The Business4Good Blog

Reflections on the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2010 (by the Gong Man)

2010-07-23T12:24:00.004-04:00

Where is the tipping point for a new era of sustainability? This was one of the key questions of the promising UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2010 last month in New York. 'Official' Summit blogger Dirk Matten has well covered the Summit and its wider CSR context. Therefore, I focus here on my personal reflections and listing the official new resources launched.

Firstly, it's great to see the growing momentum of the Global Compact and the whole sustainability movement. The compact itself grew from a 30-40 company club 10 years ago, into the largest CSR network with over 8.000 participants in 2010. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon talked about a new era of sustainability seeing the Compact with 20.000 participants by 2020. Frankly, this looks like linear growth and I'd like to see exponential growth reaching 50.000 or even 100.00 participants.

I actually had the funniest (and toughest) job at the Summit helping out my Global Compact friends as the 'Gong Man' and time keeper. The mandate passionately delivered to me by Global Compact director Georg Kell gave me two sleepless nights. How to keep an 1.200 people event on time with dozens of VIPs, CEOs, ministers on stage which are not used to be interrupted? Getting real and being unimpressible by titles and status was my only resort and I even had to gong the moderator once. People told me that this is the 'toughest job' and appreciated very much that the Summit was on time, start to end.

The big clock around my neck mainly saved as funny ice breaker for some 'stiff' and serious energy. I actually enjoyed being the 'clown' between the many VIPs and it showed the human and humor side of ministers, CEOs and alike. (Lesson learned is to wear something funny at a conference, a huge facilitator to get to know people :)

Happy 10th Birthday, Global Compact! Wishing you 10 more years with exponential success. Time is ready for the tipping point of a new era of sustainability.

You can watch the webcast of the Summit and below a list of new resources and initiatives launched:

Assessments:

UN Global Compact Annual Review – Anniversary Edition. Download.
A New Era of Sustainability: UN Global Compact-Accenture CEO Study 2010. Download.
United Nations Global Compact Local Network Report 2010. Download.
Role of Governments in Promoting Corporate Responsibility and Private Sector Engagement in Development. Download.
A Greener Tomorrow – How Caring for Climate Signatories are Leading the Way to a Low Carbon Economy. Download.
Moving Upwards: The Involvement of Boards of Directors in the UN Global Compact. Download.
Coming of Age: UN-Business Collaboration Since 2000. Download.
Innovating for a Brighter Future: The Role of Business in Achieving the MDGs. Download.
Global Compact Participants in Latin America and the Caribbean: Contribution to the Millennium Development Goals. Download (English), (Spanish).

Principles:

Women's Empowerment Principles – Equality Means Business. Download.
Principles for Social Investment (PSI). Download.
Launch of Process to Develop Children’s Principles. More Information.

Tools & Guidance:

Blueprint for Corporate Sustainability Leadership within the Global Compact. Download.
UN Global Compact Management Model. Download.
A Global Compact for Development. Download.
Guidance on Responsible Business in Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas: A Resource for Companies and Investors. Download (English), (Chinese).
Supply Chain Sustainability: A Practical Guide for Continuous Improvement. Download.
Sustainable Supply Chains: Resources and Practices. Access Website.
Lawyers as Leaders: The Essential Role of Legal Counsel in Corporate Sustainability Agenda. Download.
An Introduction to Linkages between UN Global Compact Principles and ISO 26000 Core Subjects. Download.
The Global Compact Self Assessment Tool. Access Website.
Global Compact Network Management Toolkit: Version 1. Download.
Human Rights and Business E-Learning Tool. Access Website.
Guide on How to Develop a Human Rights Policy. Download.
Human Rights and Business Dilemmas Forum. Access Website.
The Labour Principles of the United Nations Global Compact: A Guide for Business. Download.
Human Trafficking and Business: Good Practices to Prevent and Combat Human Trafficking. Download.
Environmental Stewardship Strategy – Overview and Resource for Corporate Leaders. Download. Access Website.
Framework for Responsible Business Engagement with Water Policy. Download.
Low Carbon Leaders – Transformative Solutions for a Low-Carbon Future. Download.
Reporting Guidance on the 10th Principle Against Corruption. Download.
Fighting Corruption in the Supply Chain: A Guide for Customers and Suppliers. Download.
E-learning Tool: Fighting Against Corruption. Download.
Collective Action – Building a Coalition Against Corruption. Download.

Best Practices:

Doing Business While Advancing Development and Peace. Download.
Dialogues on Integrating Human Rights – Testimonials by Business Leaders. Access Website.
From Principles to Practice: The Role of SA8000 in Implementing the UN Global Compact. Download.
Implementing the United Nations Global Compact in China: Inspirational Case Examples. Download.
GRI and UN Global Compact Forge New Alliance. More Information.

Photo credit: UN Global Compact/Michael Dames

Global Compact Leaders Summit 2010 and other things to look forward...

2010-06-21T22:01:00.004-04:00

Let's start off with a positive note... I am happy :) out of several reasons: Summer is here, I am going on holidays soon and my 'new' work-life approach does make sense: Following my heart to explore timeless wisdom and to expand consciousness in my daily life and work. Might sound airy-fairy but it is actually very practical. It not only feels right but also bears fruits regarding work satisfaction and efficiency with very positive feedback from colleagues.

A break-through at work is that the major project I have been designing the last months is being approved and therefore I am going to move to Johannesburg in September 2010 for about two years! It's a big Africa UNDP project aiming at developing a vibrant private sector in multiple African countries. Why is this exciting? It's the first of its kind for UNDP in Africa and 'fresh' compared to traditional aid project as it intends to unleash people's inherent potential, specifically on entrepreneurship, which then leads to job and income generation. More as soon as the project is officially launched.

Already happening this week is the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2010 in New York City. The last Summit which happened 2007 was very interesting, see my article about it's outcomes. This week, more than 1,200 executives from nearly 100 countries are confirmed to attend this historic event. Registration is closed (and was invitation-only to mainly CEOs), however you can follow it live via live on the UN Webcast site or read about it on the Global Compact blog or Crane and Matten blog.

Last not least, I just received confirmation that an article I wrote for the upcoming Thunderbird Business Review special issue on Entrepreneurship and Sustainability got accepted and will be the opening piece. This is great news as it is the first article for me of this kind and motivates me for more. Will link as soon as published...

Good luck and peace!

First Explorations into Conscious Business: How to integrate Money and Meaning?

2010-05-26T16:54:00.008-04:00

As I have hinted at in earlier posts I want to take this blog onto the next level: From social and doing-good business to 'conscious business'. This is a journey as I do not have a fixated definition of conscious business nor capitalism and even the Wikipedia description is more a starting point. You are invited to join and explore this emerging new field... (which I am considering to do my PhD in).

Let's start with excerpts from one of the very few articles that aim to bring together business and spiritual thinking. Brian Whetten writes in The Huffington Post about "What Does it Mean To Practice Conscious Capitalism?:

"When we open to spiritual reality, our experience is one of abundance. In contrast, modern economic theory is based on scarcity. One of the definitions of economics is "the social science of choice under scarcity." With this comes fear, denial, greed and addiction. There's a reason why economics is called the dismal science.

This does not mean that economics is wrong. What it means is that the world changes as we lift in consciousness. At the physical level, the world looks like it's based in scarcity, win/lose, either/or, and survival of the fittest. But as we're able to see things from a higher perspective, we realize that things are based in abundance, win/win, both/and, and love. ...

We all have a challenge integrating money and meaning, and it shows up in our lives and in society. Notice how we have two types of organizations, for-profit companies that focus primarily on money and non-profits that focus primarily on service. Relatively few groups do both at the same time, because conscious business requires learning how to embrace and heal the conflicts inside ourselves.

In other words, conscious business starts by recognizing that it can't be measured just by the mission of the organization. It also requires focusing on the consciousness of the members in the organization. In other words, it's not enough to focus just on what we do, it also requires focusing on how we are as we do it."

Read the full article here or visit Brian's website www.consciousbusinessnow.com
What an interesting start, thanks Brian. What do you think?

The Top 50 Sustainability Books?

2010-03-27T21:59:00.016-04:00

Interested in the most prominent sustainability books? Greenleaf Publishing has an interesting publication summarizing the thinking of new and timeless classics. "The Top 50 Sustainability Books" is written by Wayne Visser, founder of CSR International and very active in the field. Like with every ranking you could argue about the criteria but anyway there us much inspiration in and to learn from these books. You can order at a 20% discount at Greenleaf.

The Top 20 in order with some excerpts accessible:

An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It, by Al Gore, 2006
Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson, 1962
The Economics of Climate Change : The Stern Review, by Nicholas Stern, 2007
Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered, by E.F. Schumacher, 1973
Capitalism as if the World Matters, by Jonathon Porritt, 2005
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive, by Jared Diamond, 2005
Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution, by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and L. Hunter Lovins, 2000
Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth, by James Lovelock, 2000
Our Common Future, by The World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987
Cannibals with Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business, by John Elkington, 1999
The Limits to Growth, by Donella H. Meadows, Dennis L. Meadows and Jorgen Randers, 1972
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, by William McDonough (A) and Michael Braungart (A), 2002
Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty through Profits, by C.K. Prahalad, 2004
The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time, by Jeffrey Sachs, 2005.
Heat: How to Stop the Planet from Burning, by George Monbiot, 2006
Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, by Janine Benyus, 2003
The Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability, by Paul Hawken, 1994
Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the battle Against World Poverty, by Muhammad Yunus, 1999
The Turning Point: Science Society and the Rising Culture, by Fritjof Capra, 1984
Development as Freedom, by Amartya Sen, 2000

Enjoy catching up with your reading list :)

Video: Eckhart Tolle, Spiritual Master, on the Economic Crisis and Change

2010-03-13T17:31:00.007-05:00

Ever since the recent crises, namely climate, financial and economic I have been contemplating about the reasons and what to learn from the challenges. On a professional level, I have been learning through my consulting work at the United Nations and my honorary work for the Mali Initiative. On a more personal level, I have been on a journey of in-sights and in-tution through personal development and meditation.

Through these ways, I have experienced to appreciate challenges as 'signs' that change or transformation is required. I find the connection between our own state of consciousness (inside) and state of economy and environment (outside) intriguing. Therefore, I am going to increasingly share with you content on 'conscious business' and 'inspired leadership'. Hope you are open-minded and interested?

Eckhart Tolle, bestseller author and spiritual Master, talks in the following video about the current economy, its crises and the underlying reasons. He describes why the collapse of ego-based institutions is necessary for the planet and for humanity to survive.

Watch on YouTube or embedded below:

Search and Save the Planet: Green Google Alternatives

2010-03-04T18:46:00.007-05:00

Short and sweet, I want to bring to your attention two real Business4Good candidates. Both are 'eco-friendly' search engines giving you the choice of saving rainforest and making you 'googling' CO2-neutral.

1. Ecosia: www.ecosia.org
Eevery search saves about 2 m² of rainforest, according to Ecosia which cooperates with the WWF. It's results are based on Bing and Yahoo.

2. Znout: www.znout.org
Accordning to Znout, you can make your Internet searches CO2 neutral. Based on Google.

Next two these two, there are more green search engines in the market. Even they don't have built in some fancy Google features the green alternatives are certainly good enough for usual searches. Computers are a significant and growing consumer of electricity and therefore producer of CO2 and climate change.

"Electricity generation required for information and communication technologies is currently responsible for 2% of global CO₂ emissions" (Techcrunch)

I just switched to green 'googling' and made one of them my default search engine. Just waiting for the moment when giant Google wakes up by searchers walking off green and then starts greening itself. Goliath, the green Davids are coming.

Happy green searching.

Video: The Story of Stuff

2010-02-13T17:13:00.004-05:00

After several people told me about a video "The Story of Stuff" I finally watched it. The 20 minute video is a refreshing, eye-opening mix between documentary and story-telling. Watch it, spread it and decide for yourself how to react to the 'inconvenient truth' of consumerism.

What is The Story of Stuff?
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

Haiti: How you can help rebuild a better future

2010-01-18T12:15:00.005-05:00

Heavy hearts at the UN. Just coming back from staff briefing on Haiti. A colleague I know survived but the disastrous earthquake is the biggest single loss in UN history and probably the biggest disaster the UN has dealt with.

A video showed shocking damage in Haiti and first hand reports of Haitian colleagues were heartbreaking. Secretary-General called the international response overwhelming and an act of love. It will take years for the people to get back on track.

You can help, too, here a couple of suggestions:

UN Foundation: UN including the World Food Program is the first responder
Betterplace: Good for smaller, direct projects with regular communications
or if you are a Business, donate and help reconstruct: Business.un.org

Businessmen, the Planet Needs You

2009-12-14T12:52:00.006-05:00

Summary of a New York times op-ed by Georg Kell, my previous boss and executive director of United Nations Global Compact, a U.N. initiative to encourage businesses to adopt socially responsible policies.

"As negotiating teams labor at the U.N. climate change conference, a rising chorus of business leaders is chanting “seal the deal.”

Though notions of hammering out an actual climate treaty in Copenhagen have been put to rest, many captains of industry are nonetheless urging governments to agree on the core elements of a climate framework that can serve the basis of a treaty. ...

But given the level of inaction and the counteracting forces of organized opposition, further steps will be needed to truly tip the scale in favor of positive business action.

First, progressive businesses must take their case to the industry fence-sitters through an active outreach campaign that includes a number of key messages:

1. climate change is the test of business leadership in the 21st century;
2. the future of the global marketplace hangs in the balance;
3. addressing climate can trigger an era of sustainable prosperity;
4. transformation is possible and viable; and
5. climate change is an urgent ethical issue for the broader role business in society.

Of course, it would be naïve not to acknowledge that there will be industry losers in the end. There will be those companies and sectors that are just too entrenched in the high-carbon economy to adapt and change.

A second action must involve the further mobilization of key stakeholders — most notably civil society, consumers and the investment community. ...

Achieving the low-carbon economy of the future will not be possible without the active role of business. Some have taken up the challenge. It is time for the fence-sitters to join this effort."

Read the full op-ed at New York Times.

Today is UN Day - video message from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

2009-10-24T16:04:00.004-04:00

Today is UN-day celebrating the anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations, as which "shall be devoted to making known to the peoples of the world the aims and achievements of the United nations and to gaining their support for" its work.

The UN is doing work in many different areas from peacekeeping, health, children and women, environment, human rights to sustainable development. Currently, I am myself involved in facilitating partnerships with companies to create jobs and income opportunities in developing countries, most of them in Africa.

See a video message from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

"The United Nations is doing its utmost to respond — to address the big issues, to look at the big picture. We are forging a new multilateralism that can deliver real results for all people, especially those most in need."
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Message on UN Day, 24 October 2009

Let's transcend the obsession with economic growth - Stiglitz et al. recommend to go beyond GDP

2009-09-14T15:25:00.007-04:00

"Well-being is more than money", a saying that could come from the Dalai Lama but in this case it is the essence of a recent report done by a group of 22 leaders. The group comissioned by French president Sarkozy included Nobel economics prize winner Stiglitz, and Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen who helped create the U.N. Human Development Index.

"The report, delivered to Mr. Sarkozy on Monday, recommends shifting the emphasis from GDP, which measures economic production, to well-being and sustainability. "GDP statistics were originally introduced to measure market economic activity," Mr. Stiglitz said. "But they are increasingly thought of as a measure of societal well-being, which they are not. … Our economy is supposed to increase our well being; it is not an end in itself."

The report suggests looking at household income, consumption and wealth rather than production in the economy as a whole for a better reflection of material living standards... More prominence should be given to the distribution of income and wealth, as well as to access to education and health, the report said, adding that attention should also be given to whether countries are over-consuming their economic wealth and damaging the environment.

The report also recommends that indexes should integrate complex realities, such as crime, the environment and the efficiency of the health system, as well as income inequality."

Read on at Wall Street Journal

Personally, I believe we would benefit tremendously by 'updating' our 'success metrics'. How can we continue to count car accidents, bombs etc. as a positive on our national production measurement? How can we continue to believe that the more and faster the better? Let's support this more holistic way of measuring our well-being!

If you think the recommendation from the Stiglitz-commission doesn't go far enough, maybe we should go to adopt Bhutan's GHI, Gross National Happiness.

Social Entrepreneur example: Oliberté Footwear from Africa!

2009-08-21T16:33:00.011-04:00

Working at UNDP in my professional life... I do have a passion for Social Entrepreneurs in my private life. Despite all the red-tape and challenges, they are the ones who push for development with business spirit, in many cases with social rather profit goals.

So when I heard that Tal Dehtiar started "Oliberté Footwear" I was curious. I know Tal from founding and running MBAs without Borders until starting Oliberté. This footwear venture is positioned as "1st Urban Brand from Africa", so hopefully it will show Africa's "Yes, we can" attitude.

"Oliberté is a new revolution showcasing the true potential of Africa. Every time someone buys a pair of Oliberté shoes, they are showing to the world that Africa is more than just poverty - that it is full of pride, power and liberty" said Tal Dehtiar. "All the attention on Africa is focused on alleviating poverty, but the only real way to alleviate poverty on this beautiful continent is to build a middle class that includes fair paying jobs. The more shoes sold, the more fair jobs will be created at local factories where Oliberté works, which ultimately changes lives for the better."

By 2015, Oliberté looks to work in over 10 countries in Africa to source material, accessories and manufacture its shoes that will be sold from Canada to USA to Europe to Australia to Japan. "If we wanted to make cheap shoes, we'd simple go to Asia, but this is NOT about cheap shoes or labour. This is about premium quality and fashionable footwear that creates fair paying jobs in the poorest countries of the world. Pride. Power. Liberty. This is the real Africa. This is Oliberté."

Changing the world to the better with every shoe!?
www.oliberte.com/shoes

The Necessary Revolution - Climate Change boils our HOME

2009-06-11T21:44:00.011-04:00

"20% of the world population consumes
80% of the world resources."

Business as humans are part of wider systems, we all share the same home, one planet. Unfortunately, the way we do business, the way of our cherished materialistic development has been seriously bringing these systems out of balance.

"We spend 12 times more on military than on aid to developing countries"

Personally, I have struggled the last 10 years to bring the puzzle pieces of my life experiences together to see the bigger picture. And the picture is ugly. Despite being an optimist: 'we f*cked up'. Sorry for my language but our limited consciousness of the timeless universal truth - everything is linked is everything - has separated us from nature. This led to our "extract, make, waste" approach.

"We only have 10 years to revert the greenhouse gases trend"

Climate Change is real, it's right in our face... and we can do something about it. Recently, a book and a movie have helped me to see the bigger picture clearer and today I want to share them with you:

1. HOME - In my view the best documentary movie since Inconvenient Truth and Baraka... amazing footage (watch in high quality) I am still holding my breath, it even features Mali.

2. The necessary Revolution - A timely book by management guru Peter Senge, Bryan Smith et al. It gives inspiring examples on how individuals and organizations are working together to create a sustainable world.

'Systems thinking' illustrations paint a clear picture on how we need to change our 'exploit, make, wast' consumerism. A great follow through after you regain your breath from the HOME movie.

"We all have the power to change.
So what are we waiting for?"

Business and Development: UNDP's Growing Sustainable Business Initiative

2009-05-28T12:38:00.007-04:00

I have been quite about my latest assignment so far... but since a Financial Times article came out yesterday, it’s time to talk about UNDP’s Growing Sustainable Business (GBS) initiative:

Enterprise introduces a whiff of revolution

In her book Dead Aid, Dambisa Moyo calls for the end of aid to Africa within five years. Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda – which has halved aid as a percentage of its gross domestic product in the past decade – recently argued in the Financial Times that aid creates instability and dependency while failing to reduce poverty or disease. Ms Moyo and Mr Kagame are among those questioning traditional models of development. While not all favour the pure for-profit approach, many argue that there is a greater role for market-based approaches to global problems. If such models prevail, the question for big non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international public sector institutions is how to fit into the new development landscape…

“Business and society have to go through this utterly profound management transformation to move away from a few people running everyone else,” says Bill Drayton, founder of Ashoka the pioneering social entrepreneurship non-profit. “Because that model can’t function in a world with rapid change coming from all directions.” In contrast to the more nimble social entrepreneurs, organisations such as the World Bank and the UN can seem lumbering and out of touch. Some believe this stems from outdated management processes and sprawling bureaucratic structures…

Some institutions are also recognising their potential convening role in market-led initiatives. This is something the United Nations Development Programme is doing through its Growing Sustainable Business initiative. The idea behind the GSB is that the UNDP can broker partnerships between companies and NGOs or local government agencies to accelerate the provision of goods, services and employment in poor countries.

In Africa, one of the GSB partnerships – between Unilever, the consumer products group, and social and environmental institutions – is developing the Allanblackia tree into a new crop that will be a supplementary source of oil for Unilever products as well as an additional income stream for farmers…”

12 Simple Things You Can Do to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

2009-05-12T21:19:00.007-04:00

Some of these tipps might sound trivial but I do scratch my head when colleagues in my office do not turn off their PCs in the evening or car drivers let their engine run while waiting in their car for long...

Let's lead by example, therefore 12 Simple Things You Can Do to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint from UNDP (see full ad here):

Turn it off
Turn off lights, televisions, videos, stereos, heaters, cars and computers when not in use - they can use 10 to 40% of the power when on standby. Also, unplug chargers as soon as they have finished charging.
Be exact
Fill the kettle with only as much water as you need.
Close it
Don't leave fridge doors open for longer than necessary.
Check your tires
Properly inflated tires can improve your car’s fuel efficiency.
Use no plastic
Use cloth bags when going shopping and avoid buying products which use too much plastic.
Fan up
Instead of using air conditioners in the summer, wear cool clothes, and use a fan.
Drive less
Do your weekly errands in a single trip or pay your bills online. Walk, bike, ride the bus or carpool.
Optimize your speed
You will consume up to 25% less fuel if you drive no more than 90 km/hr.
Drive hybrid
A hybrid or other fuel-efficient car emits less carbon dioxide.
Replace them
Replace your incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). CFLs cost 3 to 5 times as much but use less than a third of the power. Also, replace old fridge and other appliances with energy-efficient ones.
Watch what you eat
Choose food produced close to your home.
Recycle
Consume less, and re-use old products.

Refer this site to a friend: www.12simplethings.org

What else is missing? I'd add:
13. Insulate your home, so you need less heating... and snuggle more ;)
14. Plant a Tree!

Yunus: The Authenticity and Simplicity of a Noble Peace Winner

2009-05-01T17:32:00.006-04:00

Recently I attended an inspiring talk by peace noble laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus. This blog has covered him extensively because ever since I am exploring the cross-roads of business approaches to social and sustainable development Yunus has been an idol for me. The talk - which was facilitated by Jeffrey Sachs - was inspiring on two fronts: scale of achievements and his personal charisma.

First, how many example in the development are do you know having positive benefits for millions of people? Frankly, I do not know many. Even now working for UN's Development Programme, I see how even multi-million programmes of the largest development agencies and biggest brands in the world struggle to deliver tangible results, let alone of that scale. Now he has already touched nearly 8 million lives, mainly of marginalized women.

Second, I am touched at heart how humble and authentic Yunus is. A man sitting in Bangladeshi textile with a near Dalai Lama smile talking about over 30 years of his life with such an empathy for his country women and simplicity. He doesn't use any jargon, theories or buzz words. Yunus says, he just wanted to be of use for at least 1 person. Isn't that an example to follow?

Let's make a difference to at least one person and the world will be a better place. Yes we can! A wise man said once "If Not Me, Then Who? If Not Now, Then When?".

Natural Entrepreneurs: Following the flow to find the career of your dreams?

2009-04-06T19:00:00.005-04:00

Does business need to be profit-greedy and your work hard? Of course not. Instead, your career is part of your life and we are no victims but creators of our own circumstances along the path we decided to walk.

"This economic crisis may be just the push you need to find the career of your dreams." is the subtitle of an interesting article in Ode Magazine. Author Dave Pollard contrasts the "natural entrepreneur" to the hard-working factory or office laborer. I myself did feel like an assembly-line worker in a factory with the only difference that I was chasing my email inbox.

So it it very refreshing to see Pollard's six points on how Natural Entreprenerus are different:

"They had found their sweet spot, the work where their gifts, their passions and their purpose intersected.
They had found the right business partners, people who shared their purpose and whose gifts and passions complemented their own.
They did world-class research to identify real needs that weren’t being met by any other enterprise in the marketplace.
They used a rigorous, continuous process to invent and commercialize products and services that met those unmet needs.
Instead of planning for the future, they had learned how to improvise, to adapt easily to changes in the economy and demographics.
They acted with integrity, operating in a way that resonated with their values, and made principled decisions, not opportunistic ones, in the long-term interest of their partners, employees, customers and communities."

Read the full article here, including the reference to his book.
Which side are you on?

Social Entrepreneurs make it into The Economist: Global heros saving the world?

2009-03-26T21:33:00.007-04:00

When the conservative economic magazine The Economist is picking up a trend then it can't be a hype anymore. They run specials on (Social) Entrepreneurship and - wow - their titles even go overboard: "Global heros" and "Saving the World".

The first hero-article describes how - despite the downturn - entrepreneurs are enjoying a renaissance the world over. It brings back the famous phrase of “creative destruction” by Joseph Schumpeter from 1942. Then it busts five myths on entrepreneurs and covers the who-is-who o (American) entrepreneurs.

The second article 'Saving the world' covers how entrepreneurs are trying to do good as well as make money. Key messages resonate much with me such as "Social entrepreneurs often blur the distinction between making money and offering charity. Some use the profits from their main business to cross-subsidise their charitable work." (This mix I have lived the last two years). With dozens of comments it's a hotly debated article.

Also interesting: "In the long run, however, the best thing that entrepreneurs can do for the poor may be simply to see them as workers and customers." This - in an empowering, integrating way - is what UNDP's Growing Sustainable Business Initiative, who I am currently working for, is trying to do. Stay tuned...

A social technology to connect to the future: "Presencing"

2009-02-27T08:05:00.006-05:00

Do you want to know how to create your future out of the present moment? Sounds like a spiritual question but MIT lecturer Dr. Otto Scharmer has formulated a ‘technology’ called “Presencing” that describes the process how creative leaders give birth to the future that wants to happen.

Recently I attended the first online class of Otto and his Presencing Institute. Out of the MIT he gives interactive lectures accompanied with group work with like-minded people from all over the world. I was very impressed how Otto describes 'soft' and spiritual processes in a language that “mind-people” can understand.

Otto has German roots but lives in the US and has extensively described the process and examples of Presencing in his ‘Theory U’ book. You can read the executive summary here. As illustrated below, the U stands for going down into the source with an open mind, open heart and open will, and then coming up by sensing and letting emerge visions of the future:

I have tried similar techniques in an ‘inspiration coach’ training and must say that this stuff actually works! ‘Going with the flow’ has been one of my recent mantras and plays a new major role on my work and private life. Have you made any experiences in this area?

World Economic Forum on Businnes & Climate Change

2009-02-04T02:01:00.002-05:00

"UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underscored this connection in his address. "Climate change threatens all our goals for development and social progress," he stated. "On the other hand, it also presents us with a gilt-edged opportunity. By tackling climate change head-on we can solve many of our current troubles, including the threat of global recession." The Secretary-General cited the UN Global Compact, a voluntary initiative for companies vowing to uphold social and environmental principles, as a prime example of efforts to solve simultaneously multiple problems. He called for a new phase of the program – which he dubbed Global Compact 2.0.

The key, according to Ban Ki-moon, is credibility - which Compact companies earn and maintain through annual Communication on Progress reports. Recent polls - for example the Edelman Trust Barometer - show that only a third of people in the world trust business to do the right thing: "half what it used to be," Ban Ki-moon says. ...

While few trust business now, Ban Ki-Moon points out the irony that two-thirds of the world's people "think business should be fully engaged in tackling our common problems."

From CSRWire

Spirit in Business: The Expanded Consciousness of Inspiring Leaders and Entrepreneurs

2009-01-26T12:32:00.005-05:00

Global crises such as the climate crisis, the poverty crisis or the financial crises are also “value crises” and symptoms of a “consciousness crisis”. Our motivation and capability to address such issues depends on our awareness of the bigger picture and our consciousness how we individually are linked to these issues. New leaders and entrepreneurs in the fields of Social Entrepreneurship, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability have become aware of this bigger picture. They have an expanded consciousness and followed their life-mission to be change agents and leaders in changing the world.

Change due to expanding consciousness can be seen in various academic, economic, societal and political fields. In economy, change can be seen in social and spiritual entrepreneurship, CSR and new forms of visionary and conscious leadership. In medicine, it is the trend towards holistic medicine including the growing acceptance of alternative healing. In physics, it is quantum-physics and in politics the election of Barack Obama is energizing globally.

There are many open questions: For instance, how has peace nobel-prize laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus seen potential rather poverty in Bangladesh when establishing Grameen’s micro-finance scheme? Why did Microsoft founder Bill Gates change his life mission from for-profit seeking towards fighting global illnesses? How are we transforming capitalism to make our global economy sustainable?

My thesis is that they have in common an expanded consciousness which is the foundation for extraordinary mission-motivation, leadership and achievements. What do you think?

Berlin: Becoming Europe’s new Social Entrepreneur Hub?

2008-12-23T13:56:00.007-05:00

Recently I had the chance to attend the Xmas gathering of betterplace.org in Berlin. I have blogged about them before and during this visit a new ‘scene’ of social entrepreneurs in Berlin came to my attention.

Ever since I decided to combine ‘business’ with ‘social’ some years ago I felt about lonely in Germany. Sure Ashoka has an office and there are initiatives such as start social. However, in big business cities such as Munich and Frankfurt there are still plenty of people who don’t know what CSR stands for or how sustainability can make business sense.

Therefore, it was a positive surprise to meet real people behind social business ventures in Berlin. Next to the betterplace team there were people form the Bertelsmann Foundation and social entrepreneurs form smaller, upcoming initiatives such as:

Genisis Institute: A think-tank to change charity thinking towards social business. Under the patronage of Muhammad Yunus.
Good Root: helping foundations, NGOs and social investors to track and improve social impact.

Why does Berlin have this new social entrepreneur scene? Sure, Berlin hosts the German government and the German Global Compact network but there are neither strong industries nor big employers in Berlin, if not to say eastern Germany overall. So where does the new entrepreneurial spirit come from? Maybe it is “Die Not macht erfinderisch” (A German saying meaning “If you don’t have much, you are forced to become creative”). Certainly Berlin’s openness and international flair contributed significantly to this ‘new scene’.

Many ventures are relatively new and in there start up phase. I wish them all the best and hope that traditional corporate decision makers and politicians support these valuable ventures. I am going to move to Berlin in March 2009 to write my dissertation on Responsible Tourism. Will keep you posted.

Marry Xmas and a happy new year!
Juergen

UPDATE: Also selfHUB is an interesting center of and for Social Entrepreneurs in Berlin.

Video of Project in Mali: School construction in Niamana, authentic African Village

2008-11-12T05:45:00.006-05:00

"Initsche" (hallo) and Bonjour out of the middle of Africa. After blogging about "high-flying" CSR topics, it's time to write about the "down-to-earth" development project I have dedicated most of my personal time and energy of 2008: the construction of two class-rooms in Niamana, Mali, West Africa.

Niamana is an ultra-authentic African village in rural Mali, about seven hard-rocking car hours away from the country's capital Bamako in the direction of Timbuktu. It is a place that - by Western measures - suffers extreme poverty of subsistence farming, without electricity, running water, cars etc. However, from a less materialistic and more romantic viewpoint it has its wonderful sides to it, as blogged here from my first visit.

The project is part of the Mali Initiative and includes the construction of two class-rooms to allow the education of up to 200 children per year. It is based on a needs assessment undertaken early this year showing that many hundreds of children of Niamana and surrounding villages have no chance to receive any proper education. Education is key for a better future including finding a job and caring about your family's health etc.

"Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world" (Nelson Mandela)

At the core of the project is the friendship established between Malian community leader Youchaou Traore and the Mali Initiative. Youchaou has been raised in Niamana and thanks to this, international visitors from Australia and Germany have had incredible authentic immersion experiences in the village. Friendships and hospitality are very important for Malians which means that we always been received much more as friends than as faceless aid-donors.

Youchaou and Niamana's mayor Karim Traore are both visionaries with aspirations. They motivate communities and give them confidence and guidance to unleash their potential for positive development. A key success factor of the Mali Initiative is to partner with exactly these kind of visionaries and leaders who translate their talk into action. This approach could be termed "aspiration-based" development. It is insofar different from needs-based or rights-based development that it's a paradigm change of seeing people with potential to develop themself seizes rather beneficiaries receiving aid. Therefore, this approach leverages opportunistic and entrepreneurial elements from Social Entrepreneurs.

"A vision is the right balance between realism and utopia. It is the just achievable"

During my stay in Niamana in Jan. 2008 (as described here) I got the vision to make Niamana's dream of two new come true with support raised in my home country Germany. I was inspired by the amazing support by Australians around Elise Klein and was sure to be able to awaken (com)passion with friends, former colleagues, businesses and organizations back home. Soon some friends raised their hand to found a charitable organization. We organized event, spread the word, got press coverage and made the target of raising the required 25000€ in time.

Currently, I am in Niamana together with two German supporters. The first concrete-brick was laid on 24th October 2008 and construction is fast under-way. 250 people and several donkey-carts helped to remove the rubble of the mud-bricks of the old, decayed rooms. Construction will be finished soon in November and then up to 200 children each year will have the chance to for a better future.

Compared to my corporate jobs at global players or my time at the UN Global Compact this might appear as a tiny grass-roots project. However, driving a project end-to-end and seeing real impact on the ground has been a great experience. I am looking forward to combine Social Entrepreneurial approaches to link Niamana with international visitors.

If you want to support this project or visit Mali email me at juergen.nagler@mali-initiative.org. See photos of Niamana construction or watch the following video:

Book "The Difference Makers": Jane Nelson from Harvard’s CSR Initiative and more

2008-10-13T04:23:00.006-04:00

Africa-born Jane Nelson is an inspiring difference make in the field of Corporate Responsibility. Through the friend of a friend (the power of networking) I got connected to her allowing me to ask for some advice which I am sharing below. Currently, Jane is the Director of the Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and she is involved in numerous other organisations.

Recently, Jane also got featured in the book “The Difference Makers” published at Greenleaf Publishing (leading in CSR and sustainability books). The book tells the stories of how social and institutional entrepreneurs created the Corporate Responsibility movement. It’s an inspiring read to see how the personal stories formed these leaders’ life paths and allows the reader to identify with them.

Author Sandra Waddock uses an interesting style interweaving the personal background of 23 leaders with how they came about to create their organizations and initiatives including the UN Global Compact, Global Reporting Initiative, Millennium Development Goals, SustainAbility, Human Rights Watch and many more.

In the case of Jane, she grew up in South-Africa and Zimbabwe surrounded by rural poverty and racial tension. Early she developed a strong passion around issues of peace, non-violence, and sustainability. After Masters at Oxford she worked for Citibank and took a Sabbatical to attend the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. She never returned to the bank but then work for the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in Africa and went onto her Corporate Responsibility career.

Despite being an eminent person, Jane has remained humble and doesn’t overlook simple things. Jane realized “that that the poorest people in terms of income have an incredible spirit, even though they lack a lot materially and they also have major problem-solving skills and entrepreneurial skills”, an experience that I can confirm form village visits in Mali.

Are you interested in making a difference in the field of Corporate Responsibility?

Jane believes that “there’s an increasingly essential role for social entrepreneurs to serve as bridge builders between large companies, foundations, governments, and communities in tackling social problems. There is a new kind of leadership required…”

When I asked her how someone young and passionate can make a difference, she responded with these five main areas as key options:

Key Intermediaries: such as WBCSD, ILF, WEF
Major Corporations
Development Agencies and UN: such as World Bank, DFID, GTZ
Academic Institutions and Think Thanks
Consulting Firms: such as McKinsey, BCG, Dalberg

Of course, as bridge builders, it's also our task to form new partnerships between these areas and all kinds of innivative hybrids. Finally, she encourages all of us to follow our heart and passion by saying “be an explorer!”

Unleashing the Potential for Sustainable Development in Mali

2008-09-11T05:22:00.009-04:00

Thanks to a recommendation from my friend Mike Smith I got interviewed by A Developed World:

Juergen Nagler was enjoying successful career in the business world a couple of years ago when he was almost killed in a motorbike accident. He realized then that he wanted to do something more meaningful than sitting in an office cubicle and contributing to a corporation’s bottom line.

He started the Mali Initiative in February 2007 with a young Australian Elise Klein and a Malian community leader Youchaou Traore. Together, they have built a not-for-profit network of committed individuals and organizations to provide access to quality education in Mali, in order to break the cycle of poverty.

Education in Mali
Mali is one of the least developed countries in the world according to the United Nations, which estimates that its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita was only US$1000 in 2007. Its young population of 12 million people, of which 50% are under the age of 15, comprises of Muslims, Christians and other ethnic groups living side-by-side. However, the lack of access to quality education have left the people in Mali felt disempowered.

Juergen explains: “The challenges in Mali were almost incomprehensible for a Western-mind: 7 out of 10 people in Mali cannot read and write, poverty and unemployment are dire and the country is dependent of foreign aid.”

Juergen strongly advocates Nelson Mandela’s belief that education is "the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”. Education can enable a child to improve his chances of finding a job and providing for his family, to exercise his choices as an inform citizen living in a democracy, and then to finally pass on the baton to all future generations.

Local networks, local knowledge
The Mali Initiative takes a unique approach by developing local networks and partnerships and using local knowledge to build their projects focused on education and empowerment. All projects are lead by locals in order to create sustainable results. By taking time to understand local aspirations, Juergen and his team has been able to mobilize the community and use their raw energy and motivation to drive the projects.

Since 2004, they have raised $200,000, which have gone towards multiple projects such as launching a micro-credit organization for women,establishing a health center, getting street children to learn French, and establishing the Youchaou's School to provide quality primary and secondary education in Kalabacoro (on the outskirts of Mali’s capital Bamako). The school is considered one of the best in Mali and will be used for teacher-training in partnership with local representatives of the Ministry of Education.

"One World"
Backpacking through Africa and South America, it dawned on Juergen that the divide between the West and the rest of the world was just an illusion. “At the core, aren’t we all striving for our families to live in peace with proper shelter, education and healthcare?” This belief has fueled his commitment to work towards healing the divisions and creating "one world".

“Connecting heart to heart with the people of Niamana, a rural community in Mali without roads, electricity or running water, has made my sacrifices worthwhile,” he said.
Juergen’s vision for the Mali Initiative is to develop “a million of projects rather million-dollar-projects” that are sustainable and provide opportunities for the locals. He believes that everyone has the responsibility, in any decision they make, to direct their energies towards positive social change.

Make it Happen!
The Mali Initiative is registered as a charitable organization in Mali, Australia and Germany. They are looking to build an arm of the organization in the United States. If the initiative resonates with you and you would like to bring this organization to North America please contact Juergen Nagler at juergen.nagler@mali-initiative.org.

There are also other ways to get involved:
Participate in the Mali Initiative’s fundraising events
Join one of their Goodwill Trips to Mali
Volunteer in Mali or from home- Volunteers that speak French are definitely an asset to spreading the message and volunteering in Mali.
Donate to the cause:
-US$100 buys learning materials -US$200 a year of street child education sponsorship -US$2000 buys furniture and teachings aids for a classroom -US$7,000 secures a year of street children education for 35 kids -US$13,000 builds a classroom

For more information see: http://www.mali-initiative.org/

A Developed World is "an action-oriented social publication that uncovers the stories behind the work of social entrepreneurs and visionary leaders, who are changing lives around the world": http://adevelopedworld.com/

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12 Simple Things You Can Do to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Turn it offTurn off lights, televisions, videos, stereos, heaters, cars and computers when not in use - they can use 10 to 40% of the power when on standby. Also, unplug chargers as soon as they have finished charging.

Be exactFill the kettle with only as much water as you need.

Close itDon't leave fridge doors open for longer than necessary.

Check your tiresProperly inflated tires can improve your car’s fuel efficiency.

Use no plasticUse cloth bags when going shopping and avoid buying products which use too much plastic.

Fan upInstead of using air conditioners in the summer, wear cool clothes, and use a fan.

Drive lessDo your weekly errands in a single trip or pay your bills online. Walk, bike, ride the bus or carpool.

Optimize your speedYou will consume up to 25% less fuel if you drive no more than 90 km/hr.

Drive hybridA hybrid or other fuel-efficient car emits less carbon dioxide.

Replace themReplace your incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). CFLs cost 3 to 5 times as much but use less than a third of the power. Also, replace old fridge and other appliances with energy-efficient ones.

Watch what you eatChoose food produced close to your home.

RecycleConsume less, and re-use old products.

Yunus: The Authenticity and Simplicity of a Noble Peace Winner

Natural Entrepreneurs: Following the flow to find the career of your dreams?

Social Entrepreneurs make it into The Economist: Global heros saving the world?

A social technology to connect to the future: "Presencing"

World Economic Forum on Businnes & Climate Change

Spirit in Business: The Expanded Consciousness of Inspiring Leaders and Entrepreneurs

Berlin: Becoming Europe’s new Social Entrepreneur Hub?

Video of Project in Mali: School construction in Niamana, authentic African Village

Book "The Difference Makers": Jane Nelson from Harvard’s CSR Initiative and more

Unleashing the Potential for Sustainable Development in Mali

Turn it off
Turn off lights, televisions, videos, stereos, heaters, cars and computers when not in use - they can use 10 to 40% of the power when on standby. Also, unplug chargers as soon as they have finished charging.

Be exact
Fill the kettle with only as much water as you need.

Close it
Don't leave fridge doors open for longer than necessary.

Check your tires
Properly inflated tires can improve your car’s fuel efficiency.

Use no plastic
Use cloth bags when going shopping and avoid buying products which use too much plastic.

Fan up
Instead of using air conditioners in the summer, wear cool clothes, and use a fan.

Drive less
Do your weekly errands in a single trip or pay your bills online. Walk, bike, ride the bus or carpool.

Optimize your speed
You will consume up to 25% less fuel if you drive no more than 90 km/hr.

Drive hybrid
A hybrid or other fuel-efficient car emits less carbon dioxide.

Replace them
Replace your incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). CFLs cost 3 to 5 times as much but use less than a third of the power. Also, replace old fridge and other appliances with energy-efficient ones.

Watch what you eat
Choose food produced close to your home.

Recycle
Consume less, and re-use old products.