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The ESSEC General Management Alumni Association is now two years into a major CSR project known as “ESSEC 21 RSE”. Following the launch of a survey examining various aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility within major corporations and small and medium-sized businesses, an awards ceremony was held in December. Held under the umbrella of ESSEC’s Centenary, the event saw the confirmation of prizes in three categories:
- “Intégration de l’Handicap”: Fenwick Linde;
- “Innovation de rupture”: Atout Vert Purodor;
- “Implication citoyenne”: Société Générale.
The ESSEC 21 RSE team, including Nadia Moquet (center)
and Paul Aussage (right, seated)
Alumni motivation for the project
Two of the main figures behind the project, Paul Aussage and Nadia Mouquet (President and Secretary General respectively off the General Management Alumni Association) describe their motives:
“The main aims are to help companies acquire a CSR culture, raise awareness of changing practices and help them find innovative and adapted ways of implementing CSR measures. In so doing, we hope to complement the work already carried out by ESSEC Faculty and Research Chairs, as well as numerous alumni professional clubs”.
Backing from the business world
Mr. Aussage and Mrs. Mouquet also took the opportunity during the event to get first-hand reactions from some of the assembled companies. Thierry Raes, a partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory and Director of the company’s Sustainable Development Department, had this to say about ESSEC 21 RSE:
“This excellent initiative helps today’s decision-makers make up for lost time by offering them the kind of education in the stakes of sustainable development that was not available to them before.” Finally, a word from Christophe Lautray (E84), CEO of Fenwick-Linde on the way in which CSR should be implemented in businesses:
“In no way should CSR be limited to a legal obligation. The societal dimension is very important and should be incorporated into corporate strategy”. Via long-term projects such as ESSEC 21 RSE, as well as the various initiatives currently being implemented on ESSEC’s campus, Corporate Social Responsibility is fast becoming one of the defining values behind the school’s many activities.
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