Year in review: 2020
Building back together
Business for Peace has always enjoyed gathering people and inspiring discussions. We have facilitated discussions at our annual Summit and locally at startup community MESH. We recognise businessworthy leaders with the Oslo Business for Peace Award. Since 2009, global business, global leadership, global gatherings have been our core. When March came, we were quick to do two things: ensure the safety and wellbeing of our employees, and cancel physical events.
Our vision is that all business leaders strive to improve society by creating value for all stakeholders in an ethical and responsible way. The mission, therefore, is to recognise, inspire, and accelerate businessworthy leadership. And this is how we did that this year:
Inspire
Naturally, this year was one no one could have predicted, but being online fueled engagement. In fact, this Medium account is a result of the year that has been. We needed an agile platform in which to share some of our most inspiring and insightful stories of the entire year. We were able to interview some of our Honourees across continents, and touch base with local businesses, too. One of the blessings in disguise for us was being able to talk to Honourees and inspirational business leaders globally, hosting webinars, and sitting in on panels about businessworthy leadership. We also called on the expertise of our partners for tools to help businesses be more inclusive. Inspiring is something we have woven into our fabric, committed to continue to showcase as many inspiring as many individuals and ideas as possible.
Accelerate
We started to accelerate businessworthy leadership through action. In October, we launched a partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, the International Chamber of Commerce, and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation called Future of Business. The Future of Business’s aims, among other ambitions, to inspire, educate, and connect investors with entrepreneurs.
We also gathered our Honourees digitally for the first time ever. Their determination to make sure businesses did good despite Covid-19 was palpable. In fact, their drive and teamwork resulted in a call to action to build back better in the Global South. Twenty-six of our Honourees from around the world signed the call to action, and we are grateful to them for their commitment to accelerate the call to action.
Recognise
Through our partnerships and our Award Committee, we still were able to recognise business leaders changing the face of business. This year’s Honourees are three diverse, driven, peacebuilding leaders.
“They are role models to society and their peers, have earned stakeholders’ trust, and stand out as advocates,” says Per Saxegaard, Founder of the Business for Peace Foundation.
We hope to see them next year at our Summit, along with you as well. In keeping with adapting to the new circumstances, we are committed to holding our 2021 Summit, knowing that it will look very different and much of it will be digital-first.
With that, we want to make sure you save the dates! 26–27 May 2021, we will once again gather. We will once again discuss business, celebrate our Honourees, and inspire present and future leaders.
Until then, may you have a healthy holiday season.
