BOONE, N.C. — How can businesses make a difference by doing business for good? Will a company’s good deeds — including its environmental, social and corporate governance practices — always be rewarded with financial success?

These and other questions will be posed to Dr. Michael Hastings, Lord of Scarisbrick CBE and global head of corporate citizenship for KPMG International, as part of his talk “If Only I Had Planted a Tree: Distraction and the Billion Dollar Opportunity” — the 60th Boyles Lecture in Appalachian State University’s Boyles Distinguished Lecture Series.

During the lecture, which is sponsored by Appalachian’s Walker College of Business, Hastings will speak on leadership and global engagement for businesses, offering advice to faculty, staff, students, as well as community members on how to make a difference by doing business for good.

As global head of corporate citizenship for KPMG International, Hastings helps find solutions to global challenges such as poverty, environmental sustainability, education and equality. He began his career as a teacher before moving into government service where he served in various roles for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), including head of public affairs and the organization’s first head of corporate social responsibility.

Hastings was named Lord of Scarisbrick CBE (Commander of the British Empire) for services to crime reduction, and has been awarded an independent peerage to the House of Lords of the United Kingdom and a UNICEF Award for effecting solutions for Africa’s children.

He was conferred a Doctorate in Civil Law from the University of Kent in Canterbury, England, in 2014 and was installed as the second chancellor of Regent’s University London in 2017.

The lecture and following reception are free and open to the public.

About the Walker College of Business

The Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University delivers transformational educational experiences that prepare and inspire students to be ethical, innovative and engaged business leaders who positively impact their communities, both locally and globally. The college places emphasis on international experiences, sustainable business practices, entrepreneurial programs and real-world applications with industry. Enrolling more than 4,000 undergraduates in 11 majors, Walker College has the highest enrollment of full-time undergraduate students in the University of North Carolina System, and more than 250 graduate students are enrolled in the college’s three master’s programs. App State’s Walker College is accredited by AACSB International — the premier global accrediting body for business schools. Learn more at https://business.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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