Columbia Business School presents the 2014 Social Enterprise Conference
MILLENNIALS RISING
What’s Next for Sustainability? Friday,October 31, 2014
New York Marriott Marquis 1535 Broadway (between 45th & 46th street) New York, NY 10036
SUSTAINABLE: PRACTICES BEHAVIORS MODELS CITIES LIFESTYLES FUTURES
About the Conference
Keynote Speakers: Al Gore, Former Vice President Alicia Glen, NYC Deputy Mayor of Housing and Economic Development
• Session Topics •
Media Partnership
Please visit the conference website for more information: www.columbiasocialenterprise.org/conference
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MILLENNIALS RISING: WHAT’S NEXT FOR SUSTAINABILITY? We are living in promising but turbulent times. Never
before has there been such interest in harnessing innovation to find sustainable solutions for communities and the environment, but never have the problems been more urgent, complex or challenging.
While more business leaders are pursuing sustainable strategies, what can be done to accelerate this change and harness the talents of millennials as future sustainable leaders to ensure they realize this potential? What can be done to sustain interest in solving social and environmental issues, sustain funding for these efforts, and sustain the pipeline of social entrepreneurs leading these changes? Join us at the 2014 Social Enterprise Conference by Columbia Business School and help spark the conversation on driving sustainable change beyond the new millennium: Sustainable Practices: How are companies successfully ingraining sustainability into the development of their corporate strategy and business practices? Sustainable Financial Models: What are the challenges to harnessing the power of capital markets to create sustainable impact for the global community and environment? Sustainable Behaviors: How can design thinking, new behavioral models, and socially-conscious marketing create the right incentives for lasting structural and systems-wide changes?
Projecting Forward The Social Enterprise Conference will feature design labs, fireside chats, workshops, round-robin interviews, Spark Workshops, a Social Venture Innovator’s Showcase, and dynamic keynote speakers.
Where is the market for sustainable investors?
Interest in innovative uses of finance to achieve social impact is at an all time high. But, a recent report by the National Advisory Board on Impact Investing sizes the impact investment market at 0.02% of global financial markets. What does the ideal sustainable finance marketplace look like? What strategies are needed to reach this ideal state? What financial tools (e.g. green bonds, clean energy ETFs, public equity, sustainable investment funds and PE) can help tackle sustainability challenges?
How are ESG strategies driving a sustainable future?
Many companies now recognize that long-term value creation requires strategies that address material ESG issues. What ESG issues do organizations see on the horizon and are millennials leaders prepared to face them? How are sustainability decision makers at organizations tackling these challenges? What are the motivating factors to address these issues and how can incentives be improved?
Sustainable Cities of the Future
City residents are responsible for more than 80 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Even slight changes in the way we live our everyday life can lead to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Are we doing enough to fight climate change, now? How are social entrepreneurs, policy makers and business leaders tackling transport, housing, energy, health and other environmental challenges? What innovative ideas in sustainable urban development are mayors and city governments around the world pursuing?
Innovative Revenue Models for Social Impact
Do you have an idea on how to solve a social or environmental issue? Can this solution be profitable? This design challenge will partner you with other social innovators to find innovative revenue models for social impact ideas. Using the BAM Matrix model for business development, attendees will explore the value proposition, cost structure and revenue streams with social venture ideas, to find a way to make the product/service financially sustainable while achieving social/environmental impact.
The battle between the farmer & the chef — is local sourcing realistic?
With the current “food porn” culture, the demand for unusual ingredients, exotic varieties and non-seasonal of fruits and vegetables is increasing. Is the farm-to-table solution sustainable? Or do we need to re-define the American plate? What are the global, systematic changes that are needed in order to maintain our food system and eating habits? Or do these systems and habits need to change? To sustain future population growth, what alternatives to sources of protein and other nutrients should be considered; how can we start this shift? What role do chefs, farmers, and food retailers play in reshaping how consumers view the food on their plate?
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Can Wearable Tech drive behavioral change for a sustainable lifestyle?
Early adaptors and entrepreneurs are starting to explore the potential for wearable tech to track and provide feedback on individual actions. Can this potential be harnessed to encourage sustainable choices? Can data be collected and aggregated at a local, city, and global scale to help organizations in all sectors improve products, services and policies that support sustainable behaviors and actions? Can wearable tech be used to improve sustainable choices in low-income communities? What feedback mechanisms are most effective in driving behavioral change? How are cities using aggregated data from individuals to improve sustainable planning? This Spark workshop will bring together innovators in wearable technology, data, and local governments to highlight examples from New York City and beyond, and to identify and brainstorm opportunities for replication or scaling.
Where would you invest your money in clean water?
The water crisis “is not about having too little water to satisfy our needs. It is a crisis of managing water so badly that billions of people — and the environment — suffer badly,” said the World Water Vision Report in the year 2000. As the population continues to grow, there is a need for clean drinking water, better sanitation, and an increased demand for products requiring industrial processes using water, all of which requires more effective resource management. If you had $1 million or $100 million or $100 billion to invest to make a difference, where should you start? Join 3 entrepreneurs who are tackling the issues and help brainstorm on macro- and micro-level solutions to be implemented.
The rapid emergence of cost effective, high quality health innovations
Your zip code may be more important to your health than your genetic code, according to a report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. As healthcare costs increase, improving outcomes remains a challenge, especially in low-income populations. Creative thinkers, fierce leaders and innovative organizations have emerged to find solutions to the problems of poor infrastructure, governance, resources and access. What can be learned from successful models and failures? What are the broader landscape challenges associated with developing a more sustainable healthcare sector?
How can political processes and reforms be sustained?
In the 2012 election cycle, issues of sustainability did not have great prominence on political platforms. But yet, political players increasingly recognize younger voters — and the issues they care about — as important. Given the models of DonorsChoose.org and similar platforms in giving a stronger voice to grassroots actors, how can we use these models from the education sector in the political reform process? How can sustainable changes in the education sector be applied to other fields that require public, social and private actors to work together to mobilize voters and encourage bipartisan conversation?
Sustaining the Emojicon: Do sustainable business strategies attract and retain employees? Soon, a vast majority of the workforce will be represented by the millennial generation— making it a high priority for organizations to understand how this generation is different from previous years. What makes a millennial want to work for you? How do leading organizations incorporate sustainability commitments into purpose, mission and values? What changes in business or organizational cultures, structures, and work/life strategies are leading companies implementing, leading them to be named as part of the top places to work?
Media Partnership The Governing Board of the Social Enterprise Conference at Columbia Business School would be pleased to recognize you as a Media Partner of the 2014 Social Enterprise Conference. With more than 700 participants expected, the 2014 Social Enterprise Conference will be a world-class conference that will bring together thought leaders, industry practitioners, alumni, and students to focus on topics related to the intersection of business best practices and social enterprise. Core topics will include corporate social responsibility and sustainability, social entrepreneurship, clean energy and green technology, public and nonprofit management, and international development and emerging markets. In return for trade sponsorship, advertising support and possible editorial coverage of the event, Media Partners will be provided with the following benefits:
Contact socialenterprise@gsb.columbia.edu or visit www.columbiasocialenterprise.org/conference for more information.
• Opportunity for recognition as a thought leader and key contributor to a global gathering of leaders in social enterprise • Logo placement on all marketing materials and communications related to the conference, including: – Electronic invitations – Conference website – Conference mobile application – Company signage in registration area – Conference backdrops • Several acknowledgements throughout conference • Brand acknowledgement via SEP and Social Enterprise Conference social media • Potential to interview session speakers (pending availability) • Logo placement on LCD monitors throughout the Business School • Two passes to the conference • Other opportunities available. Please e-mail for more information.
2013 Attendee Profile