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  • FAQs for Alumni Virtual Programs
  • HBS Global Networking Night
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Alumni Programs

Alumni Programs

Driving Impact: A Dialogue on Capitalism, Climate, and Social Change

Tuesday, September 22, 2020 session

View video from the additional session: Wednesday, September 23, 2020



Sir Ronald Cohen (MBA 1969)
Chairman of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investing and The Portland Trust

Rebecca Henderson (MBA 1985)
John and Natty McArthur University Professor

This program was brought to you in partnership with HBS Alumni Programs, the HBS Business and Environment Initiative and Social Enterprise Initiative, and the HBS Clubs of Singapore and London.

Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Led by Senior Lecturer Vikram Gandhi (MBA 1989), with introductions from the HBS Club of Singapore.

Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Led by Professor George Serafeim (DBA 2010), with introductions from the HBS Club of London.


Can a system designed to generate profit really make a difference against the massive social and environmental problems that we face? Can firms really “do well” and “do good”? If we believe profit, purpose and social returns are not in conflict, how do we put that theory into action either as a corporate executive, entrepreneur, or investor?

Professor Rebecca Henderson and Sir Ronald Cohen debate the theories of change outlined in their new books, Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire and IMPACT: Reshaping Capitalism to Drive Real Change, respectively. The conversation compares and contrasts the authors’ groundbreaking approaches to rethinking the role of business in driving impact—one through the lens of companies evolving to become purpose-driven and the other through the lens of impact transparency and impact investing as the path to impact economies. Using concrete examples and interactive discussion, the conversation explores whether and how managers and investors can lead and invest differently in order to drive positive change—even amidst a pandemic and climate crisis—and the timing for government action to drive impact transparency and systemic change.



Related Resources

BOOKS:
Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire (Henderson)

IMPACT: Reshaping Capitalism to Drive Real Change (Cohen)


VIDEOS:
Reimagining Capitalism (virtual program video)

Prof. Rebecca Henderson’s call to action on climate change

Impact—A Conversation with Sir Ronald Cohen on his new book on impact investing (login required)

Democracy Is in Trouble. Business Must Help Fix It


ARTICLES:
Reimagining Capitalism in the Shadow of the Pandemic (Harvard Business Review)

How to Measure a Company’s Real Impact (Harvard Business Review)


WEBSITES:
HBS Business and Environment Initiative

HBS Social Enterprise Initiative

Impact Weighted Accounts Initiative



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