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Global Voice Magazine #34
In the Season of Immortal Hope
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The winter issue #34 of the CoBS Global Voice magazine:
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In the Season of Immortal Hope
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Welcome to the Council on Business & Society’s Global Voice autumn issue magazine #34 – In the Season of Immortal Hope, a subtitle to this issue inspired by CoBS Academic Director Adrian Zicari’s opening Editorial drawing on Charles Dickens and the great author’s reflections.
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Global Voice #34 features 13 research and professional insights from 19 CoBS member faculty, guest academics and practitioners.
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The issue’s 87 pages are offered in 3 sections:
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The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) section opens with research into workplace diversity and the question of employee age and resilience – with surprising results! Follows a piece on the impact of authentic purpose for banking institutions and how that has an effect on both employees and customers. DEI policy may seem straightforward, but research reveals it is full of inherent paradoxes for HR departments – and this is the focus of a third insight. Japan provides the background for exploring the life of the legendary Japanese management practitioner Kazuo Inamori and how his altruistic approach can be implemented in companies today. And lastly, an ethics and compliance highlight on investigations into Brazil’s biggest anti-corruption investigation – Operation Car Wash.
Section 2 – Sustainability – puts the spotlight first on the need for companies to opt for climate change adaptation rather than risk awareness in order to survive, prosper and tackle the issue. Next comes a practitioner insight into BESS – Battery Storage Systems – and the action required to boost their use and proliferation to curb carbon emissions. Lastly, a practitioner-entrepreneur sends us on a journey to Singapore to discuss why this small, but dynamic nation state may be the future key player in green leadership in Asia.
Society and Tech – an increasingly priority subject – constitutes Section 3 of this magazine. Research plunges into the political arena and the combined impact of marketing and media on disinformation. The following practitioner insight focuses on Canada and a success story of how tech has helped a company implement a winning operations strategy. Data is everywhere – but to what extent are there guidelines to protect us and ensure ethical use of it? This is the question raised in an in-depth article on data commons for the 21st century. A Japanese view on cyber-civilization constitutes the penultimate article in this magazine, contending that the specific values of Asia can help define cyber governance. And finally, we look at innovation and how, during times of recession, governments and companies can help it grow.
Approaching this Christmas period and into the New Year 2026, we wish all of you – our readers – happiness, safety, a well-earned rest and an enjoyable read! You may also like to join in the debate on the above with your comments and shares via The CoBS on LinkedIn.
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With kindest regards,
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The CoBS Editorial and Publishing Team
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Special issue Harvard BiGS-CoBS Magazine
COMPANIES & PURPOSE: Purpose-driven business and its imprint on employees, profit, society, and planet
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Special Harvard Institute for Business in Global Society - Council on Business & Society issue:
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Companies & Purpose
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Welcome to the very special issue magazine co-published by The Harvard Business School Institute for Business in Global Society and the Council on Business & Society:
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COMPANIES & PURPOSE: Purpose-driven business and its imprint on employees, profit, society, and planet
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In this second collaboration, Harvard BiGS & CoBS offer you 106 pages of insights and 24 articles from globally recognised faculty and prominent business leaders from around the world to propose a truly global and also regional perspective on the ever-important issue of purpose and its impact on corporate value, employee motivation, society, and planet.
This special issue kicks off with an introductory Editorial by Prof. Debora Spar, Senior Associate Dean, Business and Global Society at Harvard Business School, and Adrian Zicari, Academic Director of the CoBS, and professor of Accounting at ESSEC Business School.
Three sections follow: Companies & the changing landscape, Leading by example – purposeful businesses, and Global Perspectives on Companies & Purpose.
Section 1 highlights include exploring the role that business plays in solving social problems, how companies can manage the dual mandate of profit and purpose, the purpose ecosystem and how private actors and stakeholders help companies reach the SDGs, and finally business for good – an update on the shifting landscape since the 2019 pledge by 181 US CEOs
Section 2 includes a focus on the increasing interest in company ownership and how it brings wealth to the wider base, the strategic nature of integrity in corporate governance and purpose, caregiving and companies – how it boosts corporate value and workforce motivation, and corporate business coopetition as a strategy for building a better world.
Section 3 explores the bigger picture and features, among other super insights, innovations from the global south that combine profit and purpose, the move beyond the business case for equality, reframing sustainability as purpose, and a focus on Latin American CEOs and responsible leadership that impacts business and society.
So, as this seemingly exceptional year of change, complexity and challenge moves on, we hope you enjoy this special issue co-developed by two of the world’s most influential actors in responsible business at the crossroads of society and planet. We’d be delighted to hear from you – your feedback, comments and ideas – and please feel free to join in the debate either by contacting us through this website, or through the contact details on page 2 of this magazine.
Kind regards,
The Harvard BiGS-CoBS Editorial Team​​​
White Paper
Reimagining Responsible Leadership Education in a Complex and Changing World
A Special Issue White Paper
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Reimagining Responsible Leadership Education in a Complex and Changing World
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The CoBS, GRLI, and GBSN are delighted to publish this white paper – the fruit of a co-development workshop at Stellenbosch Business School, South Africa. Other partners and key players – UN PRME and the Harvard Business School Institute for Business in Global Society – have been invited to share their thoughts.
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In addition, with the aim of making this publication a “living document” for the wider benefit, we invite all those working in higherEd and with an interest and commitment to business, social and environmental impact to send us their comments and input for future versions of the white paper.
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Discover and download the White Paper, its 4 sections for reflection and with recommendations.
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Global Voice Magazine and special issue magazines
The Council on Business & Society's quarterly and special issue magazine. The publication features research-based and opinion-piece articles made readable for the student, practitioner and instructor on business and society, management and leadership, sustainability, entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship, CSR, green finance and social and environmental reporting.
The CoBS also co-publishes special issue magazines and white papers with our partners
that include The Harvard Institute for Business in Global Society, GRLI and GBSN.
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​Download by clicking on the front covers.
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CoBS Research Pods
The CoBS Research Pod series – condensed learning capsules inspired from internationally published research in the fields of CSR, management, leadership, HR, team and project management, finance, CSR reporting, social enterprise, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and sustainable business practices.
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For managers, entrepreneurs, leaders, instructors and those with an interest in research with an impact. Ramp up your knowledge, improve your teams, gain in leadership, reshape your business or give your teaching, training or coaching a new dynamic.
Leadership and Governance
Management and Teams
Business and Society

CoBS Online Masterclasses
The Council on Business & Society regularly broadcasts online masterclasses on major issues impacting business and society featuring leading faculty, practitioners and special guests. Join the debate!
Click to watch the masterclasses
Books
The Routledge and COBS Focus on Responsible Business series provides international and multicultural perspectives on responsible leadership and business practices in line with the UN SDGs.







































































































