A New Generation of Businesses: Lessons from Industry Game-Changers

We are so excited to celebrate B Corp Month in March 2025, celebrating how Certified B Corps are making up a new generation of business.

So B Local Wellington is bringing together a panel of B Corps including Kowtow Clothing and Cogo, who have bucked the trend and done things differently than their industry. These leaders will talk about their business - what inspired them to be different, the struggles, the rewards, and their advice for organisations trying to change the status quo in their industry.

Where: Kiwibank Head Office on Customhouse Quay
When: 19th of March 2024, 5.30 - 7.30 PM

Our Speakers

Michele Wilson - Aotearoa Manager at B Lab

Michele Wilson (Tainui, Ngāti Pāoa) is a trailblazing entrepreneur and advocate for sustainability and mātauranga Māori. She is the co-founder and former CEO of AWWA Period Care, New Zealand’s first period-proof underwear brand.

Following a successful career in corporate law and her personal experience with postnatal depression after the birth of her second child, Michele embarked on a transformative journey reconnecting with her Māori heritage and traditional healing practices. This led to the creation of Frankie Apothecary, a rongoā-based skincare company, and later, AWWA Period Care, which integrates sustainability and mātauranga Māori into its mission and products.

Michele’s commitment to uplifting mātauranga Māori continues with her groundbreaking work on Ehoa, the world’s first indigenous period tracking app to incorporate Maramataka—the Māori lunar calendar—alongside menstrual cycle tracking. She is also leading a two-year research project exploring the societal and workplace impacts of disregarding menstrual cycles and advocating for the integration of cycle syncing into education systems and workplace structures.

In 2025, Michele will join B Lab as the Aotearoa Manager, where she continues her mission to harness business as a force for good, advancing equity, sustainability, and purpose-driven practices in New Zealand and beyond.

Tessa Bradley - Head of Product & Sustainability at Kowtow Clothing

Kowtow Clothing is a New Zealand-based fashion brand known for its commitment to ethical and sustainable practices. Founded in 2006, Kowtow exclusively uses organic, Fairtrade certified cotton and prioritises circular design principles to minimise environmental impact.

As the Head of Product & Sustainability at Kowtow, Tessa plays a crucial role in ensuring responsible sourcing, ethical labour practices, and innovative sustainability initiatives across the brand’s global supply chain. Tessa's work helps Kowtow maintain its reputation as a leader in sustainable fashion, driving positive change in the industry.

Brian Johnston - Chief Impact Officer at Cogo

Cogo is a carbon footprint management company that helps individuals and businesses to measure, understand and reduce their impact on the climate. Cogo does this through partnerships with some of the world's largest financial institutions to integrate leading carbon-tracking functionality into their banking and accounting experiences.

Brian is a sustainability leader with 20 years international experience working in and with businesses to build awareness and engagement on non-financial impacts like climate change. Since joining Cogo in 2020, Brian has built and strengthened Cogo’s approach to carbon footprinting for individuals and small businesses, and linking this into corporate footprinting and assurance needs. He also oversees Cogo’s Impact Model, climate programme, and sustainability certifications such as BCorp.

Register now for your tickets!

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