Laszlo Zsolnai

Laszlo Zsolnai serves as Professor and Director of the Business Ethics Center at Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary, while holding dual affiliations as Associate Member of the Las Casas Institute for Social Justice at Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford, and President of the European SPES Institute in Leuven, Belgium. His distinguished career includes visiting professorships at University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of California at Berkeley, Georgetown University, and Bocconi University Milan, establishing him as a leading global authority at the intersection of business, ethics, and spirituality.

Zsolnai’s research critically examines materialist paradigms in economics and business, advocating for spiritually informed frameworks that prioritize ecological regeneration and human flourishing. His work demonstrates how intrinsic motivation, gift-giving economies, and multi-dimensional success metrics can transform business models to serve the common good. Key contributions include redefining economics as a science of human livelihood, developing holistic wellbeing measures, and integrating spiritual awareness into professional education to combat the mental health crisis plaguing universities.

His recent publications reveal a cohesive trajectory toward Anthropocene-responsive business practices, consistently challenging reductionist assumptions through cross-cultural spiritual lenses (Christianity, Hinduism) while promoting regenerative organizational models. This body of work establishes foundational principles for businesses operating beyond profit-centric paradigms.

Scientific Recognition:

• Full Member of The Club of Rome (elected July 2025) for contributions to ecocivilisation and regenerative business

As Director of the 30-year-old Business Ethics Center and President of the European SPES Institute, Zsolnai leads major initiatives including The Awakened Campus Global Initiative with Columbia University and collaborations with The Economy of Francesco program. His centers facilitate cross-institutional projects on spirituality in professional education, conscious capitalism, and attention economy ethics, securing partnerships with universities worldwide to develop curriculum innovations and faculty development programs.

Zsolnai directs both the Business Ethics Center at Corvinus University (celebrating 30 years in 2023) and the European SPES Institute (documenting 20 years of activity in 2024). These hubs coordinate international conferences, publish the "Virtues and Economics" book series with Springer, and maintain active research networks across 15+ countries focused on spiritually grounded business transformation. Current projects include developing the "Awakened Campus" framework for universities and creating Buddhist-inspired metrics for corporate attention economy practices.