NACD SUMMIT 2021

“We’re all in this together” has become an oft-repeated trope symbolic of the commiseration we are all feeling during this time of social isolation, economic distress, and fear for our health and livelihoods. But is it true? The systems we’ve built around ourselves support and ensure an uneven distribution of wealth and inequitable access to resources and opportunities. These inequalities, which have always existed, are more visible and tangible in a time of widespread crisis. How can we use this time to reflect, reevaluate, and rebuild? What role, if any, do corporations play in solving the world’s problems? Hear from two experts as they discuss the pros and cons of “philanthrocapitalism” and “conscious capitalism,” and debate whether an altered version of capitalism would be beneficial, or even possible, for the United States to implement.

Climate-caused disasters such as floods, droughts, wildfires, and heatwaves threaten business operations, supply chains, and property sites around the world, and investors have taken notice. Based on the massive increase that investing in ESG funds has seen in 2019, experts estimate that there will be more than $20 trillion of asset growth in funds that address climate risk over the next 20 years. The push for climate-conscious business practices does not only affect the public sector, as consumer behavior echoes the sentiments of environmentally conscious investors across sectors. But what does impact investing really mean and look like? Is it here to stay, or is it a flash in the pan? And how can companies that operate in high-environmental-impact industries adjust to this demand? In this honest discussion, hear from impactful CEOs who have faced this challenge head-on, and gain an understanding of what companies need to do to disclose and decrease their carbon footprint, ensure sustainability of their supply chains and customer base, and avoid getting left behind in the push for impact investing.

As the nation approaches the road to the 2020 presidential and congressional election, its people are ideologically divided, straining to stay safe amid piecemeal responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and facing the stark social realities of racism and economic inequalities laid bare by the pandemic. Right now, our world needs the wisdom of experienced leaders. Few are as well equipped to navigate the challenges facing corporations and society as Gen. Colin L. Powell, US Army (Ret.). Powell will address the audience in a keynote, and then will discuss the challenges facing our nation, illustrating what needs to come next based on his firsthand experiences as a celebrated secretary of state, public company board member, and coalition builder.