Voys Steps into Steward-Ownership: A Bold Move for Equality and Purpose

A longstanding commitment to equality

Corporate Rebels has known Voys for years. They were one of the first companies we featured on our Bucket List of workplace innovators, where we watched Mark’s relentless drive to build a culture of true equality.

From day one, Voys has strived to level the playing field. They implemented Holacracy to create a truly self-managed organization, where people collaborate as equals. Roles and circles, rather than titles and hierarchies, define responsibilities and decision-making power, embodying a culture that values every voice.

But their equality ethos, until now, had limits. While power and responsibility were distributed among all employees, ultimate legal and economic control still rested with Mark and Ben. In that sense, true equality remained out of reach.

The leap to steward-ownership

Recently, Mark and Ben took a transformative step to align ownership with Voys' self-management principles: they restructured Voys into a steward-owned company. Now, Voys separates economic rights (profit-sharing) from legal ownership (decision-making).

Steward-owned companies redirect profits to fulfill their mission, creating a model where the company’s future is tethered to its purpose, not its owners’ interests. Our friends at We Are Stewards have been a key influence, guiding Voys through this complex but rewarding transition.

From ‘bosses’ on paper to true peers

Legal ownership of Voys now lies in the hands of a foundation overseen by three stewards: an employee of Voys, a client representative, and a steward focused on the company’s mission. These stewards collectively handle Voys’ most critical decisions, ensuring they prioritize the company’s purpose over personal or shareholder profit.

This shift gives the stewards the authority to appoint (or even dismiss) Voys’ leadership. Mark, still at the helm, knows that his position now truly depends on the mission’s best interests, rather than on ownership titles.

For Voys, this means Mark and Ben are no longer “bosses” in any sense. They’re simply peers, working side-by-side with colleagues to propel the mission forward.

Pioneers in purpose-driven business

Steward-ownership is gaining traction in the business world, with Patagonia being an early trailblazer, and we’re seeing growing interest among purpose-driven companies.

Companies like Voys and Patagonia aren’t just breaking ground; they’re redefining the path others can follow. By pioneering models where mission and governance truly align, they’re offering a vision of a desirable future where businesses can focus on making a lasting impact, not just maximizing profit.

With our impact fund Krisos, we’re committed to this shift: every company in our portfolio will be steward-owned, putting purpose before profit.

Steward-ownership isn’t just a concept; it’s a bold alternative to the traditional shareholder model, one that could reshape the future of work and corporate purpose. And with companies like Voys leading the way, it’s clear that the business landscape is in for an exciting transformation.