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News > Reflections from a Morning with Belgian B Corp CEOs

Reflections from a Morning with Belgian B Corp CEOs

24/06/2025

48 CEOs and senior leaders from the Belgian and Luxembourg B Corp community gathered in Brussels for a powerful morning of insight, reflection, and renewed purpose. Here’s what we learned.

  • Emma Van Zundert Sr. Community Coordinator Belgium B Lab Benelux
B Corp CEO Belgium Gathering

“We Have What We Need”: Keynote by Prof. Valérie Trouet

“We have all the knowledge, capital and technology needed. The only thing missing is societal and political will.”

With this striking statement, climate scientist Prof. Valérie Trouet opened the gathering, setting the tone for a morning centered on bold leadership and climate action.

Trouet, a renowned dendrochronologist and professor at the University of Arizona, delivered a keynote that was both scientifically rigorous and emotionally resonant. Drawing from the latest IPCC report, she reminded us that the facts are no longer up for debate: climate change is real, human-driven, and accelerating. What’s more: we do have the necessary tools (knowledge, capital, and technology) to mitigate its impact. Yet, one critical piece remains missing: societal and political will.

But she also shared a hopeful twist:

  • 90% of people worldwide support stricter government climate policies
  • 85% embrace pro-climate social norms
  • 70% are willing to financially support climate solutions, including the US

So why aren’t we moving faster? Trouet pointed to a gap between private conviction and public expression. Many feel alone in their concerns, even when most of us agree.

This is where leadership matters. When businesses speak up and show what’s possible, they normalize action and foster momentum. Trouet closed with a call to solidarity: “Build community, spark awareness, and lead by example”.

The B Corp Community’s Role: A Moment of Local Momentum

Tessa van Soest, Executive Director at B Lab Benelux, opened the morning by acknowledging the broader societal challenges: declining trust, polarization, and political gridlock. Yet, she also reminded the room of a powerful truth: B Corps are a signal of trust in uncertain times. B Corp Certification, she emphasized, is not just a label. It’s a roadmap to impact, a community of changemakers, and a signal of trust in uncertain times.

Emma Van Zundert, B Lab’s Belgium Coordinator, followed with a powerful update on the local B Corp ecosystem:

  • 129 certified B Corps in Belgium as of June 2025 — a +26% growth in one year
  • The community has more than doubled since the last CEO gathering in 2022
  • Flagship initiatives like the Beyond Summit, the Nature Governance toolkit, and a first gathering of B Corps in Wallonia signals a growing ecosystem
  • Brand awareness is also on the rise: 1 in 4 Belgians now recognize B Corp.
  • And thanks to a new study by Bubka and the University of Ghent, we now know: B Corps top the Responsible Business Index across nearly every sector.

She also spotlighted several key milestones:

  • Beyond Summit returns on 4 December at The Merode
  • A new 8-week bootcamp is launching to help B Corps prepare for the evolving standards
  • B Local Wallonia launches on 4 July, expanding the movement in southern Belgium

A Walk in the Forest: Making Space for Reflection and Connection

After a breakfast of thoughtful conversations and renewed energy, the group ventured into the Sonian Forest. This quiet moment in nature offered space to pause, process, and connect.

As one participant shared:

“The forest walk gave space to let Valérie’s words sink in. It reminded me why we do what we do — and why doing it together matters even more.”

This intentional pause captured a key theme of the day: that sustainable leadership is not only about action, but about presence, community, and clarity of purpose.

What Comes Next: Bold Leadership, Shared Will

This gathering marks a powerful moment in our community’s journey, and a reminder that while the challenges ahead are vast, the will to act is already here.

So what’s next?

  • Continue the conversations in your teams, networks, and industries
  • Make the invisible visible amplify the 90% who are ready for change
  • Be bold in your leadership, and invite others along.

Because if 90% of people are already willing to act, what are we waiting for?

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