12 April 2024

On 12 April 2024, HSUHK’s Centre for Management as a Liberal Art organised the “Managing for Social Impact” conference which brought together top global business and academic leaders, including the “Father of Modern Marketing” Professor Philip Kotler, The Hon Bernard Chan, and President Simon Ho, to share insights on the concepts and practices of human-centred management, integrated wealth creation, human fulfilments and social concerns. The speakers also addressed pressing issues such as climate crisis, social inequality, ethical governance and additional sustainability concerns.

The Hon Bernard Chan, Chairman and President of Asia Financial Holdings Ltd, delivered the keynote speech, in which he remarked that in a polarised and diversified world, it is important to think about how to get things done across different environments.

Professor Philip Kotler, Father of Modern Marketing, addressed the challenges that companies are facing in a post-Covid era, including new working modes, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and demographic politics, and how a new theory of management is needed to work with an emerging AI-focused society. He believes that companies needed to elevate management, and in doing so, create opportunities for enterprises with new and younger generations of diversified customers.

President Simon Ho joined in the panel discussion on “ESG practice of modern enterprises”. He concluded that the goal of organisations is to provide sustainable value for stakeholders, and business ethics are the foundations of sustainability.