History of the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative
In 2002, the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) held its annual meeting. The theme was “Global Responsibility” and there was a consensus, especially in the wake of 9/11, that EFMD could and should take action on this vital issue. A partnership was established with the UN Global Compact. Using The Foresight Group’s entrepreneurial approach as a framework for developing the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative, an invitation to become involved was issued to some of the Global Compact signatories and to the EFMD’s academic members. This invitation required applicants to qualify by:
1. having a track record of breaking new ground
2. being individuals in leadership positions with the ability to execute, and
3. being willing to work with a partner (company or learning institution)
As a result, in 2004, senior representatives from twenty one companies, business schools and centres for leadership learning from around the world formed a unique working group (see below) and became the founders of the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative. The group’s objective is to promote understanding of what constitutes globally responsible leadership and to develop its practice. It is supported by EFMD and the UN Global Compact. Students from participating business schools were also engaged participating in and commenting on the discussions and outcomes.
Globally Responsible Leadership: A Call For Engagement is the first output from this global body. It is the launching pad for both a collective and interactive process. We invite you to join the debate about how best to create and nurture the leaders of the future, leaders who will have to integrate a global perspective with true understanding of what it means to act and think responsibly.
Readers will note that we used the term “Corporate Global Responsibility” in this report, rather than “Corporate Social Responsibility” or “Corporate Citizenship”. Corporate Global Responsibility is the broadest of the three terms. It refers to the obligations of the business in our globalised and increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, both with regard to society and to the natural environment.
Representatives of the following organisations took part in the initial working group: • Aviva (UK) • Barloworld Limited (South Africa) • Bordeaux Business School (France) • Groupe Caisse d’Epargne (France) • China Europe International Business School - CEIBS (China) • ESSEC Business School (France) • Fundação Dom Cabral (Brazil) • IBM • IESE Business School (Spain) • INSEAD (France and Singapore) • Instituto de Empresa (Spain) • Lafarge (France) • London Business School (UK) • Merryck & Co (UK) • Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management (USA) • Petróleo Brasileiro SA - PETROBRAS (Brazil) • Queen’s University School of Business (Canada) • Responsible Business Initiatives (Pakistan) • Telefonica (Spain) • The ForeSight Group (Sweden) • The Oasis School of Human Relations (UK) • University of Management and Technology (Pakistan) • University of South Africa, Centre for Corporate Citizenship (South Africa) About EFMD and the UN Global Compact on this website: please click here
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