Annual Governance Agora Workshop 2025

12th Critical and Alternative Thinking on Governance Workshop

PHILOSOPHIES OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND LIFE: A CONTESTED TERRAIN OF MEANINGS

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 19-20 June 2025

Organized by

With the collaboration of ISC Paris

We are excited to announce that in 2025, the 12th annual TBS Education’s “Critical and Alternative Thinking on Governance Workshop” will be held in Amsterdam at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. This year’s theme aims to challenge conventional thinking on governance and corporate governance by delving into the underlying philosophies that shape governance practices and board dynamics. At the same time, we will explore competing philosophies of life that question the essence of corporate governance.

We invite PhD students, seasoned scholars, and practitioners to present their research papers. We are also eager to hear from independent board directors interested in attending and contributing to the panel discussions.

CALL FOR PAPERS

(Corporate) governance carries a profound responsibility, not only for the future of business but for the well-being of the planet Earth. However, current debates predominantly revolve around paradigms developed in the 20th century, focused on efficiency, growth, and profit maximization. Much of our thinking remains trapped within these “iron cage” frameworks, perpetuating systems of mass consumption and material accumulation. As a result, it created unbalances in the environment and the society, leading to unprecedented global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and social unrest.

A transformation in corporate governance logic is necessary if we are to confront these challenges and ensure a suitable future for the living. This shift requires scholars to embrace alternative and new epistemologies. A more moral, glocal, interconnected, and reflective approach to corporate governance can open up the stream of possibilities for corporations to prioritize life at the core of their decision-making. Boards must assume a central role in this thinking, transcending predominantly profit motives to advance the collective good. In doing so, they can help to facilitate the exchange of local wealth and ideas across borders. Although a growing number of corporations are demonstrating forward-looking glocal citizenship, their numbers remain insufficient. Revisited governance is essential to meet the challenges of our time.

Philosophers and scientists have critiqued the prevailing paradigm, offering theoretical frameworks that redefine the economy as a means for collective wealth and social progress, rather than an end in itself. This alternative paradigm places the planet, living beings, ecosystems, and society at the heart of both business decision-making and policymaking. Having an impact (even positive) is not assuming a role in society.

Through this Call for Papers, we invite research papers and essay contributions that explore and advance thinking on the roles of boards of directors, corporate governance structures, and related areas such as social and environmental performance, social activism, technologies for good, meta-thinking, and board decision-making. We particularly encourage submissions in the form of essays of around 3,000 words. A selection of these essays will be considered for publication in an edited volume.

Example of questions for consideration:

What philosophical thinking informs the way boards define corporate goals, and how is it reflected in the boards’ broader philosophies of life?
How can philosophical perspectives of organizational thinking unlock corporate governance’s potential to preserve humanity and foster planetary stewardship?
How do different traditional philosophical frameworks (e.g., deontological vs. consequentialist ethics) and from the Global South (liberation, postcolonial, Ubuntu, Confucianism, Sumak Kawsay, etc.) approach accountability at the institutional and individual levels?
How do existing regulatory frameworks, compliance standards, and organizational capacity foster creativity and shape the role of boards in addressing global socio-environmental challenges?
To what extent do emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, transform corporate governance structures and enhance or limit their ability to address socio-economic and environmental challenges?
How can corporations leverage partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), governments, and other stakeholders to enhance their contributions toward climate resilience, biodiversity, equality, and sustainable development?
What new or extended roles should boards of directors embrace to navigate complex challenges in diverse global contexts and industries?
How do the ethical frameworks used by boards align or contrast with individual ethical principles?
How does collective decision-making in governance (e.g., boards of directors) differ from individual decision-making processes and considerations of life?
How do personal philosophies of leadership (such as self-leadership) translate into boardroom dynamics?
How do individuals reconcile personal responsibility with the collective responsibility of a governance body towards the firm, the society and Earth?
How do existential themes of choice, meaning, and freedom appear in board governance and personal philosophy?

This conference call seeks to advance discussions on corporate governance by integrating philosophical and practical approaches. By critically examining the intersection of governance structures and philosophies of life, we aim to foster new insights and transformative thinking that transcend traditional economic models and prioritize the well-being of the planet and its inhabitants.

Important dates

Research symposium: 19-20 June 2025
Deadline for submission of CATG essay proposals (1000 words): 1 March 2025
Notification of acceptance: 15 March 2025
Deadline for CATG full-text essay submissions (3000 words): 26 May 2025
Early bird/author registration: 10 June 2025
Format: Hybrid

Scientific Committee

Xavier Castañer	HEC Lausanne, Switzerland
Thomas Clarke	University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
Coral Ingley	AUT University, New Zealand
Morten Huse	BI Norwegian Business School, Norway
Svetlana Khapova	School of Business and Economics, VU Amsterdam
Silke Machold	University of Wolverhampton Business School, UK
Sabina Nielsen	Copenhagen Business School, Denmark
Sibel Yamak	University of Wolverhampton Business School, UK
Konan A. Seny Kan	Grenoble École de Management, France
Angelo M. Solarino	University of Durham, UK & School of Business and Economics, VU Amsterdam

Symposium fees

IN SITU	Symposium fees* in euros (VAT incl.
Academic and Practitioner’s Fees ( before 10 June 2025)	€250
Academica nd Practitioner’s On-site Registration Fees	€350
(PhD) Student Reduction	€125

* Symposium fees include documentation, coffee breaks, lunch, and gala dinner.