Can companies atone for their dark pasts? | Sarah Federman | TEDxSan Diego Studio

Key Concepts

Holocaust memorial, corporate accountability, mass atrocities (war, genocide, mass oppression, ecoside), French National Railways (SNCF), Lloyds of London, Hudson Bay Company, historical business practices, ethical commitment, moral courage, reckoning, reconciliation, Haiti's economic exploitation.

The Personal Turning Point: From Business to Conflict Resolution

The speaker, Sarah Federman, recounts a pivotal moment that shifted her career from a business executive to a professor of conflict resolution. This occurred when she encountered a Holocaust memorial wall in Paris, listing the names of approximately 76,000 Jews deported from France during World War II. Seeing her own name, "Sarah Federman," on the wall, representing a 16-year-old girl murdered at Auschwitz, deeply impacted her. This experience prompted her to question the role and responsibility of companies in mass atrocities.

The Case of the French National Railways (SNCF)

Federman's initial research focused on the French National Railways (SNCF)'s involvement in the Holocaust. The SNCF transported Jews to concentration camps during World War II. She investigated what amends, if any, the company should make for its participation. Her research involved:

• Archival research: Examining historical records related to the SNCF's activities during the war.
• Expert interviews: Speaking with 120 individuals, including railway executives, French Jewish leaders, ambassadors, lawyers, legislators, historians, and archivists.
• Survivor interviews: Spending time with 90 Holocaust survivors to understand their perspectives on the SNCF's role and potential reparations.

The SNCF never provided direct financial compensation to survivors. However, they took other steps:

• Commissioned an independent historical study: This study examined the SNCF's role in the Holocaust.
• Publicly shared the study: Making the findings accessible to the public.
• Opened their archives: Providing access to historical records for further research.
• Issued statements of regret: Acknowledging the company's involvement and expressing remorse.
• Funded memorials and commemorative events: Supporting initiatives to remember the Holocaust and honor its victims.

This case study highlights the complexities of corporate reckoning and the various ways companies can address their past involvement in atrocities.

Corporate Reckoning Beyond the Holocaust

The speaker emphasizes that corporate reckoning is not limited to the Holocaust or railway companies. She provides examples of other companies addressing their historical ties to injustice:

• Lloyds of London: This insurance company investigated its connections to the transatlantic slave trade, shared its findings, and issued a statement of regret.
• JP Morgan Chase: Similar to Lloyds, JP Morgan Chase acknowledged its predecessors' participation in the slave trade and expressed remorse.
• Hudson Bay Company: This Canadian retailer took steps towards reconciliation with indigenous communities by donating its flagship store in Winnipeg to the Southern Chiefs Organization.

These examples demonstrate that companies across various industries are beginning to confront their historical roles in harmful practices.

Why Companies Should Look Back

The speaker argues that companies should engage in reckoning for several reasons:

• Moral Courage: By acknowledging past wrongs, companies can develop moral courage among their executives and employees, enabling them to make ethical choices in the present.
• Understanding Present Problems: Examining historical business practices can shed light on the root causes of contemporary issues, such as political strife, civil war, and famine in certain countries.
• Attracting and Retaining Talent: Companies with strong ethical reputations are more likely to attract and retain talented employees who want to feel good about where they work.
• Consumer and Investor Expectations: Consumers and investors increasingly prefer to support companies with ethical commitments.

The Case of Haiti

The speaker uses Haiti as an example of how historical business practices can contribute to present-day problems. She argues that the country's ongoing struggles are partly due to the exploitative practices of French and US banks in the decades following Haiti's independence in 1804. These banks allegedly "gutted" Haiti, preventing it from establishing a stable economy. Hiding or distorting these histories contributes to discrimination against Haitians.

Call to Action

The speaker concludes with a call to action, urging the audience to:

• Contact companies: Find a company that has been around for more than 50 years and email the highest-ranking person, asking "What's your history?" and encouraging them to study and share their past.
• Support or encourage institutions: Give credit to institutions, businesses, or museums that are engaging in reckoning work. Encourage those that are not doing it to do better.

She emphasizes that while interest in reckoning work may fluctuate, the work itself remains essential for addressing harm in the present and creating a path towards a better future. She states that "without corporate participation we cannot have war genocide mass oppression or ecoside but you know neither can we have peace justice freedom or sustainability."

Synthesis/Conclusion

The speaker advocates for corporate accountability and reckoning as crucial steps towards addressing historical injustices and building a more ethical and sustainable future. By examining their pasts, companies can develop moral courage, understand the root causes of present-day problems, attract and retain talent, and meet the expectations of consumers and investors. The speaker's personal journey, combined with case studies and a call to action, underscores the importance of corporate reckoning in creating a more just and equitable world.