A Global Dialogue on the Future of Capitalism
An online program for MBA students and next-generation leaders, exploring the roles and responsibilities of business enterprises and their leaders, and the future of business education.
Save the dates: January 13 – April 21, 2026.
The Future of Capitalism is a global, multi-institutional learning initiative co-founded by IESE Business School (Spain) and Shizenkan University (Japan). The project brings together graduate and MBA students and emerging leaders from across the globe to explore how capitalism can evolve to meet the social, environmental, and ethical challenges of the 21st century and what the roles and responsibilities business enterprises and leaders should assume. The project aims to be a catalyst to change the global management paradigm.
Through interactive sessions with world-renowned scholars, business leaders, and activists, participants explore the fundamental questions shaping the future of business: What is the purpose of a corporation? How should companies balance profitability with societal impact? What are the responsibilities of business leaders and business schools in cultivating a more equitable, sustainable, and purpose-driven world?
The program offers a rare opportunity to engage with a global peer community, challenge conventional thinking, and gain insights from pioneering perspectives on topics such as purpose-driven management, circular economy, ESG and impact investing, and corporate value creation. Participants leave with fresh ideas, practical frameworks, and a renewed vision of the kind of leaders and organizations the world needs today and tomorrow.
Partner Institutions
Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
École des Ponts Business School, France
EGADE Business School, Mexico
Fundação Getulio Vargas, Brazil
Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa
IESE Business School, Spain
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, India
IPADE Business School, Mexico
IPB University School of Business, Indonesia
Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Next Leaders’ Initiative for Sustainability, Japan
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan
Royal Roads University, Canada
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, UK
School of Inspired Leadership, India
Seoul National University Business School, South Korea
Shizenkan University, Japan
Universiti Sains Malaysia Graduate School of Business, Malaysia
University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Vlerick Business School, Belgium
A Journey in Highlights
Capturing the spirit of the program across five years.
Influential Speakers
Over the years, the project has brought together some of the most forward-thinking leaders, scholars, and innovators to share their perspectives. Here are just a few of the influential voices who have joined the conversation and inspired our community.
William W. George
Executive Education, Harvard Business School and Former Chair & CEO, Medtronic
Paul Polman
Business leader, investor, philanthropist
Professor Rebecca Henderson
John & Natty University Professor, Harvard University
Professor Muhammad Yunus
2006 Nobel Peace Laureate
Founder, Grameen Bank
Professor Dr Jan Peter Balkenende
Minister of State and former Prime Minister (2002-2010) of the Netherlands
Professor Emeritus at Erasmus University Rotterdam
Chairman of the Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition
Co-author of the book ‘Capitalism Reconnected. Toward a Sustainable, Inclusive and Innovative Market Economy in Europe’
Professor Dr Johan Rockström
Director, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
Professor in Earth System Science at the University of Potsdam and Professor in Water Systems and Global Sustainability, Stockholm University
Sir Ronald Cohen
President, GSG Impact
Kate Raworth
Co-founder and Conceptual Lead of Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL)
Senior Visiting Research Associate at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute
Author of Doughnut Economics
What Our Students Say
Our Supporters
The project is backed by global business leaders, renowned scholars, and experts who actively shape the dialogue on the future of capitalism.
Paul Polman
Professor Colin Mayer
James Higa
John Elkington
Feike Sijbesma
B. Muthuraman
Jay Coen Gilbert
Pavan Sukhdev
Sandra Wu
Start changing the future of business and society.
Join us for The Future of Capitalism free online program along with the students of top global schools.
Save the dates: January 13- April 21, 2026.