Business can be a “force for good,” according to the latest conference at INSEAD. The inaugural Force for Good Conference, hosted on the Europe campus in Fontainebleau, brought together more than 620 attendees to share how business can produce positive outcomes for society.

A wide range of business leaders and academics gathered for the October 5th conference to share their views, experiences, and strategies for how business can promote a better world. The conference culminated with the launch of the Campaign for INSEAD, a €250-million capital campaign designed to bolster the school’s academic excellence and encourage innovation.

Force for Good Conference

The Force for Good conference began with a keynote address by Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever. He spoke on how the future of business will be connected with globally agreed sustainable development goals. Then, INSEAD Dean Illian Mihov spoke about his vision for business as a force of good, which was followed by various panel discussions and presentations covering a variety of topics from delivering value to society and innovative frameworks for business.

“Transformational change will not take place without a new generation of leaders who are willing and able to change the current management paradigm,” André Hoffmann, a speaker at the conference, explained. “Business schools must develop business leaders who lead with a deep understanding of the relationship between business and society—and practical knowledge of how to produce positive outcomes for both.”

At the conclusion of the conference, INSEAD inaugurated the Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society. The institute will deliver new perspectives and solutions to the most pressing global issues.

Campaign for INSEAD: Force for Good

The conference was also the perfect launching point for a new funding initiative. The Campaign for INSEAD is a €250-million capital campaign designed to strengthen the school’s ability to realize its vision. The school called for the support of its alumni, students, partners, and friends in this initiative.

“The challenges of today cannot be solved with yesterday’s thinking,” said Mihov. “Meeting our common challenges requires ingenuity of bold leaders who can champion business as a force for good. INSEAD is committed to developing these leaders. We launch the campaign to align the goals of business with the goals of society.”

On November 10th, the conversation about business being a force for good will continue at the INSEAD Alumni Forum Asia and Campaign Launch Asia event. Learn more on the campaign events page or by reading the original news story.