Published January 23, 2013

by iris_author

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 8^th, join us to help work towards a more sustainable future.

For more event information click here.

Posted in: Events

Published January 23, 2013

by iris_author

You and your friends are invited to enjoy an evening of interactive art
engaging Canadians from coast to coast!

Please join us on Thursday January 31st at 6pm EST for National
Projections featuring:
- Interactive digital projection by Faisal Anwar
- Live connection to sites across the country
- Panel discussion on art and Canadian identity
- Live competitive painting by Art Battle
- Exhibit of artwork by emerging artists

RSVP to attend in Toronto at House of Moments (386 Carlaw Ave) or Online
at http://tigurl.org/rsvp

Contribute to our interactive online art projection by:
- sending in a tweet #CDNmoments highlighting a personal Canadian
experience
- Submitting artwork to our online collection
www.canadianmoments.ca/contest
- Hosting our digital art projection by Faisal Anwar, and featuring it in
your community (school, library, workplace etc)
For more information contact moments@takingitglobal.org

Posted in: Events

Published January 22, 2013

by iris_author

Posted in: Events

Published January 22, 2013

by iris_author

Location: SSB W256, Schulich School of Business
Day: Tuesday, March 26
Time: 7:00-8:00 PM

Sustainable Value Creation Speaker Series

Posted in: Events

Published January 22, 2013

by iris_author

Location: SSB W256, Schulich School of Business
Day: Tuesday, March 19
Time: 7:00-8:00 PM

Guest Speaker: Karim Harji, Co-Founder, Venture Deli, Co-Founder, socialfinance.ca, Mentor and Instructor, Social Entrepreneurship 

Karim Harji is the co-founder and a Partner at Venture Deli, a firm that builds and capitalizes ventures that matter to the world. Most recently, he was the Senior Manager for Partnerships & Social Impact at Social Capital Partners, where he led initiatives that provided growth financing and advisory services to franchises and large corporations seeking to enhance their social impact.

Karim is a Senior Research Associate at the Carleton Centre for Community Innovation at Carleton University, and teaches social entrepreneurship at York University and the University of Toronto (in the business and engineering faculties, respectively). He is a regular blogger at socialfinance.ca, the leading website on social finance and impact investing in Canada, which he co-founded in 2008.

Karim was previously a management consultant at Aperio, where he advised social sector organizations on strategy, business planning, and social enterprise. Karim also worked as a researcher and consultant in the areas of corporate social responsibility, community economic development, program evaluation, and social impact assessment. His international work experience includes human rights at the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), microfinance in Pakistan, and community health in Kenya.

Karim holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from Carleton University, and an undergraduate degree in Economics from McMaster University. He is on the Board of the Small Change Fund, and previously served on the Boards of the Social Venture Exchange (SVX) and the Canadian Community Investment Network Co-op.

Sustainable Value Creation Speaker Series

Posted in: Events

Published January 22, 2013

by iris_author

Location: SSB W256, Schulich School of Business
Day: Tuesday, March 5
Time: 7:00-8:00 PM

Guest Speaker: Angie Draskovic, Founder and CEO, Zoe Alliance

Angie is an accomplished executive, whose experience comprises a unique blend of 25 years of business and non-profit leadership in corporate and entrepreneurial settings. As a senior executive in telecommunications, she established footholds for start-up businesses in competitive markets, implemented new business models for established businesses and led teams to achieve unprecedented sales results of over US$700 million.

Most recently, Angie has invested the past 5 years in the development of ZOË Alliance, a for profit social purpose business that harnesses corporate spending to help developing global communities grow their economies resulting in an innovative and sustainable approach to poverty alleviation and exclusion. In 2012, Angie was invited to speak at TEDxToronto to share the broader concept of Social Sourcing.  Her vision is of a society that intentionally chooses to purchase up to 10% of planned spending from companies that employ people living in poverty, adults with disabilities or other social enterprises.

Having dedicated herself to life long advocacy for people in developing communities, she volunteers as a board member and advisor for several charitable organizations. When she is not working or volunteering, Angie enjoys learning Spanish, thought provoking books, and long hikes with her husband of 25 years and their two children.

Sustainable Value Creation Speaker Series

Posted in: Events

Published January 22, 2013

by iris_author

Location: SSB W256, Schulich School of Business
Day: Tuesday, February 26 (Note new date)
Time: 7:00-8:00 PM

Guest Speaker: Hany Assaad, Co-Founder of Avanz Capital

Hany  is a respected senior investment and finance professional with over 26 years of experience, including serving as CIO in IFC’s Private Equity Funds Group. He was with the IFC for over 20 years including leading their Private Equity Funds Group and managing IFC's investments in clean energy, extractive industries, infrastructure and healthcare. He held various positions across IFC with regional responsibilities in companies, financial institutions and funds covering the Middle East & North Africa, South & Southeast Asia and Emerging Europe, with transactional experience in Latin America and Africa.

Hany was also right-hand-man to James Wolfensohn when he was president
of the World Bank. He is a co-founder of Avanz Capital, his own private equity firm focusing on emerging markets, where he is Chief Portfolio, Risk & Compliance Officer managing the sourcing, screening and negotiating of investments, as well as risk management.  http://www.avanzcapital.com/

Hany will talk about impact investing for poverty alleviation and
sustainable development.

Sustainable Value Creation Speaker Series

Posted in: Events

Published January 22, 2013

by iris_author

Location: SSB W256, Schulich School of Business
Day: Tuesday, February 5
Time: 7:00-8:00 PM

Guest Speaker: Dr. Ken Simiyu, Program Officer, Grand Challenges Canada

Ken Simiyu is a Program Officer at Grand Challenges Canada. He leads the Stars in Global Health program that is designed to enable innovators in low- and lower-middle-income countries and Canada to develop their bold ideas with big impact to improve global health conditions. Dr. Simiyu also co-leads the Point-of-Care Diagnostics portfolio, which is a partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation designed to create a new class of point-of-care diagnostics that will be easy to use, low-cost, multiplexed and able to assess disease stage and provide information on prognosis. In addition, he supports the development and implementation of other Grand Challenges Canada initiatives.

Before joining Grand Challenges Canada, Dr. Simiyu provided marketing research and business development expertise to the Kenyan government, the Kenyan Trypanosomiasis Research Institute and international pharmaceutical companies based in Nairobi,Kenya. In Washington,DC, Dr. Simiyu worked with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as a health policy consultant.

Dr. Simiyu completed his PhD at the Institute of Medical Sciences,University of Toronto, where he focused on health innovation in developing countries. Specifically he focused on identifying health technologies developed in Africa and developing pathways to commercialize them, including business innovation. His research interests focus broadly on how technologies can move from the “lab to village”. Dr. Simiyu received a Bachelors degree in Veterinary Medicine and Master’s degrees in Veterinary Public Health and Business Administration from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and completed a Masters in Public Health degree at George Washington University,Washington, DC.

Sustainable Value Creation Speaker Series

Posted in: Events

Published January 21, 2013

by iris_author

IRIS is hosting its 4^th Annual Earth Hour Event in collaboration with human rights and environmental groups from both Keele and Glendon Campus. Join us Wednesday, March 20^th for an evening filled with food, poetry, music and games. The event kicks off near the sacred fire by Stong Pond with an opening ceremony from Professor Robin Cavanagh. Following this, we will take a short walk into Michelangelo's Restaurant, located in the basement of the Atkinson Building. Make sure to grab a good seat to hear an invigorating presentation by Brad as well as sustainability-related poetry readings from an array of talent! But don't think this event is just a show! We have fun games and lantern-making workshops planned to make sure you're energized while we keep the lights off. Add a Sustainability Club Fair, acoustic music and dinner into the mix and you have the ingredients for an unforgettable night! And did we mention it's all FREE?!

Earth Hour began in 2006 when the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Sydney, Australia introduced the plan to turn off lights for an hour to take a stand against climate change. Since 2008, Earth Hour has become an international event; Toronto was the first city outside of Sydney to adopt Earth Hour! Earth Hour is a day of celebration and recognition for greater innovation in sustainability. We welcome you to join our Earth Hour event and raise the standard of action against climate change here at York University.

Outcome: Last year, over 150 students came out to the Earth Hour event to participate and increase their awareness about building a sustainable earth! Will you be there with us this year?

Posted in: Events

Published January 16, 2013

by afdubreu

You are invited to come and hear , Nadine Gudz, Director, Sustainability Strategy at Interface speak to us about Interface's incredible and continuing journey to becoming the first sustainable industrial company in the world ("Mission Zero™"). Interface is a pioneer in sustainable business and has had significant impact on the practices of many other companies.

Nadine Gudz is an accomplished speaker and has served as the Director, Sustainability Strategy, at Interface since December 2007. In this position, she has leveraged and expanded Interface's leadership position in order to advance the company’s Mission Zero™. She also serves as Board Director at Rethink Sustainability, a hub for Senior Leaders who want to optimize sustainability & innovation for business success.

Attendance for the event is limited, and we ask you to register at: http://forms.schulich.yorku.ca/sustainabilityspeakerseries2

We look forward to seeing you on Jan 22.

Posted in: Events