When companies develop their hiring pipelines, they do not take into account the value that nontraditional candidates can bring to their businesses. Here, Deer and Miller describe how companies can have a significant social impact by investing in women who have historically been marginalized. Women who have overcome addiction or transitioned from sex work, for instance, bring translational skills that make them assets to businesses. The authors outline the ways that companies can encourage and support survivors, such as offering experiential learning opportunities and encouraging entrepreneurial culture. These structures allow women to gain confidence, achieve financial stability, and become leaders themselves. Deer and Miller also describe challenges and structures needed to implement different types of impact-oriented programs. Drawing on Deer’s research into survivors' experiences transitioning from the sex trade and Miller’s work in economic development for marginalized communities and restorative justice, Business Doing Good provides actionable ways that for-profit and non-profit organizations can work together to have an impact on the lives of women who are often overlooked.
— Booklist
Texas A&M Business professor Deer and Miller, owner of Quantum Circles Consulting and Training, offer an eye-opening exploration of how businesses can benefit by hiring “women our society has marginalized,” including those who have been incarcerated, worked in the sex industry, and recovered from addiction. The authors offer six business concepts that leaders can foster to elevate women while at the same time benefitting the organization’s bottom line. Those principles include an experiential learning model in which employees can learn things on their own; immediate leadership opportunities in which mistakes are part of the process; entrepreneurial culture that encourages creativity; restorative justice in workplaces to address conflict and harm; partnerships between women, businesses, and nonprofit organizations; and a process they call “translation,” wherein lessons gained through “typically marginalized experiences” are translated into work skills. An insightful chapter on solutions to specific challenges in the workplace rounds things out—companies can consider hiring women with criminal backgrounds, they write, and train managers for a no-gossip policy—and powerful stories along the way illuminate how strong and resilient women can make substantial contributions to an organization when given the opportunity. The result is a survey as inspiring as it is convincing.
— Publishers Weekly
This book is in a class of its own. The authors brilliantly tell the stories of six real women, the challenges they overcome, and the successes they ultimately realize as nontraditional employees. The women are those whom society often marginalizes due to their experiences with poverty, incarceration, and addiction and their engagement with the sex trade. Yet, they worked diligently to overcome previous life experiences and attained skills, knowledge, education, and training to achieve success in a business setting or nonprofit organization and—in some cases—to start their own business. Their stories depict what can happen when nonprofit organizations and companies commit to growing and developing those who on the surface they may not consider good fits for the organization.... The authors include viable solutions and tactical accountabilities for companies and nonprofit organizations, as well as the nontraditional employee—or in this case, the women themselves. Also, as a tool to promote introspection, the authors raise questions for readers to assess their organization's readiness to develop nontraditional employees
— TD Magazine
This book would be an excellent addition to adult education graduate courses for students practicing in corporate or other business settings.
— Adult Education Quarterly
Deer and Miller have crafted a powerful guide weaving together compelling stories of women overcomers and well-researched principles. Readers will be captivated by the real-life stories of women featured in each chapter. Through the inspiring stories, they provide readers with a path for making a significant difference like we have worked to do at Televerde by hiring formerly incarcerated women who are mothers, survivors, and overcomers who will change the world.
— Michelle Cirocco, executive director of Televerde Foundation and the chief social responsibility officer for Televerde
Transformed for Impact—The authors write, “women who are overcomers can have a positive impact on your organization.” Whether you lead in a nonprofit organization, traditional business, social enterprise, church, community ministry, denomination, or para-church ministry, the management principles in this book will catapult your success in meeting your goals through investment in the professional development of women who are survivors of significant life challenges. Survivor leaders can be a significant asset in your organization, department, or ministry…this book will show you how.
— Rev. Ramelia Williams, director of ministry initiatives, Evangelical Covenant Church, Love Mercy Do Justice
Business Doing Good: Engaging Women and Elevating Communities provides a multi-layered approach to helping women from hard places and organizations who work with them to find opportunities that provide a hand-up in life, skills for employment, and employability. Connections are imperative for individuals and agencies to find corporations that are willing to analyze their own values and to raise the standards of internal culture. Corporations can learn to meet the needs of employees even as it may require a shift in their capacity to see human dignity, value, and worth for each individual. This book provides guidance to all three partners in the process outlined. Real case examples and corporate assessment tools are included to improve culture from within. This “Sherpa”-style guidebook for engaging women and elevating them as individuals also elevates the corporation and their capacity, ultimately elevating their communities.
— Tomi L. Grover, PhD, author of “Compelled”
Business Doing Good unmasks horrifically beautiful stories of marginalized women longing for a better way of life. Their uncensored truths are laid out like dandelions in an unkempt field and demand a clear call for empowerment. The practical principles woven throughout the pages allow for a better understanding of the importance of how wholistic approaches are the key to restoring communities. Once I picked it up I couldn't stop reading. I cried with heartache, sadness, and joy.
— Elia Moreno, executive director, Texas Christian Community Development
As a woman of color who has experienced generational poverty throughout childhood and my adult life—in addition to the racism, sexism, harassment, etc.—I'm so excited this book is being birthed into the world!
— Nilwona Nowlin, writer/speaker
This book captures the essence and incredible strength that women bring to the world. Miller and Deer give us a glimpse of this power through story. The principles are presented in the narratives of struggle and resilience of remarkable women. This is a deeply inspiring book that captures the imagination and fans the fire of hope.
— Leroy Barber, PhD, co-founder and president, The Voices Project, and director of innovation, Great NW Area of UMC
Investing in marginalized women is good for everyone. Cheryl Miller and Shannon Deer have done an outstanding job of demonstrating the importance of this for our society. They have presented us six principles that are not only affective but also refreshing for our culture today. Business Doing Good is an excellent book with wonderful practical insights for our world. I was not only inspired but motivated to implement these principles in my personal context. I highly recommend this book to all. It is good to do good!
— Wayne "Coach" Gordon, pastor, Lawndale Community Church, president emeritus, Christian Community Development Association, professor of urban ministry, Northern Seminary
Compassion changes us. Action changes the world. If we will but integrate the power the pages of this book contain—through Cheryl and Shannon’s plucky experience and stimulating insight—we will fall forward into both, improving our businesses and transforming our communities.
— Kimberly Smith Highland, author of “Passport through Darkness”
Deer and Miller’s work is one of the finest resources for genuine and lasting change. There is a spirit of hopeful realism pervading every sentence and story. Obstacles to flourishing are met with optimism of what can happen when there is alignment of intention, integrity, and intense commitment. The life stories shared touch every part of my soul. I experienced anger as I read of the exploitation of my sisters. There was frustration as some found it hard to change. There were many tears as the agony of reorienting life toward flourishing was described in detail. And there was joy as businesses, nonprofits, and the women themselves worked together for change.
The blueprints presented here are applicable in any cultural, economic, or social context. The authors avoid the extremes of hyper-individualism and hyper-collectivism that pervade our public discourse. Restoring agency to victims and reforming the structures for access, equity, and opportunity are both vital. I challenge leaders of all traditions and vocations to read this carefully and allow it to change the way you see people and systems, including your particular work.
Please buy several copies and share them with your networks and organizations. If we all take deliberate steps forward in personal action and the pursuit of partnerships, many more lives can be redeemed and restored.
— Charlie Smith, PhD, director of learning communities, Made to Flourish
Business Doing Good provides a compelling business case and practical road map for companies to rethink their hiring profiles. By hiring women who have escaped the bonds of drug addiction, domestic violence, and even human trafficking, businesses can benefit both society and their bottom line.
— Michele Thatcher, SVP Chief Counsel Global Human Resources PepsiCo