Spend an evening celebrating Michael H. Posner as he discusses his highly praised work, Conscience Incorporated: Pursue Profits While Protecting Human Rights. This evening is generously hosted by Diane Archer. Books will be available for all attendees.
“A book that every CEO, every sustainability advocate, every MBA student, and every person who wants to advance human rights in a global economy should be reading.” —Hillary Rodham Clinton, from the book’s Preface
“[A] bracing debut… Posner is forthright about the difficulties corporate reformers face, but the damning reports on the atrocious foreign labor conditions that power American companies demonstrate the urgent need to do so. This will galvanize readers.” —Publishers Weekly
A guide for business leaders working to create socially conscious, sustainable companies—while pursuing profits
Amid growing international concerns about income inequality, labor abuses, racial injustice, and disinformation online, Conscience Incorporated examines the gaps in current corporate social responsibility measures and what more needs to be done to address these challenges. The rise of new technologies such as smartphones and social media have made it easier than ever to document and spread awareness of corporate actions. Despite these developments, large corporations often fail to meaningfully address the human rights abuses linked to their business models and practices. In Conscience Incorporated, Michael Posner addresses what lies at the root of these challenges, drawing on his extensive personal experience as a human rights lawyer, State Department official under President Obama, chair of the Fair Labor Association and Director of the Center for Business and Human Rights at NYU Stern School of Business.
Drawing from research into the history of business ethics and anchoring his argument with examples of companies publicly accused of human rights abuses—Nike, Coca-Cola, Walmart, Meta, and more—Posner provides a blueprint for global business leaders to navigate human rights challenges and adopt sustainable corporate practices. Conscience Incorporated highlights the need for increased protections for outsourced workers in faraway nations, greater attention to harmful online content, and prioritization of human rights by investors. He argues that growing public awareness has not been enough to enforce ethical practices for global businesses. As a result, governments, especially in Europe, are becoming more involved in regulating global business practices in various industries.
Posner proposes a series of concrete reforms and argues compellingly for why businesses need to devote greater time and resources to protecting basic human rights. Conscience Incorporated is a powerful challenge to the status quo and advocates for a fundamental shift in the principles that govern global businesses.
About Michael Posner
Michael H. Posner is the Jerome Kohlberg Professor of Ethics and Finance at NYU’s Stern School of Business. He is the Director of the Center for Business and Human Rights at the School, the first-ever human rights center at a business school, and the Chair of the Fair Labor Association. Before joining NYU Stern, Posner served in the Obama Administration from 2009-2013 as Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. From 1978 to 2009, he led Human Rights First, a New York-based human rights advocacy organization.
Please contact Renee Lamarque at [email protected] if you’re interested in attending this special evening. Donations to attend this evening are $125. Following your RSVP, you will be sent the address for the event. The donation is considered 100% tax-deductible and supports PEN America’s mission to defend writers and free expression at a time of unprecedented need. Your generosity is deeply appreciated.
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