The Power of One
Leadership in Philanthropy in Asia” event included on its panel, Stanley Tan, Chairman of the Community Foundation of Singapore on its discussion panel. “Everyone – and anyone – can give,” Li said simply. “If you are a very busy doctor, you can contribute one week over a few months, donating your professional
services where it is needed.” The star, just back from filming in the USA, recounted his life-threatening personal encounter with the South-east Asian tsunami that drove him to re-value his individual role as a change agent in finding solutions for complex and urgent social challenges. “One person starts, then he connects with another person, and efforts grow. The most important thing is for the individual to start, no matter how small you think your effort is. Just do it!” Li urged. In July this year, UBS and the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre launched the first Community Leadership Experience for non-profit organisations to discuss, share and exchange best practices. Topics included governance and accountability, organisational challenges and leadership. UBS launched a mentorship program where 16 UBS senior level executives and management will coach and mentor local non-profit executives on a pro-bono, sixmonth basis.
for Unilever Asia, presented a compelling case study of how his company forged a remarkably sustainable and mutually profitable relationship with Indonesian communities where the multinational corporation operated. “Ownership of a business by local communities is the most powerful route to success and growth,” said Mr Kaviratne. “I am talking about a business whose interests have become inextricably interwoven with the welfare of the societies where it thrives, to the extent that these societies take pride in owning it.” Mr Kaviratne provided detailed examples of how Unilever led by example as a business, initiating community projects that fed back into the company. “Think big,
start small, move fast,” he recommended. He was joined in a spirited panel discussion at the Singapore Management University by Mr Stephen B Young, Global Executive Director of the Caux Round Table, an international network of business, political, community and academic leaders who promote moral capitalism; and Ms Claire Chiang, Chairperson of BTGF. “Corporate and Social Responsibility for Banyan Tree (is) not something we do only when we are profitable,” said Ms Chiang. “We are on a quest for a new business model which acts as a restraining force for unfettered, rampant commercialism focused on short term gains.” Mr Young, author of the book “Moral Capitalism”, stressed the timeliness for “resetting the global economy”, one that rests on ethical practices that embody common values from the World’s principal moral and religious traditions. “Greed is an insufficient criterion for success in capitalism,” he stated. “We must prevent future meltdowns of the financial system by insisting on reasonable and responsible valuations of (corporate) assets.” For more information on the lecture: www.banyantreeglobalfoundation.com.
Quiet conviction drives Jet Li. The international film star underlined the remarkable power of individual gifts of time and money at the UBS Thought Leadership Seminar.
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is fame may have drawn many, but it was Jet Li’s powerful personal conviction that resonated when he underlined his philanthropic passion for his One Foundation. The international film star used anecdotes and humour to highlight the remarkable power of individual philanthropic contributions, and their contagious effect on social change. The founder of the Jet Li One Foundation, took questions and plotted his deepening involvement in philanthropy worldwide to an audience of about 80 philanthropists, business leaders and “influencers” in the philanthropy sector on 30 July. Organised by Swiss Private Bank UBS at its Singapore premises, the “Building
Real Life CSR
The Banyan Tree Global Foundation is championing a “middle way” to build a sense of responsibility into private decision-making, so businesses are embedded with social responsibility as an essential, basic value.
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ecisive and impactful community action proved the winning formula for one firm believer of good corporate social responsibility (CSR). At the first distinguished lecture series launched by the Banyan Tree Global Foundation (BTGF) on 20 August, Mr Nihal Kaviratne, former Senior Vice President of Development & Environmental Affairs
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