"Business, labor and civil society organizations have skills and resources that are vital in helping to build a more robust global community." —Kofi Annan, Former Secretary General, United Nations

 Conferences

Publications

Media Events

The social capital market is changing rapidly, making it difficult to understand where it's headed in these challenging economic times. How big will the market be in 2010? Where will it grow fastest? Who will lag, who will survive, and who will thrive? Skoll Foundation's Dan Crisafulli, Monitor Institute's Amit Bouri, and investor, entrepreneur Charly Kleissner will offer provocative insights into the direction of this rapidly-developing arena.

Read more

Brainstorm Green Takes Big Business by Storm!

Fortune Magazine uses a combination of traditional business reporting and trendy superlatives to describe Brianstorm Green. Reading their Brainstorm Green conference manual you can’t miss the pop culture entertainment value. Filled with uninspired ditties for conference members like, “Donate unused room amenities to a local shelter” or “Offer all guests the option to reuse linens,” some newer ideas are also included. “Oxygenate the space with plants” is a good idea for windowless offices. Yet clichés aside, Fortune’s Brainstorm Conference is catching the wave that is taking hold of mainstream business. Just a few years ago, predating the release of “An inconvenient Truth,” mainstream business journals rarely acknowledged environmentally conscious business practices. Gore’s movie, the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, and a growing global consciousness blew the lid off big business’ emphatic denial of responsibility to Mother Earth and common humanity. Otherwise intelligent executives laughed at the idea of environmental sustainability as a passing fad. No more. Milton Friedman move aside; Paul Hawken welcome aboard. Responsible business is here to stay. Fortune’s Brainstorm Green proves it. The conference took place in April 2008 and promised to be a not-to-be-missed occasion packed with the latest in sustainability trends and an “unprecedented gathering of business and environmental leaders.” Sounds great! Unfortunately, you had to be on the guest list as Fortune declared Brainstorm an “invitation-only event.” Maybe someday the rest of the common folk will be invited to hear what emerging “leaders” have to say about saving our own planet. There isn't anything elitist about environmental sustainability.

RETURN TO TOP

An Innovative Journal:

Stanford Social Innovation Review

It’s hard to be totally objective about the Stanford Social Innovation Review. Why? Because it is phenomenally well-done. The concept, the packaging, the content…all exceptional. There is truly no other publication like it. Areas covered include the social responsibility of for-profit business and non-profit management. With out-of-the box reporting that pushes the edge of new technology and methodology, this journal is a business & social responsibility think-tank in print. Stanford Graduate School of Business professors and students along with industry professionals make up the editorial and advisory boards. Surprisingly “non-academic” in its presentation, the articles are well-written, current, and compelling. Stories run the gamut from CSR management guidelines, sustainable business, human rights standards, microfinance updates, and innovations in social enterprise.

The Review bills itself as a journal for “strategies, tools, and ideas for non-profits, foundations, and socially responsible businesses.” More philanthropy and social enterprise focused than mainstream for-profit business, this print publication is a must for the modern social entrepreneur and socially-correct business minds.

Greener Pastures: Green Biz.com

This web only publication seems to cover anything and everything relating to sustainable business practices. Under the Energy & Climate section, “articles focus on greenhouse gas emissions, business sustainability and carbon emissions trading.” Other sections report on sustainable practices for corporations and small business, green product innovation, green marketing standards, water conservation, and natural resource management. Greenbiz.com hosted its first conference in June 2008 in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Alexandria, Virginia. Dubbed “Greener by Design: Strategies, Tools, and Markets for Product Innovation” speakers included Walmart and Xerox executives, sustainable business consultants, Fortune Magazine’s green journalist Mark Gunther, and Greenbiz.com editor Joel Makower. The 2-day conference covered all facets of the “sustainability-conscious marketplace.” Called the “guru of green business practices” by Associated Press, the innovative Makower brought together a powerful group of green business movers and shakers.

RETURN TO TOP

Good Business webinars, teleconferences, and virtual events dedicated to "better business for a better world."

2008 Global Social Responsibility Summit

MAY 2, 2008, WASHINGTON D.C.

The following report is excerpted from ICOHERE – A Virtual Global Summit:       

iCohere Inc., headquartered in Walnut Creek CA, announced the successful conclusion of the Global Summit on Social Responsibility, an event co-created by iCohere and ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership.

Connecting fifteen U.S. locations, five international locations, and hundreds of virtual participants with approximately 400 participants at Washington DC’s Gaylord National Hotel, the Global Summit on Social Responsibility ushered in a new era of global online multi-day conferencing by leveraging the power of ideas from around the world to create innovative responses and solutions to many of the world’s most pressing needs. Through iCohere’s pioneering technology, all participants played an active role on every level of the Summit.

The Summit was led by Dr. David Cooperrider, creator of Appreciative Inquiry (AI). AI is an innovative change management process that works to bring out what gives life to an organization and to elevate those qualities throughout the whole system. Partnering closely with Dr. Cooperrider, iCohere has been customized to serve the needs of virtual AI Summit participants. The Summit continues virtually through October 2008.

“This trend is huge. It's the biggest opportunity for business and associations to increase their effectiveness and performance,” said David Cooperrider, Ph.D., Professor at Case Western Reserve University, and creator of Appreciative Inquiry process. ”Associations can be the catalysts. Associations must be relevant and will be left behind if they don't get involved. Social responsibility is a productivity engine, not a burden, especially if you look at it as a mindset to drive innovation.”

RETURN TO TOP