter, carefully review the entry requirements, read the questions, and note the deadline is 6th June 2024 at 6pm. 🌟Ensure you provide compelling evidence and examples to support your entry. 🌟You can select up to two categories to enter, we suggest one for your industry type and one general such as Best Customer Service, Best Solopreneur, Best Green Business, Most Inspiring, Best Business or Businesswoman of the Decade. All our entries are judged by a panel of business experts and all selected finalists win either a Silver or Gold Award, presented at our Gala Awards Night on 11th October at The Hilton Syon Park. So what are you waiting for? Visit https://lnkd.in/dmPjcfHr to start your entry! PS. If you have any questions, please do reach out to us —we're here to help! #BBWA2024 #BestBusinessWomenAwards #Awards #AwardWinningWomen #NationalBusinessWomenAwards

Excited to share that Brian @wayfinder is your go-to guide for individual and team success. Whether you're aiming for personal growth or steering your entire team in the right direction, Brian has the expertise to propel you forward. Let's navigate the path to success together! #Wayfinder #SuccessPartner "There are only two ways a manager can impact an employee's output: motivation and training. If you are not training, then you are neglecting half the job."