Why study Orthodoxy, Ethics and Business?

This online education program is aimed mainly at executives and companies wishing to do business in Russia (a BRICS Country), a market where the influence of the Orthodox Christianity (300 million Orthodox) is fundamental.

The course is also aimed at all those who wish to do business in the markets of the Orthodox Economic Area (Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Montenegro, Macedonia, Russia, Romania, Serbia, and Ukraine).

In general, the knowledge of Orthodoxy and its influence on business is very unknown, therefore it is necessary to know the pillars of Orthodoxy.

Knowing the vision about the orthodoxy of the Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy, especially in his work “The Kingdom of God is Within You ”, will help us to better understand the pillars of the Orthodox Christianity.

Russia, like Brazil, is one of the exporting BRICS countries, especially of raw materials.

The large Russian business groups are mainly related to the energy (Gazprom, Rosneft, TNK-BP, Lukoil), industrial sector (MMK, Evraz, Severstal, Mechel, Raspadskaya) and agribusiness and distribution (Wimm-Bill- Dann, Sedmoi Kontinent, Magnit, X5 Retail, Lebedyansky).

Many of these Russian conglomerates have emerged in the process of the Russian privatization, in many cases their main Directors have been related to the former KGB. But undoubtedly, the Orthodox Christianity is today fundamental again, and has a significant influence on the business models of these Russian conglomerates.

To better understand the business idiosyncrasy of these conglomerates, the profile of several Orthodox businessmen is analysed, studying the influence of Orthodoxy on their business strategy and corporate social responsibility policies.

1. Vladimir Potanin: businessman and philanthropist, director of the Interros Group (Russia)
2. Alexander Lebedev: philanthropist and entrepreneur, owner of several media outlets in Russia and the UK
3. Yelena Baturina: philanthropist and Russian business woman, founder of the INTECO group (construction)
4. Nayla Hayek: Lebanese businesswoman, president of the Board of Directors of the Swiss group Swatch
5. Onsi Sawiris: Egyptian businessman. Director of one of the largest Egyptian conglomerates: the Orascom Group
6. Mimi Alemayehou: Ethiopian-American businesswoman, one of the most powerful African women in the world

Therefore, this course is also recommended for anyone wishing to do business with the Russian companies from anywhere in the world or who wants to work in a company of a Russian origin.

It will also analyze the main Economic Organizations and Trade Agreements that operate within the Orthodox economic area, such as the CEFTA, Eurasian Economic Union, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Regional Organization for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM), Organization for Cooperation between Railways (OSJD) or the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).

Why study Religions and Business?.