The event seeks to explore and debate what we can learn from history at a time of turbulent change. It is built around the Creating Emerging Markets project (CEM), a foundational effort by Harvard Business School to capture the history of business leadership in emerging markets. At its core are interviews, many on video, by HBS faculty with leaders or former leaders of businesses and NGOs that span over four decades of experience. These interviews, with men and women of diverse backgrounds, address pivotal moments of transition, and candidates are selected for the unique perspectives they offer on the ways in which their industries have changed and grown over time. A recently produced short video provides a glimpse into the rich interviews that have been assembled by CEM. Doing Good by Doing Business is focused on the issue of corporate social responsibility.​

The ​Lessons from History ​conference explores the lessons of history for today's practitioners and policy-makers, as well as how to best capture those lessons. It will explore these broad issues through the lens of four major issues facing businesses in emerging markets today: 

• Spurring innovation
• Managing family businesses
• Navigating business-government relations
• Promoting responsible business practices
  

What is the value of history in business?

Are the accomplishments and failures of business leaders of the past relevant to the challenges faced by young business leaders in today's fast-gr​owing emerging markets?

What does history reveal about the responsibilities of business leaders today to their societies?