Many companies now acknowledge that being socially and environmentally responsible can place them at a competitive advantage, translate into substantial financial benefits, and secure a sustainable business over the long term. This panel discussion from the 2005 Stanford Net Impact conference, organized by the Stanford Graduate School of Business, explores strategies to advance corporate social responsibility (CSR) in large companies. Panelists discuss their journeys with CSR, and suggest how people entering the business world may push forward CSR agendas in companies' mainstream functions.
Robert Dunn has been the chairman of the board and a senior counselor at Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) since 2004. For the prior 10 years, he served as the organization's president and CEO. Before joining BSR, Dunn was VP for corporate affairs at Levi Strauss & Co. He has also served in the public sector, working in a senior staff role in the Carter White House, as a diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, and as chief of staff and a cabinet secretary for the Governor of Wisconsin. Earlier, he served as a dean and faculty member at Wesleyan University. Dunn has been an advisor on issues of business responsibility to multilateral organizations, government officials, NGOs and foundations. In 2002, his work in human rights was recognized by Amnesty International USA, which awarded him its prestigious "Media Spotlight Award."
Teresa Whalen LeFevre is a supplier diversity development manager for Federal-Mogul Corporation, headquartered in Southfield, Mich. She works with more than 100 minority- and women-owned suppliers, and is a liaison for new and current minority suppliers. Previously, LeFevre spent 10 years with Ford Motor Company, where she focused on supplier diversity efforts and also worked as a commodity manager and a new employee orientation facilitator. She holds a master's in business administration from the University of Michigan.
Kevin Martinez joined The Home Depot (THD) in 2004. He manages and develops the company’s community affairs and corporate social responsibility strategy. Prior to joining THD, Martinez was the senior manager of community affairs for Starbucks’ corporate social responsibility department, where he managed a national network of community affairs managers, national nonprofit relationships, and CSR partner (employee) programs, and assisted in developing reputation management practices worldwide. Under his leadership, The Global ReLeaf program, “Add-a-Dollar, Plant-a-Tree,” was awarded one of Canada’s highest environment awards, the Eterne Award, for helping to reforest urban areas in North America.
This free podcast is from our Bridging the Gap series.
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