Global Social Enterprise Initiative Explores Evolution of CSR

A robust and meaningful corporate social responsibility (CSR) platform is a journey, according to Andrew Plepler, global corporate social responsibility executive at Bank of America, one that requires leadership and collaboration.

“You can’t look at your overall CSR platform as being simply about philanthropy and supporting nonprofits,” Plepler said at “CSR: Partnering Across Sectors to Address Social Good” on September 30 at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. “That’s vitally important, and it’s an important pillar in our CSR platform, but how you treat your customers, how you treat your communities, how your treat your employees, how you treat the planet are all paramount.”

The talk featured Plepler and Janet Murguía, president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza, in a conversation with Bill Novelli, distinguished professor of the practice and founder of the Global Social Enterprise Initiative. The talk was the first of GSEI’s corporate social responsibility series with founding partner Bank of America, highlighting a shift in how sectors are changing the conversation from responsibility to value.

“I really encourage young people in the school of business to get that public sector experience, to find time to work in a nonprofit,” Murguía said. “I think it’s extremely valuable to have a mix of experiences…it gives you an understanding of another dimension of what your workforce and your workers are going to face.”

On Oct. 27, the initiative will host a panel discussion on meaningful failure with panelists Patrick Fine, CEO, FHi360; Jean Case, CEO, The Case Foundation; Art Stevens, director of social innovation projects, PayPal; and Jake Harriman, CEO, Nuru International. On Nov. 12, the initiative will host a discussion of the value in crisis with panelists Eric Dezenhall, author of “The Glass Jaw,” and Liz Sidoti, director of corporate communications, BP. Both events, part of the See Value Conversations series, will take place in Fisher Colloquium at 9 a.m.

For more information or to register for the events, visit http://socialenterprise.georgetown.edu/ .