The Stockholm School of Economics in Riga in cooperation with NASDAQ OMX Riga invited AmCham members to the open lecture on Corporate Social Responsibility Analysis and Management of Internal and External Factors that Impact a Corporation.

The lecture was given by Geoffrey Mazullo, internationally recognized expert on Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance issues, Director of Partners for Financial Stability (PFS) Program.

In the lecture, Mr. Mazullo, Director defined Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and explained the relationship between it and related topics, including: compliance; corporate governance; disclosure; environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting; socially responsible investment (SRI); sustainability; and triple bottom line investing. The lecture then charted the development of CSR as a concept and a phenomenon, by presenting mini-case studies about a number of companies’ CSR experiences. By analyzing its constituent elements, the lecture aimed to dispel a commonly-held misconception/misperception that CSR is philanthropy. The lecture explained that CSR is in fact a phenomenon involving both internalities within and externalities surrounding a corporation. The careful analysis and effective management of these internalities and externalities brings both internal and external benefits to the corporation. Some statistics about reporting on CSR by the largest listed companies in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) were presented; comparisons with peers in other regions, including other emerging markets, were made. At the end of the lecture, public policy choices and public policy implications of CSR were debated/discussed.

The event was organized by NASDAQ OMX Riga. Geoffrey Mazullo has been invited in Riga by NASDAQ OMX as a chairman of evaluation committee of “Baltic Market Awards”, the NASDAQ OMX initiative in the Baltic region, aimed at highlighting best achievements in Investor Relations among listed companies.

To open the presentation, please click on the link below: CSR Lecture - Geoffrey Mazullo - Director, PFS Program - December 11, 2009