Perspectives on Corporate Purpose
- 21 September 2023
- •
- Copenhagen
Modern Capitalism and Corporate Purpose
Wednesday, 20 September 2023 | Young Scholars Workshop - More Info
Thursday, 21 September 2023 | Perspectives on Corporate Purpose
Friday, 22 September 2023 | 2023 Wallenberg Lecture, Prizes and more - More Info
Location:
Copenhagen Business School, Porcelænshaven 20, The Kiln Hall/Ovnhallen, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Copenhagen
Registration fees:
ECGI members: No charge
Students and academics: No charge*
Practitioners: EUR 50*
*To attend the ECGI Annual Dinner, please consider becoming a member
The ECGI Annual Dinner was held at "Josty".
Registration | Contact
This was an in-person event only.
About the Event:
As part of the Corporate Purpose pillar of ECGI’s Responsible Capitalism initiative, this 3-day event brought together academic scholars, and business leaders to address the central questions relating to corporate purpose and capitalism more broadly. Following a workshop on corporate purpose designed for young scholars on the first day, there was a conference with five sessions to consider different perspectives of corporate purpose. The final day included the ECGI General Assembly meeting, the 2023 Wallenberg Lecture, working paper prizes and a session on corporate purpose in practice. The ECGI Annual dinner took place on Thursday 21 September.
Open to the public:
Young Scholars Workshop (20 September)
Perspectives on Corporate Purpose (21 September)
Working Paper Prize Sessions, Wallenberg Lecture and Purpose in Practice Session (22 September)
Open to ECGI Members and invited guests:
ECGI Annual General Meeting (22 September)
ECGI Annual Dinner (21 September)
Information

Thursday, September 21 2023 | 09:45 CEST
Introduction and welcome
Speakers:
Session 1: Leading, managing and governing corporate purpose
Moderator:
Panelists:
Session 1: Leading, managing and governing corporate purpose
Speakers' Presentations:
- Ruth Aguilera (Northeastern University): Leading, Managing and Governing Corporate Purpose
- Claudine Gartenberg (Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania): Research on Corporate Purpose
Moderator
Panelists
Coffee Break
Session 2: Corporate purpose and ownership
Moderator:
Session 2: Corporate purpose and ownership
Speakers' Presentations:
- Morten Bennedsen (Copenhagen Business School and ECGI): Are Family Firms a Force for Good?
- Julian Franks (London Business School and ECGI): Managers Managing Ownership
Moderator
Panelists
Lunch
Session 3: Corporate purpose, finance and investment
Moderator:
Panelists:
Session 3: Corporate purpose, finance and investment
Moderator
Panelists
Coffee Break
Session 4: Corporate law, regulation, ESG and purpose
Moderator:
Session 4: Corporate law, regulation, ESG and purpose
Regulators for financial institutions and other regulated companies see the primary objective of corporate governance as safeguarding stakeholders' interests in conformity with the public interest on a sustainable basis. However, laws and regulations lack clarity and carry uncertain practical and economic effects for enterprises, their suppliers, buyers, and international competitiveness. The ESG movement poses challenges to legislators. Enforcement and enforceability of laws and regulations are the key problems for legislators who want to promote stakeholder interests. Recently enacted laws pose problems as they lack clarity and thus carry uncertain practical and economics effects not only for enterprises but also for their suppliers and buyers (including SMEs) and for international and global competitiveness. This session will examine some of the various options that have been suggested to address these problems, including market discipline and self-regulation, codes with comply and explain mechanisms, disclosure and auditing, and building enterprise law with internal and external requirements.
Moderator
Panelists
Coffee Break
Session 5: Corporate purpose, measurement, and performance
Moderator:
Session 5: Corporate purpose, measurement, and performance
Speakers' Presentations:
- Gaizka Ormazabal (IESE Business School and ECGI): Corporate Purpose, Measurement, and Performance
Moderator
Panelists
Closing remarks
Reception and Dinner (Open to speakers, ECGI members and invited guests)
Speakers
Presentations
Introduction and welcome
Introduction and welcome
Speakers
Closing remarks
Closing remarks
Speakers
Panel Discussions
Session 1: Leading, managing and governing corporate purpose
Session 1: Leading, managing and governing corporate purpose
Speakers' Presentations:
- Ruth Aguilera (Northeastern University): Leading, Managing and Governing Corporate Purpose
- Claudine Gartenberg (Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania): Research on Corporate Purpose
Moderator
Panelists
Session 2: Corporate purpose and ownership
Session 2: Corporate purpose and ownership
Speakers' Presentations:
- Morten Bennedsen (Copenhagen Business School and ECGI): Are Family Firms a Force for Good?
- Julian Franks (London Business School and ECGI): Managers Managing Ownership
Moderator
Panelists
Session 3: Corporate purpose, finance and investment
Session 3: Corporate purpose, finance and investment
Moderator
Panelists
Session 4: Corporate law, regulation, ESG and purpose
Session 4: Corporate law, regulation, ESG and purpose
Regulators for financial institutions and other regulated companies see the primary objective of corporate governance as safeguarding stakeholders' interests in conformity with the public interest on a sustainable basis. However, laws and regulations lack clarity and carry uncertain practical and economic effects for enterprises, their suppliers, buyers, and international competitiveness. The ESG movement poses challenges to legislators. Enforcement and enforceability of laws and regulations are the key problems for legislators who want to promote stakeholder interests. Recently enacted laws pose problems as they lack clarity and thus carry uncertain practical and economics effects not only for enterprises but also for their suppliers and buyers (including SMEs) and for international and global competitiveness. This session will examine some of the various options that have been suggested to address these problems, including market discipline and self-regulation, codes with comply and explain mechanisms, disclosure and auditing, and building enterprise law with internal and external requirements.
Moderator
Panelists
Session 5: Corporate purpose, measurement, and performance
Session 5: Corporate purpose, measurement, and performance
Speakers' Presentations:
- Gaizka Ormazabal (IESE Business School and ECGI): Corporate Purpose, Measurement, and Performance