Capitalism is changing. Are you up to the challenge?
The world as we know it is changing. We are emerging from economic crisis, grappling with issues as wide-ranging as global climate change and the exposure of unethical practices in the financial system, struggling to make sense of traditional business amid such rapid upheaval. Community and business leaders are beginning to recognize the need for a fundamentally different approach that goes beyond ‘business as usual’. But what does that approach look like, and how can we facilitate it?
Welcome to the world of Capitalism 2.0. On February 8, 2013, MBA students at the Schulich School of Business will join professionals from the private, non-profit and social sectors to discuss the future of business. Hosted by Schulich Net Impact, the conference will feature progressive industry leaders sharing their experiences on how we can best address the environmental, social, and financial challenges of the present and future.
The Schulich School of Business is on the forefront of the movement to explore more sustainable modes of capitalism. At a recent conference for alumni and professionals called Capitalism for the Long Term, Dean Horvath noted: “There are many variations of capitalism, and many different alternatives – even within the confines of one country. What this means is that we are not bound by a single model but have a choice. We can choose which model to follow or we can combine elements from different models.” The key word here is choice; it is no longer about paying lip service to corporate social responsibility or tacking on sustainability initiatives as an afterthought. It’s about choosing to be a responsible leader by turning ideas into action and making decisions that have a lasting positive impact.
One way to do this is by asking tough questions. At the conference, participants will be asked to consider what type of impact they want to have in their careers. The day will begin with a keynote address by IRIS Senior Fellow Peter Victor, York economist & author of "Managing Without Growth: Slower by Design, Not Disaster”, which will question the value of economic growth as a means of measuring societal success. Participants will then choose from three panels for the morning discussion session: 1) Reframing Business Goals, Planning and Strategy; 2) Reconceiving Markets and Serving the Bottom of the Pyramid; and 3) Rethinking Supply Chains, each featuring diverse panelists from boh traditional and non-traditional industries.
After a networking lunch, participants will choose from three breakout workshops to deepen the dialogue about transformative business practices: 1) The Business Case for Capitalism 2.0 Enterprises; 2) Leadership Skills for a Sustainable World; and 3) Creativity & Innovation in Sustainability. The formal portion of the day will conclude with a dynamic panel on Restructuring the Financial System featuring Toby Heaps, CEO of Corporate Knights, and Nicholas Parker, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of The Cleantech Group.
Through this conference, Schulich Net Impact aims to provide a welcoming forum for students and industry professionals to explore the challenges of modern business. Transformative business practices will be needed to weather the current storm and chart a new course for capitalism. On February 8th, join us to help work towards a more sustainable future.
For more event information click here.
