In this episode of HR Chats with Te Radar we chat to Bridget Williams Founder of social enterprise, Bead & Proceed.
Bridget's journey and how Bead & Proceed began
So what are the SDGs and why are they so important?
Why the beads?
How is awareness and inspiration implemented through the social enterprise?
Do you face any criticism or obstacles with this concept?
How can people get involved if they are loving the sound of Bead & Proceed and want to know more about the SDGs?Bridget is the founder of social enterprise, Bead & Proceed, which exists to educate
people about the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and inspires action
towards them through creativity. Her passion for sustainability and using
creativity as a tool for innovation has made her a recognised SDGs expert,
assisting businesses and organisations with SDG strategic alignment and target
reporting. She employs these skills to help businesses make authentic
sustainable change and is renowned for her energy and enthusiasm, ensuing all
staff and clients are taken on an SDG journey. As a former solicitor, Bridget
thrives solving complex problems and practicing effective leadership in her
governance roles. This includes being Deputy Chair of the Fendalton/Waimairi/Harewood
Community Board and Trustee of the Christchurch Arts Festival. Bridget is also
a member of the Asia New Zealand Foundation Leadership Network and Curator of
the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Christchurch Hub, which has led her to
become a creditable global change maker. Her efforts have been recognised and
endorsed by the Rt. Hon. Helen Clark and the JCI Osaka Outstanding Young
Bead & Proceed is a social enterprise that exists to educate people about the SDGs and
to inspire action towards them through creativity. The idea is simple: we bring
people together to each make a 5-beaded necklace, bracelet or keyring that
represents the top 5 SDGs most important to them. While people paint, they come
up with creative solutions to achieve their goals and they come away with a tangible
object that helps anchors their learning, serves as a physical reminder of
their commitment and a conversation starter to help spread SDG awareness. Since
its launch in February 2019, more than 3,000 participants have attended our SDG
workshops or purchased our Bead & Proceed Kits. Bead & Proceed has
grown to offer tailored SDG workshops and ongoing SDG consulting support for
businesses interested in growing their impact. To date, we have worked with a
range of corporates and organistions including councils, universities,
professional service firms, and other leading businesses in agriculture and
In 2015 all 193 UN Member States, including New Zealand, adopted the 17 UN Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs address 17 of the biggest issues facing our society
and aim to help make the world a better place – ending poverty, preventing
climate change, saving life on land and in our waters and eradicating
inequality. The SDGs are to be achieved by 2030 and the UN have coined 2020 the
start of the Decade of Action – we have 10 years left to achieve the SDGs so
it’s crunch time! Sadly, not enough people know the SDGs exist and at the rate
we’re going, no state is on track to achieving them –Bead & Proceed hopes
to change that!
