Conscious Capitalism Conference on March 7

Third Annual Conscious Capitalism Conference at CU-Boulder

Business leaders speak to college students about corporate social responsibility and how the traditional tools of capitalism can serve social needs

February 29, 2012, BOULDER, Colo. --- Ushering in a new era of corporate responsibility, business entrepreneurs are challenging college students to develop the skills to be competitive and socially responsible in the marketplace. On this note, the Center for Education on Social Responsibility (CESR) at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business, in collaboration with ICOSA magazine and Colorado State University, presents the Third Annual Conscious Capitalism Conference on March 7.

The Conscious Capitalism Conference is designed to challenge the thinking and stimulate the creativity of the next generation of great business leaders by exposure to outstanding business entrepreneurs who have made values-driven choices today. This year’s one-day conference, “Harnessing the Engine of Business for Social Impact,” will be held in the Wittemyer Courtroom of the Wolf Law Building on the CU-Boulder campus.

“We have assembled an influential group of business leaders and entrepreneurs who have created or shaped remarkable enterprises,” says Dr. Donna Sockell, Director of CESR at the Leeds School. “These business people will speak from personal passion and experience about how they use the traditional tools of capitalism to serve a social need. It is our hope the conference attendees will be motivated and inspired by these great leaders and use the opportunity to engage actively in dialogue with them.”

Guest speakers include Andrew Romanoff, Senior Advisor at International Development Enterprises and former Speaker of the House, Colorado House of Representatives; Kent Thiry Chairman and CEO of DaVita Inc.; David Wolf, Managing Principal and Chief Investment Officer, BSW Wealth Partners; and Erin Weed, award-winning speaker, author and social entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Girls Fight Back and a former Community Team consultant at Ashoka Changemakers. Speakers will offer insights and answer questions about their decisions to place a central focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in their business models and why founding businesses on the basis of principles does not negate a role for profit. There will also be a CSR panel moderated by Dr. Seana Lowe Steffen, Executive Director, of Restorative Leadership Institute.

The conference is for business students from regional universities in Colorado, including the University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State University, University of Colorado Denver, Denver University, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and Regis University. The conference is also open to the public. The conference is free for business students and faculty from the sponsoring universities, $25 for other students and faculty, and $50 for general admission. Visit leeds.colorado.edu/cesr for more information.

About the Center for Education on Social Responsibility: Based in the Leeds School of Business, the Center for Education on Social Responsibility (CESR) infuses the discussion of values and social responsibility throughout the business curriculum. CESR administers core and elective courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, offers a certificate program in Socially Responsible Enterprise and hosts the annual Conscious Capitalism Conference. Visit leeds.colorado.edu/cesr.