Merchants of Vision

Can good business also further the common good? To answer this question, James Liebig interviewed dozens of business women and men in 70 organizations from 14 countries. Working with the World Business Academy - an international network of progressive business leaders committed to using their business expertise to make a positive difference in the world - Liebig found executives, entrepreneurs, CEOs, and consultants who are "walking their talk" by integrating their ideals in the world of commerce. Recognizing business's pervasive global influence, these business people have found ways to use that influence to affect positive change in people's lives and meaningful growth in their businesses. In Merchants of Vision they share their beliefs, experiences, and creative actions. Representing a variety of business enterprises in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia, the innovators profiled are people of action and integrity who sustain themselves with the creative friction between their idealism and their knowledge of the real world. "Though they have personally enjoyed the challenges of business and been successful by traditional standards, " writes Liebig, "they recognize that the business system has often not adequately served nor rewarded others. They know as well that the natural world is suffering under the strains of resource depletion and environmental damage. These leaders have acknowledged that changes in the agendas of business are inevitable and necessary." The experiences of these pioneers - addressing issues of personal responsibility and product quality, expanding markets and shrinking natural resources, technological advancement and cultural preservation - revealways businesses must adapt to survive, thrive, innovate, and lead.