The CEO of Kiwibank, Steve Jurkovich, doesn’t appear to be radical. The father has been at the helm for over four years and has spent much of his corporate life in banking. But things have been changing. ‘Over the past few years the Jurkovich whānau have “had a lot of conversations around the dinner table about the way things should be”. It’s a microcosm of the big national kōrero that has risen over the past few years, largely driven by younger generations, around issues like indigenous, racial and gender equity, LGBTIQA+ rights and addressing climate change. More than just hoping for this, Kiwibank is one of 50 ‘B Corps’ where the fine balance between people and profits is noted. Its more than a commitment to sustainability; it is about ‘Kiwi making Kiwi better off’. It is also about limiting harm, drawing a line in the sand and ensuring things are not made worse. It is being clear on who their customers are, and that the vulnerable are not preyed upon. It is also about considering who is a Kiwi. Jurkovich is ‘curious about te ao Māori and how it makes up the fabric of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Learning the language has been really important but just as important … has been some insights to the tikanga, the habits, ritual, culture. The things that are tapu and noa … You don’t need to lose your own community to be interested in te ao Māori’. However, Jurkovich understands that his passion may not be equally shared. He has talked with staff, customers, the executive and the Board. In Steve’s own words, ‘What I try to describe is a triangle. At the apex of the triangle is purpose. Purpose in a lot of ways serves as that guiding star. At the bottom left hand corner of the triangle is culture. How do we have an inclusive culture? How do we have a culture where people feel safe and they belong? How do we embrace things that are unique about Aotearoa, like te ao Māori? How do we create an organisation where I can still be myself but I can also belong? We don’t all have to be the same and we’re not all the same, but I can still belong, I can still feel part of the team’. ‘ Then on the other corner, you’ve got sustainability. B Corp, tackling the climate, our footprint, our emissions and those things. Triangles are so strong because they balance things. 

Question 

Jurkovich asks you for advice on ensuring all employees are on board with B Corp. What advice might you offer?