‘From Corporate Responsibility into Shared Values’

The role of companies in society is constantly changing and technological development has a particularly strong influence on what is expected of corporations and how their relationship with society develops.

‘I believe that great changes have occurred, and continue to occur, in the role that businesses have in society. Consequently, corporate management is expected to have a considerably greater understanding of the society's operating environment than before. We already have examples of this with technology companies. We have seen what great challenges they have in finding a way to operate that will be generally approved in society,’ says Esko Aho, who serves as Executive in Residence at the School of Business.

‘Good corporate management requires an understanding of the risks and opportunities that prevail in the society around us. Both the right vision and the right tools are needed if this is to be successful. Much more is required of the training and skills of corporate management than before.’

According to Esko Aho it is crucial to understand that taking society’s operating environment into account in relation to business activities is not in conflict with the goal of being profitable.

‘Corporate management’s familiarity with society's operating environment plays a significant role in profitable business activities in the future.’

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Former Prime Minister Esko Aho has held the post ofExecutive in Residence at the School of Business since 2015. The title Executive in Residence at Aalto University is given to distinguished persons in upper management, leaders in academia or society, or specialists who have been invited to Aalto University. 

Esko Aho served as Prime Minister of Finland from 1991 to 1995 and as a member of Parliament from 1983 to 2003. Since then, he has held posts including those of Vice President of Corporate Relations and Responsibility and member of the Board at Nokia, President of the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, and Senior Fellow at the Kennedy School of Harvard University. At present his tasks include that of advisor at the US investment bank JPMorgan Chase.

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We warmly welcome you to hear more from Esko Aho at the Better Business – Better Society -webinar on Thursday, 4 February 2021 from 17.00 to 18.00. The event is open to all and is free of charge.