I had no idea what impact the Good Business Foundation (GBF) would have.

But since co-founding the GBF with Stuart Mkojera-Thomson in 2019, we’ve had some amazing impact. Built incredible relationships with partners. We have been able to witness incredible life stories unfold.

One relationship is with Good Return. 

In Sydney a few weeks ago, Good Return was announced as a winner at the Australian Impact Investment Awards. I couldn’t have been more excited and prouder of what a close partner has managed to accomplish. 

Here’s why I continue to support Good Return.

Start with the community you want to build.

In Stephen Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, he advises: 

Start with the end in mind.

I’ve taken this to heart in my business, investment and philanthropic decision-making.

So I always ask myself: What future community do I want to be creating?

In the highlands of Papua New Guinea, I met a village elder who told me something powerful:
“If you want peace, empower women first.” His village had suffered from generations of conflict. There was no economic opportunity, and families lived in poverty.

But things began to change when women were:

• Given leadership roles
• Offered business training
• Provided financial agency

Income in women’s hands changed the trajectory of the entire village.

That transformation isn’t unique. I’ve seen it across many countries in the Asia Pacific (and beyond).

Study after study shows women reinvest up to 90% of their income into their families. Men, by comparison, reinvest only 35–40%. Despite this, many women still operate in informal sectors. They lack protection. They lack access to finance. They face gender-based violence.

And yet, they show up. Every day. To build, support, and uplift their communities.

That’s why Good Return Impact Fund 2 exists.

This is what they’ve done so far.

In 2020, Good Return launched its first impact fund. It was capped at $1 million. They partnered with three financial service providers in Indonesia and Cambodia.

Together, they delivered $5.05 million in loans to 600 entrepreneurs.

90% of those loans went to women. 

And I got to see the impact ripple through their families and communities. I can’t help but get emotional about the impact that’s been created over the last 5 years. 

But now, Good Return wants to go further. 

They are launching a new evergreen $10 million fund designed to scale what we’ve learned.

The fund will leverage capital from Australian investors, with a minimum investment of $20,000 to help guarantee and de-risk loans.

This fund will support:

• Women-led businesses.
• Climate-focused enterprises.
• High-impact SMEs across the Asia Pacific.

But supporting Good Return is more than investing in women. 

This is about investing with them, on their terms, in their context.

Because when women thrive, communities rise with them.

But why small businesses?

I know this from personal experience.

My first business was a small law practice in Melbourne. As a young lawyer, I was part of a tight-knit business community.

We leaned on each other through every high and low. We grew together.

SMEs make up 90% of businesses worldwide. They create 7 in 10 new jobs in emerging markets.

But here’s the problem. They’re often shut out of the financial system. Too big for microfinance. Too small for traditional banks. They fall into the “missing middle”. No loans, no backing, and no room to fail.

So, how do we bridge the gap?

The Good Return Impact Investment Fund is designed to support these businesses.

When capital flows to women and SMEs, change becomes inevitable.

Take Mrs. Imas, a chilli farmer in Indonesia. With access to financing, she bought better equipment and hired extra workers. Her business grew. Her community benefited.

When resourced well, SMEs become anchors of economic stability.

They’re multipliers of opportunity.

But we need more than inspiration. 

We developed a system that works.

The framework that guides our investments: The 4 M’s.

1. Mission – What’s the deeper purpose of your business?
2. Models – How are you structured to grow with impact?
3. Markets – Are your market conditions enabling or limiting you?
4. Mindsets – What beliefs and resilience drive your approach?

These 4 M’s are our litmus test. Every entrepreneur we meet is asked these questions.

Mission aligns profit with purpose. We’re funding visions for change.

Models ensure impact is sustainable. We want ventures that succeed and serve their communities.

Markets reveal opportunity gaps. There’s a $300 billion global financing gap for women-owned SMEs. We need to close it.

Mindsets shape resilience. This is especially critical for women who face systemic barriers.

When we support businesses that are rooted in the 4 M’s, we invest in long-term transformation.

This is the future.

If we want stronger economies, peaceful communities, and resilient futures, we must invest differently.

We need to:

• Back women.
• Back local entrepreneurs.
• Back businesses that value people and the planet.

That means rethinking how capital flows and who it reaches.

It means choosing inclusive investment models over extractive ones.

It means building with communities. Not for them or around them.

But we can’t do it alone. 

We need to build Networks and Communities. 

My work with Good Returns taught me that nothing happens alone.

If you’re ready to join a Good Business Network, 

I’d love to have you onboard: Click HERE to join.

Let’s back better. Together.

Till next time,

Peter McMullin AM.