The Symposium seeks to join with others in living these ideals, and welcomes support and partnership with individuals and organizations who share these values.

A Brief History of The International Symposium on Business and Spirituality

Laury Hammel pioneered the idea for creating a symposium in the Boston area linking spirituality and business in 1996 as a way of expanding the scope of the curriculum, programs, and resources at Andover Newton Theological School. Andover Newton is located in Newton, Massachusetts and is the oldest graduate theological school in the United States. By the fall of 1997, an office was set up at Andover Newton and Chris Heintz and Vicki Hammel led a band of part-time staff and volunteers who orchestrated the creation of the first symposium.

The First International Symposium on Business and Spirituality: Authentic Dialogue and Interfaith Collaboration, held in March of 1998 at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston, was an inspiring and transformative event that opened our eyes to a myriad of perspectives. Speakers included Aaron Feuerstein, Tom Chappell, Rabbi Harold Kushner, Richard Barrett, Judy Wicks, and Harvey Cox. Each spoke from their hearts as they shared their personal stories and ideas about business, values, and faith. This set the tone for an open and friendly space for people of diverse religious traditions and spiritual perspectives to share ideas and celebrate life together. Participants discovered a place where they could openly talk about their faith and participate in authentic dialogue. As participants spoke about the successes and failures of their attempts to uplift the human spirit and transform business, they saw and felt the magnificent presence of a universal spirit that touches everyone regardless of the particular faith they practice.

The Second International Symposium on Business and Spirituality: Diversity is the Common Wealth of Business, presented by Andover Newton Theological School, met in March of 1999 at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston. The speakers included Sylvia Hill, Tom Gegax, Ellen Hayakawa, Martin Rutte, Tanis Helliwell, and Genny Nelson. The speakers focused on issues surrounding diversity and how the multiplicity of differences are the common wealth of business. The challenges of diversity lie in how complex and possibly controversial ideas are shared, how, even in the face of disagreement, an atmosphere that values differences and genuinely respects individuals is created, how we listen, and, finally, how shared values and commonalities are held to be more important than our differences. Our dialogue emphasized that wealth is not merely financial, but encompasses spiritual wealth, social wealth, cultural wealth, environmental wealth, and community wealth–all forms of which make us whole, happy, and prosperous.

Thanks to the good work of Tom Sullivan, the Director of Spiritual Life and Volunteer Programs at Babson College, the College enthusiastically agreed to host the Third International Symposium on Business and Spirituality: Leadership, Ethics, and Values, held in March of 2000. Past Symposia had served to remind us that principled and inspirational business leadership is in short supply. Dynamic, effective, and heartfelt leaders are needed in every nation and in every sector of society. Speakers at this Symposium included Eileen fisher, Judy wicks, Tom Chappell, Martin Rutte, Tanis Helliwell, and Aaron Feuerstein. The Third Symposium enabled participants to explore specific functional models and tools used by modern business leaders to create a more liveable, sustainable, healthy and joyous environment for people, for business and for the planet. The support of Babson College, one of the leading business schools in the country, and perhaps best know for its Entrepreneurship program, was invaluable for continuing and growing the Symposium. Babson is located in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

The Fourth International Symposium on Business and Spirituality: Leadership and Community: The Challenge for the 21st Century, was led by keynote speakers Rita Bailey, Jeffrey Swartz, Roger Porter, and Deborah Dagit. This Symposium, held again at Babson, featured the largest turnout yet for any Symposium. As speakers addressed the challenges faced by leaders and communities in the business world, participants again gathered to exchange ideas for basing their business life on deeply held spiritual values. This Symposium also featured the first Aaron Feuerstein Spirituality in Business Award, given to Jeff Swartz to honor his work as CEO of the Timberland Corporation.

The Fifth International Symposium on Business and Spirituality: Transforming Business and Uplifting the Human Spirit: Leadership in Challenging Times, held at Babson College for the third year, featured an all-star cast of speakers, including Jay S. Sidhu, CEO of Sovereign Bank, Tim Smith, Sr. Vice President, Walden Asset Management, Melissa Bradley, President of New Capitalist, Inc. and Rabbi Harold Kushner, Rabbi Laureate, Temple Israel. In addition, Michael Shuman, author of Going Local, Elisabet Sahtouris, author of EarthDance: Living Systems in Evolution, and Judy Wicks spoked to a packed audience. This Symposium focused on some of the new and renewed challenges facing business in this time of upheaval; participants left with a sense of hope and a healthy respect for the depth of problems the business community would need to overcome.

The Sixth International Symposium on Spirituality and Business: Spirituality, Ethics, and Profits: Integrating the Human Spirit and Values into the Workplace, met at Babson College and featured keynote speakers Rita Bailey, from Serenity-Solutions and former Director of University People, Southwest Airlines; Aaron Feuerstein, President, Malden Mills; and Amy Domini, from Domini Social Equity Fund, among others. This symposium aimed to address the issue of corporate accountability, social responsibility, and ethics faced day to day at the workplace. Through the break out sessions participants were able to openly discuss real issues and experiences on matters concerning spirituality and ethics in the workplace.

The Seventh International Symposium on Spirituality and Business: Uplifting the Human Spirit: Tools for Integrating Spirituality and Business, was hosted once again by Babson College. This Symposium featured keynote speakers Barbara Glanz, Barbara Glanz Communications; Julius Walls Jr., CEO, Greyston Bakery; Aaron Feuerstein, President CEO, Malden Mills; Nirmal V. Manerikar, senior vice president, Federal Reserve Bank of New York. This symposium focused on the role of spirituality in the workplace—through different activities participants were able to experience how spirituality can help pacify the body and mind. Break out sessions also allowed participants to share their experiences of how much better it is to integrate the concept of spirituality in business and the workplace.

Our Vision for the Future--Building a Community Balancing Authentic Dialogue and Practical Action

The Symposium Committee hopes this gathering continues to grow into a community of business and spiritual leaders who can meet and address the profound and perplexing questions every person on our planet confronts daily. This dynamic process is inherently filled with opportunity, because whenever people get together and share from their heart, innovation and creation happens. The potential for birthing new programs through partnerships and collaborative efforts with other government, business, religious, academic, or charitable organizations becomes limitless. In fact, as expected, our past Symposia have spawned initiatives and ongoing relationships.

Our vision for this Symposium, and the community that grows out of it is expansive. The work to be done will at times feel daunting to all involved. The fundamental wealth of this community is a soulful devotion to working in a collaborative manner with people of diverse interests, backgrounds, and philosophies to create something truly meaningful and potent. Leadership, time, money, and dedication will be required from people committed to transforming this magnificent vision into practical and effective reality. We invite you to join with us in this inspiring endeavor.