2/24/09

Five features of great socially responsible leadership

From: Mallen Baker

Ethical leaders go against the industry grain, like Andrew Witty of GlaxoSmithKline. The new chief executive of GlaxoSmithKline, Andrew Witty, startled commentators, campaigners, and probably a few shareholders, with his announcement that the company would slash the cost of many of its drugs to people that need them in developing countries.

It was a perfect example of the difference that leadership can make. It raises the question – what counts as great leadership in socially responsible business?

There is a wider list to be produced on that topic, but I wanted to highlight here five key thoughts in the light of the GSK and other recent examples. And we always have the sharp contrast of poor leadership we have seen in the last few months of the financial crisis.

Five things that count as great leadership in socially responsible businesses are:

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