In this fundamental debate, a public value advocate (Prof. Dr. Timo Meynhardt) and a financial expert (Prof. Dr. Henning Zülch) face off to explore whether social impact and shareholder returns are fundamentally at odds.

They scrutinize the validity of ESG metrics, ask if purpose is becoming mere marketing rhetoric, and discuss how leaders can avoid the trap of purpose-washing. Finally, they leave the status quo behind to place their future bets on how the tension between profit and purpose will evolve over the next decade.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:56 The Clash

02:35 Can businesses advance the public good without sacrificing profitability?

05:50 Are social impact and shareholder returns fundamentally at odds?

10:48 Do ESG metrics help bridge the gap between profit and purpose?

17:24 Should boards and investors measure public value creation?

21:45 Is “doing good” becoming a strategic necessity or just another form of marketing rhetoric?

26:32 How can companies commit to purpose without falling into the trap of “purpose-washing”?

33:06 Scientific Proof

39:06 How are these findings reflected in the Leipzig Leadership Model?

48:32 Case Scenarios: Krombacher, Porsche and BMW

56:03 The Future Bet

01:01:55 Wrap Up: Consensus and Dissensus

01:10:36 Call to Reflection