When talking about Conscious Businesses, a fundamental question is how to move from good intentions to the creation of concrete actions that truly impact people's lives.
This concern is precisely what led a group of entrepreneurs to launch the “Empresa Contigo” initiative, focused on connecting and sharing best business practices, to improve the lives of employees and communities.
Claudia Montalván, leader of the Empresa Contigo Initiative, explains that it emerged from recognizing various social needs in Mexico, such as low social mobility, limited access to education, a lack of healthcare services, and high levels of poverty.
It was then that they decided to act with a practical mindset, creating specific solutions in areas such as living wages, healthcare, education, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Although Empresa Contigo was initially designed as a self-managed digital platform, they quickly realized the great value of providing close guidance to businesses and entrepreneurs.
This led to the development of a comprehensive process that combines useful information, personalized mentoring, and ongoing support to implement meaningful changes.
Living income: the key to conscious change
One of the core practices Claudia highlights is the implementation of a Living Wage, a concept that goes beyond numbers to consider everything needed for workers to enjoy a truly dignified life.
Since then, Empresa Contigo has focused on raising awareness among business leaders about the economic and social realities of their workforce, offering them relevant data and studies from institutions such as INEGI and Coneval, among others.
Armed with this knowledge and supported by Empresa Contigo, business owners can begin building effective plans that generate long-lasting results and well-being for their employees and, as a result, for the surrounding communities.
Community and mentorship: the power of collective learning
Claudia points out that the real success of Empresa Contigo lies in building a business community where organizations learn together by sharing experiences, challenges, and real solutions.
Companies not only receive mentorship but also become guides to others, enabling collaborative learning and shared progress.
The idea is that participants in Empresa Contigo experience tangible benefits like reduced staff turnover, increased productivity, improved workplace health, and a stronger employer brand.
These outcomes also lead to deep social impact, promoting real social mobility and breaking generational cycles of poverty through improved access to education, healthcare, and dignified job opportunities.
Some companies have already taken major steps toward these improvements and have even shared the information and processes they've followed to begin offering a dignified life, including Merco, Corporación Zapata, Ripipsa, and Paruno.
United by a shared purpose
The conscious business community fostered by Empresa Contigo is far more than a simple support network; it's an active engine driving positive change at the social, business, and economic levels.
This movement is backed by key organizations such as the Center for Conscious Enterprises, Coparmex Nuevo León, and various business associations, creating a strong environment of trust and collective commitment.
Claudia Montalván concludes by inviting all interested companies to join and take advantage of the benefits Empresa Contigo offers, from an initial assessment to the practical implementation of solutions.
As Claudia enthusiastically states: "Together we can do more, and the more of us there are, the greater our impact will be."