Social Innovation Conferences
2008
Good Scolding Can Save Natural Resources
An experiment showed that a stern scolding was effective in getting homeowners to curb energy use. It was one of the examples cited during a three-day conference on reducing the ecological footprint, sponsored by the Stanford Business School Alumni Association and the University’s Woods Institute for the Environment.
About Forty Years Until the Oil Runs Out
If the world had to rely on the United States for all of its oil, the supply wouldn’t last very long—one year to be exact, speakers told a conference titled “Reduce Your Ecological Footprint."
Demand for Green Buildings Increases at Stanford
Buildings in the United States account for more than 40 percent of the nation’s carbon emissions and use three-fourths of all electricity the nation produces, speakers told an alumni conference. Stanford University is fighting back with plans for greener buildings.
2007
Stanford Business School Conference Makes Case for Socially Responsible and Environmentally Sustainable Supply Chains
A conference at the Stanford Graduate School of Business made the business case for environmentally sustainable and socially responsible supply chain networks. The conference gathered executives, academics, NGO and government leaders to share best practice and insights. It is one of several new initiatives around environmental sustainability at the Business School. (April 2007)
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For HP, Environmental Responsibility Is a Competitive Imperative
Hewlett-Packard is finding that taking responsibility for reducing the negative impacts on the environment of its entire supply chain is "proving right for the bottom line of our company and clients," an HP executive told a gathering of business, government, and academic leaders at a conference on building environmentally sustainable and socially responsible supply chain networks.
Wal-Mart's Earth-Friendly Policies Must Also Be People-Friendly
Businesses can work to make their operations less damaging to the environment, but they also face the dilemma of sometimes making life for the poor harder or more expensive as a result. A Wal-Mart executive discusses the need to work toward both socially and environmentally responsible supply chains.
Being Socially Responsible Offers Opportunities, Says Nike’s Hannah Jones
Businesses can provide a source for massive social change, Nike VP Hannah Jones told a day-long conference. Finding solutions to social or environmental problems should be viewed as a business opportunity. (April 2007)
2006
Baby Boomers Find Second Careers Working for Social Change
Increasingly older workers are choosing to spend their later working years doing things that matter to them, providing a "wellspring of innovation" by either working for or volunteering with nonprofits, government programs, or foundations. That's good since estimates are nonprofits will need 640,000 new executives over the next decade. (September 2006)
2005
Net Impact Conference
Stanford Graduate School of Business Hosts Net Impact 2005 Conference
The Net Impact 2005 Conference, the largest annual gathering in the world for MBA students and young professionals focused on corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, international development, and environmental management, will be hosted by the Stanford Graduate School of Business November 10-13. (November 2005)
Net Impact 2005: Doing Good Is Now Big Business
More than 50 panel discussions ranging from green buildings to California's stem cell research initiative engaged 1,600 attendees at the 2005 Net Impact Conference, held at Stanford Graduate School of Business. (November 2005)
Businesses and Social Responsibility
KQED's Forum, November 10, 2005
Michael Krasny interviews Kriss Deiglmeier, executive director at the Center for Social Innovation, about the issues covered at the Net Impact Conference.
Audio File
- Keynote and Thought Leader Speakers
Al Gore Kicks Off Net Impact Conference
Former Vice President Al Gore kicked off the conference at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, the largest annual gathering in the world for MBA students and young professionals focused on corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship,international development, and environmental management.
Video File, (1:20 hour)
Organic Industry Pioneers Say Business Can and Must Be Part of the Solution
Two pioneers of the organic food industry say a growing awareness of global warming and other issues is making corporate America eager to get into markets once not taken seriously.
Video File, (1:04 hour)
The HP Way Only Sounds Simple, Says Vyomesh Joshi
Leadership at Hewlett-Packard puts business first, people second, and managers' egos third, Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president of the firm's imaging and printing group, told a conference audience.
Video File, (1:12 hour)
Living Your Values and Effecting Change through Tempered Radicalism
Debra Meyerson, associate professor in the Stanford School of Education, is the author of the book Tempered Radicals as well as other research on incremental and bottom-up change strategies to advance social justice and social responsibility within organizations.
Video File, (1:22 hour)
Environmental Conservation
Amory B. Lovins, CEO and co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute,and Will Rogers, president of the Trust for Public Lands, discuss their business strategies for making a positive impact on the environment. Lovins' focus is on the United States' oil dependence while making a profit; Rogers' is on conservation finance and how to work successfully with business and governments for land conservation.
Video File, (1:22 hour)
Reducing Global Poverty Through Business and Social Entrepreneurship
The Acumen Fund, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, and Techno Serve each help entrepreneurs create, grow, and sustain business and/or social ventures. Leaders of these organizations describe how they are applying business disciplines to improve livelihoods in many different nations.
Video File, (1:18 hour)
Value Creation: Moving Beyond Corporate Social Responsibility, Social Enterprise and Other Limiting Mindsets
Thought leader Jed Emerson, Generation Foundation, says focusing on how to improve social enterprise, discerning the future of corporate social responsibility, or defining social capital markets may be looking at the wrong end of the horse. Emerson explores the nature of value and how best to think about the implications of blended value investing and organizational management.
Video File, (40:01 minutes)
From Demoralization to Living Community: The DaVita Story
Chairman and CEO Kent Thiry heads DaVita, the largest independent provider in the United States of dialysis services to people with chronic kidney failure. Five years ago it was being investigated by the SEC and sued by shareholders. Today it's market capitalization is $3 billion and it is a leader in its field, a fact Thiry attributes to building community and shared values.
Video File, (1:22 hour)
- Business and Environment
Addressing the Corporate Environmental Footprint
Putting the environment into the center of a company's corporate social responsibility strategy, panelists discuss frameworks for evaluating ideas and what measures corporations are taking to lessen their environmental impact. Speakers: Sheila Davis, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition; Alex Heard, Intel
Corp.; and Liz Muller, The Gap, Inc.
Video File, (40:01 minutes)
Clean Energy Panel: The Competitive Landscape
Wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources have reached the critical mass to begin appearing in the U.S. energy portfolio. Speakers:Mike Hall, Borrego Solar; Timothy Lasocki, GE Energy; Matt Lecar, Easenergy; and Mark Tholke, Eurus Energy America Corp.
Video File, (46:30 minutes)
Eco-Friendly Buildings Enhance Health and May Save Money
Spending more to install big windows to capture heat from the sun or installing green plants to help detoxify waste material is not just a feel-good gesture, speakers told the conference audience. They may save money or improve productivity.
Green Skies for Renewable Energy
Wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources have reached the critical mass to begin appearing in the U.S. energy portfolio, speakers told a conference audience at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Clean Products: Environmental Design and Materials Use
As businesses become more accountable for the entire life cycle of their products, environmental design and materials use are rising to the top of corporate agendas. Speakers: Jill Kauffman Johnson, Chemical Strategies Partnership; Ayn Lavagnino, Hewlett-Packard; and Tim Taylor, Environmental Home Center.
Video File, (1:03 hour)
Tradable Markets: The Role of Free Market Solutions
Are market-based solutions to environmental problems effective?Panelists discuss how these markets are working today and their prospects for reducing environmental challenges. Speakers: Lenny Hoshschild, Evolution Markets; Kellee James, Chicago Climate Exchange;and Steve McDougal, 3 Phases Energy.
Audio File, (53:23 minutes)
Greening of the Supply Chain: Patagonia and the Organic Exchange
Patagonia and Organic Exchange have gone through a process to incorporate organic cotton into their product lines as well as other steps in sustainable product manufacturing. Speakers: Randy Howard,Patagonia; and Rebecca Calahan Klein, Organic Exchange.
Video File, (1:01 hour)
Advancing Sustainability in the Coffee Supply Chain
What are the opportunities and challenges facing coffee retailers in managing their supply chain to ensure sustainability? Speakers: Tracy Ging, Coffee Quality Institute; Dennis Macray, Starbucks Coffee Co.; and Steve Sellers, Transfair.
Video File, (52:18 minutes)
- Business Skills in the Nonprofit Sector
Where Should I Invest My Money?
How can you invest your money and keep your conscience? Can making investments that align with your values yield an impressive financial return? How can you evaluate the impact of investing in SRI funds? Two financial advisors discuss the best places for both you and the world to invest. Presenters:Brandon Small, Invested Interests.com; and Pierre Trevet, INNOVESTStrategic Value Advisors.
Video File, (1:10 hour)
High Impact Careers in Nonprofit: Transitioning from the Private Sector
Do you want to have a measurable social impact without giving up a challenging and rewarding career path? This panel includes a range of perspectives on high quality jobs in the nonprofit sector, dispelling the myth that MBAs in the nonprofit sector can't make money or have a successful, high profile career. The panel addresses transition timing and how to leverage private sector experience in nonprofits. Panelists: Barak Ben-Gal, Oakland Unified School District; Lisa Daggs, KIPP Foundation; Peter Fortenbaugh, Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula; and Heidi Krauel, Pacific Community Ventures.
Video File, (1:11 hour)
Community Foundations: Connecting Donors and Communities for Lasting Impact
These organizations provide ways to maximize philanthropic impact while making grants to charities and community groups. Participants include James Head, of San Francisco Foundation; Peter Hero, MBA '66, Community Foundation of Silicon Valley; and Richard Kiy, International Community Foundation.
Video File, (54:55 minutes)
Effective Nonprofit Board Governance: Business Skills in the Nonprofit Sector
For individuals trying to understand the role of a nonprofit's board of directors or how and when a new MBA should get involved, this panel discussion of nonprofit board members and leaders discusses issues and best practices of board governance. Panelists: Ashley Boren, Sustainable Conservation; Jim Canales, Irvine Foundation; and Susan Ford Dorsey, Sand Hill Foundation.
Video File, (1:12 hour)
Assessing the Success of International CSR Standards
Panelists explore the effectiveness of current efforts to monitor and improve labor conditions abroad, the role of verification groups such as Verite, and practical challenges faced by companies in implementing guidelines. Speakers: Allison Devore, Verite; Monica Oberkofler, MD, Gap Inc.; and Chip Pitts, Stanford Law School.
Video File, (1:08 hour)
- Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting: Developing Metrics to Manage the CSR Agenda
A key to assessing and expanding a company's corporate social responsibility agenda is developing appropriate reporting mechanisms both inside and outside the firm. Speakers: Angela Harrell, The Coca-Cola Co.; Jaycee Pribulsky, United Technologies Corp.; Kyle Schott, McDonald's Corp.; and Brad Sparks, KPMG.
Video File, (1:13 hour)
Building and Integrating a Corporate Social Responsibility Agenda
How can companies assess the tradeoffs of socially responsible behavior and organize around such considerations? Speakers: Bob Dunn, Business for Social Responsibility; Teresa Whalen LeFevre,Federal-Mogul Corporation; and Kevin Martinez, The Home Depot.
Video File, (1:19 hour)
Corporate Philanthropy: The Benefits and Challenges of Giving
Issues include how corporations can integrate philanthropy with a core strategy and what expectations a community has when a corporation donates funds or in-kind products to help a societal need. Speakers:Atlanta McIlwraith, Timberland; Doug Sabo, McAfee, Inc.; and Steve Wright, Salesforce.com/Foundation.
Audio File, (1:19 hour)
Advancing Sustainability in the Coffee Supply Chain
What are the opportunities and challenges facing coffee retailers in managing their supply chain to ensure sustainability? Speakers:Tracy Ging, Coffee Quality Institute; Dennis Macray, Starbucks Coffee Co.; and Steve Sellers, Transfair.
Video File, (52:18 minutes)
- Leadership Skills
Tools for Evaluating Social Venture Ideas
An interactive conversation for aspiring change makers, this workshop features three experts sharing the process and tools they use to evaluate the impact and viability of a social venture idea .Panelists: Chris Eyre, Legacy Venture; Jeff Hamaoui, Origo, Inc.;and Sara Olsen, SVT Consulting.
Video File, (50:14 minutes)
- Social Entrepreneurship
Social Entrepreneurs Enjoy More Opportunities
Socially minded entrepreneurship will not wane but rather will offer more and more opportunities for business-trained professionals well into the future, speakers with experience in the field told a Stanford Business School audience.
Ecotourism May Be Travel Field's Wave of the Future
Ecotourism projects that give local residents control over operations in their areas and that protect places popular with tourists from degradation are the fastest growing part of the travel industry today,totaling $77 billion in the U.S. market alone, experts told the NetImpact conference at Stanford Business School.
- Socially Responsible Investing
Expecting Returns: The Role of Socially Responsible Investing and the Market
The past few decades have shown that index funds such as the Domini Social Index and others with a socially responsible investment approach perform with or outperform the S&P 500. Speakers: Nancy Pfund, Bay Area Equity Fund; Lila Preston, Generation Investment Management; and Devin Zeller, Calvert.
Audio File, (1:14 hour)
The Role of the Capital Markets in Green Companies
As demand for green companies increases, where will these innovative firms find financial backing to pursue their goals and how will initial investment affect their future success? Speakers: Rob Day, Expansion Capital Partners; David Dreessen, Nth Power; and Sanjay Wagle, VantagePoint Venture Partners.
Audio File, (1:19 hours)