Purpose Forum in Pisa: businesses and non-profit organisations for building the common good

The role of businesses and non-profit organisations in building the common good is the central theme of the first edition of the Purpose Forum, scheduled to take place in Pisa on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 May. The initiative, promoted by the Purpose Lab of the Institute of Management of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, in collaboration with the spin-off company Lab11, aims to explore the theme of Purpose in the Italia context and stimulate an open comparison between the academic world, businesses, institutions and civil society organisations. Purpose is the raison d'être, the fundamental reason why a company exists: a sort of ethical compass that goes beyond profit and guides decisions, creating a positive impact on society.

The Forum, which will take place every two years, also intends to contribute to monitoring the degree of maturity and "health" of the Italia system with respect to the diffusion and integration of Purpose in the economic and social fabric of the country."The initiative was created with the aim of sharing reflections, practices, needs and perspectives of academics, managers and policy makers on the themes of Purpose, with particular attention to the role of businesses, but also of non-profit organisations, in the construction of the common good," declares Andrea Piccaluga, professor at the Scuola Sant'Anna and promoter of the Purpose Forum.

The programme is divided into two days with different formats and audiences. The Forum starts on Thursday 7 May at 5.00 p.m. at the Santa Croce in Fossabanda venue of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna with a session dedicated above all to young people, associations and start-ups, with a more informal style, oriented towards workshop sharing, discussion and networking.
The day of Friday 8 May will be divided into two moments: in the morning starting at 9.15 a.m. at the Auditorium of the Opera Primaziale del Duomo with the session 'The People of Purpose' with a round table with the participation of academics, managers and entrepreneurs.
In the afternoon of Friday 8, from 2.30 p.m., at the Aula Magna of the Scuola Sant'Anna, a new round table on 'The Purpose Driven Enterprises'.

Alongside the promoters, the initiative sees the collaboration of various organisations and enterprises, including Oikos Mediterraneo, NEXT - Nuova Economia per Tutti, Todisco Group, Economy of Francesco, Ricca IT, Banca Popolare di Lajatico, 3Bee, Nativa and SIMA - Società Italiana di Management, AIPEC, Fondazione Luca Cavallini ETS, Cassa di Risparmio di Volterra. The Forum is aimed in particular at people working in enterprises, policy makers, teachers and students, with the intention of creating a stable space for discussion on the organisational and cultural transformations needed to make Purpose a concrete lever of economic and social impact.