Description

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This radical and rigorous rethinking of the traditional MBA program combines solid business principles with a commitment to environmental and social justice.

Many current and aspiring entrepreneurs are looking for a solid business education that also deeply aligns with their progressive values. Based on a course field-tested with over 500 students, this book fills that gap. It covers traditional topics such as business strategy and structure, finance, marketing, recruiting, and branding from a socially just and environmentally regenerative perspective. And it also touches on topics such as strategies to reverse climate change, nonviolent communication, self-managing organizations, locally self-reliant economies, racial justice, and more. 

Traditional MBA programs are based on outdated principles that were developed during the Industrial Revolution—and they can be hugely expensive. Sustainable MBA programs, while laudable, are too incremental to make a sufficient impact. The Next Economy MBA is for entrepreneurs seeking to make business an active force for good. It draws on the authors’ experience of working with over 300 social enterprises, from small organizations like Winona’s Hemp and Heritage Farm to household names like Ben & Jerry’s and Patagonia.

Our current economy, what the authors call the “Business as Usual Economy,” has created a massive wealth gap, a climate crisis, racial division, and needless housing, food, and healthcare shortages. This book shows how businesses can pave the way to a Next Economy that meets the basic needs of all people and restores and protects the planetary ecosystem.

About the Author

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LIFT Economy is an impact consulting firm whose mission is to create, model, and share a racially just, regenerative, and locally self-reliant economy that works for the benefit of all life. This book is written by the partners and worker-owners at LIFT. Erin Axelrod specializes in accelerating the spread of climate-benefiting and land-based businesses. Kevin Bayuk merges his experience in business with his experience in permaculture to help businesses care for people while enhancing the earth. Shawn Berry combines his hands-on experience as an entrepreneur with community organizing and systems theory. Ryan Honeyman helps companies achieve B Corp certification and is the coauthor of The B Corp Handbook. Phoenix Soleil is a teacher of nonviolent communication and mindfulness.

Praise For…

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“If you are thinking about getting a traditional MBA—don’t. Read this book first. You’ll be 10 times better prepared for the world to come at a fraction of the cost.   
—Frederick Laloux, author of Reinventing Organizations
 
“If business is to help create an economy that meets the needs of all people within the means of the living planet, then the redesign of business itself becomes an essential and exhilarating task. Any MBA student or entrepreneur wanting to be part of this transformation should read this radical, practical, and inspiring book.”          
—Kate Raworth, author of Doughnut Economics, co-founder of Doughnut Economics Action Lab, and Senior Associate at Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute
 
“It is a time of transformation, ecologically, economically, and socially. This book provides a set of strategies and thinking to create the just economy of the future. We call that the 8th fire.”
—Winona LaDuke, Anishinaabe author and activist, founder of Winona's Hemp & Heritage Farm, and Executive Director, Honor the Earth
 
"Now more than ever, business leaders and entrepreneurs are challenged to lead companies that not only mitigate the adverse effects of capitalism but contribute to building a new economic paradigm grounded in racial, social, and environmental justice. The Next Economy MBA is essential reading for anyone who imagines a future economy that truly serves the long-term interests of people and planet.”
—Rodney Foxworth, CEO of Common Future

“Every entrepreneur and/or aspiring entrepreneur interested in creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive economy should read this book.”           
—Rose Marcario, Venture Partner at ReGen Ventures and former CEO of Patagonia, Inc.
 
“We are living through a period of massive change. The old paradigm is dying, and a new way of being with people and planet is being born. How do we not just survive, but thrive through this challenging time? How do we meet the moment with creativity and abundance? The Next Economy MBA lights the way, with a much-needed guide for creating thriving, democratic companies, where everyone's needs are met, and values are at the center of every choice.”
—Autumn Brown, Worker-Owner at the Anti-Oppression Resource and Training Alliance
 
“As more people turn toward solidarity models for new businesses they are often at a loss for where to get started and how to get in-depth frameworks for this growing field. Now entrepreneurs and organizers seeking practical building blocks for their co-ops, social enterprises, and community projects need look no further than The Next Economy MBA.”
—Esteban Kelly, Executive Director of the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives
 
“It is no longer business as usual. A new economy requires a new business model, tools, resources and entrepreneurism. The Next Economy MBA helps show the way.” 
—Rebecca Adamson, founder of the First Nations Development Institute and First Peoples Worldwide
 
“I love the central question of this book: ‘What would a business education look like if the goal was to redesign the economy for the benefit of all life?’ It’s the most urgent question every MBA faces, and these authors offer the right answers, most importantly: sharing ownership and democratizing governance. Bravo!”  
—Marjorie Kelly, Distinguished Senior Fellow with The Democracy Collaborative. Co-author of The Making of a Democratic Economy and Wealth Supremacy
 
“In my writings, I describe the transformation from a degenerative Death Economy to a regenerative Life Economy. The Next Economy MBA provides the information needed to be a leader in this transition that is essential if we are to survive on a planet we will recognize.
—John Perkins, New York Times Bestselling Author of Confessions of an Economic Hitman
 
“The Next Economy MBA is essential for those who want to deploy humanity’s hard-earned, long-honed business skills to meet our daily needs—while restoring the commons to health and giving the planet a chance to breathe.”          
—Vincent Stanley, Director of Philosophy at Patagonia, Inc.
 
“This far reaching primer—brimming with inspiration from across the globe—provides practical guidance for business leaders committed to building a more just and regenerative economy for all.”      
—Aaron Tanaka, Executive Director, Center for Economic Democracy
 
“The Next Economy is multi-faceted and emergent. This book helps you better understand what is happening now and for what is coming in the future.”           
—Nwamaka Agbo, CEO of the Kataly Foundation and Managing Director of the Restorative Economies Fund
 
“This book is THE antidote to our toxic economy. As one of many ‘midwives’ actively working to disintermediate the ‘Business As Usual economy,’ the LIFT team does a masterful job of making sense of our progress and the many opportunities ahead.”           
—Lisa Kleissner, Impact Investor and co-founder of KL Felicitas Foundation, Toniic, and Hawaii Investment Ready
 
“If you’re one of the millions of American local business people who cannot afford business school, The Next Economy MBA is the perfect alternative. The LIFT Economy team distills the critical lessons needed to design, operate, and grow a business that aligns with your values and contributes to community well-being.”         
—Michael Shuman, Adjunct Professor for Bard’s Green MBA Program and author of Put Your Money Where Your Life Is
 
“Never in the history of humanity has the role of the regenerative entrepreneur been more vital. Wise business innovation can and must play a leading role in redefining the purpose of business: contributing to the creative and positive evolution of life on this sacred planet. The Next Economy MBA is for those seeking practical skills and tools to facilitate this exciting journey.       
—John Fullerton, founder of Capital Institute