Responsible/Sustainable Business: Business as if the world matters...

What is the purpose of business? What is its relationship with society? Do businesses have our best interests at heart? These and other questions are increasingly relevant as we seek to address some of the world's most pressing issues such as climate change, poverty and inequality, resource depletion and armed conflict. Business is at a crossroads. Often blamed for contributing to such problems, many businesses are stepping up and recognising that they have a responsibility beyond making a profit and an ability to create positive value for society. This lecture will examine how our understanding of business and its role in society is changing from one of profit maximisation for the few, to one of value creation for many. It will introduce business that are making real positive change in the world, discuss new emerging responsible and sustainable business models, and set out the role of business education in challenging and changing mindsets.