…at a column written by Stefan Stern, a columnist for the Financial Times. While readers of this blog expect career and job search wisdom, I feel compelled to "out" this columnist. I hope to feed his "hot air" to my readers who are proponents of sustainable enterprise* and corporate social responsibility*.
Stern's flippant muse was caught by a LinkedIn Net Impact Group member, Joseph Hollak. Joseph quoted Stern's opening comment, "Thank goodness, now the recession’s here we can forget all that
nonsense about corporate social responsibility (CSR) and get back to
trying to make some money." When last I checked, the question had not taken on much of a life, so I raise it here to raise a ruckus…
My two-cents is simple: CSR is not a conspiracy to pick the pocket of shareholders in the name of "good deeds." CSR is an approach to profitability that promotes free enterprise while at the same time, promoting respect for the planet and dignity for consumers. Profitability and higher principles can certainly work hand in glove. Surely Mr. Stern has witnessed what happens to those who blindly seek profits at the expense of their community. When he emerges from his rock, I hope he'll settle in a pleasant green pasture.
*A note to students of sustainability and CSR – the Wikipedia definitions need your input.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Karen,
Thank you for picking up the topic and advancing the conversation of corporate social responsibility.
I would challenge Stefan Stern to reply to your post by leaving a comment here explaining his motivations behind his column.
In the meantime, I have picked up your RSS feed and I’m really looking forward to learning more from you on the career acceleration expertise you offer.
Thank you again.
Now for Mr. Stern’s reply . . .
Joseph Hollak
http://hollak.info
In keeping with the topic area of this blog, I would argue that CSR is one of the best recruiting strategies available to large corporations. Again and again, my friends in business (banking, finance, consulting, marketing, etc.) wonder aloud if they’re really doing something good for the world…and even if they still have a job – some don’t – they are thinking about how to transition into one where they don’t have to justify the type of work simply by the salary they command.
It’s about more than money. That’s why economics involves utility functions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utility_function) – in part, to capture non-monetary value.
Kudos to you for calling him out.
Any job-seekers out there looking to do more than sell out? Speak up, I’d like to hear more about it.
I took comments off the site several months ago ‘cuz only you and Dad were
commenting. Now I can’t get it back on. I sent a request to Typepad for
help – I pay them, so they should help me.
Thanks for the comment – good way to relate it all back to CAN. xxxooo
Joseph-
Thank you for your comment and your challenge to Stefan Stern. I look forward to sponsoring the dialog that may take place.
As Rob notes, there are many people at different ends of the generational spectrum who are interested in committing their energies to sustainable enterprise and CSR. Are thousands or millions of people preparing themselves to work in “hot air?”
I admire Mr. Stern for stating his politically-incorrect opinion so openly and clearly. Let’s hope that others will weigh-in on this topic.