Energy
Business as a Force for Good is a Trillion-Dollar Business Case
Sustainable business opportunities are worth trillions of dollars. More jobs and more prosperity will be generated by the new economy than ever before. But what is the new economy actually? And what are these opportunities and how can businesses capitalize on them? These are some of the questions that Marga Hoek’s book New Economy Business answers.
The definition of the new economy is comprehensive. It incorporates current trends such as disruptive technology, digitalization and changing consumer behaviour together with the drive to preserve our ecological, social and financial assets. Hoek shows how profitable businesses can be in the new economy if they integrate these trends with sustainable business practices.
Voted the Management Book of Year in 2014, New Economy Business will be launched in the UK on February 23, 2016 after massive success among academics and business leaders in the Netherlands. The first copy of the global version of New Economy Business will be presented to Sir Roger Gifford, chair City of London Year of Green Finance (UNEP initiative). Making the link between business and finance in the UK, like the London financial community’s declaration to make 2016 the Year of Green Finance, the bestseller sets the standard for doing business in the 21st century, and shows how the financial world contributes and makes a profitable business case.
New Economy Business explores seven windows of opportunity across different aspects of business including consumer behaviour, innovation, finance and leadership. Marga Hoek provides valuable insights and a sound paradigm while also presenting successful business cases from all around the world.
The book has been received with high acclaim from entrepreneurs and business leaders alike. Dan Hendrix, Chairman and CEO of Interface calls the ideas shared in New Economy Business, “so right and so smart.” Peter Bakker, President of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development declares, “This ground-breaking management book translates a clear vision into solid management models.” Ton Büchner, CEO of AkzoNobel, said: “Hoek takes readers back to the core element of business – the customer. And she reveals how companies can grasp the opportunities of the sustainable economy to create business success.” Hoek shows how profit can be made while at the same time creating a positive impact on our environmental, social and financial assets. “As Marga Hoek succinctly puts it: ‘The world is not here for the economy, the economy is here for the world.’ This is a principle I strongly believe in.” says Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever.
Truly embodying new economic models, the book breaks away from traditional copyright licensing and, instead, uses the Creative Commons scheme. Crowdsourcing was also an important element in the production of the book, with over 325 CEOs, scientists, professionals, students and consumers involved in process.
“We spoke to hundreds of experts about the business opportunities in the new economy – and what is required to lead a successful and sustainable organisation in the 21st century. I’m very happy to bring to the UK a book that shows how durable and profitable business cases gain success in a rapidly changing market and in an ever more internationally interconnected economy”, said Hoek. In her aim to mobilise the transition to a new economy, the global edition of her book will be released in the UK in partnership with Global University Systems (GUS). Moreover, New Economy Business will be at the core of a brand new MBA scheduled for launch in 2016/2017 by one of the group’s business schools.
Professor Maurits van Rooijen, Chief Academic Officer of GUS, added: “The ambition of higher education is to be a major force in shaping the future, to lead the changes in the world and to do so with the aim of making things better. Global University Systems is pleased to be involved in the publication of this book.”