In a plenary address at the BSR Conference 2017, early leaders of BSR Bobb Dunn (Former President and CEO of Synergos Institute) and Mats Lederhausen (Founder of BE-CAUSE) discussed the origin and history of the organization in a panel moderated by Google's Lead for Sustainability Kate E. Brandt.
“People are more likely to act themselves into a new way of thinking than to think themselves into a new way of acting,” Lederhausen said.
At the BSR Conference 2017, a panel of experts from the private sector gathered on stage to discuss what business can do to help solve the global refugee crisis. Panelists included TripAdvisor President and CEO Stephen Kaufer, MercyCorps Chief Executive Officer Neal Keny-Guyer, and Executive Vice President of Sustainability and President of Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth Shamina Singh. BSR Associate Director Peter Nestor moderated the panel.
"When you leverage your business expertise and the value of your business—that is how you make a difference," said Singh.
In a plenary address at the BSR Conference 2017, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Cecile Richards highlighted the role of business in advancing women's empowerment and access to women's healthcare.
"The good news is that business and business leaders are best positioned to lead us out of the patriarchy and into the light," Richards said.
Following her address, Richards joined a conversation with BSR Senior Vice President Laura Gitman and answered live questions from BSR Conference participants on Twitter.
In a plenary address at the BSR Conference 2017, National Geographic Photographer Annie Griffiths shared her experience using photography as a tool for telling stories.
“The big stories are not breaking news. They don’t break. They exist—they’re big; they’re complex. None more so than women,” Griffiths said.
In a plenary address at the BSR Conference 2017, Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith highlighted the need for the technology sector to think about embracing technology as a cause to protect people.
“As the first responders of this new era, those of us who are in the business of technology need to think about it as more than a business—we need to think about it as a cause to protect people,” Smith said.
On the occasion of BSR’s 25th anniversary, we have taken the opportunity to consider our accomplishments. With our member companies and other partners, we are proud to have imagined and worked toward a new vision of business that creates prosperity and fairness for all and preserves the natural environment on which we all depend.