Why Carebears Might Be Your Next Unicorns
October 4th 2025
by Julie Sané-Pezet
Founder at Lume Impact
If you’re building something new, here’s a thought that might reshape how you grow.
What if being a carebear was the smartest business strategy of the decade?
A few years ago, during my Master’s in Political Philosophy and Ethics, I took a course called Ethics for Future Generations. Like every elective, we had to write a “mini dissertation.”
When I shared my topic, something around human rights and development, my professor smirked and said it wasn’t strong enough.
Not because it was vague or irrelevant, but because it was too "nice".
Apparently, good intentions don’t make for an interesting paper.
That moment stuck with me. Yes, it was condescending but mostly it felt disconnected from reality.
Every day, I read about new tools and services promising to transform performance and growth. But who uses these tools? Who feels the impact of these companies’ practices?
People.
If your people thrive, your company thrives.
If you care for the communities around you, they’ll give you the insight and trust you need to go further.
Can a company grow big while ignoring people and the planet?
Sure. But for how long?
Regulation in Europe is catching up fast.
→ France’s new fast-fashion law taxes harmful products by up to 10%.
→ The EU’s CSRD now requires companies to show how they affect both the planet and people (employees, customers, and communities alike)
And if your ESG standards are low, there will be consequences. Suppliers worldwide are already being asked to prove their impact to keep European clients.
So maybe my professor was right: “being nice” might sound dull on paper.
But in business today, it’s one of the hottest topics around.
Startups that embed care, impact, and responsibility from day one are set to go further and faster than the giants that once made generations dream.
So, how about you? What’s one way your company is already designing for impact?
You can turn “care” into a competitive advantage and it starts with your impact strategy. Whether you want strategic support or targeted workshops, we can find the perfect format together. Just book a 30 minute call below. It’s free and will help you gain clarity on your needs.