Tuesday, September 22, 2020 session

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.