ESMT Insight Hour "Conscience Incorporated" with Prof. Michael Posner

Watch the inaugural session of ESMT Insight Hour, a new event series creating as a dedicated space for knowledge exchange and discourse on today’s most pressing issues and intellectual questions.

Drawing on his extensive experience as a human rights lawyer, U.S. State Department official under President Obama, and director of the Center for Business and Human Rights at NYU Stern, Michael Posner presented his recently published book "Conscience Incorporated: Pursue Profits While Protecting Human Rights". His book lays out a bold blueprint for businesses, leaders, and advocates to align profit with human rights.

This session explored how businesses can better protect human rights. Conscience Incorporated highlights the urgent need for stronger protection for outsourced workers, accountability for harmful online content, and human rights-conscious investing. Mike argued that public awareness alone is not enough and encourages governments, especially in Europe, to take a more active role in regulating global business practices.

After presenting the major themes of his book, Mike engaged in an in-depth discussion on Europe’s role, moderated by Markus Löning, founder and managing director of Löning – Human Rights & Responsible Business, and was joined by Anahita Thomas, head of Baker McKenzie’s International Trade practice group in Germany.

This event took place on April 2, 2025, and was organized in cooperation with Löning – Human Rights & Responsible Business.

00:00 Welcome by Georg Garlichs, CFO of ESMT Berlin
02:43 Introduction by Markus Löning, Founder and Managing Director of Löning – Human Rights & Responsible Business
06:34 Keynote by Michael Posner
12:52 Panel discussion with Michael Posner and Anahita Thomas, head of Baker McKenzie’s International Trade practice group in Germany. Moderated by Markus Löning.

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ESMT Berlin is a leading global business school with its campus in the heart of Berlin. Founded by 25 global companies, ESMT offers master, MBA, and PhD programs, as well as executive education on its campus in Berlin, in locations around the world, online, and in online blended format. Focusing on leadership, innovation, and analytics, its diverse faculty publishes outstanding research in top academic journals. Additionally, the international business school provides an interdisciplinary platform for discourse between politics, business, and academia. ESMT is a non-profit private institution of higher education with the right to grant PhDs and is accredited by AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS, and ZEvA. It is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion across all its activities and communities.

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