BL Companies has been named to the Real Leaders Top Impact Companies 2026 list, a first for BL. Real Leaders explains its interpretation of why “impact” matters: Many employees want to work for companies that align with their values, and many customers prefer to purchase products and services they feel good about. It’s crucial for the well-being of society and the health of our planet that businesses commit to a definition of success that incorporates social and environmental impact alongside profits.”
Well-known companies like Costco, Warby Parker and Patagonia joined BL on the list. BL, which is ranked 37th of 125 companies on this year’s list, was recognized “for driving change through employee ownership.”
To complement this honor, BL CEO Carolyn Stanworth wrote an article for Real Leaders titled “The Crisis Leadership Surprise” about her unexpected journey from CFO to CEO at BL. This piece touches on how crisis leadership, decisive action and empathy — not technical credentials — drive stability, resilience and long-term organizational success. Here is an excerpt:
The founder accelerated his exit, leaving us months to complete the purchase or risk being sold. We had already been exploring an employee stock ownership plan to reward all employees — a structure that aligned with our values — so I led the effort to become employee owned in just three months.
Employee ownership gave us stability, but new challenges followed. When the Great Recession hit, another new CEO struggled to act decisively and ultimately resigned. The board appointed an interim three-person team — two technical leaders and me — to steady the firm, but as the impacts of the financial crisis grew, it became clear that crisis leadership required singular accountability.
Read the full article here.