oikos Newsletter
February '15

be informed - get involved - make a difference

Dear Reader,

The first month of the new year is already over! January seemed like a flyer that fluttered past you. It's only when you sneak a peak into the newsletter that you realize so much went into the first thirty-one days of 2015! Bookmarking dates is fast becoming an everyday ritual with the newsletter. Don't forget that the registrations for the Asia Meet are now open and please take 2 minutes apart from the reading to fill in the questionnaire for the Management Learning Circle, which is soon launching the COMMIT initiative. Also travel back in time with Jordi in the 30 seconds.

As we step into the month of love, let us all have kinder hearts for everyone around us. Your one action of kindess may just be a ripple to what lies ahead. Little things come together to make a bigger picture. Indeed, all you need is love and love is all you need!

Happy Reading! 
 

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oikos Spring Meeting 2015 in London

Join us at the London School of Economics between the 26th and 29th of March 2015 to learn more about the relationship between sustainability and finance. We are expecting 150 participants from more than 25 countries. Are you a student at any London university? Then applications are still open for you! To register and experience this excellent line-up click 'read more'.

oikos Model WTO 2015

In April 2015 it will be time for the oikos #modelWTO again!

Applications are open! Deadline: 8 February.
Click 'read more' to apply and experience a memorable WTO week in Switzerland.




Executive Board 2015/2016 and Presidential Elections

Are you passionate about sustainability and working with students across the world? Why not apply for the oikos Executive Board or the oikos Presidency to really make a difference? Elections will be held at the First Legislative Meeting of 2015 in London. Interested in applying? Click 'read more' for the terms and conditions. Deadline to apply is February 28th.

oikos Learning Circles
  

Interested in finance, management education, economics, entrepreneurship, supply chain/fashion or energy? Then join the Learning Circle on topic of your interest. Make most of the opportunity to gain experience, knowledge and establish networks! If you wish to initiate a Learning Circle with an alternative topic, do not hesitate to contact us.

Bring forth your Perspective to the Management Learning Circle

We see ourselves as future change makers in the world of business. In order to help create more responsible leaders, we are in need of developing and adapting our future management education. The management learning circle team invites you to answer a simple questionnaire that would help them to collect examples of best/worst practices from various universities, as well as giving them an insight in what you believe is important for future management education.


 

oikos Alumni

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Alumni night in London

During a cozy dinner and drinks in London, the oikos alumni and active members  met and shared experiences and stories. The get-together went so well that for sure it is an event that will happen again soon. Check the next oikos alum events here.



LinkedIn for Alumni
Are you an alumna/alumnus? Keep in touch via Linkedin.
 


 

oikos Academic

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oikos Energy Academy

In June 2015, Tel Aviv University, the University of St. Gallen, and oikos will  host the oikos Young Scholars Energy Academy 2015 - "Managing the Transition to Renewable Energy – Towards a New Energy Paradigm". We invite PhD students and young scholars to apply to the academy by February 25, 2015.

oikos Finance Academy

oikos and Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) invite applications to the fifth oikos PRI Young Scholars Finance Academy in collaboration with The Henley Centre for Governance, Accountability and Responsible Investment (GARI). The academy will take place from May 31 to June 4, 2015, in Reading, United Kingdom. Deadline of application: February 15, 2015. 

oikos PhD Fellowship on "Finance and Sustainability" 

oikos and the University of Zurich are inviting applications from qualified candidates for an oikos PhD Fellowship at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, starting in September 2015.  The fellowship will provide a grant for a PhD focused on "Finance and Sustainability" at the University of Zurich's Department of Banking and Finance. The application deadline is March 31, 2015.

oikos Entrepreunrship Academy - a success!

The oikos Young Scholars Entrepreneurship Academy has successfuly finalized. An amazing group of young scholars and faculty explored social issues in entrepreneurship. Check out some impressions from the Academy.

 

 

30 seconds with...

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Jordi Vives Gabriel, oikos PhD Fellow, 2012-2015

Dear oikees!
My oikos PhD fellowship comes to an end. It’s been three years already since I joined the oikos international team back in February 2012. There are many things for which I am grateful to oikos. Needless to say that being awarded with the PhD fellowship is one of them. However, let me here share a learning that I acquired over my tenure as oikos PhD fellow: leadership, when done right, is a bottom-up exercise.

I could experience this myself at oikos, by leading the project I was responsible, the oikos Case Writing Competition, and by observing my colleagues sort out the challenges the organization faced over the last three years.
The Case Writing Competition has been running already for more than 10 years and has succeed in attracting some of the best teaching cases in sustainability topics. Still, managing this project requires a fair amount of effort in maintaining and building a network of scholars, publishers and others that are willing to volunteer for a project they think is worth their time. Soon I realized that I would only be able to manage the project effectively and bring together all these key people if I knew all the bits and pieces of what is a teaching case and the “industry” behind it. So I had to dig deep. Eventually, one thing led to another and I ended up editing my first book on case teaching.

At oikos I have observed my colleagues routinely getting involved in whatever was needed of them. I witnessed them dealing with pleasant and unpleasant tasks, discussing visionary oikos strategies for the next 20 years, completing endless administrative  chores or, simply, sweeping the floor. They serve the oikos community with passion at all levels no matter what. They lead from the “bottom” of the organization, they roll-up their sleeves and work hand-in-hand with you. This is why it is difficult not to succumb to their enthusiasm. This is the epitome of pure leadership.

Saying that I learned how to lead at oikos would be pretentious. Certainly, I learned and saw with my eyes what  leadership means  to me. For this and many other lessons that I take home with me, I, after these three years, sincerely thank you guys.

Jordi Vives Gabriel