The Art of Leading in China: Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibility

• Does doing business in China interest you?
• How about Corporate Social Responsbility?

If so, next Tuesday evening, 2 June, 2009, at Pakhuis de Zwijger in Amsterdam might be interesting for you.

De Baak has engaged Mr. Jochum Haakma, the former Consul General of Shanghai, among many other illustrious posts, to speak at our “The Art of Leading in China” series. He is also associated with the NFIA and the NCH, as well as the private sector, and has a good insight into both public and private ventures in China.

See www.debaak.com/theartof for more information.

Pitch: Martien van Steenbergen

A couple of years ago, I read that to change the flow of a river, you must change its landscape.

Using the same metaphor, in April 2006, I posed myself the following burning question:

What is the most contagious business model that changes the economic landscape in such a way that the rivers of money will flow to a whole world?

And somehow, I feel I am mysteriously guided by it ever since. My life seems to fold itself around this question.

Our current monetary system is the weapon of mass destruction and unprecedented global slavery and it is utterly powerful, as we all experience. Want to destroy a community or society? Introduce a centralized, hierarchical, interest- and debt-based monetary system where money is scarce. Boo.

However, we can direct and focus this very same powerful force to create an all-healing laser beam:

The power instrument of mass healing that puts war, unemployment, poverty, disease and global destruction of spaceship Earth into oblivion is a complementary innovative monetary system. It fosters collaboration and community, and exalts mankind and nature to unprecedented heights. It is incredibly simple and only needs guts, leadership and love.

Money, as a form of energy, as a measurement, as information, should not be scarce.

What if money is created, not in a centralized hierarchical way and based on debt, but exactly at the moment of transaction? This makes money always sufficiently available. We never run out of money, just as we never run out of centimeters or inches.

What if we replaced interest on savings by paying a small fee on any open amount, be it in credit or debit—‘demurrage,’ the French call it? Say, 1% every four weeks. This makes money flow, since you want to direct its force to mainly support your passions and talent. This small fee flows into a community fund to support the commons.

What if we can join forces and synergize the thousands of small and fragment initiatives into an effort that creates some traction, some momentum that makes a difference?

What if we'll change:
- globalism by localism,
- fiat-money by self-money,
- debt by reputation
- interest by flowmoney
- scarcity by sufficiency
- central by peer-to-peer
- savings by streamings
- closed by open
- wages by passion
- grabbing by giving
- dependance by empowering
- co-destruction by co-creation
- battle by cooperation
- slavery by freedom
- burn-out by exaltation
- egocentrism by community
- taking by giving
- us parasites by us symbiotic beings?

Again:

The power instrument of mass healing that puts war, unemployment, poverty, disease and global destruction of spaceship Earth into oblivion is a complementary innovative monetary system. It fosters collaboration and community, and exalts mankind and nature to unprecedented heights. It is incredibly simple and only needs guts, leadership and love.

Saving the world is, literally, incredibly easy. It is, in fact, so easy that you probably do not believe it. There are many alternative monetary systems that foster global collaboration, wealth, and the unfolding of a flourishing, whole Earth.

So, go ahead and don't believe me, and research this for your selves. Do some transformational thinking and acting and being.

Imagine you have the guts to embrace this! I dare you.

Thank you.

Pitched by Martien van Steenbergen during De Baak » Meet The World 2009, January 2009.

Pitch: Cosmas Blaauw, Caroline van der Linden

My name is Cosmas Blaauw, director of SharePeople.
At the end of last century, far before the current economic crisis, we were all busy to make careers and to make a lot of money. Including myself.
The last couple of years this has changed and now even bankers know that making money is not enough for our well-being. Also in this MTW-conference you can feel that new vibe.

For this pitch, let’s say I am someone else. Let’s call me Bob Jansen. I am a successful consultant, although currently temporarily ‘on the bench’ because of the economic crisis.
Last months were so hectic. I don’t know what the current crisis will bring me.
I want to DO something. I don’t want to quit my job or stop completely whit what I am doing now, but I need a break.
I would like to share my knowledge with an interesting person. Someone in a complete different world in complete different circumstances. I want to learn it the hard way.
Is there someone in need for me?

Hi, I am Caroline van der Linden from the Baak.
Or, for this pitch let’s call me Tsehai Bogale. I am an Ethiopian woman, with a small eco-tourist site with a couple of beautiful lodges. Although I had some succesfull other businesses I don’t have a lot of experience yet to manage these lodges and I don’t know what should work to attract European tourists. Can you work with me, just for a couple of weeks to help me to make some decisions.

SharePeople is working hard to make perfect matches between organizations in Europe that want to share their Human Capital with and entrepreneurs in developing countries that wants to boost their company.
It is of added value for the European organization
It is a once in a live time learning experience for Bob and a lot of other managers and last but not least,
It helped Tsehai enormously to have some sparring partners, that looked from a different perspective to her business. The new Dorze Lodge opened today!

Please join the SharePeople Ambassadors Network to get the same experience as Bob and Tsehai. The larger our network, the better we are able to make good matches!

Pitch: Martien van Steenbergen

What is the most contagious business model that changes the economic landscape in such a way that the rivers of money will flow to a whole world?

Our current monetary system is the weapon of mass destruction and worldwide slavery and it is utterly powerful, as we all experience. Boo.
However, we can direct and focus this very same powerful force to create am all-healing laser beam:
The power weapon of mass healing that puts war, unemployment, poverty, disease and global destruction of spaceship Earth into oblivion is a complementary innovative monetary system. It fosters collaboration and community, and exalts mankind and nature to unprecedented heights. It is incredibly simple and only needs guts, leadership and love.

Pitch: Aart van den Bos, Managing Director, Soil & More International

I have 3 beautiful children. It is likely you also have some children. It is our responsibility to take care of eachothers kids and their kids. Not only now but especially for the future.

What do we do with Soil & More International is : 2 years ago we established the company after we developed a unique composting system that complies with standards of the United Nations for carbon emission reduction projects. Meaning that we receive carbon credits for what we do in 2nd and 3rd world countries. Currently we are active in Mexico, Egypt and South Africa.

Achievements 2008:
- We created more than 150 jobs in the countries mentioned
- We helped over 600 farmers with improving their soils and giving them a better future
- We have reduced this 130.000 tons of CO2 emissions
- We saved 20.000.000 liter of water in agriculture, due to increased waterholding capacity of fertile soils
- Prevented 200.000.000 kg. of organic waste of going to landfills

We see organic waste as a valuable material full of nutrients and minerals which should be given back to earth instead of being land filled.

That we are doing a good job was confirmed a couple of months ago when we were approached by the Clinton Climate Initiative. They are very fond of our technology and our way of working. They want us to apply our method in many more countries which includes heavy investments. We cannot do that alone and therefore we want to work with financially strong partners who are not only interested in financial profits but also value social & ecological returns . We want to make our technology available for the whole world. This is how we take global responsibility. Will you join us?

Pitch: Claire de Haan

Responsibility is the ability to respond. I have the ability to respond. And so do you all. But how? You are most powerful to respond to a social issue, when you use your moral compass and express your talents and passions. If you want to be more in touch with your environment, first be more in touch with yourself. What touches you is what drives you. With these ingredients we can all be sustainable leaders. Just do it

Pitch: Theo van Sprundel

Re-development Local Economy

I am an ex international manager and consultant. I experienced that today’s economic system left many local capabilities and potentials unused. We cannot afford that. Global solutions requires that we activate all social capital, apply very short local value chains and come to cradle-to-cradle-approaches, starting in the street where we live.

“Global knowledge and experience is good, but welfare starts with your actions in your street”

We should reinvent the local economy. Small enterprises, self employed people, local institutions and volunteers brought together in an self sustainable, low cost, low end economy system. Idealism is not enough. Local entrepreneurship should provide real rewards and get flexibility by lifting much of the government control. This new local economy will start with pilots in many places, and gain gradually better conditions.

The effects of such a local economy expose directly on national and local budgets (f.e. security or senior care) , but there are also substantial indirect effects (f.e. school participation).