During the More than a Market Forum – this year, under the umbrella of “Sustainable Mindsets for Sustainable Business” – participants were benefitting from a wide range of CSR-related workshops as well as high-level panel discussions and keynotes all around the topic of Diversity & Inclusion and Sustainability. On top of that, guests were networking with NGOs and further social enterprises during our Social Market.
The Forum kicked off by the moderators Dr. Sigrid Winkler, Executive Chamber Manager at German Chamber of Commerce in China | Shanghai and Oliver Ye Yang, Jury Member of More than a Market and Trustee of the Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation, with greetings by Maximilian Butek, Executive Director at the German Chamber of Commerce in China | Shanghai and Richard Cuntz, Head of Science & Technology; Economic Affairs at Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Shanghai. After the workshops, the Forum continued with a keynote by Zhang Yifei, Secretary General at Fosun Foundation. He shared Fosun’s approach and engagement in CSR and gave insights on the way ahead of CSR in China.
Executive Chamber Manager at German Chamber of Commerce in China | Shanghai
In October 2016, Dr. Sigrid Winkler was appointed Executive Chamber Manager at the German Chamber of Commerce in China | Shanghai and oversees the membership organization at the Chamber. Dr. Winkler holds a PhD in Political Science from Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium and a bachelor’s degree in Chinese Studies from Vienna University. Previously, Dr. Winkler managed international business development projects in China and Eastern Europe for Business Upper Austria, the economic agency of the regional government of Upper Austria.
Diversity and Inclusion have been hot topics for many large enterprises in recent years, and rightfully so. There are many benefits to an inclusive diverse workforce: better retention rates, stronger workforce performance, and higher engagement rates. But diversity and inclusion are also priorities that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) need to embrace to achieve these benefits and more.
In this workshop, guests learnt:
The workshop concluded with a Fireside Chat and Q&A with Sebastien Denes, VP & Head of Mission Control Center APJ/GC at SAP Greater China.
In partnership with our Think Tank Partner, Diversity & Inclusion Consulting
Diversity & Inclusion Consulting (DNIC) is a corporate advisory and training consultancy that supports diversity and inclusion at the workplace. Our mission is to build an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity, so that everyone with different backgrounds and identities can bring their whole selves to work.
Executive Director of D&I Consulting
Charlene Liu was born in Malaysia and has lived in the US, Singapore, and now Shanghai, China. She is an engineer, a social change maker, and a community builder. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a BSc in Electrical Engineering and has 20 years of working experience in different areas of the Semiconductor & Electronics industry, ranging from design, engineering, manufacturing, project management to sales and marketing. She has also experience with events, corporate innovation, and management consulting at PwC. Charlene has 16 years of community leadership, commercial event management, and Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) advocacy experience. In 2009, she co-founded ShanghaiPRIDE, an annual festival run entirely by volunteers that promotes diversity, in 2014 Q-Events, an event management company, in 2016 Ladies Who Tech, a social impact community for women in STEM, and in 2019 D&I Consulting. Charlene is now embarking on a full-time journey in creating an inclusive workplace for all in Greater China and in the region.
Globally, there are over one billion people with disabilities. They are now more active in our society than ever before. Yet employment rates are low and many barriers to work still exist. For the one billion people with disabilities, inclusion in the labor market, and in society in general, requires the breaking down of existing barriers. Companies have greater opportunities than ever before to bring in people with disabilities, as customers and clients, but also as employees and managers. By including people with disabilities, companies, individuals and society at large all win. After attending this workshop, participants were able to:
In partnership with our Think Tank Partner, Taicang Inclusion Factory
Since its inception, Taicang Inclusion Factory has seen the advancement of inclusive employment for persons with disabilities (PWDs) as its mission. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to realize their potential and get into the mainstream of society through taking up an occupation. As of 2021, Inclusion Factory has been employing 37 full-time employees with intellectual disabilities. We provide training and support services for companies willing to hire people with disability (PWD), share our expertise, and expand inclusion to more companies and Industries. 27 PWDs have been employed in other companies supported by the Inclusion Advisory. A total of 250 people from 20 enterprises participated in the workshop to help change the mindset and attitudes towards PWD as an initial step for inclusive employment.
Program Development Manager at the Taicang Inclusion Factory
In her role as Program Development Manager, Wang Li is responsible for the Social Inclusion Academy and consulting programs. She designs and implements educational programs related to disability, aiming to promote awareness for a more inclusive society. Prior to joining the Inclusion Factory, Wang Li was a documentary film director and made a series of short films about different social issues in China.
While globally businesses of all sizes have started to embrace the values of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability, founders and executives of SMEs often struggle to develop, and deliver, a strategic vision for CSR and sustainability for China. For many, the barriers are one of limited resources, and the need to focus on “business”, but for many, starting small and finding ways inspire and empower employees is one of the first steps in transforming your business’s sustainability goals into reality.
To help participants understand how to move their vision, and teams, from inspiration to action, in this workshop participants:
In partnership with our Think Tank Partner, Collective Responsibility
Collective Responsibility is built on the principle that multiple stakeholders have an obligation to work together to develop solutions to Asia’s sustainability issues and the recognition that this is a long-term, and complex process. At Collective Responsibility, we assist our clients to look through the lens of sustainability to understand the possibilities that lie in front of them.
Managing Director of Collective Responsibility
Richard is the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Founder of HandsOn China and an Adjunct Professor of Sustainability and Social Innovation at Southern Methodist University. Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 20 years in Asia working to engage, inspire and equip those around him to take their first step. Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, to bring about the changes in leadership and business models, and to recalibrate old models so that new opportunities can be captured, Brubaker’s work is centered around building foundations of knowledge, understanding core issues, engaging stakeholders, and doing what it takes to move forward. To date, Richard has overseen the development and execution of more than 200 projects focused on solving the social, environmental and economic challenges that are faced in Asia. Richard holds a Masters in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, and serves as the Vice Chairman of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.
Sustainability is a growing concern for governments, corporations, and the civil society. Leading economies such as China or the European Union have announced ambitious carbon neutrality targets and climate change action plans. In recent years, China has issued a series of strict environmental protection laws, which have had a big impact on both local and multinational companies. At corporate level, environmental protection can also represent a competitive advantage, provided companies go beyond simple compliance, find innovative approaches, and invest in environmental protection strategically.
During this workshop participants:
In partnership with our Think Tank Partner, Konrad-Adenauer Foundation and Business Ecology
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) has close ties with the current governing party of Germany, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). In Germany, 16 regional offices offer a wide variety of conferences and events. Our offices abroad are in charge of over 200 projects in more than 120 countries. The foundation’s headquarters are situated in Sankt Augustin near Bonn, and also in Berlin.The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Shanghai Representative office was opened in 2001. The top priority of the China Country Program is to strengthen German-Chinese understanding and partnership and to promote bilateral exchanges between China and Germany in the fields of science, economics, technology and sociology. In addition, the Foundation aims to contribute to the sustainable success of the Chinese reform process and to promote China’s increasing integration into the international relations network.
Business Ecology
We are a content production and communication studio in the field of sustainable business and innovation since 2011. We produce China’s first magazine about green economy. We create feature reports, public exhibitions, sustainability-theme short film and workshops for public education and empowerment of professionals.
Program Manager at Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
Since Aug 2016 Chengzhan Zhuang is the Program Manager of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Shanghai. He is a veteran policy specialist with years of experience in research and analysis on public policy. His expertise on public policy includes the related policy transitions related to climate change, geopolitical risks and China-EU relations, China’s political and economic institutions. His main task at Konrad Adenauer Stiftung is to serve the European academic, think-tank and thought-leaders community, to establish different dialogue mechanisms with the corresponding Chinese think tanks, national universities, and corresponding government departments, so that mutual dialogues, cooperation and trust between Europe and China can be established and enhanced. Mr. Zhuang received his PhD in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Bonn, Germany.
In the high-level panel representatives from German companies were discussing what their company’s overall approach for reducing CO2 emissions is, and how they are planning to further decarbonize their supply chains.
Executive Director and Board Member of German Chamber of Commerce in China | North China
Since August 2018, Jens Hildebrandt is heading the Delegation of German Industry & Commerce Beijing as Delegate & Chief Representative and Managing Director of the German Chamber of Commerce in North China. He studied Political Science and Sinology in Leipzig, Beijing and Hong Kong and completed an MBA. Since 2007 Jens Hildebrandt has held various management positions in the network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK) and the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), i.e. as Head of the East Asia Department in Berlin and later as Delegate & Chief Representative of German Industry & Commerce in Guangzhou.
