In today’s complex world, the idea that companies should maximise profits for shareholders is not only outdated but also counterproductive.
Growing awareness around ethics, social and governance (ESG) issues by consumers, communities, investors and other stakeholders, shows that we need a new understanding of the Purpose of business. In order to be successful, today’s organisations need to embed ethics into their company strategy.
Today’s companies must create value for their stakeholders in a responsible way. Profit becomes the result of a management strategy oriented to creating value for stakeholders, not the Purpose of the business.
The Open Program in Stakeholder Capitalism: embedding ethics in your strategy is an executive training that aims to support participants in acquiring the knowledge necessary to understand the role of ethics as a resource for creating value for companies and their stakeholders. At the end of the course, the skills learned will allow participants to apply ethical theories to make responsible and profitable decisions in difficult situations by critically analyzing the relationship between ethics, law and compliance.
By understanding the essential elements of the Stakeholder Capitalism approach, participants will be able to become leaders in integrating ethics into their company.
The program is designed for CEOs, Managing Directors, Board members, Policy makers, Consultant professionals, and Senior executives with responsibilities for ethics/sustainability/ESG.
The course takes place over two days on Friday and Saturday, for a total of two teaching sessions on campus. The program includes a live online talk by Professor Ed Freeman, “The Father of Stakeholder Theory” from Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, USA, with whom participants will have the opportunity to discuss in a unique and immersive learning experience.
The course is delivered in English.
Accreditation
Bologna Business School is EQUIS – EFMD Quality Improvement System accredited, one of the most important international quality assessment and continuous improvement systems for Schools of Management and Business Administration.
Simone De Colle
Direttore Esecutivo
simone.decolle@bbs.unibo.it
" As trust in business declines, organizations that act responsibly can strengthen their reputation, mitigate risks, and create competitive advantages. To do this, executives must focus on delivering value to their customers, suppliers, employees, communities, and shareholders. This is the core idea of Stakeholder Capitalism, which challenges the traditional view that “the purpose of business is to maximize profits”: profit is simply the result of ‘good' management—one that embeds ethics into strategy. In this program, business leaders will meet Stakeholder Capitalism’s leading thinker, Professor Freeman, and gain unique practical insights into how to lead the way toward a more responsible and profitable business. "
Structure
The course consists of 2 teaching sessions to be attended on Friday and Saturday on campus.
The dates of the sessions are as follows:
- June 6th 2025 from 9am to 5.45pm
- June 7th 2025 from 9.am to 5.45pm
Following the first teaching session on June 6th, there will be the screening of the film-documentary Fishing With Dynamite realised by the Darden School of Business. A special dinner will be held afterwards.
The live online Keynote Speech by Professor R.E. Freeman on the theme Stakeholder Capitalism: Challenges & opportunities will take place at the end of the second teaching session on June 7th. The speech will be followed by a Q&A session and a final discussion.
Faculty
Faculty members at Bologna Business School work together offering outstanding teaching standards. An international and interdisciplinary approach is guaranteed by a joint team of distinguished national core professors, adjunct, visiting professors, guest speakers and top managers.
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Matteo Mura
Associate Professor of Management Control Systems
University of Bologna
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Simone De Colle
Full Professor of Business & Strategy
IÉSEG School of Management
COMPANIES
Over the years, our partners have been constantly involved in the various activities that make up the structure of our programs. Companies belonging to our network participate in project work and master classes; they actively contribute to introducing guest speakers and organizing company visits. Our partners are our first supporters: they sponsor various scholarships, host internships for students and provide professional opportunities for graduates. The partner companies of Bologna Business School are:
AEROPORTO G. MARCONI ASSICOOP BOLOGNA METROPOLITANA AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI BOLOGNA FIERE BREVINI POWER TRANSMISSION CAMERA DI COMMERCIO DI BOLOGNA CAMERA DI COMMERCIO DI FERRARA CAMERA DI COMMERCIO DI FORLÌ-CESENA CAMERA DI COMMERCIO DI MODENA CAMERA DI COMMERCIO DI RIMINI CAMST CARPIGIANI GROUP CASSA DI RISPARMIO IN BOLOGNA CONFCOMMERCIO EMILIA ROMAGNA CONFINDUSTRIA EMILIA ROMAGNA COSWELL DATALOGIC DUCATI MOTOR HOLDING ENEL ENGINEERING INGEGNERIA INFORMATICA EXPERT SYSTEM FALORNI FASTWEB FERRARELLE FERRARI FERRETTI GROUP FINALMA FONDAZIONE CARISBO FONDAZIONE CASSA RISPARMIO CESENA FONDAZIONE CASSA RISPARMIO DI CENTO FONDAZIONE CASSA RISPARMIO DI IMOLA FONDAZIONE CASSA DI RISPARMIO DI CARPI FONDAZIONE CASSA DI RISPARMIO DI FERRARA FONDAZIONE CASSA DI RISPARMIO DI PADOVA E ROVIGO FONDAZIONE G. MARCONI FONDAZIONE IBM ITALIA FONDAZIONE ISABELLA SERÀGNOLI FONDAZIONE DEL MONTE DI BOLOGNA E RAVENNA FONDAZIONE PER LA COLLABORAZIONE TRA I POPOLI FOOD TREND FOUNDATION FURLA GOOGLE ITALIA GRANAROLO GROUPM GRUPPO COESIA GRUPPO SISTEMA H-ART HSPI HAWORTH HERA HORSA IBM ITALIA IMA ICONSULTING INTESA SAN PAOLO KPMG ADVISORY LABORATORI GUGLIELMO MARCONI LANDI RENZO LEGACOOP BOLOGNA LIGHTHOUSE MANUTENCOOP MAPE MAPS MASAI ITALIA MASERATI MICROSOFT ITALIA MONTENEGRO N.C.H. NUOVI CANTIERI APUANIA OLIDATA ONIT GROUP OPERA SANTA MARIA DEL FIORE PHILIP MORRIS ITALIA POLTRONESOFÀ REGIONE EMILIA-ROMAGNA RICOH S.E.C.I. GRUPPO INDUSTRIALE MACCAFERRI SAP SCS CONSULTING STMICROELECTRONICS SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SEPS TECHNOGYM TEUCO THE BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP TOYOTA MATERIAL HANDLING ITALIA TREVI GROUP UMBERTO CESARI UNICREDIT UNIEURO UNINDUSTRIA BOLOGNA UNIPOL VEM SISTEMI VERONESI VIABIZZUNO VIDEOWORKS VOLVO CAR ITALIA WPP ITALIA YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP
FEES
The registration fee for the course is:
- 3,500 euros (+ VAT) for registrations from companies and institutions
- 2,800 euros (+ VAT) for individual registrations
Companies within the CDP ESG Community can benefit from a reduced participation fee of 3,000 euros (+ VAT).
The fee includes attendance at the program, all study material available through the online platform and access to Bologna Business School services, which include: Alma personal wi-fi account, use of study areas and access to the internal gym.
Discounts are available:
- for early registrations;
- for Business Network companies;
- for Alma/BBS and Profingest Alumni;
- for groups of at least 3 people.
INTERPROFESSIONAL FUNDS
Alumni and Companies can check the availability of vouchers at the Interprofessional Fund reference:
Fondimpresa – for middle management
Fondo Dirigenti PMI – for managers of industrial SMEs
Fonditalia
Fondirigenti – for managers
Fon.Coop – for Cooperatives
REQUIREMENTS
The course is reserved for a maximum of 20 participants.
APPLICATION PROCESS
FAQs
At the end of the course, a participation certificate is issued (upon reaching 80% of classroom hours).
The documents used in the classroom and any further reading or exercises will be uploaded to our platform, whose credentials will be delivered in the classroom.
Should a group of colleagues wish to participate in the program, it is possible to contact the Program Manager to evaluate an ad hoc participation price.
Our short courses do not require a specific course of study. It is important to have a few years of work experience behind you that can help you, inside the classroom, by bringing real cases dealt with and solutions adopted during your work.
