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CEOs on capitalism’s challenges

Four CEOs discuss the difficulties of managing an evolving business environment with the long term in mind, and of working with stakeholders and communities interested in more than bottom-line returns.

As they lead their companies through a global economy that’s still rife with uncertainty, executives must also address fundamental business issues that went awry during the financial crisis and that now threaten to prompt a public antagonism toward the capitalist system itself. Tackling those challenges requires rewiring the ways leaders govern, manage, and lead corporations. In this article and video, Caterpillar’s Jim Owens, The Carlyle Group’s David Rubenstein, Starbucks’ Howard Schultz, and Unilever’s Paul Polman discuss some of the current challenges to capitalism—ranging from long-term planning and stakeholder management to building trust and consumer confidence—and how companies can address them in a socially responsible way.

Watch the video, or download a PDF of the transcript.

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Video: CEOs on capitalism’s challenges
Four CEOs weigh in on the ways companies can address challenges facing capitalism today.
Of further interest

For more from these CEOs, view the full video interviews from which these clips were taken:

McKinsey conversations with global leaders: Jim Owens of Caterpillar

McKinsey conversations with global leaders: David Rubenstein of The Carlyle Group

McKinsey conversations with global leaders: Paul Polman of Unilever

Starbucks’ quest for healthy growth: An interview with Howard Schultz

Recommend (15)
  • 14 APRIL 2011
    Matthew Bleasdale
    Contract Manager
    The Crown Estate
    London UK

    ...I haven’t as yet seen strong proposals for system changes to tackle the issues. As such I’m going to so bold as to suggest one: allocating 50% of the votes within shareholder meetings to the employees of the company....

    .
    Matthew Bleasdale
    Contract Manager
    The Crown Estate
    London UK

    It’s nice to see the recognition of the need to ensure that the most effective economic model known has to be self correcting and that the change for that is best led from within. The need for a strong social conscience, greater risk management, and stronger organisational awareness within the governance structure are all things that I personally believe are required to ensure its continued effectiveness.

    I’m aware there are a number of organisations with similar intentions, however, I haven’t as yet seen strong proposals for system changes to tackle the issues. As such I’m going to so bold as to suggest one: allocating 50% of the votes within shareholder meetings to the employees of the company. My intent is to ensure greater knowledge of the companies processes and governance within the decision making process as well as incorporating the social pressure and long-term view that the employees will hopefully bring. At the same time, a capitalist market economy is maintained through the ownership remaining in the hands of the shareholders.

    While I hope you understand that a full explanation and analysis can’t be covered in the confines of this posting, I’m interested in any thoughts on what I like to term a market/mutual Model.

    .
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