As the issue of sustainability becomes more urgent, we had the opportunity to turn to the traditional wisdom of Asian countries on issues of sustainability and leadership at the forum entitled “Sustainability Leadership from the Asian Perspective.” This hybrid forum, held on the evening of March 19, was the inaugural event of the Pan-Asian Business School Network, a new initiative jointly launched by business schools across Asia, including Shizenkan. 

The event was moderated by Prof. Peter David Pedersen, and Shizenkan’s Vice President Prof. Katsuhiko Yoshikawa introduced the network and its upcoming activities.

Four experts from Japan, Malaysia, India and Thailand took the opportunity to introduce sustainability leadership traditions within their countries to the audience.

Dr. Fathyah Hashim (Dean and Associate Professor, Graduate School of Business, Universiti Sains Malaysia) introduced the Islamic approach to leadership and sustainability, its core values and principles, and the practical application of these principles in the case of Malaysia. Prof. Junko Edahiro (Shizenkan University) shared her insights into the Eastern way of thought as an alternative to the Western thought, and she also brought several cases of Japanese companies that follow the traditional Eastern values in their corporate philosophy and activities.

The keynote presentations were followed by a panel discussion with Ms. Suparna Diwakar (Director, School of Inspired Leadership, India) and Mr. Anthony Watanabe (Chief Sustainability Officer, Indorama Ventures PLC, Thailand) who presented the Indian and Thai perspectives on sustainability issues.

In a stimulating and insightful discussion, all panelists agreed that there are more commonalities than differences among the traditions and principles of sustainability in Asian countries. We hope that further research and activities of the Pan-Asian Network will bring out and make explicit such commonalities, which can become a basis for advancing the ideas of sustainability.

Dr. Fathyah Hashim (Dean and Associate Professor, Graduate School of Business, Universiti Sains Malaysia)

Prof. Junko Edahiro (Shizenkan University)

Mr. Anthony Watanabe (Chief Sustainability Officer, Indorama Ventures PLC, Thailand)

Ms. Suparna Diwakar (Director, School of Inspired Leadership, India)