Study tours

It was enlightening to understand and appreciate the alternative perspective of sustainably-led companies versus the Anglo/US style we are all generally familiar with.

To witness this business philosophy as it is implemented and espoused in these European companies was testament to the fact that we often have blinkered vision as to the view of the world we work in.

Expect to find yourself challenged in your thinking, particularly when you compare the prevailing orthodoxy within most Australian firms of what “leadership” actually is.

This study tour showed me first hand that Sustainable Leadership practices can work, and work well, whilst also being highly profitable.

We delved into some of the most cutting-edge organizations in Europe confident that we were of sufficient calibre to ask the “right” questions. And we were met in return by some of the most senior managers available who were hungry for our perspectives and questions concerning their business.

I was pleasantly surprised by the commitment of the firms visited, highlighted by the seniority and calibre of people that we met with.

The tour also provides unprecedented access to two outstanding professors in their field of endeavour and richly developed my understanding of sustainability and its integration into all of a firm’s being.

The tour challenged my thinking which was in the stream of conventional business models…

If you feel curious about an alternative business model that offers long term insights of economic performance, social responsibility and environmental friendliness, this study tour might be for you.

The practices observed were often quite astounding for people from predominantly shareholder driven Australian companies.

The tour is exceptionally well organised: Gayle and Harry go to great lengths to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Thanks to Professor Gayle Avery and Dr Harry Bergsteiner, we were able to meet the most senior executives in some world-renowned companies such as Audi, B. Braun and Kärcher.

I had been in senior management in the Australian subsidiary of a Fortune 500 Healthcare company for a number of years. I’d had a lot of opportunity to travel within the company and seen lots of great leadership and outstanding corporate social responsibility… we found ourselves engaging CEOs of large and successful companies, who were very happy to spend time with us and share their knowledge.

The new revelation for me was to see first hand how these corporations can simultaneously address the social and environmental issues and achieve profitability in the long run. They have used these issues to strategically innovate across the board in their business operations. What is inspiring for me is to see companies not giving in to short terms demands of the financial markets but be steadfast in practising sustainable leadership.

The European Study Tour gave me the opportunity to meet face to face with directors from many of Europe’s most successful organisations, all of whom were very open to discussing their sustainability practices and strategy. The tour was hard work, but fun, well organised and gave us an insight into business practices in Germany, Austria and Switzerland –an amazing cultural experience.