Tomorrow's leading organisations will be those who can imagine a sustainable future on a planet with limited resources and embody that vision in their economic, social and environmental practices.
The leading organisations in this league are the ones that:
- empower their management and staff at all levels to understand sustainability and put it to practice in their daily operations;
- identify and manage the changes that are involved in crossing the bridge towards a truly sustainable society;
- collaborate with their stakeholders to create an environment within which sustainability is possible;and
- report confidently and truthfully about the economic, social and environmental impact of their decisions and behaviours.
The USB-ED Centre for Business in Society is geared to be a guide and companion on this journey by focusing on three key aspects: the development of responsible leaders, sustainability strategies and social capital.
We believe that our work contributes to enhanced human dignity and environmental justice. Our values are therefore:
- Transformational: The work that we do with leaders, organisations and communities must lead to positive and sustainable change.
- Collaborative: We actively co-operate with our students, clients, partners, relevant stakeholders and other disciplines to address the sustainability challenges that today's world is faced with.
- Systemic: We recognise complexity and interconnectedness and base our work on a systems thinking approach to personal and organisational change and development.
- Integrative: We believe that responsibility and sustainability should be an integral aspect of all forms of leadership and organisational development.
The Centre focuses on three broad themes in the business in society domain, namely
responsible leadership,
sustainability
and
social capital development. These focus areas are implemented through development programmes, advisory and consulting services and research and thought leadership.
Executive: Centre for Business in Society
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Dr Arnold Smit is the Executive of the Centre for Business in Society. He lectures on corporate responsibility and sustainability-related topics on the MBA and Master’s in Development Finance programmes of the USB. Previously he was an independent consultant focusing on change management, leadership development and corporate responsibility. He also was the head of People Division at Channel Life and served as a minister at Fontainebleau Community Church and part-time lecturer in Theology at the Universities of Stellenbosch, Pretoria and Vista. He is a trustee of SEED Educational Trust, a non-profit organisation that builds leadership and change management capacity in the educational and social sector.
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Our Advisory Board:
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| Mrs Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka served as deputy minister of Trade and Industry and minister of Minerals and Energy before becoming the deputy president of South Africa in 2005. As deputy president she was responsible for the coordination of the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (ASGISA). After leaving government she established the Umlambo Foundation with a focus on leadership and management of schools through the training and mentoring of principals. |
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| Prof. Dr. Anders Aspling is the secretary-general of the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative – GRLI (a UN Global Compact and EFMD joint venture), advisory professor at the School of Economics and Management, Tongji University in Shanghai, affiliated professor at CENTRUM Católica, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, and senior adviser to EFMD. Previously he served as president and dean of the Swedish Institute of Management – today IFL at the SSE, and as dean of the Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School in Belgium. |
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Dr Dan Ofori is a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), Legon, and head of the Department of Organisation and HRM. His research and consulting experience include, among other things, project management, corporate social responsibility and corporate governance. He has consulted for clients such as The World Bank, German Development Organisation (GIZ), Netherlands Development Association (SNV), Royal Netherlands Embassy, Accra and CDD-Ghana. |
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Frank Kilbourn has a career in company and tax law, corporate finance and investment banking. He is the founder of the Bright Group, focusing on private equity and venture capital. He is also the co-founder of the Bright Foundation which is involved in education, empowering of people with disabilities, poverty alleviation, nature conservation and the promotion of the arts. He serves on the board of City Lodge Hotels Ltd, is vice chair of the South African Tourism Board and chairs the Jan van Riebeeck Primary School Board of Governors. He is a co-owner of Grootbos Nature Reserve near Gansbaai.
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