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Assessing the Politicization of Business

April 24 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Assessing & Addressing the Politicization of Business

GISME Templeton Symposium

Saturday, April 25, 2026  ·  8:00 AM – 5:15 PM  ·  Hariri Building, Room 350  ·  Georgetown University

RSVP (needed for meals)

Conference Agenda

All sessions held in Hariri Building, Room 350 unless otherwise noted.

Friday, April 24

Welcome Dinner · Eve of the Symposium

7:00 PM Welcome Dinner
Brasserie Liberté  ·  3251 Prospect St NW, Washington, DC 20007

Saturday, April 25

Symposium Day

8:00 – 8:40 AM Breakfast & Registration
8:40 – 8:45 AM Welcome
8:45 – 10:15 AM Panel I
Philosophical Perspectives
  • Carson Young, SUNY Brockport — “A Qualified Defense of Business Interests in Politics”
  • Jeff Carroll, West Virginia University — “Taciturn Firms”
  • Jason Byas, Georgetown University — “Potemkin Values”
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Panel II
Theory and Practice
  • Kevin Boeh, University of Washington — “Politics in SEC Rules: Effects on Capital Formation”
  • Paul Forrester, Wharton — “ESG and Asset Manager Capitalism”
  • Marian Eabrasu, EM Normandie — “The Outsourcing of Moral Judgment: Why Public Deference to CEO Politics Should Be Constrained”
12:00 – 1:30 PM Lunch
Hariri Building, Room 415
1:30 – 2:50 PM Panel III · Fireside Chat
Managing Politics Within and Beyond the Firm
  • William English, Georgetown University
  • Brian Callanan, Visiting Research Professor, Georgetown University; former General Counsel of the United States Treasury
  • John Grant, Research Fellow, Georgetown University; Founder, Privacy & Civil Liberties Engineering, Palantir Technologies
3:00 – 5:00 PM Panel IV
Empirical Studies
  • Christos Makridis, Arizona State University and Gallup — “Managing Polarization: How Trust, Feedback, and Clarity Buffer Political Divides at Work”
  • Michael Lachanski, Georgetown University — “UBI as a Means to Prevent Corporate Rent-Seeking in Transitioning Economies”
  • Siri Terjesen, Florida Atlantic University — “Breaking Walls, Forging Bridges: The Entrepreneurial Adaptation of Refugees”
  • Mark Packard, Florida Atlantic University — “Platform Entrepreneurship within the Gaps of Political Governance”
5:00 – 5:15 PM Closing Remarks
6:00 PM Conference Dinner
Peacock Café  ·  3251 Prospect St NW, Washington, DC 20007

Venues & Logistics

Conference Sessions  ·  Hariri Building, Room 350
McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University
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Lunch  ·  Hariri Building, Room 415
April 25, 12:00 – 1:30 PM  ·  One floor above sessions

Welcome Dinner  ·  Brasserie Liberté
Friday, April 24 at 7:00 PM
3251 Prospect St NW, Washington, DC 20007

Conference Dinner  ·  Peacock Café
Saturday, April 25 at 6:00 PM
3251 Prospect St NW, Washington, DC 20007

About the Conference

Hosted by the Georgetown Institute for the Study of Markets and Ethics (GISME), this research conference brings together leading scholars to examine the ethical, economic, and social implications of the politicization of business. The event is part of a broader Templeton-funded research initiative exploring how corporate political activism shapes market societies and public policy.

Through interdisciplinary dialogue across economics, philosophy, law, and management, the conference aims to advance scholarly research while generating practical insights for policymakers, business leaders, and students navigating increasingly politicized market environments.

Who Can Attend?

  • Scholars and researchers in business, economics, philosophy, and public policy
  • Students interested in business ethics and corporate governance
  • Business leaders and practitioners navigating political pressures in markets
  • Policymakers and professionals interested in the role of firms in society
  • Anyone with a scholarly or professional interest in the politicization of business

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Interested in Attending?

Seating is limited. Please complete the RSVP form below to request attendance at the conference.

RSVP

For additional inquiries, please contact .

This conference is supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation and hosted by the Georgetown Institute for the Study of Markets and Ethics (GISME).