Financial Industry Doing Well by Doing Good

A vital Financial Industry where everyone who works in this sector can be proud of, is, at its deepest level, based on awareness of interconnectedness. The financial sector is interconnected with the rest of the World and can only revitalize sustainably when (at least) the vast majority is fully aware of this interconnectedness and acts consistently from this consciousness.

In the metaphor of the iceberg, the level of awareness of interconnectedness can be seen as the current that moves and directs the iceberg. But also as the given that connects all icebergs and all other aspects of life. In other words the connection between a bank, the Financial sector and the rest of the World.

From this consciousness of interconnectedness arises a different, inclusive way of viewing the world, the bank and her products and services. A way of looking at the whole.

This awareness results in an individual and collective drive to serve the whole, to do good for all stakeholders. All of this happens beyond the tip of the iceberg, under the water surface, but represents the source for desired and visible behavior (as described by the bankers themselves).

From this intrinsic motivation of inclusiveness flows 'acting with full integrity', the visible tip of the iceberg. Integrity in the original sense of the word: meaning whole and undamaged.

Hence, based on the consciousness of everyone and everything being interconnected and a consciously chosen role to serve, an ambition of 'doing well by doing good' means to act with integrity in a sense that actions leave everyone and everything unharmed both in short and long term and prevent any negative side effects on society. I.e. doing good with all available and future financial instruments in a way that is good for all stakeholders.

'Doing' integrity comes from the deepest motivation and awareness of interconnectedness. Not just because the word is part of a code of conduct, corporate governance statement or law. It comes from within.

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We can see sustainability in essence as an integral application of integrity which makes it good (at least not negative) for all stakeholders, including Earth.

From this same consciousness, diversity is a natural form of behavior. A financial sector acting in accordance with these principles provides clarity and transparency in a modest way in order to let the World know what they can count on when dealing with the financial sector.