BLD PNW:
The Pacific Northwest's Conference for Purpose-Driven Business Leaders
BLD PNW (B Corp Leadership Development – Pacific Northwest) is the largest gathering of B Corps and purpose-driven organizations in the region. Every year, business leaders, nonprofit professionals, public sector employees, entrepreneurs, and changemakers come together to learn from one another, build relationships, and explore what it looks like to put values into practice.
Hosted by On Purpose Oregon (formerly B Local PDX), BLD PNW has grown into one of the region's signature events for people who believe business can be a force for good. And while BLD PNW has its roots in the B Corp community, don't let the name fool you: you don't have to be a Certified B Corp to attend. Or even pursuing certification, for that matter. B Corp certification isn't for everyone, but BLD PNW is for everyone working to make Oregon a more equitable and sustainable community.
BLD PNW at a glance
Event - BLD PNW — B Corp Leadership Development, Pacific Northwest
Host - On Purpose Oregon (formerly B Local PDX)
Date - Thursday, October 8, 2026 — 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM
Location - Smith Memorial Student Union, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201
Who it's for - Business, nonprofit, and public-sector leaders across every sector — no B Corp certification required
Tickets - $125–$400, including member, student, and subsidized community rates
Size - 300+ attendees
A Conference for Anyone Building Business Differently
BLD PNW is designed for people who care about more than the bottom line. Some attendees lead Certified B Corps. Others work for nonprofits, government agencies, universities, or businesses that are just beginning their impact journey. Every year, about a third of attendees come from outside the B Corp community, bringing new ideas and perspectives into the conversation.
Whether you're working on employee ownership, climate action, equitable workplaces, responsible supply chains, or simply trying to build a better business, you'll find people asking many of the same questions. It's not about having all the answers. It's more about learning from people doing the work.
"The energy, questions, and conversations reminded me why this work matters so much." — Sarene A, BLD Attendee
What You'll Learn at BLD PNW
No two years of BLD PNW look exactly the same, because the conversations evolve alongside the challenges businesses are facing. Our programming committee gathers insights from what's happening in our community and reviews proposal submissions to craft a conference where attendees from all sectors and professions gain something fruitful: tangible ideas to put into action.
Sessions are designed to be practical, interactive, and relevant to leaders across industries. Rather than focusing on theory, speakers share real examples, lessons learned, and ideas attendees can put into practice.
Topics often include:
Building resilient, people-first workplaces
Sustainability and climate action
Purpose-driven marketing and authentic storytelling
Measuring and communicating impact
Leadership and organizational culture
Inclusive hiring and workplace practices
Governance, accountability, and stakeholder engagement
Responsible supply chains and ethical business practices
Innovation and systems change
Whether you're a CEO, marketer, HR professional, operations leader, entrepreneur, or nonprofit executive, you'll find sessions that meet you where you are. Some attendees come looking for tactical tools they can implement immediately, while others are looking for fresh perspectives or connections that spark long-term collaboration.
Why BLD PNW Matters
Running a purpose-driven organization can feel isolating. You're often balancing financial realities with commitments to your employees, your community, and the environment. BLD PNW creates space to step away from the day-to-day and connect with others navigating those same challenges.
BLD PNW brings together leaders who are willing to share what's working, what's not, and what they're learning along the way. Through keynote speakers, breakout sessions, workshops, and plenty of informal conversations, attendees leave with practical ideas they can apply back at work.
They also leave with new relationships that last long after the event ends. As our community has grown over the past decade, one thing has stayed the same: people come for the learning, but they return for the connections.
"I left feeling recharged and more certain than ever that my passion is amplifying the voices and impact of mission-driven organizations and businesses." — Caroline C, BLD Attendee
Not Just for the People at the Top
It's easy to assume a leadership conference is built for people with “Chief” in their title. BLD PNW is not that conference.
Yes, CEOs and founders attend. But so do sustainability coordinators, HR generalists, marketing associates, program managers, and people who are still figuring out what “purpose-driven work” even means for their career. BLD PNW is built for anyone who influences how a business shows up in the world, whether that influence comes from a corner office or a cubicle.
Our programming is intentionally designed with this in mind. Sessions aren't just about high-level strategy handed down from the top; they cover the on-the-ground realities of doing this work: how to make the case for a new initiative when you're not the one signing off on it, how to build buy-in across a team, and how to grow in your career at a mission-driven organization.
The community reflects this as well. You're just as likely to end up in conversation with a director as you are with someone attending their first professional conference. That mix is by design. Purpose-driven business isn't built by leadership alone — it's built by the people implementing the ideas day to day, and BLD PNW exists to support all of them.
Why the Pacific Northwest?
The Pacific Northwest has become one of the country's strongest hubs for purpose-driven business. The region is known for a high density of Certified B Corps, and is home to hundreds of organizations committed to using business as a force for good.
Alongside Certified B Corps, there's a thriving network of nonprofits, social enterprises, cooperatives, Benefit Companies, and mission-driven businesses working to build a more inclusive and resilient economy. BLD PNW brings that community together in one place.
Celebrating 10 Years of BLD PNW
A decade ago, BLD PNW started as a small gathering of people who believed business could work differently. It's now the longest-running BLD in the US and Canada. This year, on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Portland State University's Smith Memorial Student Union, we'll welcome more than 300 leaders — our biggest gathering yet.
Whether you're a longtime member of the B Corp community or exploring what purpose-driven business looks like for your own organization, you'll find thoughtful conversations, practical takeaways, and a community that's eager to learn alongside you. Because that's what BLD PNW has always been about: bringing together people who believe business can create lasting value — for employees, communities, and the world around us.
Every year, BLD PNW has grown alongside the community it serves: more attendees, more industries represented, more organizations willing to say publicly that impact isn't a side project, it's the standard. What started with a handful of Certified B Corps comparing notes has become a regional gathering point for nonprofits, public agencies, employee-owned companies, and mission-driven businesses of every size — all working toward the same goal: an economy where doing right by people and planet isn't the exception, it's expected.
Ten years of BLD PNW means ten years of conversations that changed how someone ran their business. Ten years of partnerships formed in hallway conversations. Ten years of people leaving a little more convinced that the work is worth it.
This year, we're celebrating that milestone the same way we always have: not by looking backward, but by getting back in the room and doing the work of building what comes next. Ten years in, this isn't just an event anymore — it's a movement. We're proud of the last ten years. We're more excited about the next ten.
Why Sponsor BLD PNW
Sponsoring BLD PNW means putting your organization in front of the people actively building the Pacific Northwest's purpose-driven economy: founders, executives, and rising leaders from Certified B Corps, nonprofits, employee-owned companies, and mission-driven businesses across every sector.
This isn't a passive audience. Attendees come ready to act — to bring new ideas back to their organizations, form partnerships, and invest in the tools and services that help them do this work better. A decade in, BLD PNW has built a reputation as one of the region's most trusted gatherings for people who care about doing business differently, and sponsors become part of that reputation.
Sponsoring BLD PNW means:
Visibility with a values-aligned audience. Reach decision-makers and influencers from across the region's purpose-driven business community — not just executives, but the marketers, HR leaders, sustainability managers, and operators actually implementing change inside their organizations.
Association with a decade of credibility. BLD PNW has spent 10 years as the Pacific Northwest's signature gathering for purpose-driven business — the longest-running BLD in the US and Canada. Sponsors align their brand with that legacy and the trust it's built.
Direct access to a growing network. On Purpose Oregon's community extends well beyond a single day. Sponsors connect with a network that stays engaged through year-round events and programming, plus member organizations across the region.
A chance to help shape the next 10 years. As On Purpose Oregon and BLD PNW grow, sponsors aren't just buying a logo placement — they're investing in the infrastructure of a movement built on the idea that business can be a force for good.
We're building sponsorship packages now for this milestone 10th year, with opportunities to fit a range of goals and budgets. If you're interested in learning more, we'd love to talk about what a partnership with BLD PNW could look like for your organization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is BLD PNW?
BLD PNW (B Corp Leadership Development – Pacific Northwest) is the region's largest annual gathering of B Corps and purpose-driven organizations, and the longest-running BLD in the US and Canada. Hosted by On Purpose Oregon, it brings together business leaders, nonprofit and public-sector professionals, entrepreneurs, and changemakers to learn from one another and put values into practice. The conference has its roots in the B Corp community, but it's open to anyone working to build a more equitable and sustainable economy in the Pacific Northwest.
Do you have to be a Certified B Corp to attend?
No. You don't need to be a Certified B Corp, or even be pursuing certification, to attend BLD PNW. About a third of attendees come from outside the B Corp community, including nonprofits, government agencies, universities, and businesses that are early in their impact journey. BLD PNW is for anyone working to make the region a more equitable and sustainable place to do business.
Who attends BLD PNW?
Attendees range from CEOs and founders to sustainability coordinators, HR generalists, marketers, operations leaders, program managers, and people early in a purpose-driven career. BLD PNW is built for anyone who influences how a business shows up in the world, not only executives. Sessions cover both high-level strategy and the on-the-ground realities of doing impact work, so attendees at every career stage find something useful.
When and where is BLD PNW held?
BLD PNW's 10th annual conference takes place on Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM at Portland State University's Smith Memorial Student Union in Portland, Oregon (97201), welcoming more than 300 leaders. The full-day program includes keynote speakers, breakout sessions, workshops, and plenty of informal networking. It's hosted by On Purpose Oregon, formerly known as B Local PDX.
How much does it cost to attend BLD PNW?
BLD PNW offers several ticket tiers so cost isn't a barrier to attending. Tickets range from $125 to $400 and include a discounted rate for On Purpose Oregon members, a student rate, general admission, and a limited number of subsidized Community Rate tickets that help ensure BLD PNW is accessible to people with a variety of identities and lived experiences. There's also a Community Supporter ticket for attendees who want to pay a little extra to help fund accessible tickets for others. Early bird pricing is available for a limited time each year — check the registration page for current rates.
How can my organization sponsor BLD PNW?
On Purpose Oregon builds sponsorship packages for BLD PNW each year to fit a range of goals and budgets, offering visibility with a values-aligned audience of founders, executives, and rising leaders from across the region's purpose-driven economy. Sponsors also connect with a network that stays engaged through year-round events and programming. Reach out through the sponsorship or contact page to discuss options.
Join the Conversation
If you're looking for a Pacific Northwest business conference centered on values, leadership, and real-world collaboration, BLD PNW is for you. Come ready to learn. Come ready to share. Most importantly, come ready to meet people who are working toward the same goal: building an economy where impact isn't exceptional — it's expected.
Ready to join us? Register for BLD PNW and be part of the next ten years.
"Surrounded by people who believe business can be a force for healing, joy, and justice, I left feeling inspired and with clarity on how to move forward with renewed energy." — Eileen C, BLD Attendee
