Jeffrey Hollender

Jeffrey Hollender will share his experience of how launching four social enterprises over 40 years has shaped his perspective on what business’s role must be to address the social and environmental challenges now facing the world. He will also cover what changes and strategies are required to make responsible business more effective, sustainable and responsible, where business is falling short and what it must do to successfully navigate a radically changing world. Lastly he will discuss the new concept of “net-positive,” the newest aspiration of the worlds leading responsible companies.

This keynote speech by Jeffrey Hollender will explore why the next generation of Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility are increasingly the best business strategies for success. On a planet with limited resources, increasing competition for talent, rules and regulations that increase the cost of doing business for organizations that cause adverse impacts to the environment and the increased transparency that results from social media – business must peruse news strategies.

Find out how the latest Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility strategies minimize waste, build consumer loyalty, attract the best talent, increase access to capital, drives innovation and collaboration and maximizes shareholder value.

Business generally denies the most significant challenges we face. Global climate change & social inequity will create (with increasing frequency) huge disruptions for business. We seem unable to respond effectively to these challenges despite overwhelming evidence of the risks they pose.

Business must move beyond its incremental approach to addressing the world’s problems. Revolutionary changes are critical. Business must combine a moral imperative that values social wellbeing and the common good while it persues financial success.

We have confused “good” with less bad. Most “green” responsible products are at best “less bad.” Business must focus its innovation on “good” regenerative products and services.

We typically approach challenges in a compartmentalized rather than system manner. A compartmentalized approach by definition creates a host of unintended consequences and almost never addresses the root cause of a problem. In the future we must build systems thinking into every aspect of business, education and programs designed to support all social services.

This keynote speech by Jeffrey Hollender will explore the personal journey that first led Jeffrey to commit his business careers to using business as a force of social and environmental good. Their story will highlight how the values that first emerged almost three decades ago are evolving to address the challenges and opportunities we face today and in the coming decade.

Our society and the planet desperately need business to accelerate its transition toward a “responsibility revolution.” In this age of social media the revolution is both more possible and more essential than ever before for the success and survival of corporate America. Every day, social media exposes the true nature of modern brands, and the more we see, the less we find to like. The age of messages neatly packaged by a marketing department is over. Today your brand lives in the hearts, minds and facebook messages of your customers.

This interactive dialogue will share stories and examples of best practices as well as cover:

• Creating Context: Is there really a responsibility revolution?

• Social Media Trends

• Trends in “being good” online

• What does this mean for your business or brand?

• What does it take to succeed in this new world?

Big business has evolved over the last 40 years from an engine of growth and prosperity to a wealth concentrating and environment destroying force that writes it’s own rules and will do almost anything to ensure it’s survival. Can we recapture the potential of business to create a sustainable and equitable future.

Big business has sadly evolved over the last 40 years from an engine of growth, innovation and prosperity to a wealth concentrating and environment destroying force. A force that leverages almost unlimited power to write it’s own rules and do almost anything to ensure it’s own short term financial success. We must recapture the potential of business to create a sustainable and equitable future?

Business bust learn to survive and thrive on a planet with limited resources, facing the certain impacts of climate change and increasing competition for talent. New rules and regulations will increase the cost of doing business for organizations that cause adverse impacts to the environment. These factors, together with the increased transparency that results from social media will cause business to peruse new system based, regenerative strategies.