With business the direct or indirect cause of most ecological challenges, it is becoming increasingly evident that it is also the only institution left on the planet that is large enough, well-managed enough, and resourceful enough to solve the problems facing us. Businesses must now ask themselves: Are we a barrier to sustainability? Or are we its greatest hope?
The agenda of sustainability and corporate responsibility is not only central to business strategy, but it is becoming a critical driver of business growth. How well and how quickly businesses respond to this agenda will determine which companies succeed and which will fail in the next few decades. We have come a long way since the early 1980s when the godfather of free market economics Milton Friedman proudly proclaimed that the only obligation which business has to society was "to make a profit and pay its taxes."
Winston Churchill famously said that "a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." Seized as an opportunity, the climate change crisis could be the catalyst for a new era of market-driven innovation in alternative energy, conservation, sustainable development, and international cooperation. Thankfully, the business community is increasingly ready to be the movers and shakers in this process, and will play a role in shaping the future, rather than waiting to be pushed into it.
It is clear that leaders – and the general public – are exposed to conflicting views and are thus confused about the realities of climate change, about the validity of climate science, about the economic costs and benefits of action, and about the human and social implications for the future. This confusion arises partly from the difficulty of explaining the complex realities of climate change to non-scientists, but it cannot be resolved by increasingly sophisticated presentations of the science. Keynote speaker Alexander Likhotal explains that what is needed is an authoritative explanation of the realities, of the risks and of the opportunities ahead, and of the action required in terms that ordinary people (including most politicians) can understand.
In this fascinating speech, Alexander Likhotal explains that we are at an inflection point in the world today. There is a convergence of themes – seemingly disconnected – that is now being understood to be integral and urgent to our very survival. The world is headed into a perfect storm of an interconnected financial, ecological, and social crisis. Almost all forward-looking assessments of emerging issues and threats demonstrate that business as usual and incremental improvements will not be sufficient to take us to a world blessed by equitable prosperity, safety, security, and contentment. And time is not on our side.
This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.
With business the direct or indirect cause of most ecological challenges, it is becoming increasingly evident that it is also the only institution left on the planet that is large enough, well-managed enough, and resourceful enough to solve the problems facing us. Businesses must now ask themselves: Are we a barrier to sustainability? Or are we its greatest hope?
The agenda of sustainability and corporate responsibility is not only central to business strategy, but it is becoming a critical driver of business growth. How well and how quickly businesses respond to this agenda will determine which companies succeed and which will fail in the next few decades. We have come a long way since the early 1980s when the godfather of free market economics Milton Friedman proudly proclaimed that the only obligation which business has to society was "to make a profit and pay its taxes."
Winston Churchill famously said that "a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." Seized as an opportunity, the climate change crisis could be the catalyst for a new era of market-driven innovation in alternative energy, conservation, sustainable development, and international cooperation. Thankfully, the business community is increasingly ready to be the movers and shakers in this process, and will play a role in shaping the future, rather than waiting to be pushed into it.
It is clear that leaders – and the general public – are exposed to conflicting views and are thus confused about the realities of climate change, about the validity of climate science, about the economic costs and benefits of action, and about the human and social implications for the future. This confusion arises partly from the difficulty of explaining the complex realities of climate change to non-scientists, but it cannot be resolved by increasingly sophisticated presentations of the science. Keynote speaker Alexander Likhotal explains that what is needed is an authoritative explanation of the realities, of the risks and of the opportunities ahead, and of the action required in terms that ordinary people (including most politicians) can understand.
In this fascinating speech, Alexander Likhotal explains that we are at an inflection point in the world today. There is a convergence of themes – seemingly disconnected – that is now being understood to be integral and urgent to our very survival. The world is headed into a perfect storm of an interconnected financial, ecological, and social crisis. Almost all forward-looking assessments of emerging issues and threats demonstrate that business as usual and incremental improvements will not be sufficient to take us to a world blessed by equitable prosperity, safety, security, and contentment. And time is not on our side.
Alexander A. Likhotal is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Are You Leading Change or Is Change Leading You?, The Competitive Advantage of Sustainability, Seizing the Opportunity of the Climate Change Crisis, Transforming Threats Into Opportunities: Climate Change and Its Political and Business Implications and Growth in Transition: Sustainable Development - Fiction or Challenge?. The estimated speaking fee range to book Alexander A. Likhotal for your event is available upon request. Alexander A. Likhotal generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Alexandra Cousteau, Ambassador Munir Akram, Gro Harlem Brundtland, Raj Patel and Robert Bryce. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Alexander A. Likhotal for an upcoming live or virtual event.
With business the direct or indirect cause of most ecological challenges, it is becoming increasingly evident that it is also the only institution left on the planet that is large enough, well-managed enough, and resourceful enough to solve the problems facing us. Businesses must now ask themselves: Are we a barrier to sustainability? Or are we its greatest hope?
The agenda of sustainability and corporate responsibility is not only central to business strategy, but it is becoming a critical driver of business growth. How well and how quickly businesses respond to this agenda will determine which companies succeed and which will fail in the next few decades. We have come a long way since the early 1980s when the godfather of free market economics Milton Friedman proudly proclaimed that the only obligation which business has to society was "to make a profit and pay its taxes."
Winston Churchill famously said that "a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." Seized as an opportunity, the climate change crisis could be the catalyst for a new era of market-driven innovation in alternative energy, conservation, sustainable development, and international cooperation. Thankfully, the business community is increasingly ready to be the movers and shakers in this process, and will play a role in shaping the future, rather than waiting to be pushed into it.
It is clear that leaders – and the general public – are exposed to conflicting views and are thus confused about the realities of climate change, about the validity of climate science, about the economic costs and benefits of action, and about the human and social implications for the future. This confusion arises partly from the difficulty of explaining the complex realities of climate change to non-scientists, but it cannot be resolved by increasingly sophisticated presentations of the science. Keynote speaker Alexander Likhotal explains that what is needed is an authoritative explanation of the realities, of the risks and of the opportunities ahead, and of the action required in terms that ordinary people (including most politicians) can understand.
In this fascinating speech, Alexander Likhotal explains that we are at an inflection point in the world today. There is a convergence of themes – seemingly disconnected – that is now being understood to be integral and urgent to our very survival. The world is headed into a perfect storm of an interconnected financial, ecological, and social crisis. Almost all forward-looking assessments of emerging issues and threats demonstrate that business as usual and incremental improvements will not be sufficient to take us to a world blessed by equitable prosperity, safety, security, and contentment. And time is not on our side.
This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.