CAUX-Initiatives of Change Foundation: Committed to promote ethical leadership in business

Building trust between all stakeholders of society is at the heart of the CAUX-Initiatives of Change Foundation’s (CAUX-IofC) mission to bring global change through personal change. In a world led by business and the global economy, business leaders and decision makers set the tone for action and have the power to influence communities and society at large. By promoting ethical leadership, CAUX-IofC aims to encourage leaders to make decisions based on values of integrity and honesty, and to contribute to a more sustainable and humane world.  By embodying these values at a personal level and shaping the world in which they live in, leaders become catalysts for change in society.

In this context, Secretary-General Barbara Hintermann attended the Caux Initiatives for Business (CIB) international conferences at Asia Plateau, Initiatives of Change’s (IofC) conference centre located in the scenic hills of Panchgani, India. The purpose of Ms Hintermann’s visit to India was to learn more about IofC India’s business and economy programmes, training courses and conferences and to discuss future collaboration between the Caux Conference Centre and Asia Plateau, its counterpart in India.

Established by the CAUX-IofC Foundation as an Initiatives of Change Programme focusing on business and industry, Caux Initiatives for Business (CIB) has grown into a series of successful and highly effective conferences, round tables and seminars aiming to engage business people and decision-makers in honest conversations on global economic issues including environment protection and poverty reduction. Based on its view that it is possible to conduct business ethically and still remain competitive, CIB aspires to make business sustainable and humane by bringing IofC values to the workplace. This year, CIB’s leading theme ‘Making Business an Engine for Sustainable Growth’ laid the ground for inspiring exchanges on how to prompt key stakeholders into becoming effective values and purpose driven leaders of change.

Just as CIB originally drew its inspiration from the Caux Conferences, Ms Hintermann noted that there was much to learn from India. Many of IofC India’s programmes have already been extended to other parts of the world. CAUX-IofC will soon be launching in Switzerland the Heart of Effective Leadership training programme for business leaders which originated in India. Furthermore, the Dialogue on Just Governance held at Asia Plateau is run in collaboration with the Caux Conference Just Governance for Human Security.

Drawing inspiration from Ms Hintermann’s enriching and rewarding visit to India, the CAUX–IofC Foundation will continue to take action to strengthen links with the private sector, develop training programmes in ethical leadership for business leaders and  make ethical and values-driven leadership a priority objective.