Good Business Forum 2025
Better Work Makes Business Better
Let’s build a future where work works better - for businesses, for workers, and for progress.
Monday, June 30 | New York
Despite the rapid growth of global supply chains and increasing global industrialization, high quality formal jobs remain out of reach to the world’s working poor- particularly women. The wellbeing of these populations has traditionally been the focus of public sector poverty alleviation agendas, but in recent years a compelling business case for investing in worker wellbeing has emerged. When firms redesign how they support the broader needs of low-income workers - from health to household finances to career development - they can unlock unrealized business gains while fostering dignity and opportunity for workers. Indeed, a recent McKinsey Global Institute study estimates that increasing overall workforce engagement and productivity could raise global GDP by $12 trillion with much of this growth driven by increased participation of women in the workforce.On June 30, 2025, The Good Business Forum 2025, supported by the Gates Foundation and organized by Good Business Lab (GBL), will convene global leaders, changemakers, and practitioners to explore how the private sector can be an engine of social innovation. By creating workspaces that reflect real worker needs and aspirations - including those of women balancing work and caregiving responsibilities, we can drive measurable business outcomes while strengthening workforce resilience and opportunity.Good Business Lab is a global NGO committed to improving the lives of the working poor. We generate rigorous research and evidence-backed insights to incentivize the private sector and businesses to invest in blue-collar workers, partnering across industries like ready-made garment manufacturing, automotive, food, and retail-some of which employ a large number of women. Since our inception in 2017, GBL has positively impacted over 2 million workers across India, East Asia, Latin America, and the U.S.At this pivotal forum, we will spotlight the research, policies, learnings, and best practices shaping the future of work for workers, with a special focus on:• Redesigning workplaces to prioritize flexibility and responsiveness to worker needs without sacrificing efficiency• Empowering workers’ voices through innovative communication technology and actionable data• Addressing systemic barriers like pay disparities and unequal leadership opportunities, particularly for women• Exploring intersections between community resilience, and the energy transition• Understanding impact measurement in the context of workplace programsThis forum offers more than just dialogue. It is a platform to showcase innovative tools, share success stories from GBL and our partner network’s learnings, and insights, and catalyze collaborations that drive measurable change. Through interactive exhibits, dynamic discussions, and opportunities for meaningful connection, the Good Business Forum 2025 aims to inspire collective action.Let’s build a future where work works better - for businesses, for workers, and for progress.Please note: This will be a closed-door convening, held under Chatham House Rule to encourage open and honest dialogue.Advance registration (latest by 26th June) mandatory for procedural requirements. Registrations are non-transferable. Photo ID will be required to enter the venue.
A few highlights from the Good Business Forum | Redesigning the Bottom Line 2024 held on Monday, August 5 in Bangalore, India:
🔗 YouTube Playlist for the Good Business Forum | Redesigning the Bottom Line 2024
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Panel 1: The Business of Better Work
This panel will explore how transforming workplaces for women isn’t just the right thing to do—it has strategic advantages for businesses and economies. Through real-world case studies and data-driven insights, the discussion will highlight successful workplace and worker well-being initiatives and how creating better work environments for workers, especially women, benefits businesses.
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Panel 2: Insights from the Frontline
This panel will center the voices of women workers and frontline employees, highlighting their lived experiences and everyday challenges. Through first-hand narratives and grounded reflections, the discussion will explore what it means to create truly inclusive, respectful, and supportive workplaces, starting with listening to those most impacted.
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Panel 3: Building Resilience Through Work
This panel will explore the intersection of workforce resilience, evolving industries, and emerging opportunities for women. By focusing on how structural shifts are reshaping work, the discussion will highlight ways to build more adaptive, inclusive, and future-ready workplaces that support women’s participation and leadership.
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At Good Business Lab, we design, test, and scale programs using rigorous research methods that align worker wellbeing with business interests.Reach us at gbf.goodbusinesslab.org for more info!