1. Globally Responsible
Advisory and Consulting (GRAC)
A Call to Action and an Invitation to Engage (24th to 28th of March 2014, Oulu, FIN)
Join a global network of committed peers to explore
the landscape of global responsibility in advisory and consulting
Become part of the solution
What is global responsibility in and for advisory and
consulting?
About GRLI
The Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative invites you for five
days of sharing and co-creation in March (24th to 28th) to Oulu,
Finland.
The financial crisis from 2008 brought a number of issues into
sharp focus: the harmful side of globalisation, the prevalence of
casino capitalism and the complete inadequacy of governance
systems to a name a few. Even more worrying is how poorly
business leadership and management are equipped in general to
conceive and implement a positive alternative future.
The Globally Responsible Leadership
Initiative (GRLI) is a global partnership of
companies and learning institutions focused
on enabling the development of individual
and collective leadership and practice that is
globally responsible - that strives to be the
best FOR the world rather than the best IN
the world.
The GRLI convenes organisations and
individuals, across all spheres of society,
committed to sustainable human progress
built on recognition of the need for deep,
systemic change.
On-going societal and governance reactions to the crisis suggest
that the GFC and associated conditions are far from blowing over.
Meanwhile the contrast between current capabilities and best
practice in leadership and management compared to what the world needs in uncertain times grows stronger. The
call for responsible leadership and practice at individual, organisational and systemic level echoes louder.
Building on the rich experience of a global community of practice we want to explore the landscape of global
responsibility in advisory and consulting for taking action. In an open space we want to draw the maps allowing for
innovation and change. Be part of the landscape or become part of the solution!
The role of Advisory and Consulting
Consultancies, advisory firms, trainers and coaches have a big influence on management and leadership.
They are often role models for the individuals and companies they advise. They position themselves as exponents and
enablers of best practices to the extent that they do not challenge underlying orthodoxies such as the pre-eminence
of unfettered free markets, shareholder value and profit maximisation, they reinforce them.
We may want to start with a simple question:
What role do, can and should advisory and consulting organisations play in developing globally
responsible leadership and how do they themselves practice responsibility?
Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative Foundation (GRLI)
Foundation of Public Interest
Rue Gachard 88 – box 5 – 1050 Brussels - Belgium
Tel: +32-2-629 08 10 | fax: +32-2-629 08 11 | info@grli.org |
VAT: BE 0808.174.702 | www. grli.org
developing a next generation of responsible leaders
A strategic partnership of
Founded with the support of

2. Questions and Challenges
When we look at the landscape of consulting and advisory we can immediately identify three perspectives.
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First, there is the arena of consulting and advisory work explicitly aimed at developing some dimension of
global responsibility. This is most visible around the discourses of sustainability, corporate social
responsibility and compliance. How can a business be sustainable in its entire conduct? What is corporate
social responsibility in the light of the larger stakeholder landscape especially including the various levels of
government and society? And how can legal regulations, especially in the arena of corruption, be
systematically enforced?
Second, there is a need for the question of globally responsible leadership and practice within consulting and
advisory companies. How is global responsibility reflected in the value set that drives the consultancies?
What are the individual and organisational implications of that? What does the company bring to the world?
What does it bring to its clients, to its employees, and to the society in general? How does it use its power
and influence and what does it stand for?
Third, there is the consideration of how developing globally responsible leadership and practice specifically is
delivered within the advisory and consulting practices provided to clients. What does the disciplinary set,
the models, methods, instruments and tools aiming at global responsibility look like? How can consulting and
advisory practices be conceived which are orientated more strongly towards global responsibility? And what
is the attitude in consulting and advisory that comes with global responsibility?
There are no quick answers. The first reflexes were looking at codes of ethical conduct - a Hippocratic Oath for
consultants? We can think of the accreditation of practices or the certification of people and companies. However,
do we really need another declaration, manifesto or charter? Perhaps the reflection needs to be broader and deeper
at the same time and innovative as to overcome the pitfalls of expecting new results from old thinking.
A Call to Action
This call is to bring people together who do normally not speak
with each other a lot. A community of interest that is prepared to
think big, start small, and act now. A community taking responsible
action and also openly sharing the outcomes of this conversation
critically with the broadest possible audience as an invitation to
join the conversation and embark on a learning journey towards
global responsibility in consulting and advisory services.
We invite you to join a pioneering group of consulting and advisory
practitioners to start the work of leveraging and scale to play our
part in the development of globally responsible leadership and
practice. - Be part of the landscape or become part of the solution!
What you can do
Come to Finland –register at www.grli.org.
Invite a friend - bring your colleagues and
peers along.
Join the movement – check-in with the
LinkedIn group.
Tell the world - share the news and the link
on your website and on the internet.
Give feedback – call in at grac@grli.org.
Participation at Oulu
Join us in Oulu, Finland from the evening of Sunday 23rd March for 5 days of co-creation around this agenda. Monday
24th will explicitly be dedicated to the questions around globally responsible advisory and consulting. On-going from
there, we will work as part of and connecting with others in business and in learning organisations who will be there
as part of the GRLI’s General Assembly, hosted by the Martti Ahtisaari Institute & Oulu Business School. The
registration fee of EUR 890 includes lunches and dinners and your participation on Monday as well as your
participation in the GRLI General Assembly from Tuesday to Friday.
Registration now at www.grli.org!
Join the Linkedin group at GRAC! - Feedback at grac@grli.org!
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