The ultimate company structure for mission-driven companies

Can a business model be a true game-changer? In a recent deep dive, Trends magazine explored steward-ownership, asking whether we can really expect companies to stay focused on the greater good. I see steward-ownership as the ultimate protection against mission drift, as it embeds (1) self-governance and (2) mission-driven profit allocation into a company’s legal DNA. The impact is profound.

In their "Change the Game" section, Trends magazine features "entrepreneurial stories and analyses that go beyond short-term economic gain." This description almost perfectly aligns with the essence of steward-ownership.

Steward-ownership is the ultimate structure for mission-driven companies because ownership is a key factor in helping a company pursue its societal goals over the long term.

Trends took an even closer look at steward-ownership, examining the role of profit, who these “stewards” are, the challenges of mission drift, and the early pioneers—including, of course, Patagonia.

They also explored the Belgian perspective, which is evolving. We see it in the questions filling our inbox every day.

Full article (dutch):