The Management Centre for Human Values (MCHV), Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, cordially invites you to an academic webinar as part of its Spring 2026 academic engagement series.
Lecture Title
Self-Enhancement Goals and Corporate Transgressions
Speaker: Laszlo Zsolnai
Professor and Director, Business Ethics Center
Corvinus University of Budapest
President, European SPES Institute, Leuven
Associate Member, Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford
- Date: 18 March 2026
- Time: 3:30 PM (IST)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89195857091?pwd=fHCCk41ZCXDeGMfaHfFaWRs0lDaSKC.1- Meeting ID: 891 9585 7091
- Passcode: 841877
About the Lecture
The lecture draws upon the theory of moral agency developed by renowned psychologist Albert Bandura of Stanford University. It explores how mechanisms of moral disengagement enable individuals and organizations to commit unethical acts without experiencing personal distress.The session will examine notable cases including:
- The Bhopal Gas Disaster
- The Ford Pinto case
- The Nestlé baby milk formula controversy
- The Three Mile Island nuclear accident
The lecture will also discuss insights from moral psychology suggesting that self-interested economic actors may employ moral disengagement strategies that harm society and nature in pursuit of profit—posing serious challenges to Adam Smith’s doctrine of the Invisible Hand. The session concludes by highlighting the importance of common-good-oriented business practices that prioritize human and environmental wellbeing.
About the Speaker
Laszlo Zsolnai is a distinguished scholar in business ethics, sustainability, and spirituality in economics. He is Professor and Director of the Business Ethics Center at Corvinus University of Budapest, a centre dedicated to promoting ethical thinking and practice in business and society.
He has held visiting positions at leading institutions including:
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- University of California, Berkeley
- Georgetown University
- Bocconi University
- Concordia University
He has authored 35+ books and over 300 scholarly papers examining the ethical dimensions of business and economic life. In 2025, he was elected a Full Member of the Club of Rome, contributing to global dialogues on sustainable and regenerative economic systems.
Participants
Students, faculty members, IIMC officials, and external participants interested in business ethics, sustainability, and responsible management are warmly invited to attend.