Consulus was presented as a model of dialogue in Turin, of how companies through their daily work can become platforms for harnessing diversity that makes them more relevant for a pluralistic age.
Paolo Frizzi, Country Director of Italy at Consulus, spoke at the International Conference organized by University of Turin on December 11, 2015. The theme was Transnational Religious Movements, Dialogue, and Development. The conference sought to explore the relationship between religions and economy, both through single-case studies and broader comparative and theoretical works.
Paolo Frizzi, Country Director of Italy at Consulus
His presentation on Consulus as a case study addressed more broadly the field of contemporary religious movements by focusing on the economic and entrepreneurial activities and the economic models which inspired them.
He opined that Consulus as a global innovation firm shows that dialogue can be put into effect in a successful way through a consultancy practice, providing sustainable solutions to challenges that are affecting the global markets regarding cultural and religious conflict.
He shared that the company culture at Consulus has something unique to offer: strong communal values, transposed on the day to day business activity. The firm has programmed openness to welcome religious and cultural diversity in its practices and business methodologies. The identity and purpose of the company are further shaped by considering both spiritual and organizational core values; a balance that then results in holistic and personal values, ethical and behavioral, cultural and professional practices. Therefore, it is not a mere application of a diversity policy for business but something more, a collective approach which gives Consulus a competitive edge to address the challenges of today’s pluralistic markets, providing tangible solutions for companies that operate globally.
Dealing with cultural and religious diversity is something that many companies continue to feel is crucial for their development. This is a growing challenge and here is the fact: organizations that need or want to remain relevant on a global stage or grow in markets where cultural and religious pluralism is essential; they will need tools and solutions to deal with cultural and religious diversity. The solution to which Consulus is addressing through its business model demonstrates that dialogue works when it is concrete and helps establish a more sustainable economy as well as contribute to peace in our societies.
The conference was supported by the University of Turin and the Compagnia di SanPaolo Foundation, and co-sponsored by the ‘Religion and Politics’ standing group of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), the IPSA RC43 ‘Religion and Politics’ Research Group and the Istituto Tevere based in Rome. It took place from 10-11 December 2015 and was hosted by the Department of Cultures, Politics and Society of the University of Turin (Italy) at the Luigi Einaudi Campus (CLE).
