Inspiring professors Matt Gitsham is putting ethics at the heart of global business

At Hult, our  professors are at the leading edge of business theory and practice. Like our students, they come from all corners of the globe and have a diverse range of interests and expertise. In addition to conducting pioneering academic research, many Hult faculty members also run their own companies, support startups, or consult on strategy at leading organizations and for governments around the world. This insight and experience helps shape the courses they teach and feeds directly into the classroom. One professor whose research and thought leadership has helped to shape our programs is Matthew Gitsham. A faculty member at Ashridge Business School since 2004, Matt is now the Director of the Ashridge Center for Business and Sustainability for Ashridge Executive Education at Hult. Not only is he leading in the classroom, he’s driving research that is directly influencing business practice and informing government policy. Matt says: â€Å"I think in today’s world it’s become clear that business leaders have a critical role to play in tackling global challenges—and business education and research are crucial for making that happen.† Making business better for the benefit of all Matt is passionate about the role business can—and should—play in building a better and more sustainable future for all. This conviction is at the heart of his work as Director of the Ashridge Center for Business and Sustainability, which is at the forefront of developing sustainable business practice. Issues like climate change, population growth, and economic uncertainty, which used to be the remit of governments and NGOs, are now becoming a key focus for businesses. Working in partnership with leading international organizations, Matt and his colleagues aim to not only help businesses perform better, but also to create more value for wider society. To accomplish this, they are developing production methods that are environmentally conscious, and focusing on fair trade and labor standards. Collaborating with business leaders to build a better world In recent years, a growing number of corporate leaders have championed a move towards more ethical and sustainable business practices. Matt is keen to see this trend continue to gain momentum, and much of his recent work has looked at how to be a successful and socially responsible leader in today’s business environment. The research has been conducted in partnership with global networks like the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF), the Academy of Business in Society (ABIS), Business in the Community (BITC), and Business Fights Poverty. From John Brock, Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises, to Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, former Chairman of Shell and Anglo American, Matt has talked with some of the world’s most successful corporate executives about how the role of business leadership is evolving. Using the experiences that have personally shaped the thinking of these business leaders, Matt and his collaborators have helped to create more effective training programs for tomorrow’s ethical business leaders. Matt’s inspiring work in this area has been shared with a diverse and influential audience beyond the classroom and the boardroom—from St James’s Palace to the World Economic Forum in Davos. One key report, Leadership in a Rapidly Changing World, served to inform debate at the 2012 Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Matt explains the importance of sharing the findings of his research outside the academic community: â€Å"Part of how change happens is by giving people the opportunity to engage with new ideas or the experiences of others and to reflect on the implications for them. â€Å"Any chance to discuss research findings with influential groups is an opportunity to contribute to this process of change. Whether it’s a meeting bringing together business leaders and policymakers, or business school deans and directors, or even talking in local schools with the leaders of tomorrow—they’re all important.† Partnering with the UN to promote global collaboration on sustainable business Because Matt’s ongoing work is closely aligned with the principles and aims of the United Nations Global Compact (UNCG), he’s been honored to work with them on a number of initiatives, including an in-depth review of its new platform for corporate sustainability, Global Compact LEAD. Formed of 55 organizations, LEAD is designed to challenge and support leading businesses to reach higher levels of sustainability, with a focus on issues including human rights, labor standards, environmental issues, and anti-corruption. To measure the success and impact of the LEAD initiative, the Academy of Business in Society, along with Matt’s team, were selected to coordinate a review of LEAD in partnership with a network of global business schools. Matt led this review, and the findings were presented to the UN Global Compact Board, which includes UN Secretary General Ban KiMoon and the CEOs of leading businesses from around the world. The research team’s practical recommendations in light of their findings have gone on to inform the strategy of the UN Global Compact and helped to set the priorities of the LEAD initiative going forward. Fighting back against labor exploitation and modern slavery More recently, Matt has been part of a Hult-led research team working in collaboration with the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) to investigate how U.K. businesses are responding to the issue of modern slavery. Eradicating criminal and unfree labor is an issue Matt and his team are working to bring to light through their research. Incredibly, up to 77% of companies believe that there is a likelihood of labor exploitation at some stage in their supply chains. In response to this complex issue, the UK Modern Slavery Act came into force in October 2015. The research team’s Corporate Leadership on Modern Slavery Summary Report 2016, which profiled how well-known brands such as ASDA, Hewlett Packard, Nestle, and IKEA are taking action in light of the Modern Slavery Act, sets an example for other businesses to follow. The findings were presented on October 31st, 2016 at a launch event at the House of Lords, chaired by Baroness Young. This event brought together companies, government officials, and policymakers, prompting useful debate on how government and business must work together to tackle this problem. Matt and the entire research team look back on the launch event with a great sense of achievement: â€Å"It felt like such a privilege to be in that room and raise visibility on this issue. With these sorts of projects you always hope to have a positive impact, and it was incredibility rewarding to see such far-reaching conversations happening because of the research we’ve done.† The research continues to have significant influence. It has prompted one group of investors to launch a program of engagement on modern slavery with the companies they invest in and has been cited as evidence to encourage policymakers to introduce modern slavery legislation in other countries. Creating impact closer to home: supporting sustainability at the Ashridge campus and inspiring students in the classroom Matts work positively influences how the Ashridge campus itself is run as a strategic and sustainable business. Ashridge has signed the Paris Pledge for Action following the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21), and the historic Ashridge House has made a commitment to significantly lower its carbon footprint. Along with relying on more sustainable energy sources, including renewable electricity, we focus on locally sourced meat and produce to stock the kitchen and create the meals that Ashridge has become renowned for. Matt’s research also has a practical impact inside the classroom, informing everything from graduate-level seminars to highly experiential leadership training programs at Ashridge. As a professor, his research interests inspire the courses he teaches, which include Sustainable Business Practice on the Ashridge Executive MBA for the Creative Industries, Global Human Rights on the Hult Bachelor of Business Administration program, and classes on several executive programs for business and government. The theme of sustainability and responsible corporate leadership has become fundamentally embedded in our programs globally, helping Hult to prepare a new generation of socially responsible business leaders. â€Å"Business leaders need to recognize that tackling social and environmental issues can be a huge opportunity for creating value,† Matt says. â€Å"But in today’s world, making money is not the only role of a business leader—you also have a collaborative role to play alongside political leaders and civil society leaders to take the lead in tackling global challenges.† Thought leadership and recognition Outside of his role at Hult, Matt is a Steering Group Member of the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) UK and Ireland Chapter and an Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Corporate Citizenship. Recognized for his thought leadership on business and sustainability, he is a frequent contributor to industry and academic conferences and is widely published in the business and academic press. Matt has also been honored with The Aspen Institute’s â€Å"Rising Star† Faculty Pioneer award for his outstanding leadership in integrating the principles of sustainable development into research, education, student communities, and corporate practice. Want to find out more about Matt and his work? Download a summary report of Corporate Leadership on Modern Slavery Summary Report 2016 Read his article The Changing Role of Global Leaders in Harvard Business Review Follow him on Twitter: @matt_gitsham Hult offers a range of highly skills-focused and employability-driven business school programs including a range of MBA options and a comprehensive one year Masters in International Business. To find out more, take a look at our blog Women who inspire. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Related posts Academics Beyond (narrow) business concepts: â€Å"Soft† skills turn out to be critical skills News Building success: Dual Degree students win at USASBE Community How going beyond business at Hult helped me launch my company Admissions Accepted Students Weekend: A weekend to remember Careers Career mapping: How to become an executive in the next 5 years 0 Thought leadership How to prepare for an uncertain future in a world of AI Instagram Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .