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Reflecting on responsible leadership today
By Etienne Eichenberger, published in Philanthropy UK
DECEMBER 2009 -Philanthropy is a discrete but active field in Switzerland with about one foundation for every 1000 citizens. Like many other economies, over the past few months Switzerland has been faced with a new reality, notably in the financial industry, which no one had predicted would happen within this generation.
When the financial industry sector represents 12.5% of your GDP, changes will necessarily have implications on all other economic sectors. In early October I took part in a very stimulating conference with the inspiring title of ‘Responsible Leadership in Times of Change’. In this letter I would like to reflect on some of the learnings from this collaboration with its organisers, the Banque de Luxembourg, and look at three different initiatives to explore leadership today:
A new independent platform for sustainable finance
The responsibility of trusted advisors is very important to enhance philanthropy within existing foundations or for encouraging new donors. At wise Partnership, alongside Bertelsman Stiftung and New Philanthropy Capital, we have been promoting better understanding of the needs and the challenges that face trusted advisors, be it bankers or lawyers, in order to develop philanthropy. Geneva is a hub for the private banking sector, for international as well as grassroots organisations. Raising the profile of philanthropy and sustainable finance is a sound initiative and an opportunity in changing times.
We have been part of a movement of 15 founders, including SRI experts, philanthropy advisors and market leaders in microfinance such as Blueorchard and Symbiotics. In October 2008 a new platform called Sustainable Finance Geneva (SFG) was launched with the purpose of promoting sustainability and responsibility within Geneva’s financial community. SFG targets professionals who are looking to invest responsibly and are determined to structure and focus their action.
I often remind myself of a quote by Jean Monnet, widely regarded as one of the chief architects of the European Union, “Nothing changes without people but nothing remains without institutions”. To date, dialogue with the financial community has been very constructive. Geneva has a strong legitimacy to take the lead on this agenda and develop an institution on this platform. Geneva’s capacity to create a platform that brings together independent expertise, including SRI, impact investing and philanthropy, gives an important signal to the market of the extent to which those different “know-hows” are relevant to clients.
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© Thierry Parel