Hopeful signs from New York City

I'm here attending the Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) conference, in the context of my role managing my company's (StreamServe) sustainability initiatives. I'm very glad to be here, as the BSR conference is one of the primary forums in the U.S. focused on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). While I've read many definitions of the concept, for me CSR is a framework designed to encourage sustainable corporate behaviors both in terms the environment and the social systems these organizations are a part of.

While the lineup of presenters has been impressive, including the CEO's of Levi's, IKEA and GE, the standout conversation for me took place yesterday, and was completely unexpected.

I was tied up yesterday morning on a work-related call, so I arrived to the ballroom here at the Grand Hyatt New York about 20 minutes late for lunch. As I walked in I asked a woman on the hotel staff asked if I can still have lunch, and she said absolutely and mentioned that in fact she's responsible for serving at the table where I decided to sit. She also told me without my asking that I can have a vegetarian meal if I'd like (why, did I look like a vegetarian?).

So it turns out I'm what's known as a "flexitarian", which I understand is someone who doesn't eat meat when dining alone, but will go ahead and have this when dining with others and there are no vegetarian options presented. While I had just recently heard of the term, I found intuitively this approach let me practice what I believe (both for environmental and moral reasons) without making a big scene when I'm with others.

Then a few minutes later the server (whose name I regret I didn't note) came by telling me how wonderful it is to see a gathering such as BSR where top corporate and institutional leaders gather to share insights around something they strongly believe in -- and in turn are challenged to go further and be more transparent in their sustainable business practices. As yesterday was the morning after the historic election of Barack Obama as President-Elect of the United States, she mentioned how for the first time in many, many years there's a sense our society is moving in a direction that is bringing us all together. She said she was very proud to be an American that morning.

Indeed, I too am proud to be an American. As John Anderson (the Levi's CEO who spoke yesterday, and who happens to be Australian) pointed out, much of the world now is energized about this election because the United States is the one country that to much of the world represents dreams we can all aspire to living ourselves one day.

It's truly an extraordinary and wonderful time to be alive.