The pursuit of ever-greater economic growth has failed to deliver on the promise of prosperity for all, while also pushing our planet beyond capacity. The dual crises of COVID-19 and racial injustice, especially in the U.S., have laid bare deep inequalities and highlighted the extreme vulnerability of large portions of the working class, despite years of increased productivity and economic growth. Meanwhile, a near complete pause of business for months resulted in the greatest environmental gains since World War II, while also exposing how far we still are from meeting critical targets. Panelists from government, academia, and the private sector will discuss the paths forward, how we can rethink the traditional link between growth and prosperity, and implications in the face of climate change, persistent inequality, and now, massive unemployment.
Scheduled Speakers
Additional speakers to be announced.
Founder and Director
Center for Sustainable Business
Dr. CB Bhattacharya, founder and director of the Center for Sustainable Business, is the H.J. Zoffer Chair in Sustainability and Ethics at the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh. He is a world-renowned expert in business strategy innovation aimed at increasing both business and social value. Bhattacharya has published over 100 articles and has over 32,000 citations per Google Scholar. His latest book, entitled Small Actions Big Difference: Leveraging Corporate Sustainability to Drive Business and Societal Value, was published by Routledge in 2019. He is co-author of the book Leveraging Corporate Responsibility: The Stakeholder Route to Maximizing Business and Social Value and co-editor of the book Global Challenges in Responsible Business, both published by Cambridge University Press.
Vice President, Global Sustainability
VF Corporation
Jeannie Renne-Malone leads the global sustainability function at VF Corporation,driving the company’s environmental sustainability strategy, goals, and actions, covering all aspects of VF’s footprint, including direct corporate impacts, supply chain environmental impacts, and impacts of materials and products. She sets goals and objectives, establishes strategies, engages stakeholders, tracks progress, and reports sustainability/ESG results. She leads various strategic initiatives including development of VF’s Science Based Targets roadmap, and development of VF’s Green Bond Framework, which led to the issuance of the apparel and footwear industry’s first green bond.
BSR (Moderator)
Working with companies in the food and agriculture and oil industries, Roger McElrath advises on sustainability policies and programs in the areas of supply chain management, community development, stakeholder relations, reporting, and strategy. He has worked with Tate & Lyle on code of conducts, Archer Daniels Midland on CSR strategy and supply chain management, and Threemile Canyon Farms on developing a sustainability vision and metrics.
