Keynote speaker Peter Willis, chairman of the University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainable Leadership, presented the notion of business as a force for good, and how to replace the fading dream of perpetual economic growth with a more enriching and sustainable model for enterprise.
Willis emphasised that most businesses plan no more than three to five years in the future, whereas the average lifespan of our children will exceed that planning time frame by one hundred years - hence the need for a much longer term view.
Willis then facilitated a dialogue between the 20 attendees, who debated that values in business needed to shift away from the single-minded pursuit of super profits. While commercial gain will always drive business, the need for profit will need to co-exist with a new set of rules for enterprise which should include the redistribution of capital as a measure of success, and the building of trust between business and government.
"Leaders need to think differently about how to plan for their future," said Rowan Belchers, founder and CEO of The Fresh Group. "Given the world's finite resources, business as usual is no longer a valid approach to take. It was inspiring to observe young business minds grapple with the idea of instilling a culture of profit plus sustainability in their organisations. In being open to another way forward for enterprise, and in challenging the existing status quo, they displayed plenty of courageous leadership.
"Armed with a real grasp on the need for sustainability, this able group of CEOs represent an optimistic picture of what the future of business could - and should - look like. The Fresh Group believes this will be as enriching to participate in as it will surely be challenging to create, and we look forward to partnering with our CEO clients as they shape this future," Belchers concluded.
