2024 ECGI Annual Conference

"The Power of Corporate Culture: Fostering Integrity and Innovation" 

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Corporate culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, behaviors, and norms that characterize an organization and shape its employees' attitudes and actions. It encompasses the company's vision, ethics, work environment, leadership style, and communication patterns. Corporate culture and corporate governance are closely intertwined, as both are essential components in determining the effectiveness and integrity of an organization.

ECGI research members have analyzed how these cultural elements impact a firm's performance, decision-making processes, and risk management. Additionally, they explore the role of corporate culture in shaping ethical conduct and fostering innovation within the organization. These insights have become directly relevant. The link between corporate culture and corporate governance is integral to the requirements set out in the ESRS G1 Business Conduct section of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), specifically under Requirement G1-1 on Corporate Culture and Business Conduct. This requirement focuses on how companies establish, develop, and promote a corporate culture and business conduct policies.

This event explored the basic concepts underpinning corporate culture and how companies in Europe are putting these concepts into practice under the new ESRS standard. This was followed by the ECGI Annual Dinner, which was offered to ECGI members and event speakers. 

The second day included the ECGI General Assembly meeting, the 2024 Wallenberg Lecture delivered by Anat R. Admati (Stanford Graduate School of Business), and the ECGI working paper prizes.