Sustainability in Troubled Times
We live in times of uncertainty and global (dis)order. „Understanding global mega-trends is crucial. We live in times of multiple, evolving and mutually-reinforcing shifts“, says UN Secretary-General António Guterres. He adds: „These dynamics, of geopolitical, demographic, climatic, technological, social and economic nature, enhance threats and opportunities on an unprecedented scale.“ Therefore sustainability in troubled times is the key topic of this Sustainability Yearbook 2017, edited by macondo publishing. In the opening essay, Elmer Lenzen takes a critical look at the relationship between democracy and globalization. For decades this combination was a formula for success. Now both are experiencing troubled times. UN Global Compact founding director Georg Kell and Princeton professor Larry Diamond, who are well- known figures in this field, explain some of the reasons why in a profound interview. One reason is that today’s world is becoming more fragmented. So how can sustainability work in these times? It can work if we focus on the needs of the present without compromising the abilities of the future, says Global Compact Action Platform fellow Richard Roberts, and by utilizing the advantages of tomorrow. But doing the right thing in critical times is also a question of attitude. The entrepreneur Richard Branson and the actor Colin Firth both show in their own ways that sustainability means authenticity.
We live in times of uncertainty and global (dis)order. „Understanding global mega-trends is crucial. We live in times of multiple, evolving and mutually-reinforcing shifts“, says UN Secretary-General António Guterres. He adds: „These dynamics, of geopolitical, demographic, climatic, technological, social and economic nature, enhance threats and opportunities on an unprecedented scale.“ Therefore sustainability in troubled times is the key topic of this Sustainability Yearbook 2017, edited by macondo publishing.
In the opening essay, Elmer Lenzen takes a critical look at the relationship between democracy and globalization. For decades this combination was a formula for success. Now both are experiencing troubled times. UN Global Compact founding director Georg Kell and Princeton professor Larry Diamond, who are well- known figures in this field, explain some of the reasons why in a profound interview. One reason is that today’s world is becoming more fragmented. So how can sustainability work in these times?
It can work if we focus on the needs of the present without compromising the abilities of the future, says Global Compact Action Platform fellow Richard Roberts, and by utilizing the advantages of tomorrow. But doing the right thing in critical times is also a question of attitude. The entrepreneur Richard Branson and the actor Colin Firth both show in their own ways that sustainability means authenticity.
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“How can women be successful <strong>in</strong> life?”<br />
CFO: “Women have to empower themselves<br />
<strong>in</strong> order to empower other people,<br />
their communities, and the world<br />
(Pr<strong>in</strong>ciple 6: Promote equality through<br />
community).”<br />
HOM: “Have clear objectives, don’t be<br />
ambiguous, use your Emotional Intelligence<br />
wisely and be strong!”<br />
“As women, we need to have more experience<br />
and qualifications <strong>in</strong> order to be<br />
ahead of others.”<br />
(Ma Ei Mon Oo and Ma Aye Ma Ma Phyo)<br />
ABOUT MAX ENERGY<br />
“I believe that I would be able to apply the<br />
knowledge I have learned dur<strong>in</strong>g my MBA.”<br />
(Ko Swe Nye<strong>in</strong>)<br />
Empower younger generations<br />
Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the World Bank, Myanmar’s<br />
unemployment rate <strong>in</strong> 2014 was<br />
3.3 percent. One of the reasons for<br />
unemployment could be a lack of skills,<br />
knowledge, and/or experience. To resolve<br />
this, hav<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>ternship programs<br />
and vocational tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g is imperative.<br />
Max Energy’s <strong>in</strong>ternship program allows<br />
young and mature students to ga<strong>in</strong><br />
valuable work experience and the necessary<br />
tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g. Follow<strong>in</strong>g are excerpts of<br />
<strong>in</strong>terviews with MBA students from the<br />
Yangon University of Economics:<br />
“Why did you apply for an <strong>in</strong>ternship<br />
at Max Energy?”<br />
Max Energy is a private-owned cha<strong>in</strong> of gas stations operat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Myanmar<br />
with more than 900 employees. As the slogan “Max Energy for Your Satisfaction”<br />
reveals, we are 100 percent committed to achiev<strong>in</strong>g the highest levels<br />
of customer satisfaction while ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g our position as one of the market<br />
leaders <strong>in</strong> Myanmar <strong>in</strong> the gas station bus<strong>in</strong>ess.<br />
Prior to 2010, all gas stations <strong>in</strong> Myanmar were nationally owned and the<br />
economy was not free-market. Consumers were given quotas for the amount<br />
of gas they could purchase at the designated gas stations, which made it extremely<br />
<strong>in</strong>convenient for consumers.<br />
In 2010, Myanmar’s political reform process was <strong>in</strong>itiated and the government<br />
<strong>in</strong>troduced national privatization programs to revitalize the country’s economy.<br />
S<strong>in</strong>ce then, Max Energy has expanded the gas station bus<strong>in</strong>ess throughout the<br />
country with the aim of achiev<strong>in</strong>g the highest levels of customer satisfaction<br />
by provid<strong>in</strong>g high-quality products with accurate quantities at reasonable<br />
prices.<br />
Max Energy was therefore awarded with the ISO 9001:2008 – Quality Management<br />
Certificate.<br />
Global Compact International Yearbook 2017 131
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