How to build #smartplanet. Global Governments. UN and WEF. Part 1.

On September 10th, I attended a private gathering at the Nevada Museum of Art, hosted by the alumni group of Notre Dame University. The presenter, Dr. Oliver Williams, Director of the Notre Dame Center for Ethics and Religious Values in Business at the Mendoza College of Business, addressed the topic “Can You Do Well by Doing Good?” The audience, comprising prominent business leaders from Northern Nevada, listened intently as Dr. Williams questioned Milton Friedman’s philosophy that a business’s sole objective is to return value to shareholders.

Dr. Williams cited several examples of corporate governance failures, including Nike, where public outcry led to changes in the company’s child labor policy. He also highlighted “men and women of character” who are making the world a better place through ethical business practices. According to Dr. Williams, companies must create “sustainable value for shareholders,” cautioning that adhering strictly to Friedman’s principles would lead to bankruptcy.

The discussion then shifted to the role of corporations in economically depressed regions. Should this responsibility fall on local governments, or should corporations also contribute as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives? The mention of CSR and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)…