Gerard George – författare

The world is facing dramatic geopolitical, environmental, and technological shifts. Venture Meets Mission argues that if Business, Government, and Society come together, rebuild trust, and collaborate, we have a generational opportunity to address societal challenges—climate change, cybersecurity, disease outbreaks, food insecurity, and education. The book explains, with hope and passion, how our existing entrepreneurial ecosystem, with the ideals of democracy, can be the foundation for a new mission-driven capitalism.

The good news is the components of this problem-solving ecosystem already exist. The authors explain what is required to join people, purpose, and profit together for world-changing impact—starting with rebuilding trust among Business, Government, and Society. The authors draw on their leadership experience with Silicon Valley innovation, venture capital, and work at the highest levels of the federal government. The book tells engaging stories of successful entrepreneurs, with diverse perspectives and intersectional experiences, who combine mission and venture to solve critical societal problems. This book seeks to inspire a generation of students, young professionals, and entrepreneurial executives to pursue mission-driven ventures that can make the world a better place. Venture Meets Mission also explains why and how forward-thinking government officials and policymakers can harness private sector entrepreneurship and innovation to solve society''s problems.

Utilizing a distinctly managerial approach, the chapter authors explore topics such as inter-organizational relationships, strategic responses, and risk and resilience at the interface of the natural environment. By applying and extending management theories such as resource dependence, transaction costs, the resource-based view, dynamic capabilities and imprinting in a natural resource context, the authors open up multiple avenues for future research. At the same time, they seek to actively build a global community of management scholars interested in natural resources.

Multidisciplinary in approach and clear in execution, this book will be of interest to students and researchers studying natural resource management and policy, policymakers from regional, national, and trans-national bodies, as well as leaders of environment focused NGOs.

Contributors include: B. Bastian, H. Burgers, M. Bystrowska, B. Crawford, C. Dean, G. George, J. Good, B. Grøgaard, S. Gurtner, Y. Hu, F. Keller, R.P. Lee, T.L. Liak, S. Mehra, V.V. Miller, F. Paetzold, A.C. Presse, M.J. Pisani, R. Reinhardt, U.H. Richter, L. Schiffer, S.J.D. Schillebeeckx, C.L. Tucci, C. Van der Byl, K.A. Wigger, M. Workman. F. Zarea Fazlelahi

Acting as a call to action, the chapters place social impact at the heart of theory and practice, providing fresh insight into global issues and practical solutions. Organized into five distinct sections to reflect current theoretical approaches and frameworks, contributions cover social innovation as practice; community and place; systems, institution and infrastructure; individual, organizations and organizing, and networks and social change. This Handbook emphasises the fundamental shift needed in management scholarship to address global problems and achieve social impact through sustainable development goals.

This will be an invaluable resource for those championing social inclusion in both research and practice, including innovation researchers and management scholars more broadly.

The Handbook on the Business of Sustainability offers a comprehensive review of research and empirical evidence on sustainable business, exploring the importance of private sector engagement and implementation. World leading scholars cover the key areas such as organization, execution and the measurement of outcomes and social impact. The insightful case studies also provide critical context and complement the chapters highlighting emerging practices and solutions for the successful application of sustainability initiatives in business.

The Handbook will be an invaluable resource for academics, practitioners, and policymakers to reflect on the ‘concept and practice’ of articulating and strategizing in order to achieve sustainability targets.