Explore every episode of the podcast Make it Science.
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profit vs. Purpose: Is There a Real Trade-off? | 24 Feb 2026 | 01:12:48 | |
In this fundamental debate, a public value advocate (Prof. Dr. Timo Meynhardt) and a financial expert (Prof. Dr. Henning Zülch) face off to explore whether social impact and shareholder returns are fundamentally at odds. They scrutinize the validity of ESG metrics, ask if purpose is becoming mere marketing rhetoric, and discuss how leaders can avoid the trap of purpose-washing. Finally, they leave the status quo behind to place their future bets on how the tension between profit and purpose will evolve over the next decade. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:56 The Clash 02:35 Can businesses advance the public good without sacrificing profitability? 05:50 Are social impact and shareholder returns fundamentally at odds? 10:48 Do ESG metrics help bridge the gap between profit and purpose? 17:24 Should boards and investors measure public value creation? 21:45 Is “doing good” becoming a strategic necessity or just another form of marketing rhetoric? 26:32 How can companies commit to purpose without falling into the trap of “purpose-washing”? 33:06 Scientific Proof 39:06 How are these findings reflected in the Leipzig Leadership Model? 48:32 Case Scenarios: Krombacher, Porsche and BMW 56:03 The Future Bet 01:01:55 Wrap Up: Consensus and Dissensus 01:10:36 Call to Reflection | |||