Executives, Nader highlight the 28th annual Business Today conference

Business leadership and ethics were the focus of Business Today's 28th annual international conference, taking place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, where Ralph Nader '55 was keynote speaker Sunday.

The conference, coordinated entirely by University undergraduates, gives 200 students the opportunity to interact with more than 80 corporate executives in the context of lectures, panel discussions and small seminars, which began Saturday and end today.

Nader was one of several speakers to address aspects of this year's theme, "Leadership Under Fire: Overcoming the Challenges of Turbulent Times." He wove social and political commentary throughout his message to the aspiring business leaders.

"A just society is the most fundamental prerequisite of a prosperous economy," Nader said.

He attributed the proliferation of various social catastrophes, such as poverty, unemployment and environmental devastation, to the combined power of certain international institutions, like the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization, and to global corporations.

"Global corporations put more power into hands that have no problem cutting deals with dictators," he said.

In an exclusive interview, Nader conveyed his frustration with the U.S. government's approach to corporate reform.

Bush's 10-point reform plan is "just a PR statement," Nader said. "Bush talks more about Iraq in one day than about corporate crime in three months."

In light of the recent campus debate about intellectualism, Nader denounced the trivialities that make up much of student dialogue.

"An invasion from Mars wouldn't alter the content of student smalltalk," Nader said.

He further stressed the need for robust citizenship and activism.

"Don't say 'I'm in prep stage.' You're not citizens in waiting," Nader said. "Universities offer excellent opportunities to be effective citizens."

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The response to Nader's speech was mixed.

"Nader elicited a lot of ideology — I don't see a way to get it working," said Robert Gould '06, a member of Business Today and a Daily Princetonian business staffer. "In practice, there is no way to accomplish his high goals."

Tudor Clee, a business and law student at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, disagreed with Nader's claim that the students in the audience "certainly have the moral imperative to think of more than a successful career."

"Nader really put it out that multinational corporations are evil. Some are good people trying to do good things," Clee said. "There are a few bad apples. He was basically judging too many on a basis of too few."

The remaining speakers, coming from a corporate perspective, provided insight into how to succeed in today's unpredictable business climate.

Sharon D'Agostino, president of Consumer Products at Johnson & Johnson, followed a seminar on group leadership with an interview in which she expressed her faith in the corporate world.

"I'm an optimist," she said. "I believe that corporations like J&J are ethical."

Within the content of her seminar, D'Agostino said money was not one of the greatest motivators in a team setting.

"Money can be a motivator," she said, "but usually, a salary is a salary."

Nader offered somewhat contrasting remarks in his speech, positing that many corporate workers are hesitant to bring up critical remarks concerning their company's actions because they fear losing a promotion or raise.

Christopher Williams, CEO of Williams Capital Group, had one claim in common with Nader in his address. Business is about risk-taking, Williams said, repeating Nader's remark.

Williams provided his own perspective on corporate reform. Government guidelines to corporations are unclear and subject to interpretation, he said.

As a leader, all he can do is make clear what actions are to be accepted and learn to identify problems, he said. Williams provided further analysis into the nature of business.

"Smartest people generally migrate to where they can earn the most money," he said.