Are responsible shareholders exerting enough influence to change company behaviour towards sustainability?
Sustainable and Responsible Investing (SRI) has grown from a niche portion to a noticeable 10-20% of assets under management in many developed countries. The techniques of screening, shareholder engagement and activism and integration are gaining more acceptance even with mainstream investors, as is demonstrated by the rising number of signatories to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment.

What role does design play in creating a more sustainable economy and how can we as MBA’s be a part of this opportunity?
An introduction to the concept of biomimicry including presentation of existing products, trends and business opportunities.

How is the engagement of different stakeholders helping close the communication gap between society and business?
What is the role of civil society organizations in the design, implementation and monitoring of Social Responsibility programmes? How to manage the possibility of a moral hazard from the business-beneficiary relationship?

The UN Climate Change Conference will take place in Copenhagen in December. At this conference decisions will be made on climate policy that will affect the fate of our planet. Understand the issues under discussion, the decisions to be made, and the consequences they will entail.

Can we truly redesign capitalism without a profound change to our individual values?
An inspirational message and interactive workshop leading you to evaluate your personal values and beliefs and understand what motivates and drives you.

What organizations and regulations are needed for the fair pricing and sustainable management of public goods?
We will analyze the issues and challenges we face in taking care of our public goods and what incentives there are to integrate them in our market system.

What are the cost savings and business opportunities to build green?
Rapid urbanisation is still an unstoppable trend and cities are the centres of everything we do. How can we optimise urban quality of life, and what is the way to achieve sustainable cities? Understand the business case for LEED certified buildings and energy audits.

For the most part companies’ prime objective is to deliver financial value to shareholders. When we talk of sustainable business however it is implied that a company should also consider its impact on society and the environment. This session will be dedicated to interrogating the ways in which companies can create and measure value for all stakeholders.

Can the consulting industry be a leader in driving corporations to act more responsibly?
Considering the power and influence that consultants and consultancies have over the way business is done, what is their responsibility in ensuring that sustainability becomes core to business practices?

Are conscious consumers and civil society driving markets towards social responsibility? How are businesses driving systemic change through responsible supply chain management?
A host of ethical supply chain initiatives have emerged to raise social and environmental standards through intensive work with suppliers, local government, NGO’s and big buyers. Looking at best practices, how effective are these initiatives? What more can and should large businesses do? Can the concept of responsible consumption become mainstream and accelerate change in the business sector?

Are Social Entrepreneurs the ones who will redesign the system from within?
Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprises, rapidly growing socioeconomic movement worldwide, is changing the face of business through its combination of market principles and ethics. Through the sharing of real examples and experiences of various models, we will see how social entrepreneurship can change the way we do things, and lead to a sustainable capitalism.

How should governments measure the sustainable development of their nations? What alternatives can we use to define value creation for society?
Most economists will agree that output growth is the measure of successful development and the means to lift people out of poverty. Yet if, on a global scale, we are growing beyond the limits of our planet, how should we reconcile poverty and growth? Are there alternatives to fighting poverty, and are there better indicators to measure sustainable development?

How can our banking system ensure economic stability, environmental stewardship and create social value?
In the past decade we have seen many banking initiatives grow, such as microfinance, the Equator Principles and the Climate Principles. Is self-regulation sufficient? What to expect from the banking sector in the years to come?

What should b-schools do to develop socially responsible managers?
Following the crisis many critics blame the MBA system for creating greedy managers that have focused too much on profit and individual gain. Join the discussion to analyze and evaluate the MBA system and develop recommendations for its role in creating socially responsible leaders.