Vocation of the Business Leader Patrick Howell, S.J. Institute Catholic Thought and Culture Vocation of the Business Leader

Discerning your Vocation Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? - Mary Oliver

Where’s your pathway? A vocation is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.

“The Glory of God is the Human Person Fully Alive” - Irenaeus, 3rd century Discussion Questions What gives you joy? What are you good at? to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet. Frederick Buechner

Vocation of the Business Leader Business leaders are called upon to engage the world using principles of Human Dignity and the Common Good. What is human dignity? What is the Common Good? The Common Good – the sum total of social conditions that allow individuals to reach their potential.

The Faith that Does Justice The need to resolve the structural causes of poverty cannot be delayed.... Reject the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation Attack the structural causes of inequality Otherwise—no solution. Inequality is the root of social ills. Pope Francis, Gospel of Joy The need to resolve the structural causes of poverty cannot be delayed.... As long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved by rejecting the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation and by attacking the structural causes of inequality, no solution will be found for the world’s problems, or, for that matter, to any problems. Inequality is the root of social ills. Pope Francis, Gospel of Joy

Striking a Balance Business leaders must avoid the “divided life” Aspire to follow a “servant leadership” model

Corporate Governance holding the balance between: economic and social goals between individual and communal goals.”

Six Practical Principles for Business Produce goods and services that contribute to the Common Good Be alert to serve the underserved Foster the dignity of human work Principle of Subsidiarity Practice stewardship Pursue a just allocation of resources to all stakeholders –

Vocation of the Business Educator “A proper business education includes: all appropriate theoretical material, training in every relevant skill moral and social principles

Discussion Questions -- II If a business is operating in a manner consistent with Catholic Social Teaching, can it ever lay off workers? Why or why not? (identify the moral principles)

Seattle increased its minimum wage for certain employers to $15/hr. Is this consistent with CST? Can a business lobby against this and still be consistent with CST? (identify the moral principles)

Business Values The three key activities of business are: Good Goods – meet legitimate human needs and have solidarity with the poor Good Work – the Dignity of Work and Subsidiarity Good Wealth – create sustainable wealth and provide for a just distribution of wealth

“The best leaders don’t set timid and selfish goals that are easy to meet but instead set bold and inclusive goals that are hard to achieve.” - Tim Shriver

The best leaders “The best leaders don’t set timid and selfish goals that are easy to meet but instead set bold and inclusive goals that are hard to achieve.” Timothy Shriver, the chairman of Special Olympics, “Fully Alive: Discovering What Matters Most.” ( book on leadership) “We’re all looking for ways to make sense of a world without a center, but we’ll only find that in people who lead with authentic humility and reckless generosity.”

Corporate Governance “Corporate governance is concerned with holding the balance between economic and social goals and between individual and communal goals. The governance framework is there to encourage the efficient use of resources and equally to require accountability for the stewardship of those resources. The aim is to align as nearly as possible the interests of individuals, corporations and society.” ~ Sir Adrian Cadbury, UK, Commission Report: Corporate Governance 1992.