16: The Future of Cross-Sector Partnerships and the Key Roles for Nonprofits with Maurizio Zollo

Today’s world is demanding companies to change their behavior and engage in a truly responsible way with society and the environment. Being a good global citizen is not a matter of choice for companies anymore, it’s the only way.

In this episode, Professor Maurizio Zollo, the Scientific Director of the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College Business School and a Professor of Strategy and Sustainability and Head of the Department of Management & Entrepreneurship at the Business School, talks about why nonprofits are exactly what today’s companies need. The ‘third sector’ has a lot to teach enterprises about being real contributors to change. How can we make the best out of a for-profit/nonprofit collaboration? Join this conversation and learn some tips on how to achieve fruitful win-win partnerships by changing our organization’s mindset!

Episode highlights: 

(02:46) - Who is Maurizio Zollo? His work on the Leonardo Center on Business for Society and the source of his passion for engaged scholarship.

(07:28) - A shift in companies’ social participation: How today’s markets are demanding companies to change their behavior.

(13:48) - How is the nonprofit sector the solution for companies? Creating value for society and sharing their expertise and mindset. 

(20:07) - Why we need a radical mindset shift: How to create a fruitful partnership between companies and nonprofits. 

(26:10) - The value in organizations and deciding how to better serve society: What both parties can learn from each other’s strategies. 

(33:53) - Embracing the need for radical change: How to get over communication barriers with corporations.

(37:29) - Contribution to a renaissance in business: How to get in touch with The Imperial College projects + A shoutout to Maurizio’s favorite nonprofit GOLDEN.