Evolution or Revolution: The Role of Companies in the Purpose Economy

Evolution or Revolution: The Role of Companies in the Purpose Economy

September 25, 2020

“Only when companies disclose their impact - negative and positive - will we live in a transparent, holistic economy.” -  Paul Allard, CEO & Co-Founder, Impak Finance.

Watch our panel from EVPA’s Annual Conference.

We started into 2020 with a heavy focus on reshaping our economy – away from shareholder capitalism towards stakeholder capitalism. As the COVID crisis struck, it became even more apparent, which company has “systemic relevance” and which ones lack a purpose in this time of need. How does social innovation help companies to (re-)discover that relevance and turn it into action? Will the COVID crisis accelerate our push towards stakeholder capitalism? Or will it trigger a return to business as usual? We will bring together business and impact leaders to discuss the role of companies and their shareholders in reshaping our economy. We will deep-dive on 1) Trends in capital allocation in financial markets 2) The role of executives in shaping long-term corporate agendas 3) Bottoms-up versus Top-down transformation 4) The role of social innovation and intrapreneurship in corporate transformation 5) Purpose-washing and accountability.

Speakers: - Jayanth Bhuvaraghan, Chief Mission Officer, Essilor - Shannon Klinger, Chief Legal Officer, Novartis - Joachim Drees, Former CEO in the Automotive Industry - Mercedes Gutierrez, Head of Communities Engagement, Ingka Group (IKEA) - Andreas Bluethner, Director Nutrition, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Paul Allard, CEO & Co-Founder, Impak Finance - Saskia Bruysten, Co-Founder & CEO, Yunus Social Business - Daniel Nowack, Managing Director, Yunus Social Business

MIA Spotlight: Shedding Light on Ajaita Shah

India has an enormous population of 1.4 billion, within it there are a staggering amount of people who live rurally with no access to a reliable or regular electricity supply. Roughly a third of the planet’s electricity deficit is in India with only 82% of its inhabitants having access to electricity – meaning a total of 239 million people are left in darkness (as of 2016).

Are we ready to talk about social transformation?

As we embark on our next round of research into social intrapreneurship at Yunus Social Business, we are looking at the business case for social transformation. In a year where we've seen short-term priorities rise to the top of the agenda, can empirical proof help turn the tide?

Indian Social Business, Waste Ventures, Support Their Waste Pickers Through The Crisis

These have been difficult times for our portfolio companies. They are working hard to protect those they employ and serve. In India, Waste Ventures recycle plastic and improve the lives of waste pickers. As they are dependent on revenues from previous months to meet their expenses, the abrupt pause to their activities has made their ability to pay their workforce much more difficult.

Cookie Consent

We use cookies to provide necessary website functionality, improve your experience and analyze our traffic. By using our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our cookies usage.