How we choose to work and do business
Those who select, distribute power. Anyone working in a sector largely funded by public resources carries a particular responsibility. That responsibility should be visible in how decisions are made.Since 2018, DDJ& has been part of the global B Corp movement—a community of companies that are legally, measurably, and publicly accountable for their social impact. This is not window dressing. It is the core of how we operate: fair, transparent, and forward-looking.
DDJ& is a headhunting and recruitment firm specialising in leadership, entrepreneurship, and multiple perspectives in the cultural and public sector. We support organisations in selecting board members, directors, and supervisors—people who shape public institutions and cultural infrastructure. That is precisely why we have been a certified B Corporation since 2018.
B Corp is an international movement of companies that see profit not as an end in itself, but as a means to create positive impact. The certification is issued by B Lab, the non-profit organisation that develops global standards to reshape the economic system—so that it works for all stakeholders, not just shareholders. More than 8,000 companies across 90+ countries are now certified. They are assessed through the B Impact Assessment: an independent and transparent framework that measures performance across governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. It is not a statement of intent, but a structural commitment to accountability and transparency.
The mission: reshaping the economic system
B Lab’s mission is clear: to transform the global economy so that it works for everyone. At the heart of its Theory of Change is the belief that businesses play a key role in addressing societal challenges such as inequality, climate change, and exclusion—not as a side effort, but as an integral part of how they operate. This means:
- clear, measurable standards for impact
- public transparency on performance
- a global network working together to establish new norms for business
B Corp is not a marketing badge. It is an internationally recognised framework that requires companies to continuously assess and improve their impact.
Not just sustainable—fair and inclusive
B Corp is often associated with sustainability, but the movement goes further. Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion are an explicit part of both the standards and the broader agenda. The movement recognises that economic systems can reinforce inequality—and calls on companies to actively contribute to fairer access to opportunity, leadership, and ownership.
This includes fair pay, inclusive decision-making, addressing systemic bias, and strengthening underrepresented groups. Economic justice and environmental sustainability are not separate—they are deeply connected.
A movement with real impact
The strength of the B Corp movement lies in its visible system impact. The B Impact Assessment is now widely used as a practical framework for measuring impact and has contributed to a shift from traditional ESG thinking towards integrated stakeholder governance.
In several countries, legislation around so-called benefit corporations has been introduced, allowing companies to formally include societal value in decision-making. Large international companies as well as fast-growing scale-ups have joined, influencing global supply chains and investment flows. Public score disclosure has made transparency not a promise, but a verifiable reality.
The movement continues to grow and has become a recognised international voice in the debate on stakeholder capitalism and responsible business. Economic and social value are no longer seen as opposing forces, but as mutually reinforcing.
Why this matters to DDJ&
For us, this goes to the heart of recruitment and leadership. It raises questions such as: Who gets access to power and resources? How fair are our selection criteria? And which assumptions shape who is considered “fit”?
As a firm working in the cultural and public sector, we believe leadership is key to systemic change. That is why we design selection processes that are clear, accountable, and inclusive—less dependent on networks and convention, and more focused on quality, perspective, and plurality. Our B Corp score (98.4 at our most recent recertification) is not an end in itself. It is a signal that our values, governance, and daily practice are aligned—and something we take pride in. And B Corp keeps us sharp in our decisions:
- on impact
- on fairness
- on inclusion
- on long-term value
For DDJ&, this is not a formality. It shapes how we work, how we make decisions, and how we see our role in the sector. Clients, candidates, and partners can expect us not only to meet this standard, but to actively apply it—in our own choices and in every process we support.
