Lecture

Instant values: easy, ready-made programs or a real shift in business thinking?

Abstract

Most companies have some form of responsible or sustainable strategy. However, only a few implement it with respect to long term thinking. CSR in the Czech Republic is becoming a regular part of majority of the businesses, but to what extent is it mainstream? The drivers of this process are the multinational companies that bring a culture of strategic CSR thinking. But are they implementing global standards in the local market? And are Czech or locally owned companies following this lead or are they looking for their unique way of doing business responsibly? This talk examines whether ‘instant’ CSR programmes can be implemented parallel to the main business strategy, or whether a gap between the everyday business of companies and their ‘responsibility agenda’ may lessen the trust of stakeholders and minimize impact.

Bio

Pavlína Kalousová is a sustainability ambassador. She founded and currently serves as Chairperson of Business for Society, taking a lead on CSR and sustainable business that mobilises and activates companies and other key institutions in social issues, responsible business and sustainable performance. She has also been active in systemic changes in civil society, serving since 2006 as Deputy Chair of the Governmental Council for Civil Society, and chairing the Committee for Legal and Fiscal Affairs at the Governmental NGO Council. In her professional life she has worked with over 60 corporations on CSR and sustainable strategies and projects, including Microsoft, IBM, ČEZ, Plzeňský Prazdroj, Telefónica, Zentiva, GSK, Allianz, ČSOB, Česká spořitelna, Kooperativa, Tesco, OKD and others.

In the past she managed the Czech Donors Forum, a national association for grantmakers and philanthropy where she focused on many legal changes and the development of new giving instruments. In her international work she was active at WINGS – Worldwide Initiative for Grantmakers‘ Support and DAFNE – a network of foundation associations in Europe. Pavlína has lectured at several universities on sustainable business and at conferences for the Czech Government, World Bank, European Foundation Center, J.P.Morgan Private Bank, Resource Alliance and others.