Episode 241: Building A Business With Integrity In A Capitalist World with Nicole Yang

Is it hard to find balance in running a business with integrity when you’re running the race as an entrepreneur in a capitalist world? It can feel impossible to build a business with compassion in today’s society, yet it is possible to exist as a business owner in a compassionate and ethical way. In today’s episode Nicole Yang joins us to share how capitalism doesn’t actually provide compassion or support, yet we as business owners can take action to ensure we’re still operating with integrity. If today’s episode resonates with you and you want to show support for the show, here’s an easy way to do so: Buy Me A Coffee! Meet Nicole Most designs only scratch the surface of their potential, and Nicole Yang is here to change that. Nicole is a brand strategist + graphic designer who has worked with dozens of online, women-owned businesses to help them turn those ideas bouncing around their head into meaningful, impactful design. She also believes that, through our work as business owners, we can create the world we really want to see. With over a decade of experience, she supports online brands and business owners by directing their visual brand, designing their product and service launches, and helping them boost their visibility and presence. Her expertise in product, digital, and print design helps women-owned businesses grow confidently and bravely. Supporting Women-Owned Businesses The value that woman-owned businesses can offer society is unreal, yet so often derailed by a lack of resources. While there are plenty of opportunities for support through these “support systems”, it’s not uncommon for them to not actually be supportive of everyone like they claim to be. There are so many things that could benefit society that don’t get a chance to come to life, due to this lack of inclusivity in support. This encourages us to take a look at the systems around us, review their purpose, and reflect on if they’re actually compassionate to everyone. Capitalism in America In growing up in the capitalist society of America, it’s easy to just accept that this is how it is and how it should be. Yet, when you look at capitalism through the lens of compassion, you can see that it’s truly just a system that celebrates economic success and the advancement of money. This is so heavy and challenging, especially when you’re just trying to be a human in society. Healthcare in a Capitalist America A great example of the lack of compassion that capitalism offers is that of healthcare. For someone living with a chronic illness, the privatization of medicine limits access to help in so many areas. Even with a solid income and health insurance, the price of some medications isn’t sustainable—yet imagine what that looks like for someone making minimum wage without health insurance. Gatekeeping to Get Ahead Another disadvantage to capitalism is that big companies are trying to dominate their market by gatekeeping ideas that could help society, but will bring them more money and profits. Despite the fact that a free market can offer advancement of us all as a society, we’re dampening our potential growth in order to make more profits. The Impacts of Capitalism on BIPOC Individuals While there are so many variations of how individuals are impacted due to capitalism,