Feature {alumni
in the field}
Interview BY Blandine Avot Secretary General, CEMS Alumni Association
Interview
FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MIRROR: VIEWPOINT FROM AN NGO
“I actually decided to become an economist while I worked voluntarily at a Day Care Centre for Street Children in Colombia in 1999/2000”, begins Maria.
A virtuous circle of profitability According to Maria, the growing focus on CSR comes as a natural result of a more global world, of increased exposure to global challenges, and companies having an understanding that social responsibility is important to their stakeholders. This leads to a virtuous circle of profitability benefiting the community where CSR is part of the core strategy of corporations.
She now puts her marketing skills at the service of CSR on a daily base at Save the Children Norway. NGOs indeed need business school profiles.
However, Maria observes a change in the approach: companies now don’t limit themselves to donating in order to finance socially responsible projects led by NGOs, they now integrate the social dimension directly into their value chain. Maria illustrates: “For instance, multinational companies take social responsibility by making sure that there is no child labour in the factories of their suppliers. However, the dilemma is that this often leads to worse conditions for the children as they must work to make a living, and therefore have no other option but to work in the informal industry. The working conditions for the children in the informal industry are often totally unacceptable, with a low salary and the children neither get the opportunity to go to school. We are now working with corporate partners in the textile industry to improve the situation for the children so that working children get an acceptable salary, work under proper conditions, and get access to school. This is a very interesting way of collaborating with corporate partners as we as a children’s rights organization can use our local knowledge and expertise within children’s rights to create lasting change for the children in the countries where our corporate partners operate. ”
A prerequisite to be successful in business So Maria does not fear that CSR will be a fashion that will fade: “I believe that we are moving towards a world in which taking social responsibility is a prerequisite in order to be successful in business. In the long run it is not profitable not to be responsible.” CEMS gives a solid basis to people who would like to commit to a CSR career. International exposure is key in that sector: Save the Children works in 120 countries, and to have an international background such as CEMS is definitely an advantage. So her advice to CEMS students and alumni willing to take a socially responsible professional path is to be focused on their goal and hardworking. “The world needs socially responsible leaders, the answer is: CEMS graduates.”
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Maria Victoria Halberg,
CEMS 2007 (NHH-ESADE)