In the second module of the international leadership colloquium, 20 participants came together in Wittenberg to discuss the social responsibility of companies in Africa.
What specific ethical challenges do leaders in Africa have to overcome? How can they be supported competently? These questions are the main focus of the International Business Ethics Leadership Colloquium, which is organized by the Wittenberg Center for Global Ethics (WCGE) and the renowned Business School of the Stellenbosch University (USB) in South Africa. The program is funded by the Friede Springer Foundation. In an international application, 20 senior executives from companies in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Nigeria qualified for the program. The first seminar took place in April 15 to 19 in Stellenbosch, and the second runs from April 20 to 23 in Wittenberg and Berlin. The participants deal intensively and interactively with the challenges of responsible business: scientifically substantiated, with a global perspective and in dialogue with partners from politics, economics and society.
The prelude was a visit to the Axel Springer house in Berlin. After a personal welcome by Dr. Ing. h.c. Friede Springer Florian Klages, Head of People and Culture, gave an overview of the media company. Subsequently, Dr. Ulf Poschardt, chief editor of WELT, answered the questions of the participants in the newsroom of the newspaper. For the welcome dinner in the evening Federal President a.D. Horst Köhler sent a greeting.
Within the next few days, lectures from Prof. Philipp Schreck (Martin – Luther – University Halle-Wittenberg), Prof. Andreas Suchanek (HHL Graduate School of Management) and Prof. Piet Naudé (Director of USB) followed. Representatives from the field made valuable contributions, for example from the companies BASF, KPMG and VW. Anna-Maija Mertens, the managing director of the anti-corruption organization Transparency International Germany, and Dr. Michael Rabbow from the German Healthcare Partnership also made important contributions.
On Saturday the reflection and evaluation of the program from the WCGE took place, before the guests began their return journey back to their African home countries.