Speaking at Rotary Dronten
Lotte-Marie Brouwer
Business as a Force for Fairness
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Rotary in Dronten.
During the session we explored an uncomfortable reality: Only 1.6% of adults worldwide are millionaires, yet they hold almost half of the planet’s total wealth.
Income inequality is often framed as a problem only for those with low income. In reality, it affects the health, trust, democracy, safety, and climate resilience of entire societies, which also affects the wealthy.
Many companies, often unintentionally, contribute to this growing imbalance. Through their ownership structures, the sourcing of raw materials from the Global South, and the way finance is organised, businesses can reinforce systems that concentrate value in the hands of a few rather than distribute it.
But there is another path.
What if companies were structured to actively contribute to a future worth living in?
What if business leaders embraced steward ownership models, experimented with alternative financing mechanisms such as profit sharing, and supported value creation and industrial development in African economies?
We discussed several inspiring cases of Dutch companies doing just that.
Business can be a powerful force for shaping a fairer and more resilient future. The question is not 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 companies have influence. The real question is how they choose to use it.
Thank you to Rotary Dronten for the invitation and the engaging discussion.
Interested in booking Lotte-Marie for your event? Get in touch via the Speaking page.
