SHERPA Institute

Cross-pollinated from LinkedIn

#iso #iso26000 #unsds #sustainability #innovation #socialresponsbility #csr #esg #badass #culturechange #accountability #stakeholders #transparency #regeneration #regenerativeagriculture | SHERPA Institute As we celebrate the United States 250th year of independence, we ask ourselves who are BADASS USA Sustainability Leaders? They reach beyond sustainability to REGENERATIVE practices. They sit with tension in the room. They quietly LISTEN and make space for disparate views. We can share two who stand....

Cross pollinating from LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sherpa-institute_iso-iso26000-unsds-activity-7477891009184477184-fZFr?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAAAC1_fkBHvEsIcLZhplphzmd0XmRh-ldd1s

For a few years now, Sustainability Ships have been safely idling in their harbors. But that’s not what ships are for. Ships are made for BADASSES who are willing to pull anchor, and head into the open sea. They know it’ll get rough out on the open waters.

While real sustainability conversations have been covered up with glossy marketing, ESG has faced backlash, CSR has gotten redlined from reports and politeness is valued over factual discussion, SHERPA Institute stepped back. This “safety” is rotting us all to the core, as we stay anchored just off shore.

We decided to rebuild with sharper strategy and renewed strength. We are guides up the mountain, through the desert or out at sea.

Our focus on the UN SDGs has shifted and we are returning to our plain-spoken, boots-on-the-ground roots of social responsibility.

The first of the 7 Subjects of ISO 26000 - Organizational Governance - is a good place to start with a few provocative, uncomfortable questions.
These are also the 7 Principles of ISO 26000, the international standard for social responsibility.

-How TRANSPARENT is your organization?
-Does your organization take ACCOUNTABILITY for actions, risks and outcomes up and down the value chain?
-Can your entire organization truly stake claim to ethical behavior, and do you hold your supply chain to this principle?
-How does your organization demonstrate RESPECT FOR STAKEHOLDER INTERESTS? Do you REALLY KNOW who are all your stakeholders up and down your value chain?

These can be uncomfortable questions.

SHERPA started our journey over a decade ago as BADASSES, in a world of polite smiles and raised eyebrows. We tried fitting into that world of tepid applause for abysmal, anemic efforts.

The term BADASS is not intended to offend. It simply describes our approach as concisely as possible. Boldly innovative, with no tolerance for spectators; brave, zealous participation is the path forward.

2026 has been a year lacking BADASS Corporate Action, and we are poised to change that for the select few with intestinal fortitude to collaborate.

We aren’t for most everyone.
We are about INNOVATIVE BADASS BREAKTHROUGHS, with WHOLE ORGANIZATION COLLABORATIONS.
This drives CULTURE CHANGE.
So, we really aren’t a fit for 99.9% of companies.
But if you’re in that .1% and we’re a fit, oh the places we will go!
Curious? Drop us a note here.

More to come…

Rarely do we post on Facebook. This is a cross-pollination from LinkedIn.

“Hello in there, hello”*
Andrea Hoffmeier here, Founder of SHERPA Institute, with the first of my 2025 Year-End Messages.

I’ve made no secret about my rollercoaster wellbeing, and and the need to transition my role to one of Sherpa Emeritus; oh, let’s have fun with grammar, shall we? The Institute (organization) has SHERPA in all caps, while a person (or other creature - we’ve had cats, dogs and a chicken join Zooms) involved with SHERPA is a Sherpa (proper noun S in caps).

But I just might have a comeback one days, right Anne Chiaramello?
Who knows - Emeritus might be a sabbatical.

2025 marked SHERPA Institute’s 10th Year of operations (our efforts prior to forming represented DECADES of efforts evolution and global collaboration).

Rather than any hoopla, we spent the year strategizing a seismic pivot. I’ll explain more throughout the rest of this year - throughout the closing of our first decade.

I also thank everyone for all the birthday wishes!
It was a relaxing day and weekend.
We took a ride through the woods, away from cell towers on my birthday; and Sunday I laid around being 100% lazy:)
The blessing of a weekend birthday!

As we emerged from the woods and drove through the small city in, Jasper, Alabama, USA, I was struck by the signs (one pictured below), an initiative of Jasper Main Street.

https://www.jaspermainstreet.com/

As I let loose my white-knuckle grip on SHERPA’s reins it is refreshing to see an honest message like this in Jasper:
“Just as the Phoenix rising from the ashes, we too will rise.
We’ll emerge stronger than ever, ready to THRIVE and FLOURISH.”
A beautiful dove of peace flies with an olive branch - something we need so much today.

This sign came right on time for me, as Founder of SHERPA - bittersweet days.
In future 2025 Year-End posts, I’ll explain the wildfires we’ve survived, and how we intend to THRIVE.

That said, I’ll close with a bit of John Prine*

“You know that old trees just grow stronger
And old rivers grow wilder every day
Old people just grow lonesome
Waiting for someone to say
"Hello in there, hello" “

Cross-pollinated from LinkedIn:

“Hello in there, hello”* Andrea Hoffmeier here, Founder of SHERPA Institute, with the first of my 2025 Year-End Messages. I’ve made no secret about my rollercoaster wellbeing, and and the need to… | SHERPA Institute “Hello in there, hello”* Andrea Hoffmeier here, Founder of SHERPA Institute, with the first of my 2025 Year-End Messages. I’ve made no secret about my rollercoaster wellbeing, and and the need to transition my role to one of Sherpa Emeritus; oh, let’s have fun with grammar, shall we? The Ins...