FIRESIDE CHAT TO EXPLORE BALANCE BETWEEN PROFIT AND PEOPLE

BY TANDZILE DLAMINI

MBABANE – World-renowned leadership expert Professor Stephan Meier will lead a Fireside Chat tomorrow evening at Mountain View in Mbabane, bringing together leaders and community members to discuss how organizations can balance profit-making with the well-being of employees.

The discussion, hosted by the Leadership Growth Forum (LGF), will be held tomorrow, 22 August 2025, from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. Running under the theme “Profit or People? The Call for Humanizing Organizations and Workspaces” and will focus on how businesses can create workplaces that are considerate, inclusive, and centered on people while still achieving sustainable success.

Professor Meier, the author of The Employee Advantage, is the Chair of the Management Division and the James P. Gorman Professor of Business Strategy at Columbia Business School in New York. He is known for his research on how motivation beyond money and human-centered leadership shape decision-making and improve organizational outcomes.

“Humanizing workspaces is no longer just a nice-to-have but a strategic imperative for organizations aiming to thrive in a competitive market,” said Professor Meier ahead of the event. “I look forward to sharing practical insights and engaging with leaders committed to making a positive difference.”

Originally from Switzerland, Professor Meier holds an MA in history, economics, and political science and a doctorate in economics from the University of Zürich. He previously served as a senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s Center for Behavioral Economics and Decision-Making before joining Columbia in 2008. At Columbia, he teaches courses on global business, strategy, and the future of work, and has received awards for excellence in the classroom.

Outside academia, he lives in Manhattan with his family and enjoys traveling, art, sailing, drumming, and observing human behavior in the fast-paced environment of New York City.

The event is open to LGF leaders and community members at an entry fee of E150. Tickets are available through the MoMo WhatsApp service and the LGF bank account.

Event Details