|
2006 International Corporate Citizenship Conference
March 26-28; Orlando, Florida
(Participation is limited, and open to corporate professionals only)
» Register now!
It used to be that the intersection where a company met the community simply involved providing jobs, staying profitable, and making donations like endowing the ballet or sponsoring a Little League team. Those days are long gone.
That intersection is now crowded with dozens of important stakeholders expecting business to address issues as varied as healthcare and pension provision, pollution, infrastructure needs, global poverty, and youth development. Many companies are trying to be responsive to these expectations and a new, complex system encompassing the role business plays in society is beginning to emerge. The business approach to this dynamic is often referred to as corporate citizenship, corporate social responsibility, or sustainability.
As momentum begins to build, The Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College thinks it is time to step back and ask: “If corporate citizenship is the answer, what is the question?” This provocative question was chosen as the theme for the annual International Corporate Citizenship Conference to be held March 26-28, 2006 in Orlando to provide practitioners with an opportunity to assess the motivations, objectives, and strategic goals that underpin effective corporate citizenship.
Keynote speeches, breakout sessions, and pre-conference workshops will provide a wide-angle perspective on business strategy, best practices, and trends related to the role that companies play in society. Conference participants will be expected to provide focus and help influence the discussion to reflect the daily reality as well as challenge conventional wisdom and begin to develop new ways of thinking.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
A wide range of topics will be addressed in the 16 breakout sessions including:
The breakout sessions will be organized within a framework of three tracks that include: community involvement/social engagement; corporate citizenship/integration and operational excellence; and social issues and policy. Get more details on the tracks.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
The lineup of keynote speakers includes Steven D. Levitt, economist and co-author of the best-seller Freakonomics; Jeff Swartz, CEO and President, Timberland; Julius Walls, Jr., CEO and President, Greyston Bakery; Nicholas M. Donofrio, Executive Vice President, Innovation and Technology, IBM; and John V. Murphy, Chairman, President and CEO of OppenheimerFunds.
Each keynote session will provide conference-goers with far-reaching perspective anchored in the reality of very specific business practice and strategy. A lively Q&A exchange with the audience is built into each session. View detailed information about our keynote speakers.
VALUABLE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
What’s said outside the workshops and keynotes can sometimes be the most valuable information you’ll get at a conference of 500 professionals passionate about the important role business plays in society. There are plenty of breaks planned and opportunities around meals. We create environments for networking that are casual and fun. On Sunday evening, The Walt Disney World Company will host a reception and dinner at Epcot that will include the nightly fireworks display. A relaxed dinner with light entertainment will be provided on Monday evening at the Peabody Hotel.
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS
On Saturday, March 25, The Center will offer two in-depth workshops dealing with important issue areas that greatly impact corporate citizenship:
Peter Sandman, one of the world’s leading experts in risk communications, will thoroughly explore how to shift from trying to control the unforeseen to how you can better anticipate and manage risk. Known for his formula “Risk = Hazard + Outrage,” Sandman will emphasize how to be sensitive to the emotional side of a crisis and how to handle erroneous information, misperception, and half-truths.
This workshop is being offered by The Center due to the popularity of Sandman’s 2004 keynote speech entitled: “Managing Stakeholder Outrage: Corporate Citizenship on the Dark Side.” From his informative and entertaining style you will learn how companies have handled some harrowing real situations and ask for advice about situations that may be relevant to you.
A workshop on organizational change management will also be offered to teams of 2-4 persons representing a company. Dr. Jerry Sternin, director of the Positive Deviance Initiative, will lead corporate teams through a process of designing effective strategies that will jump-start efforts to engage line managers in the integration of corporate citizenship throughout the company. The Positive Deviance change method is based on the concept that the solution to an organizational challenge is most likely already present within the system, but needs to be identified, carefully managed, and brought to scale.
To ensure a high level of success and satisfaction, the workshop will be restricted to five companies. Early registration is encouraged.
For more details about pre-conference workshops, click here.
POST-CONFERENCE EXECUTIVE EDUCATION COURSES
The Center will also offer conference participants an opportunity to maximize your time and travel money by offering two courses on March 29-31:
Separate registration is required. Click here to register.
|
