ARC: Connections: ELMAR: Posting

areas: society: content

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Marketing faculty and doctoral students are invited to attend the first academic conference on “Conceptualizing Conscious Capitalism” at Bentley University (near Boston, MA) on May 28-29, 2009. Featuring prominent thought leaders such as Ed Freeman, Glen Urban, Peter Senge, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Jag Sheth, Kash Rangan, Craig Smith, Jim Post, Kathleen Seiders, CB Bhattacharya, Prakash Sethi, Sandra Waddock, Joshua Margolis and many others, as well as business leaders such as John Mackey (CEO of Whole Foods) and Roy Spence (CEO of GSD&M IdeaCity), this event will lay the intellectual foundations of an emerging philosophy of business termed “Conscious Capitalism.”

In these troubled times, many are searching for a better way to think about, teach and practice business. Many respected and influential thinkers and practitioners believe that Conscious Capitalism is that better way. Companies that practice this philosophy are characterized by adherence to:

1. A higher purpose than profit maximization;
2. A stakeholder rather than shareholder orientation; and
3. A commitment to servant leadership.

A growing body of research shows that such firms are able to align the interests of all stakeholders in a way that conflicts between them are largely eliminated, and all are able to prosper simultaneously. These companies in fact significantly outperform the market in financial terms, while having profitable suppliers, loyal and trusting customers, highly engaged and well cared for employees, deep and authentic community involvement and an overall positive impact on society as a whole (including the environment). From a marketing standpoint, these companies typically spend a fraction of the industry norm, while achieving far higher levels of customer loyalty, trust and advocacy.

We would be delighted if you would join us in Boston on May 28-29 at the beginning of this exciting journey, as we set out to better understand 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 compassion, caring and love, and how it can spread healing and joy all around without exploitation of any kind.

For more details (including a downloadable brochure) and to register for the event, please go to

http://www.bentley.edu/conscious-capitalism/

If you have any questions, please email Raj Sisodia at rsisodia@bentley.edu .

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