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Philosophical and religious teachings regarding wealth can feel both archaic and strangely relevant to our age of economic upheaval. How can we reconcile these ideas about wealth — such as renunciation and warnings against attachment — with today’s urgent questions around inequality, the shrinking middle class, and the proper role of philanthropy in a good society?
What exactly is corporate purpose? How can it provide more viable and enduring success for business and communities? Bobbi Silten, managing director of the Shared Value Initiative, shares her insights.
We don’t trust many institutions these days, but research shows a majority of us do trust our employers — especially when it comes to taking action on societal issues. And the Edelman Trust Barometer asserts that some 71 percent of employees believe it’s critically important for their CEO to respond to challenging times. But deciding whether to engage, and how, is not easy...
World order is never in stasis for too long. And indeed, we seem to be witnessing a historic shift now. The relatively stable decades after World War II saw gains for global democracies, rapid economic growth fueled by globalization, and the birth of the Internet. But they also saw the speeding of global warming, widening inequality, and the scourge of transnational terror...
Can companies determined to support solutions to some of society’s larger dilemmas make the kinds of returns that Wall Street — which judges bottom-line performance above all — happy? Yes. Take a cue from Capricorn Investment Group, born from a belief that values-based, sustainable investment practices can enhance return rates. Its mission is "to deliver extraordinary inve...
Amidst the pandemic, the George Floyd killing, and the 2020 election, the calls for business to respond to societal challenges have increased exponentially. Chip Bergh has spent much of his decade-long tenure as Levi Strauss & Co. CEO speaking out on topics including gun-violence prevention, voting rights, climate change, and racial justice. Join Bergh and Ellen McGirt as...
The relationship between business and society in America has always been close. Today, it is perhaps closer than ever. Catalyzed by events like the murder of George Floyd and inspired by powerful social movements, many corporations have moved from tacit to far more open positions on hot-button social issues. Society, in turn, has largely moved to embrace corporations whose...
Hear first-hand from four extraordinary social entrepreneurs who are working in communities around the world to solve some of society’s most complex issues from education to healthcare and human rights.
More and more, companies are embracing the concept of corporate purpose as Americans' perceptions of big business have shifted. While declaring a purpose beyond profit is a starting point, how do you actually deliver on it to drive positive change for communities and society?
Societal problems like income inequality have emerged from a financial system that has taken a wrong turn, says Harvard finance professor Mihir Desai.
Corporate leaders are being challenged to declare a purpose beyond profit, but that’s not enough given all the challenges that society faces. So how do you actually deliver on a purpose you've professed? Hear from leaders whose companies have connected their mission to the greater channel of benefits for society by practicing shared value. How are these companies simultane...
Entrepreneurs in the private and social sector share insights on the reality of making change. It’s not easy, but when change happens in a substantial way, the ripple effect is huge. How do we measure impact in ways that are efficient and rigorous? What fresh approaches can new leaders apply to standing societal problems?
Meet three disruptive business leaders — all part of the Aspen Global Leadership Network — who drive significant economic value by leveraging emerging technologies to create sustainable, inclusive, and efficient business models in drug delivery, banking, and community-focused finance. Putting values-based leadership first, they address societal needs and drive economic gro...
How do we ensure that everyone in society benefits from economic growth? How do we narrow income disparities between the topmost earners and everyone else, such that we create wealth for more people? Some CEOs suggest that our focus needs to shift to long-termism and a more socially focused view of capitalism’s broad objectives. If inclusive capitalism at its core means...
Business is the job and wealth creator—but even in an era of record-low unemployment, inequality in America continues to grow. Are there choices points for business? Which actions and investments contribute to greater shared prosperity? Can business leaders illuminate the path forward and rebuild public trust in business? Join the Aspen Institute's Business & Society Pro...
Economic uncertainty continues its reign of confusion, vexing financial leaders, regulators, and consumers with worrisome inflation and unpredictable markets. Experts weigh in on whether we can avoid a recession, what today’s banking and political difficulties signal about the future of lending and saving, and how workplace developments, A.I. advances, and complex geopolit...
A majority of Americans say that distrust is their default setting, fueled by growing distrust of democracy, media, and government, according to the 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer survey. The survey found that business is now the most trusted institution, filling the void left by paralyzed and incompetent governments, but that trust has simultaneously become localized: in my...
Achieving shared prosperity requires internal and external investments in both skills development and the tools that enable financial mobility. Corporations are recognizing and prioritizing these investments to empower a multi-generational workforce better suited for the future. Panelists will examine the complexities that corporate leaders are facing like how to establish...
The 2016 Edelman Trust Barometer is the company’s 16th annual global survey, measuring trust in key institutions—business, NGOs, media, and government—in more than 28 countries. This year’s barometer reveals a growing trust disparity between the informed public and the mass population, and explores the opportunity this presents for business and CEOs to play a leading role...
Much has been written about the elections this year – about the candidates, their policies, their personalities. But there is another story of equal importance: about us. America rests on a structure of interlocking systems – an education system that would ideally produce a citizenry knowledgeable about civics and skilled at thinking critically about what they’re seeing...