The “Future of Capitalism” course offers a transformative exploration into the evolving role of business in society. Through engaging dialogues with world-renowned thought leaders, this course dives deep into the challenges and opportunities that define capitalism today. From purpose-driven management to the intersection of business and the planet, participants will explore innovative ideas that challenge traditional models and propose new pathways for responsible leadership.
Each session delves into critical themes such as corporate governance, ESG, human rights, and the future of MBA education, featuring speakers like Kate Raworth, Paul Polman, Rebecca Henderson, and Roman Krznaric, among others. Participants will reflect on their roles as leaders, envisioning a world where businesses not only thrive but contribute positively to society and the environment.
By the end of this course, you will gain the tools and perspectives to lead with purpose, create lasting impact, and shape the future of business in a rapidly changing world.
The Future of Capitalism (FoC) Project, launched by IESE Business School, Spain, and Shizenkan University, Japan, in 2021, has become a global initiative exploring the challenges and opportunities of capitalism in today’s world. The inaugural program, co-organized with Fundação Getulio Vargas (Brazil) and the School of Inspired Leadership (India), has since expanded into a network of 20 leading business schools and universities, including Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (UK); Seoul National University (South Korea); National University of Singapore; and IPADE Business School (Mexico).
FoC invited students take the course alongside MBA students of 20 business schools around the world, earning a certificate of completion (conditions apply).
Overview
| Course name | The Future of Capitalism: Exploring the Roles and Responsibilities of Business Enterprises and Leaders |
| Course period | January 21st, 2025 – April 22nd, 2025 |
| Language | English |
| Number of slots | 6-12 |
| Format | Online |
| Deadline for the application | Monday, January 6th, 2025 by 12:00pm (JST) |
| Selection period | Monday, January 6th, 2025 – Friday, January 10th, 2025 (Document screening and interview) |
| Fees | Free |
Class schedule (subject to change)
| Session 1 | Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 20:40-23:15 | Where are we going? What are the challenges facing business enterprises and leaders at this critical time of change in capitalism?
Speaker: Kate Raworth (Co-founder and Conceptual Lead of Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL); Senior Visiting Research Associate, Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute; author of “Doughnut Economics”)
Discussants: Sandra Wu (Chairperson and CEO of Kokusai Kogyo; Member, United Nations Global Compact Board; Board Member, Global Compact Network Japan) Arun Maira (Chairman of the Board of Trustees, HelpAge International; Former Chairman of the Boston Consulting Group India) Prof. Olawale Ajai (Professor of Legal, Social and Political Environment of Business and Head, Department of Strategy, Lagos Business School, Nigeria)
Facilitator: Prof. Maciej Bazela (Professor of Social and Political Affairs, IPADE Business School, Mexico) |
| Session 2 | Thursday, January 30, 20:40-23:15 | What is a company, and what is a manager? Revisiting and going beyond the agency theory
Speaker: Tomo Noda (President and Chair, Shizenkan University)
Discussant: Jordi Canals (Former Dean, IESE Business School)
Facilitator: Prof. George Olcott (Vice President, Shizenkan University; Non-executive Director, Kirin Holdings; Audit & Supervisory Board Member, Toyota Motor Corporation) |
| Session 3 | Tuesday, February 4, 20:40-23:15 | Where are the capital markets heading (including ESG and impact investment)? How can we tame the capital markets?
Speakers/Discussants: Elodie Laugel (Chief Responsible Investment Officer, Member of the Executive Committee, Amundi Group) Rebecca Henderson (John and Natty McArthur University Professor, Harvard University; author of “Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire”)
Facilitator: Prof. George Olcott (Vice President, Shizenkan University; Non-executive Director, Kirin Holdings; Audit & Supervisory Board Member, Toyota Motor Corporation) |
| Session 4 | Tuesday, February 18, 20:40-23:15 | Examining the relationship between companies and society. Human rights issues
Speakers: Human right activist (tbc)
Facilitator: Prof. Niloy Biswas (Associate Professor of International Relations, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh) |
| Session 5 | Tuesday, February 25, 20:40-23:15 | Exploring purpose-driven management and new corporation models (B-Corp, French legal framework “Entreprise à Mission”)
Speakers: Raj Sisodia (Co-founder and former Chairman of Conscious Capitalism Inc.; author of “Conscious Capitalism”) Colin Mayer (Emeritus Professor, Saïd Business School University of Oxford)
Discussants: Jay Coen Gilbert (Executive Advisor, Imperative 21; Co-founder, B Lab) Blanche Segrestin (Professor, Mines ParisTech, PSL Research University) (tbc)
Facilitator: Prof. Raj Sisodia (Distinguished Professor of Conscious Enterprise, EGADE Business School, Mexico) |
| Session 6 | Tuesday, March 11, 20:40-23:15 | Reflecting on the relationship between companies and the planet
Speakers: Areeba Hamid, Executive Director, Greenpeace UK
Facilitator: Prof. Edson Kenji Kondo (Dean, School of Public Policy and Government, Fundação Getulio Vargas, Brazil) |
| Session 7 | Tuesday, March 18, 20:40-23:15 | What are employees for a corporation? Considering the relationship with employees.
Speakers: Olivier Blum (Chief Executive Officer and Acting EVP Energy Management, Schneider Electric) (tbc) Prof. Choelsoon Park (Former Dean, Professor of Strategy and International Management, Seoul National University Graduate School of Business)
Facilitator: Mr. Anil Sachdev (Founder and Chairman, School of Inspired Leadership, India; Founder and Former CEO, Grow Talent) |
| Session 8 | Tuesday, March 25, 20:40-23:15 | Marketing and business models for a new era
Speaker: Vincent Stanley (Director of Philosophy, Patagonia; Visiting Fellow, Yale School of Management)
Facilitator: Prof. Roger Levermore (Senior Strategy Advisor, Former Dean & Vice President, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand) |
| Session 9 | Tuesday, April 1, 19:40-22:15 | Redefining corporate value creation
Speakers: Pavan Sukhdev (Founder & CEO, GIST Impact; Former President and Chair of WWF International) Corporate Executive of Natura, Brazil (tbc)
Facilitator: Prof. Edward Brooks (Director of the Programme for Global Leadership at DPIR and Executive Director of the Oxford Character Project, University of Oxford, UK) |
| Session 10 | Tuesday, April 15, 19:40-22:15 | Exploring the trends in disclosure standards and impact-weighted accounting
Speakers: John Elkington (Chief Pollinator, Volans; author of “Green Swans”) Corporate Executive of Kering (tbc)
Facilitator: Prof. David Veredas (Professor of Finance and Associate Dean for Sustainability, Vlerick Business School, Belgium) |
| Session 11 | Tuesday, April 22, 19:40-22:15 | Where is MBA education heading? Can we become the Good Ancestors?
Speakers: Roman Krznaric (Senior Research Fellow at Oxford University; author of “The Good Ancestor”) Paul Polman (Business leader, Campaigner, Co-author of “Net Positive”; Former CEO, Unilever)
Facilitator: Prof. Lawrence Loh (Professor and Director of Centre for Governance and Sustainability, National University of Singapore) |
Participating schools 2025
- Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
- EGADE Business School, Mexico
- Fundação Getulio Vargas, Brazil
- Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa
- IESE Business School, Spain
- IPADE Business School, Mexico
- IPB University School of Business, Indonesia
- Lagos Business School, Nigeria
- National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Next Leaders’ Initiative for Sustainability, Japan
- Royal Roads University, Canada
- Said Business School, University of Oxford, UK
- School of Inspired Leadership, India
- Seoul National University, South Korea
- Shizenkan University, Japan
- Universiti Sains Malaysia Graduate School of Business, Malaysia
- University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Vlerick Business School, Belgium
- Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
- Indian Institute of Management – Bangalore, India
Contact us
Admissions Office, Graduate School of Leadership and Innovation, Shizenkan University
Address: Nihonbashi Takashimaya Mitsui Building 17F
2-5-1 Nihonbashi Chuo-ku Tokyo 103-6117 Japan
E-mail: admissions-non-degree@shizenkan.ac.jp
*The Shizenkan University office will be closed for winter vacation from December 28 to January 2.
We will strive to respond to all urgent inquiries and emails once we resume regular operations on January 3, 2025 (Friday).