Transforming executives into corporate diplomats: The power of global pro bono service

Executive summaryThis article makes a case for the use of diplomacy in corporate management and examines how a growing number of companies are developing their leaders’ diplomatic skills through global pro bono service. The environment today confronts executives with complex economic, political, social, and environmental issues involving multiple and competing interests. These issues call for diplomatic solutions which sometime take the form of multi-stakeholder and multi-sector governance. To develop the requisite diplomatic know-how, companies are sending teams of executives to emerging markets to work with NGOs (non-governmental organizations) or small businesses to address complex problems. The authors, all contributors to various global service programs, provide an inside look at how these programs operate and document how they can expand an executive's cultural intelligence and capacities to operate diplomatically in the global business environment.