Vision

For corporations, financial institutions and other organisations, the combination of stewardship and competition offers dilemmas and challenges, but above all: opportunities. Opportunities to grow, to increase market share, to tap new markets, to reach out, and to build a good and solid reputation.  
However, capturing these opportunities demands a pro-active attitude. No organisation can afford to be caught unprepared by new developments. Organisations have to take their responsibility and deal consciously at different levels with the economic, environmental and social challenges that impact society at-large and the global economy, and that determine our common future:

Shift of economic power balance
A worldwide population growth of 3 billion people by 2050, mostly concentrated in emerging markets, with at the same time a rapidly growing middle class in emerging markets aspiring ‘Western’ consumption patterns.

Social challenges
A deteriorating social inequality, not only among countries but also within, with as a result increasingly marginalized groups that are detached from economic progress.

Environmental challenges
An exploding demand for natural resources that threatens natural habitats, and increasing emissions that pose global and local threats.

Productivity constraints
In the developed markets, corporations face labour productivity constraints due to lack of growth of its (or even declining) labour force.
Globally, productivity constraints are caused by resource scarcity and price volatility.

Globalisation makes corporate governance increasingly difficult
The increase in competitive pressures, coupled with more stringent regulation and changing taxation regimes, presents new challenges.
At the same time, the public (including their customers) looks more and more at corporations to lead the way in addressing environmental and social challenges.
To meet civil society’s expectations, corporations need to engage more structurally with a wider set of audiences and stakeholders.

Stewardship is a condition for the long-term success of corporations, and societal developments have to be integrated in any business proposition.