Let's not call our wobbly progress from the brink of a global financial meltdown a "recovery." Why? Because we are doomed by our collective mindset to plunge into more financial crises as soon as we recover, says HOW contributor Dov Seidman. The problem is we continue to function according to a 20th-century operating system whose catastrophic bugs have been exposed as critical flaws.
More »
HOW Online contributor
As 40 years of Earth Days pass, it's interesting to note that it is the business community that has backed the cause of climate change more than any other. Politicians have let the issue wane; individuals seem to care less and less about global warming. So why is this happening? In this more connected world, business is taking action for the right reasons, says HOW contributor Thomas M. Kostigen.
More »
HOW Online contributor
The idea of "doing well by doing good" is so appealing that a slice of the financial industry is focused on persuading people to invest with their values without sacrificing returns. HIP Investor goes a step further, saying companies that are leaders in corporate responsibility outperform their peers. “But can any single model consistently outperform the market?” asks HOW contributor Marc Gunther.
More »We have entered a time when how we do things is essential to our ability to succeed, says HOW contributor Dov Seidman. In this “Era of Behavior,” shame is a powerful social and business force and a behavior rooted in sustainable values. Shaming can even be inspirational. How? Shame is a key element of self governance and an example of a self-correcting force in a self-governing culture.
More »
HOW Online contributor
HOW contributor Mats Lederhausen sat down with The Business & Legal Quarterly to discuss what corporate social responsibility means, its benefits and disadvantages, and how to launch valuable CSR initiatives. As Lederhausen said: “I view CSR as a core business philosophy that balances the valid needs and desires of all stakeholders in an enterprise. … In reality, CSR is simply good capitalism.”
More »The financial and climate crises, global consumption habits, and other 21st-century challenges call for a "killer app." I think I've found it: philosophy. Philosophy can help us address the (literally) existential challenges the world currently confronts, but only if we take it off the back burner and apply it as a burning platform in business, says HOW contributor Dov Seidman.
More »
HOW Online contributor
The trumped-up "Climate Gate" scandal has drawn an inordinate amount of attention, with climate change deniers using fairly innocuous evidence to question the integrity of all climate science. Even if the deniers were right — which they're not — the business case for investing in environmental innovation still holds up, as does the moral imperative, says HOW contributor Andrew Shapiro.
More »
HOW Online contributor
Like many people, I was holding out hope for a binding policy agreement on climate change from Copenhagen, says HOW contributor Andrew Shapiro. Now, global leaders can re-frame the climate challenge as an opportunity to drive innovation and economic revitalization. We need a game plan that connects policymakers with business leaders and investors to drive the development of solutions.
More »Fresh from his appearance with best-selling author and acclaimed New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, Dov Seidman writes about why we need to reconnect with sustainable values. The recent event featured a lively conversation between Seidman and Friedman that examined approaches to restoring growth, significance and leadership in the 21st century and explored the urgent need for sustainable rather than situational values today.
More »
HOW Online contributor
Are investors who watched Bear Stearns and Merrill Lynch destroy billions in shareholder value ready to focus on what makes companies sustainable? The recent “Sustainable Stock Exchanges” conference discussed building the case for whether companies with good environmental, social and governance practices will deliver superior shareholder returns, says HOW contributor Marc Gunther.
More »