STRATEGY
‘Modern society has reached its limits and Society 5.0 is what will liberate us. This is the fifth revolution. Societal changes always start with technology – for example, basic tools, agriculture, the industrial age, the information age – and we’re about to shift, due to the metaverse, when the internet is speaking more through sensors and AI rather than us speaking to each other. ‘This is the imagination age, in which we can have an impact in the world through impact, and profit together, in a meaningful way.’ He concluded his presentation by saying: ‘We need to consider what we want to see from the world in the coming decade. If the current system doesn’t enable this, we need to consider how new structures and new systems can help. The metaverse is not just new technology – it’s a new generation taking the ability to shift things into their own hands. You can sink, swim or – my personal preference – surf.’ Urgent action needed – how Business Schools can lead the way in developing responsible, diverse, leaders of the future Business Schools play a vital role in preparing students for future employment by giving them the tools and skills needed to succeed in their professional lives. While this is a key component to improving the future, and building more awareness to responsible management, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and sustainability. It ultimately lies within the Business School to lead the way by trendsetting, innovating and evolving to the needs of our planet and to develop leaders of the future. Bodo Schlegelmilch, Chair of AMBA & BGA’s Board of Trustees, was joined by Josep Franch, Dean of ESADE Business School, Ramon Llull University, Clara Raposo, Dean of ISEG Lisbon School of Economics and Management, and Himanshu Rai, Director of the Indian Institute of Management Indore, to outline the main issues surrounding CSR, climate change and sustainability, and to discuss how, as a global community of business educators, we need to act collectively – and quickly – to future-proof leaders. Schlegelmilch described the era into which business education is moving, as a ‘vortex’. He explained: ‘We have so many developments going on, and they’re all connected to each other. We need to deliver different contexts. ‘We have a very different geographical footprint, but we have competitors coming in from different countries. We need to focus on the social impact we make, and how new priorities are shaping Business Schools, and we need to think about our purposes as business educators.’ Stimulating the discussion, Schlegelmilch asked the panellists whether they were optimistic about what Business Schools were achieving in terms of developing responsible leaders. Raposo explained: ‘I think we are doing a better job than five years ago. From
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Ambition | BE IN BRILLIANT COMPANY
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