Conscious capitalism conference to convene thought leaders
May 28-30 event explores business purpose and stakeholder business model
Tuesday May 26, 2009 -- Jennifer Higgs
Thought leaders will be gathering May 28-30 for Conceptualizing Conscious Capitalism, a two-day conference exploring the fundamentals of business purpose, leadership values and stakeholder orientation. 

Bentley University, located in Waltham, Massachusetts, is hosting the event that will look at the need to change the profit-centric business model and raise consciousness in business.

According to conference literature, conscious capitalism is defined as companies with a purpose that transcends profit maximization, managed for the benefit of stakeholders and led by spiritually evolved and self-effacing leaders.

The event will be co-chaired by Bentley University professor of marketing Rajendra Sisodia and The Darden School Elis and Signe Olsson professor of business administration R. Edward Freeman.

“Conscious Capitalism is a holistic approach that suggests business must serve a higher purpose than merely maximizing profit. It’s about improving the world,” said Sisodia in a press release.

“It’s a model where society, the environment, partners, investors, customers and employees are all considered stakeholders. When that happens, everyone profits,” he said.

“We’ve gathered presenters and panellists who will explore how companies can use creative business models to transform society, inspire passion and commitment, and help solve the world’s many social and environmental problems,” said Sisodia.

The event features a roster of academic and business speakers. Presentations include Doing Well and Doing Good, Aligning Stakeholders, Conscious Leadership and Business and Society.

Speakers include Massachusetts Institute of Technology senior lecturer Peter Senge, Whole Foods CEO John Mackey, FLOW CEO Michael Strong and Harvard Business School professor Nancy Koehn.

Co-sponsors include FLOW, The Aspen Institute, Society for Organizational Learning, Olsson Center for Applied Ethics, Bentley University’s Center for Business Ethics and the Business Roundtable Institute for Corporate Ethics.

The event will build on the first practitioner-centric conference Catalyzing Conscious Capitalism, which was held in Austin, Texas, November 2008.

“Join us at the beginning of this exciting journey, as we set out to show how business can indeed be a noble pursuit, how it can exist comfortably and profitably on the right side of society, how it can embody qualities such as caring and love without being decimated by ruthless and single-minded competitors, and how it can spread healing and joy all around without exploitation of any kind,” states conference literature.

To learn more or register, visit www.bentley.edu/conscious-capitalism/.

If you have feedback on this article, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051 or e-mail jennifer(at)axiomnews.ca.