Tuesday, 30 June 2020 07:29
We are proud to announce that 26 Oslo Business for Peace Award winners have come together to release a joint Call to Action statement calling to build back better business in the wake of the current pandemic.
Representing over 23 countries, this Call to Action is a united voice for business leaders in diverse sectors and across the globe.
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Erik Belfrage.
Erik was an esteemed and highly respected board member of Business for Peace Foundation. He sadly passed away in Stockholm on the 18th of April after suffering complications from COVID-19. He was 74 years old.
Erik had a long career as a Swedish diplomat and business leader. He served for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1970-87 in Geneva, Washington, D.C., Bucharest, Beirut, and Paris. In 1987, he became Vice President at Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken and as an adviser to Investor AB.
He also served as an advisor to Peter Wallenberg and the Wallenberg family between 1987 and 2012 before setting up a consultancy firm, Consilio International. “I think working is a good thing for you,” he said, commenting on why he did not think of retiring at the time most people would.
The Foundation is deeply grateful for the work and services Erik has given to the Foundation over many years. We mourn the loss of a great person and dear friend.
Saturday, 18 April 2020 08:43
Dear friends in the business community,
The COVID-19 pandemic has already caused mass tragedy and disruption in many parts of the world. With the world’s economy in disarray, we are all wondering what the future has in store for the global business community. As the challenges seem insurmountable for many, it is becoming increasingly clear that our collective response to this crisis will likely be a defining moment of our generation.
The impacts of this crisis tear at the very fabric of our societies. Countries without the means for massive stimulus packages, effective distancing initiatives and adequate health care capacity may crumble under civil unrest. According to the International Labour Organization, current lockdown measures affect the livelihoods of 2.7 billion people, over 80% of the global workforce. For most countries, measures to address the pandemic will lead to a sharp decline in economic activities, with potentially the largest GDP declines in a century.
This is a call to the global business community to step up and accept significant sacrifice in order to see us through this crisis, and help pave the way for a rapid recovery once the pandemic is brought under control. I know this is an extremely challenging time for many businesses, with many of you facing imminent bankruptcy. However, all businesses – and governments – that still have the means to step up need to step up immediately and do everything in their power to help avoid societal breakdown.
Inject liquidity into the market. Anyone that is able to contribute to this process needs to, even if it means significant sacrifices to your own wealth. If we don’t stop the economic devastation, many businesses may not have any profitable markets to operate in for years to come. Many governments understand this and are doing what they can, but businesses must make sacrifices for this purpose as well. As much as possible, make sure your staff have income and can continue to work safely. Investors and large corporations should continue to produce goods and pay staff to keep the economy going. On the bright side, much innovation can come out of instability, as we adapt to new modes of consumption and delivery.
Make smart use of the money you have. This is not the time for profiteering, it is the time to help our collective economic survival. In a recent survey of asset managers, nearly every second investor said it was a good idea to use corporate money to buy back shares. This is not only tone deaf in this moment, it is a mockery of the hundreds of millions that have lost their livelihoods. Every able company and investor must do what they can to secure jobs, inject liquidity into local communities, and ensure supply chain security. If there ever was a time to prioritise businessworthy leadership, it is now.
Ensure the security of critical goods and services. Supply chains of essential goods and services must be protected and maintained. Whatever your businesses’ role is in the chain, do your part to ensure consistency of delivery. We are already seeing encouraging examples of companies shifting their production to medical equipment, while essential workers put themselves at risk every day to keep us healthy. Think about what you can do now to ensure there is a supply chain to restart once this crisis is over.
If we rise to the occasion, we can get through this together. If we don’t, we risk dismantling entire markets and infrastructures. There are countless examples around the world of business leaders choosing the ethical route and being businessworthy by making personal sacrifices and doing everything they can for the greater good right now. I encourage all of you with the means to contribute to do so. If the Business for Peace team can support you in any way, let us know. We can get through this together, but only if we collaborate for the greater good.
Keep distancing and stay safe,
Marius Døcker
Tuesday, 24 March 2020 14:00
Dear Friends,
Like you, our team is adapting to a new mode of daily life in this global crisis. I hope that you and your loved ones are safe and well.
I know that you are receiving many newsletters these days. I wanted to update you on Business for Peace’s plans and ask for you to join us in leading a united businessworthy response to the challenges we are all facing.
We will not be convening the Business for Peace Summit this 13-14 May in Oslo as originally planned. We hope to be able to gather with you in-person again soon, but none of us know exactly when this pandemic will be over. As soon as our new plans start to take shape, we will be in touch. We are also delaying the announcement of the 2020 Oslo Business for Peace Award recipients. Our Award Committee has selected exceptional leaders to receive the award this year and we look forward to telling you about them in due time and celebrating them at our next Summit.
Now more than ever, businessworthy leadership is required. The impact of this pandemic is unprecedented, affecting our health, lives, businesses and economies. The global business community must stand behind the efforts of governments and the World Health Organisation to manage the pandemic and re-build our societies and economies afterwards. I know this is an extremely challenging time for many businesses but it is also a time when we must stand by our values and support our employees, neighbours and the most vulnerable. Let us show determination, collaboration, solidarity and generosity.
Over the coming weeks and months, our team will connect with you online as we all get through this together.
Wishing you all the best.
Marius Døcker
Friday, 14 February 2020 11:11
It was a businessworthy day in New York City on Monday. The 2020 gathering of our esteemed Award Committee members was a successful one.
After a hard day of discussion and reviewing many inspiring candidates, the Nobel Laureates in peace and economics have chosen this year’s winners of the Oslo Business for Peace Award.
The Oslo Business for Peace Award Committee works independently of the Foundation when assessing nominated candidates. Each year, candidates are nominated through our global partners: International Chamber of Commerce, Principles for Responsible Investment, United Nations Global Compact, and United Nations Development Programme. The decision of the Committee members is final.
Our Award Committee consists of Nobel prize winners in Economics and Peace, including one who has also received our Award.
Finn Kydland, member since 2014, is the winner of the Sveriges Riksbanks Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2004. He is also the Henley Professor of Economics at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Ouided Bouchamaoui, member since 2016, is the President of The Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA), and Business for Peace Honouree in 2014. UTICA is one of the four organisations that make up the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015.
Eric S. Maskin, member since 2017, is the Adams University Professor at Harvard. In 2007, he was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics (with L. Hurwicz and R. Myerson) for laying the foundations of mechanism design theory.
Leymah Gbowee, member since 2014, is a Peace Activist and Winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.
The Committee bases their decision based on the Award criteria: being a role model to society and their peers, standing out as an advocate, and having earned the trust of stakeholders.
An announcement revealing who the 2020 Honourees are will take place in March.
What does it mean to be businessworthy?
We asked our Award Committee members what it means to them to employ businessworthy behaviour in business leadership.
“The ability to a run successful business…but at the same time contributes to society in a bigger way.” -Eric Maskin
“It’s showing that the business community is involved in social and environmental matters, and also that we are concerned about the change happened.” -Ouided Bouchamaoui
“Doing business but with more emphasis on what the activities do for society.” -Finn Kydland
See the full video here:
Tuesday, 24 September 2019 15:17
Business for Peace is pleased to announce Marius Døcker as the Foundation’s new Managing Director. Døcker is a tech-savvy business executive with 25 years of international business experience in banking, management consulting, start-ups, technology and manufacturing. He has extensive functional expertise across the value chain and several global industries. He has lived and worked in Asia, US and Europe.
“I am delighted to join the team at Business for Peace,” said Døcker. “I consider myself a born-again capitalist with a grave concern for our collective future. I am committed to working towards sustainability and corporate social responsibility in an era of unprecedented social and technological change. Business for Peace is the perfect platform to champion and accelerate responsible business practices.”
Døcker takes the helm as the Foundation prepares to launch bold new initiatives in 2020. The Foundation will broaden its activities with cornerstone events outside Norway, which will facilitate investment in businessworthy start-ups in developing countries. 2020 will also see the expansion of SDG Impact, an initiative led by United Nations Development Programme that aims for all global capital flows to advance the Sustainable Development Goals agenda. Business for Peace is an official partner of SDG Impact and hosted the initiative’s Nordic Springboard earlier this year.
About Marius Døcker
Prior to joining Business for Peace, Døcker was a senior executive with Arcus ASA, a listed Norwegian beverage company, and held various roles with Navico, an international marine electronics company. He was also a partner at PA Consulting Group focusing on financial institutions, transportation and manufacturing clients. Before that, Døcker was the Chairman and Managing Director of Etellus AS, an Oslo-based software company that develops technology for advanced internet publishing and e-commerce. He has also been a Director with Andersen Business Consulting in Oslo where he managed the firm’s Nordic Financial Services Practice and served as a member of the European (EMEIA) financial services leadership team. Døcker has previously been a consultant with A.T. Kearney in New York and London.
Prior to a career in management consulting, Døcker worked in various capacities for Continental Savings in San Francisco. He has served on the board of directors for several companies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of San Francisco and an MBA from Columbia Business School in New York. He is currently on the board of Oslo Røde Kors (Oslo Red Cross), where he also volunteers as a refugee guide.
Tuesday, 06 August 2019 12:04
Were you unable to join us for this year’s Business for Peace Summit? Look back on our conference, Navigating in a World of Imbalance, check out our photo album and watch highlights from the Summit’s landmark events below:
View a playlist of the top panels and talks held at our conference, Navigating in a World of Imbalance below:
We look forward to seeing you at next year’s Summit in Oslo, Norway!
Monday, 05 August 2019 16:59
The 2019 Business for Peace Summit brought together business leaders, investors, politicians, academics, and civil society to discuss the role businesses can play in driving an inclusive and prosperous future for all. By exploring different perspectives of imbalances and the role of technology and investment, participants identified tangible actions for business leaders through cross-sector conversations and dialogue.
The Summit report, prepared in collaboration with Deloitte, covers how businesses can shift their priorities to focus on broader value creation- not just for shareholders, but also for society. By optimising societal value instead of only financial returns, businesses can deliver better on their responsibility to society and also profit at the same time.
See key insights from Summit speakers such as Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme, John Denton, Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce, and Tim O’Reilly, CEO and Chairman, O’Reilly Media are featured alongside other thought leaders. Case studies from companies across the world add further insight and a special message from Nobel Peace Laureate, Ouided Bouchamaoui, is also included.
Wednesday, 24 April 2019 10:37
Business for Peace is proud to announce that His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon will attend this year’s Oslo Business for Peace Award Ceremony on May 15 at Oslo City Hall. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon has previously attended Business for Peace events and we are honoured to welcome him back again this year.
The Award Ceremony is the highlight of the annual Business for Peace Summit, celebrating the Oslo Business for Peace Award Honourees. This year’s Honourees are: Dr Agbor Ashumanyi Ako, co-founder of GiftedMom, Alice Laugher, CEO of CTG (Committed to Good) and Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani.
Achim Steiner, Administator of United Nations Development Programme, will give the annual State of the Union Address on the relationship between business and society. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Ouided Bouchamaoui will present the 2019 Award on behalf of the Award Committee. Governing Mayor of Oslo, Raymond Johansen, will offer welcoming remarks.
The Award Ceremony will take place on May 15 at 17:00 in Oslo City Hall. The public is invited to attend but advance registration is required as space is limited. Register here.
Wednesday, 20 March 2019 10:22
The 2019 Business for Peace Honourees who are delivering opportunities for women, minorities and diverse and disadvantaged groups
The Oslo Business for Peace Award is given to inspiring business leaders around the globe who have accomplished extraordinary things. The award honours ambassadors of businessworthy values, who are shaping society for the better.
The 2019 recipients are: Dr Agbor Ashumanyi Ako, co-founder of GiftedMom, Alice Laugher, the CEO of CTG (Committed to Good) and Hamdi Ulukaya, the founder and CEO of Chobani.
These three leaders are at the helm of companies which have a broader view than just the bottom line and see business as a tool for change. As individuals, they look at the world around them and work to improve it.
“The 2019 Honourees have managed to create enterprises with a significant social impact, exemplifying outstanding business contributions to society. In a world of imbalance, they have taken the initiative to establish and grow businesses that offer opportunities to women, minorities, diverse and disadvantaged groups”, comments Business for Peace Founder, Per L. Saxegaard. “These three celebrated individuals have worked tirelessly to counteract inequalities, encouraging inclusion and democratising access to health, aid, and work. Through their businesses, they promote human rights, contribute to sustaining peace and help build environments in which human potential can flourish.”
Agbor Ashumanyi Ako is one of the co-founders of GiftedMom, a digital health platform based in Cameroon that gives pregnant women and mothers across Africa access to vital health information and care.
As a digital-first platform, GiftedMom is able to expand faster than traditional health care systems and the start-up aims to reach 10 million women in the next 10 years. Started by Alain Nteff and Doctor Tankou Conrad in 2012, the platform now has over 170,000 users.
The award-winning app has significantly improved both pregnancy check-up attendance and vaccination turnouts, with an ultimate goal to see a world free of preventable maternal and infant deaths.
Dr Agbor enthuses, “This recognition is a symbol to show that there is progress in the right direction for the company GiftedMom. It comes as a reminder of the mission ahead. Being nominated by experts from the United Nations Development Programme Business Call to Action community and selected by former Nobel Peace Prize laureates is an indication of how the work GiftedMom is doing provides a global solution to help solve today’s challenges.”
Alice Laugher is the CEO of CTG, Committed to Good, which provides employment and logistics services to development and relief programmes in fragile and conflict-affected countries. From running Ebola treatment clinics in Liberia, to food distribution in Afghanistan and South Sudan, monitoring and assisting refugees in Libya, and rebuilding government constitution in Somalia, the work of CTG is as diverse as our world’s issues.
British-born Laugher is a vocal advocate for the Sustainable Development Agenda, with a particular focus on gender equality. She is passionate about CTG being a force for good and creating economic opportunities for women in war-torn regions through CTG’s initiative Female First, which pledges that 30% of project-related roles are represented by women by 2030. She explains: “At CTG, we’ve made empowering women through humanitarian employment in conflict-affected regions our focus. This award, this incredible recognition for our commitment, strengthens our determinations that we are moving in the right direction. I hope it will inspire business leaders, both women and men, to believe that their commitments to change and peace – no matter how small or large in scale – are the only way forward.”
Hamdi Ulukaya is the founder and CEO of Chobani, the company behind the number one Greek yoghurt in America. Today, Chobani has over 2,000 employees in the United States, 30 percent of which are legally resettled immigrants and refugees. Ulukaya has created a corporate culture in which everyone is welcome and has an opportunity to thrive with innovative profit-sharing and parental leave programmes. Ulukaya has also taken a leadership role in the global business community to encourage action from the private sector to tackle the global refugee crisis.
Turkish-born Ulukaya comments: “I’m very humbled by this honor, and I’m proud to accept it on behalf of the women and men of team Chobani. This new way of business–where companies focus on people and not just profits, try to make the world a little bit better–should be at the heart of every modern company. As CEOs we don’t need to have more, we need to do more. When we see an injustice, we need to speak out. When we have tools and resources to solve problems, we have to use them.”
The Oslo Business for Peace Award is given out annually to exemplary business leaders who apply their business energy ethically and responsibly, creating economic and societal value. Winners are selected by an independent committee of Nobel Prize winners in Peace and in Economics after a global nomination process through the International Chamber of Commerce, United Nations Global Compact, United Nations Development Programme, and Principles for Responsible Investment. The Award Committee consists of Ouided Bouchamaoui (Tunisia), Leymah Gbowee (Liberia), Finn Kydland (Norway), and Eric Maskin (USA). The committee evaluated the nominees on the criteria of being a role model to society and their peers, having earned trust by stakeholders, and standing out as an advocate.
The three winners received the Award in a ceremony at Oslo City Hall on 15 May 2019 as part of the annual Business for Peace Summit.