Beyond Profit: The Role of Colombian Business Leaders in Transforming Business and Building Sustainable Peace
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7433/s126.2025.10Keywords:
Business for Peace, Humanistic Management, Leadership, Post-Conflict, Peace, ColombiaAbstract
Frame of the research: Humanistic Management (HM) principles can revolutionize leadership in conflict zones through the private sector’s engagement in peacebuilding. By prioritizing stakeholder dignity and societal benefits, it aligns with Business for Peace (B4P) initiatives, aiming to deepen the understanding of socially responsible leadership and its impact on global peace efforts.
Purpose of the paper: To explore the role of business leaders in fostering sustainable peace in post-conflict Colombia, aiming to contribute new perspectives to the HM and the B4P dialogues. By analyzing the management practices of business leaders from purpose-driven organizations operating within Colombia, this research provides a deeper understanding of how business leadership through humanistic management can actively participate in the country’s peacebuilding efforts.
Methodology: This study uses a qualitative research design based on semi-structured expert interviews with Colombian business leaders to explore the nuances of B4P practices in post-conflict Colombia. Reflecting an exploratory approach, this method facilitated an in-depth understanding of HM and leadership roles in peacebuilding, aligning with the research's aim to contribute novel insights into the B4P discourse.
Results: The study reveals Colombian businesses’ significant roles in peacebuilding by creating jobs, fostering community ties, and practicing ethical leadership. It emphasizes the transformative impact of aligning business operations with peacebuilding efforts through strategic and ethical decision-making.
Research limitations: Given the study’s reliance on qualitative interviews and a focused sample of Colombian business leaders, the findings offer deep, contextualized insights but lack generalizability. This limitation underscores the need for further empirical research across different contexts to broaden understanding of the B4P phenomenon.
Practical implications: This research illuminates the strategic value of humanistic practices and community engagement in peacebuilding for businesses and policymakers in conflict zones. It presents Colombian businesses as models for harnessing commerce for economic growth and social healing, providing a pragmatic blueprint for integrating business operations with peace efforts.
The originality of the study: This research contributes uniquely to the emerging field of Business for Peace by examining the intersection of Humanistic Management and peacebuilding in the context of post-conflict Colombia. It offers new perspectives on the role of business leaders in promoting peace, addressing a gap in the literature, and providing a foundation for future studies in this area.
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