At Forum One, employee ownership isn’t just a financial structure; it’s a mindset that shapes how we work, grow, and belong. Our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) connects each of us to the company’s success, but it also does something deeper: it builds transparency, inclusion, and shared purpose into the way we operate every day.

Earlier this year, I attended the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) Conference, where one of the most enlightening sessions explored the intersection of inclusion & belonging, and ESOPs. The discussion traced the origins of employee ownership in the United States and illuminated how ESOPs were created, in part, to open access to ownership and opportunity beyond traditional inner circles.

Many early ESOPs emerged in industries where hiring was often based on close personal networks, “who you knew,” or “who you went to college with.” By design, employee ownership expanded access to ownership and opportunity beyond those inner circles, democratizing who gets to share in a company’s success.

Today, that same principle continues to drive inclusion in a modern context.

• Transparency and Access: Employee ownership encourages open-book management and shared financial literacy, giving everyone insight into how the business performs and where we’re headed.
  
• Ownership as Equalizer: ESOPs help distribute wealth and opportunity more evenly. Studies from organizations like Project Equity show that employee-owned companies tend to offer greater job stability, narrower wealth gaps, and stronger local economic impact.
  
• Belonging in Practice: When every employee has a stake in the outcome, we know we own a piece of the company’s success, and our success depends on diverse voices and perspectives. We can naturally feel more invested and connected.

At Forum One, we see our ESOP as part of our broader commitment to a culture of excellence—one that values transparency, accountability, and inclusion in equal measure. Employee ownership reminds us that we don’t just contribute to the company’s success; we share in it.

As we celebrate Employee Ownership Month, we’re taking time to reflect on that shared responsibility. When ownership is both a mindset and a structure, it becomes one of the most powerful tools for creating workplaces where everyone truly belongs.